[Songs of Fukushima] Thinking of my hometown | A heartwarming collection of classic songs celebrating the beautiful “Fukushima”

Onahamaoni

Oni – 'Onahama'

Onahama is a large fishing port in Iwaki City, and it used to be bustling with tourists as well.

However, if you step just one block off the main street, you find streets lit with all kinds of flashy neon signs, which in a way can feel intimidating.

I feel there’s something in the background of this striking poem that resonates with the town of Onahama, but it is by no means a pessimistic song.

Aizu: Mountain DeityTsubuki Miyu

Miyu Tsubuki “Aizu: Mountain God” MUSIC VIDEO

Miyu Tsubuki, who debuted in 2015, is also from Yabuki Town in Nishishirakawa District, Fukushima Prefecture.

Her mother volunteered as a music therapist, and influenced by that, she became a singer wanting to uplift people through song.

Her goal is to be like Fuyumi Sakamoto.

In the middle of the song, there’s a phrase from Aizu Bandaisan, but it’s rendered in a very charming way.

Woman of AizuKasuga Hachirō

Hachiro Kasuga's 'Woman of Aizu'

The stage setting is Wakamatsu Castle in Aizuwakamatsu City, but locals call it Tsuruga Castle.

As befits a song from the Aizu region, the lyrics refer to it as Tsuruga Castle.

In the rain, surely without even holding an umbrella, you can almost see across time the back of a man searching for the woman he loved.

ROADFujiwara Maria

Maria Fujiwara “ROAD” | Telling the story of Minamisoma today! A song depicting a farewell to a loved one that was prompted by the earthquake

The opening track “ROAD” from the album “Innocence” has a music video filmed in Minamisoma City, which still bears the deep scars of the major earthquake.

The song portrays a farewell to a loved one amid desolate, overgrown scenery devoid of people, yet it serves as an anthem of support for the region’s recovery.

Its gentle, unhurried melody and clear, beautiful vocals are soothing to the ear.

Goodbye, highland station.Obata Minoru

Goodbye to the Highland Station (1951) [Vocals: Minoru Obata] - Japan Kayō Channel

There is a monument with song lyrics in front of JR Joban Line Namie Station.

The song was composed by Shunichi Sasaki, who was born in Namie Town.

Located along the coast, Namie suffered devastating damage from the tsunami on March 11, and because it is very close to the nuclear power plant, JR Joban Line’s Namie Station has still not been restored; however, it is scheduled to reopen by the end of 2019.

I hope we can hear this song soon.

Chieko-shōMori Masako

From Kotaro Takamura's poetry collection Chieko-sho: song 'Chieko-sho' (vocals: Masako Mori) and poetry recitations 'An Innocent Story' & 'Lemon Elegy' (recitation: Haruki Akiumi), accompanied by Haruki Akiumi's calligraphy.

In Kotaro Takamura’s poetry collection, he writes poems from his meeting with his wife Chieko through their parting by death and beyond, and it has been adapted into films many times.

What especially resonates is the phrase “There is no sky in Tokyo,” which, it seems, had been felt even before the war.

Chieko was from the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture, the area of present-day Mount Adatara.

She must have remembered that piercingly blue sky.

Soma Love SongAtsumi Kayō Kyōshitsu Happyōkai

Chuji Uchida Sōma Love Song Dance by Sukemoto Sukomasa (Hisamasa?) from the Atsumi Kayō Classroom Recital

Soma, known as the hometown of folk songs, also appears very frequently in enka, with many songs that include the name Soma.

In particular, even with the title “Soma Koika” (Soma Love Song), there are completely different songs, so I had trouble choosing.

I picked this one because it clearly takes Soma’s port as its setting, and I liked the line that sings of a heart in a storm.