Fukuoka’s folk songs and children’s rhymes: History and sentiments conveyed by the nostalgic melodies of home
In Fukuoka, where rich history and culture thrive, the moving strains of folk songs still flow.
From the current of the Ongagawa River and the canals of Yanagawa to the bustle of Nakasu, the stories woven in this land live on in folk songs passed down through generations.
In this article, we have gathered folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes born in Fukuoka.
From Tankō-bushi, the soul of coal miners, to Kuroda-bushi, which conveys the pride of samurai—timeless classics that many have heard, even if they weren’t born in Fukuoka.
Wrapped in warm, nostalgic melodies, why not experience the spirit of Fukuoka as painted through music?
[Folk Songs and Children's Songs of Fukuoka] The History and Sentiments Conveyed by the Beloved Melodies of Hometown (1–10)
Iwai Medeta
It is a folk song that is still always sung in Hakata on festive occasions.
It is also known as the “Hakata Celebration Song.” At the end of a banquet, after singing the first verse of this song, the event is concluded with a unique handclap called “Hakata Te Ippon,” which is similar to a single-clap finale.
Yame Tea Mountain Song
This is the Yame Tea Mountain Song, passed down in Kurogi, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
The All-Japan Yame Tea Mountain Song Contest, which features performances of this folk song, is held every year in Kurogi, the birthplace of Yame tea.
It is believed to have been sung around the late Edo period by people who came from various parts of Kyushu to the Yame region as seasonal workers during the peak tea-harvesting season.
Tankō-bushi (Coal Miner’s Song)
Tanko-bushi is now known nationwide as a Bon Odori song, but it is originally a folk song said to have originated in Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
As its name suggests, it was sung by people working in coal mines.
A record released before the war became popular in Tokyo, and the melodic phrasing changed, turning it into a Bon Odori song.
Lullaby of Hakata
Starting around the end of the Taisho era, it began to be sung as a song for geisha gatherings, and later became a lullaby that spread widely throughout the Chikuzen region.
“Goryō-san” refers to the mistress of the household where one is employed.
“Garagara-gaki” means astringent persimmons.
Although the lyrics are somewhat dark, the melody is relatively bright, so it sounds cheerful.
Chikugo Sake Brewing Song
Chikugo City has long prospered as a town of sake brewing, blessed with high-quality rice from the Chikugo Plain and water from the Chikugo River.
Because Chikugo’s sake incorporated the brewing techniques of Nada in Hyogo Prefecture, this sake-brewing song was also created under the influence of Nada.
It is said that there are various versions of the “sake-brewing songs,” one for each stage of the process.
Hakata-bushi
These are precious recordings preserved on record.
It’s said to be originally a folk song from the San’in region, but it must have made its way to Hakata by land and sea.
It’s quite common that songs turn out to be the same at their roots even if their melodies differ slightly, but even so, folk music is truly profound.
Maganko
This is a children’s folk song from Fukuoka Prefecture that conveys the warm love of a parent, sung while rubbing a child’s cold fingers on a chilly winter day.
It features a dialect word meaning “icicle,” and the scene of warming fingers likened to icicles brings comfort to the heart.
The song is a traditional piece passed down orally and is sung in nurseries and kindergartens during recreation and bonding time.
It’s also perfect for moments when a family wants to share gentle feelings, or for spending cozy time together during the cold winter.