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

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.

Solo Journey with the Tsugaru ShamisenSaisei

Ryusei / Solo Journey with the Tsugaru Shamisen

This song captures the resolve and loneliness of leaving one’s hometown to devote oneself to a life in the performing arts.

Ayasei, who sings and also plays the Tsugaru shamisen and shakuhachi, puts the instrument at the core of his roots—the Tsugaru shamisen—front and center, stirring the listener’s heart.

Set against the harsh natural backdrop of Japan’s northern lands, the piece portrays a young person pursuing a dream alone.

Their earnest determination overlaps with the shamisen’s powerful yet somehow wistful tones, resonating deeply with all who listen.

Riding the momentum of winning the Best New Artist Award at the 61st Japan Record Awards, Ayasei released this track as his second single in May 2020.

Come back here.Mizuki Natsumi

Come back here.

A poignant enka of homesickness that longs for a father who won’t return home, as if waiting for spring to arrive in the Tsugaru Plain.

Natsumi Mizuki’s powerful yet lyrical voice—nurtured by folk song—merges with Tsugaru’s primal scenery, from apple orchards to the sound of steam whistles, stirring the listener’s heart.

Released in August 2017 as her sixth single, this song later became one of her signature tracks, included on the album “Utatugumi 2” and the best-of collection “Zenkyokushū 2021.” For those living away from their hometowns, it may overlap with feelings for their own families and make their hearts swell.

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.

The Woman of the Tsugaru StraitSonin

PV Sonim Tsugaru Strait Woman

Sonim debuted in 2000 as the vocalist of EE JUMP.

Tsugaru Kaikyō no Onna is her second solo single, released in November 2002.

Despite its enka-like title, it’s a pop song written and composed by Tsunku♂.

Many listeners may have seen themselves in the image of someone living alone in Tokyo, thinking of their hometown while listening to a song from Tsugaru.

Aomori ElegyHonma Aine

Aine Honma new song 'Aomori Lament' MUSIC VIDEO released on 2024.1.24

A song where the protagonist’s bittersweet feelings, visiting the hometown of a former lover, overlap with the harsh winter scenes of Aomori.

Manane Honma’s heartfelt vocals leave a deep impression on listeners.

Released in January 2024, this work is the coupling track on Honma’s first single after moving to King Records.

The music video, filmed in Sotogahama, Aomori Prefecture, also drew attention.

Her vocals, filled with love for Aomori, are sure to set your heart aglow.

OiraseYamamoto Jōji

Joji Yamamoto Oirase Enka Hyakusen

A single by Joji Yamamoto released in June 1991 (Heisei 3).

While his signature song “Michinoku Hitori Tabi” was sung powerfully with a touch of pathos, this song is gentle and refreshing, like the murmuring stream of the Oirase Gorge.

It became the first local Tohoku-themed song in a while to score a hit.