[Folk Songs and Children's Songs of Akita] A curated selection of local masterpieces that evoke love for one’s hometown
A wealth of folk songs and children’s songs that have long been close to the lives of the people of Akita.
Nurtured amid abundant nature and a harsh climate, Akita’s folk songs are imbued with people’s joys and sorrows, and with hearts of prayer.
Still sung at local festivals and traditional events and passed down to children, these songs are, quite literally, the very heart of Akita.
In this article, we introduce the musical world that Akita proudly offers—a region renowned nationwide for its vibrant folk song culture—from well-known folk and children’s songs everyone has heard at least once, to hidden gems known only to the initiated.
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- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
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- [Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
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- Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Iwate: the heart of the hometown passed down through song
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[Akita Folk Songs and Children's Songs] A curated selection of beloved local classics that evoke hometown love (21–30)
Akita Jinku
The Bon dance song “Nanyatoyara,” originally from the former Nanbu domain, was brought to Akita and evolved there.
Sung boldly to the accompaniment of shamisen, flute, and drum, the lively Akita Jinku transcends the usual bounds of the “jinku” genre and is beloved as a hand-dance song.
Even the festival accompaniment has a bustling, festive feel.
Akita Nagamochi Song
At weddings, the people carrying the tansu chests and nagamochi sang songs.
The nagamochi—used to transport clothing and bedding as part of the bridal trousseau and then kept on as storage furniture—was carried along, and one can almost see how they sang, each pouring their own feelings into the songs, from the moment the bride left her home until she arrived at her new household.
Akita Ningyo Jinku
Ningyō jinku is said to be a song set to puppet shows performed as street entertainment.
It expresses everything from the dancing figures of the puppets to feelings of love, giving the impression that the puppets are alive.
The lively, elegant rhythm and singing make the heart dance.
The call-and-response of “Arasassa” brings a spontaneous smile.
Okosa-bushi
It’s a drinking song from the Akita region, notable for its unique lyrics.
It might be just right to sing when you’re pleasantly tipsy.
The tempo is slow, yet it has a lively, playful charm.
I think it would be fun for everyone to sing along with handclaps while drinking.
Oyama Kozasato
It is said to have been passed down from northern Iwate Prefecture to the Kazuno area of Akita Prefecture, and then through Hachimantai into the Senboku region, eventually reaching the town of Kakunodate.
Its hallmark is imagery that evokes the deep, pristine natural scenery of the mountains unfolding before one’s eyes.
It is also known as Oyamakobushi.
Nennyako Koro Chako
It is said to be a children’s song from Akita that has been sung as a lullaby.
Although it includes lines about being afraid of a white dog, there seem to be traditional folk song legends in the Tohoku region.
It carries a nostalgic feeling that can bring you to tears as you remember your hometown and your grandmother.
Hideko-bushi
Originally a celebratory song dedicated to the mountain gods, it came to be sung while gathering wild mountain vegetables, and today it has become a parlor song accompanied by the shamisen.
“Hideko” is said to refer to a plant called shiode, and this is a tranquil folk song that evokes a vivid image of lush, thriving mountain greens.