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

Uwajima OndoKagajō Miyuki, Ichimonji Tatsuya

Uwajima Ondo

No matter which region’s bon odori song you listen to, they all sound fun, don’t they? Uwajima Ondo is the song played during the Uwajima Ushi-Oni Festival, held every year from July 22 to 24.

A gigantic ushi-oni (ox-demon) appears, and the festival is packed with events like parades and dances by local residents.

Although bullfighting isn’t very familiar in Japan, Uwajima has its own bullring, and on July 24 a bullfighting tournament is held as part of the Warei Grand Festival.

“Uwajima Ondo” sings about scenes from the town.

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.

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.

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.

Niihama City Songshōnen shōjo gasshōdan

Niihama City Song (with lyric video · Children's Choir)

This is the city song of Niihama, for which a promotion project was carried out in 2013 so that it would become familiar to citizens and be passed on to the next generation.

However, it has quite a bit of history—it was established in 1947—and I feel the wording is somewhat hard to understand.

The very beginning of the lyrics uses the word “reirō,” which I looked up and found means clear and beautiful like a jewel, shining; it might be expressing the beauty of Iyo, but it’s a bit difficult, isn’t it?

Iyo ManzaiTonosama Kingusu

Lord Kings – Iyo Manzai (Ehime Prefecture Folk Song), 1970

It’s one of the traditional performing arts practiced around Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, read as Iyomanzai.

The song expresses, in lyrics, the lively dancing accompanied by singing, shamisen, and drums.

Representative pieces include “Matsu-zukushi” and “Osome Hisamatsu,” which are also mentioned in the lyrics.

There’s a version by Kaori Kozai and, though a bit older, one by Tonosama Kings—both songs are full of festive spirit.