[2026] Masterpieces themed on Ehime: from local songs to municipal anthems

Setouchi BluesHikawa Kiyoshi

Setouchi Blues

There’s the Setouchi Sea Line that connects Hiroshima Prefecture and Ehime Prefecture across the Seto Inland Sea, and in Takamatsu it’s the Shikoku Ferry, right? In the third verse, the place reached is Matsuyama Port in Ehime Prefecture, and although it’s a travel song about searching for a woman he longs to see, this time Kiyoshi Hikawa’s style feels more like mood kayō rather than full-on enka.

On “Uta no Natsu Matsuri,” Hikawa collaborated with Yuzu on ‘Eikō no Kakehashi’ and received rave reviews, and he’s been taking on challenges without being bound by genre.

Imabari Nippon-Ichi OndoBarii-san

Yurakucho Imabari Japan's No.1 Ondo Bari-san 2015-11-07

The local mascot Bari-san from Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture is famous nationwide and is no less popular than Funassyi.

He’s been extremely busy promoting the Imabari Ondo dance with a campaign in Yurakucho, Tokyo.

Understandably, the other dancers make use of their tenugui cloths in the dance, but Bari-san just wears his like a bellyband.

Song of EhimeBONNY JACKS

Song of Ehime

This piece was created in 1973 at the same time as the new prefectural emblem, during the commemorative ceremony for the inauguration of Ehime Prefectural Government.

However, unlike Nagano Prefecture’s song, it’s doubtful that most residents can actually sing it.

It seems the former governor of Ehime and the successor who took office afterward did not get along, leading to the emblem being redesigned.

The song narrowly avoided being abolished, but it’s unclear whether it has truly taken root among the residents in this situation.

Hiji River stormGodai Natsuko

Natsuko Godai “Hiji River Arashi” Music Video (1 chorus)

Natsuko Godai sings as if speaking to you, as if persuading you, about a forbidden love.

“Hiji-kawa Arashi” is not only the song’s title but also a real phenomenon: in early winter, fog that forms in the Ōzu Basin sweeps down the Hiji River as a strong, fog-laden wind that blows out to the river mouth.

This phenomenon is unique to Ōzu City.

The lyrics say she has crossed many rivers of tears, conveying a sense of a woman’s strength.

Matsuyama ShigureJōnouchi Sanae

Sanae Jōnouchi / Matsuyama Shigure

This is a soothing local song from Ehime Prefecture with Sanae Jōnouchi’s calm atmosphere.

When it comes to Ehime, the first place that comes to mind is Matsuyama—a charming city with a castle and hot springs.

Sanae Jōnouchi is a skilled enka singer, but she actually debuted as a member of the Onyanko Club, where her membership number was 17.

Come on over to Matsuyamaehime kenichi

Come to Matsuyama — Ehime Kenichi

It’s an irresistible song for people who love Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture.

After all, the singer—whose stage name, I believe, is Ehime Kenichi—bears the name “Ehime” itself.

Come to think of it, Ehime includes the pilgrimage route covering temples 40 through 65 of the Shikoku 88-temple circuit.

The song captures that kind of atmosphere.

This track is the B-side of “Furusato ga Ichiban” (“Hometown Is the Best”).

For some reason, judging from the title, I assumed the A-side would be a local song about Ehime Prefecture, but it wasn’t.

Kurushima StraitToba Ichirō

Kurushima Strait ~ Osaka Bay.wmv

Located off the coast of Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, the Kurushima Strait has long been known as one of the most treacherous parts of the sea—first Kurushima, second Naruto, and third Kanmon.

This song likens its swift currents to a man’s way of life.

Although Raymund Matsuya also has a song with the same title, it is a completely different piece.