[Akita Songs] A Collection of Gem-Like Local Tunes Filled with Love for Hometowns

Chaotic Donpan-bushiTomokawa Kazuki

Kazuki Tomokawa – Midare Donpan-bushi

This is a song in which Kazuki Tomokawa reconstructs the beloved Akita folk tune “Donpan-bushi” from his own unique perspective.

Included on the album “The Days When I Held a Thousand Cranes in My Mouth,” released in August 1978, the piece brilliantly fuses the fervor of a festival with an avant-garde tension.

While preserving the Akita dialect as is, it sonically renders the bodily sway of intoxicated revelers and the atmosphere of communal gatherings, layering urban loneliness over indigenous rhythms in a striking expression.

It may feel shocking at first, but it’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to enjoy folk music from a fresh angle.

Uppercase GirlReina

Capital Letter Girl – Rena

It’s a love song by the Akita rock band “Reina,” about a bittersweet long-distance relationship between Akita and Kyoto.

Reina’s other songs also mention place names in Akita and have a strong local flavor, so be sure to check them out.

If you’re from the area, it’s guaranteed to hit even harder—especially

Shirakami is my hometown.Yoshi Ikuzo

Ikuzo Yoshi “Shirakami Is My Hometown” — I like it. Nishimeya Hometown Goodwill Ambassador.

This is a song about Shirakami-Sanchi, the World Heritage Site that spans Akita and Aomori Prefectures.

It’s by Enka legend Ikuzo Yoshi—where is your hometown again? I looked it up and it’s in Aomori, not Akita.

It’s a very good song that conveys the grandeur of Shirakami-Sanchi.

A new dayOshima Kishiko

Takako Ōshima – A New Day (Full Version)

This is a local company’s commercial jingle sung by Takako Oshima, an announcer for Akita Asahi Broadcasting who was born in Tokyo and raised in Akita.

It seems to air in Yamagata Prefecture as well, but most people probably don’t know it.

In short, it’s a jingle known only to people from Akita and Yamagata.

Great AkitaIshii Kan

Great Akita 1

It has four movements and is quite long.

At this point, I’m carried away more by the beauty of the piece than anything specifically about Akita.

“Ooinaru Akita,” which often appears at wind ensemble and choral events in Akita Prefecture, is my favorite—especially the part where it picks up tempo and gets exciting.

Everywhere Just as It Is ~ Song of the Heavy Snow Region in Akita Prefecturetsucchī

As I Am – Akita Dialect Ver. / Anywhere as You Are – A Song from the Heavy-Snow Region of Akita Prefecture

This is an Akita dialect cover of that famously well-known song.

Please enjoy the subtitles and translation.

The singing quality is high, and the gap between that and the earnest lyrics about Akita’s heavy snowfall is sure to make you laugh.

For Akita residents—especially in the heavy snow areas—it’s no laughing matter, though…

I felt a strong sense of empathy.

Our FutureFujita Yūmin, Watanabe Jun’ya

Theme song of the National Cultural Festival Akita 2014 “Our Future” MV

This is a song that became the theme song for the National Cultural Festival Akita 2014.

The clear vocals by Akita radio DJ Yuumin Fujita and singer-songwriter Junya Watanabe make it a really nice track.

As expected from people who work with their voices, they have great voices.