[Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride

One cherry, please.Yukiko Iwase

One Cherry, Please (Iwase Yukiko)

It’s an utterly charming children’s song inspired by Yamagata’s local specialties.

Sung from the pure perspective of a child asking, “May I have one?”, it melts your heart with its innocence.

The crystalline vocals and sprightly melody together conjure up a sun-drenched scene of cherry orchards.

This piece is the memorable debut work of Yukiko Iwase, released using a submission to the “Yamagata Children’s Songs” call for entries by the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun in 1933 as its original composition.

It might be the perfect track when you want to muse on Yamagata’s tranquil natural beauty.

Kasedori Festivalfestival participant

2017—The honored Kasedori has arrived! ~♪

It’s a festival with quite a high bar for participants: they let out shrill cries of “ka-ka-ka,” don garments made of straw, and walk toward the town while having water poured over them in the severe cold of February.

But it has a clear meaning—it’s a traditional folk event of Kamiyama that prays for a good harvest and prosperous business—and it has become a seasonal hallmark of the city at this time of year.

Sakata Rice CrackersLinda Yamamoto

The song by Linda Yamamoto, produced as a TV commercial jingle, humorously introduces Yamagata Prefecture’s specialties.

Known for the catchy phrase “Komacchauna” (“I’m in a fix”), Yamamoto’s charming vocals and the upbeat rhythm make a strong impression.

Aired in the 1970s, the commercial caught the attention of many viewers as color television became widespread, helping boost the recognition of Yamagata’s local products.

Yamamoto’s distinctive voice and expressive delivery effectively convey the appeal of the goods.

This track is recommended not only for those who want to feel the charm and hometown spirit of Yamagata, but also for anyone interested in Showa-era commercial songs.

Hometown, I want to see you.Ayano Kudo

Ayano Kudo: "Hometown, I Miss You"

For those who have a hometown to return to, this song seems to evoke the scenes of their own homeland.

Centered around the Mogami River, it sings of memories fondly recalled—mountain ranges familiar since childhood, the countryside where the sun set—while also expressing the longing for a hometown that soothes the soul, even though one cannot return every year.

RAMBO N°5UNICORN

UNICORN “RAMBO No. 5” Music Clip

Rather than a song, it almost sounds like an advertisement jingle for Yamagata Prefecture’s specialty cherries, and it’s basically just some slightly goofy older gentlemen almost dancing along to a mambo tune.

Unicorn is a bona fide rock band, and while most of the members are from Hiroshima Prefecture, only Abe Bee (Yoshiharu Abe) is from Yamagata, so that might be why this song came to be.

Hymn to ZaoMakoto Sato

Mixed Chorus Suite “Zao”: 1. Hymn to Zao — Makoto Sato

Zao, a choral suite for mixed chorus composed in 1961 while he was still a student, is by composer Makoto Sato, renowned for “Daichi Sansho” (Hymn to the Earth).

The first movement, “Zao Sanka” (Hymn to Zao), is particularly notable for its bright, uplifting character, evoking the refreshing spring scenery of the Zao mountain range.

Even after many years since its premiere, it remains a beloved piece among numerous choirs—a masterpiece inspired by Yamagata.

Moon MountainYoko Kishi

Moon Mountain ~ Yoko Kishi

Mount Gassan is located in the central part of Yamagata Prefecture.

Its foothills are renowned for the Gassan Foothills Spring Group, and the mountain is also known by the alternative name “sacred mountain.” One of the suites composed from Atsushi Mori’s Akutagawa Prize–winning novel Gassan is “Mountain of the Moon.” Yoko Kishi, who was born in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, is said to have put great passion into this song.