[Songs of Aomori] A collection of local songs depicting the grandeur of nature and the warmth of its people.

TSUGARUYoshi Ikuzo

TSUGARU <Original Version>

A rap track by Ikuzo Yoshi, performed in the Tsugaru dialect from his hometown in Aomori! The intense dialect—so strong that you can barely tell what he’s saying just by listening—is the biggest charm of this work.

If you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll hear a parent’s love calling to their child who moved to the city to “come back,” along with slices of everyday life that will make you chuckle.

Released in September 2019, this song is addictive and unforgettable after just one listen.

For people from Aomori, of course, and for anyone who hasn’t been able to return to their hometown for a while, it might make you want to feel the warmth of family.

Jongara Love SongYoshi Ikuzo

Jonkara Love Song Yoshikazu Ikuzo

This is an enka song that voices a man’s heart as he longs for the lover he left behind in his hometown of Tsugaru.

It’s a piece by Ikuzo Yoshi from Aomori Prefecture, released to the world as the B-side of the single “Yoimachizake” in January 1993.

The melancholy strains of Tsugaru folk music resonate deeply, conjuring up a stark winter scene where snow begins to dance.

Amid the biting cold, you can keenly feel the protagonist’s emotions as he thinks of his distant home.

Anyone living away from their hometown will be moved by this heartrending tale.

It’s a masterpiece to listen to quietly, alone, on a winter night.

Tsugaru Sakura Storykawanaka miyuki

[MV] Miyuki Kawanaka / Tsugaru Sakura Story (full ver.)

A heartwarming, human-spirited enka born from feelings for a late best friend.

Sung by enka artist Miyuki Kawanaka, whose clear voice captivates fans, the song was released in February 2017 as the first entry in a series commemorating her 40th year in show business.

Brimming with the seasonal atmosphere leading up to the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, it richly portrays the spring of Tsugaru.

The lyricist’s bittersweet emotions are woven into the piece, and there’s a touching anecdote that it came into the world because Kawanaka herself fell in love with it.

Why not listen closely on a night when you’re reminiscing about your hometown or someone dear?

I’ve fallen for you.Ishihara Junko

Junko Ishihara “Have Fallen in Love” Music Video (1 Chorus)

From the skies of Tsugaru where snow dances, to the freezing Sea of Japan—set against the stark scenery of the northern country, this is Junko Ishihara’s debut work, which brilliantly portrays a burning, single-minded love.

The protagonist’s bittersweet yet passionate desire to see the one they love—even if it tears them apart—comes across directly through a sprightly, enka-style melody infused with pop elements.

Released in October 1988, the song also drew attention for its innovative style, with Ishihara performing as an “idol-enka” singer in a mini-skirt.

It’s the perfect listen when you want to let your mind wander to the landscapes of Aomori.

Tsugaru Nakase-bushiHosokawa Takashi

Takashi Hosokawa / Tsugaru Nakase-bushi

This is an authentic enka piece that powerfully evokes the harsh winter scenery of Tsugaru and the fervent emotions of the people who live there.

It’s a commemorative work released in May 2025 by Takashi Hosokawa to mark his 50th year in the performing arts, portraying the heartrending feelings of a woman shedding tears over an unattainable love.

Against the backdrop of Tsugaru’s rough, snow-swept sea, the heroine’s sorrow seems to intertwine with the poignant tones of the Tsugaru shamisen.

Hosokawa’s powerful vocals bring into sharp relief a figure who, burdened by feelings beyond her control, still strives to live with all her might.

It’s a song to savor slowly while thinking of one’s hometown.

Love in the Setting SunKatte ni Kankō Kyōkai

Aomori Prefecture Local Song 'Love in the Setting Sun' / Unofficial Tourism Association

This is a lyrical number whose travel-inspiring guitalele and somewhat wistful ocarina tones deeply touch the heart.

Created by the duo Katsute ni Kanko Kyokai—Miura Jun and Anzai Hajime—it centers on Aomori.

From the title evoking Dazai Osamu’s birthplace, the “Shayokan,” you can sense a bittersweet, unfulfilled love with a woman of the north, poignantly sung against backdrops like Goshogawara and the Sannai-Maruyama archaeological site.

Released in February 2008, this local song features a nostalgic melody that resonates in the chest, making you want to experience Aomori’s majestic nature and the warmth of its people.

Cape TappiMizumori Kaori

Kaori Mizumori [Cape Tappi] with Lyrics – Lyrics by Koyomi Asa / Music by Hideo Mizumori

This is a celebrated song by Kaori Mizumori that overlays the poignant emotions of a heartbroken woman onto the desolate natural scenery of Aomori.

Released as a single in October 1999, it was also included on the album “Kaori Mizumori Complete Collection ~Tappi Misaki~.” Set at the northernmost tip of the Tsugaru Peninsula, the piece powerfully conveys the sorrow of a protagonist traveling alone while carrying feelings for someone she cannot forget.

Give it a listen when you want to immerse yourself in the travel atmosphere of Japan’s northern regions and the lyrical storytelling unique to enka.