![[Songs of Gunma] Exquisite masterpieces that sing of Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/w43QfRJYNuk/maxresdefault.webp)
[Songs of Gunma] Exquisite masterpieces that sing of Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people
When you hear place names from Gunma, do a nostalgic melody and lyrics come to mind? Songs themed around Gunma Prefecture are wonderfully diverse—from children’s songs and traditional school songs to enka, J-pop, and anime tunes! Many masterpieces vividly portray the atmosphere of hot spring towns, the grandeur of the mountains, and everyday life, and just hearing them makes you want to visit Gunma.
In this article, we’ve gathered songs related to Gunma Prefecture.
Why not discover Gunma’s lesser-known charms through music?
[Songs of Gunma] A treasury of gems singing of Gunma’s nature and the spirit of its people (1–10)
What a nice bath.Dyūku Eisesu
“Ii Yu da na,” known as the ending theme of The Drifters’ TV show “It’s 8 o’clock! Everyone Gather,” actually originated as one of 52 songs produced between 1965 and 1969 with lyrics by Rokusuke Ei, music by Taku Izumi, and vocals by Duke Aces, each themed on one of Japan’s 47 prefectures.
In this piece, Kusatsu—Gunma Prefecture’s proud hot spring resort—is featured as one of the many ‘great baths’ found across the country.
A Young Woman’s Dashing Traveling AttireMisora Hibari
Misora Hibari’s “Musume Dōchū Date Sugata” vividly portrays a woman traveling alone without bothering to dress up.
You’re overwhelmed by Hibari’s vocal prowess, and it conjures the image of a valiant woman—so much so that you can almost hear the familiar line, “Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a woman!”
Mount HarunaMizumori Kaori
A local song from Gunma Prefecture by Kaori Mizumori, known as the “Queen of Local Songs.” Mount Haruna in Gunma has long been an object of mountain worship, and at its southwestern foot lies Haruna Shrine, famed as a spiritual power spot.
As you listen to this piece, which sings of a heartbroken woman against the backdrop of Gunma’s famous sights, why not let your thoughts drift to the land of Gunma?
I love Gunma.yoshimi
This is a pop tune brimming with hometown pride by yoshimi, a singer-songwriter from Gunma Prefecture.
The lyrics pack in local specialties and famous spots—like Mizusawa udon, yakimanju, and the hot springs of Kusatsu and Ikaho—so the answer to “What’s Gunma known for?” is distilled into this one song.
Its buoyant melody, enjoyable for both kids and adults, also leaves a strong impression.
Following the album Takaramono, this track was released on CD in July 2013.
It’s truly a song that could be called the face of the prefecture.
It’s also a great pick to boost that “traveling to Gunma” feeling.
Minna no Gunma, CHANCE!Sakushi: Miyazawa Yasushi / Sakkyoku: Arai Toshiya
This track celebrates the 30th anniversary of Gunma Prefecture’s official mascot, Gunma-chan, and is a remake of a locally beloved dance tune.
The music was composed by Shunya Arai, a Gunma native known for his work in Shibuya-kei pop, while the lyrics were written by Yasushi Miyazawa, who made the unusual career shift from librarian to writer.
The lyrics are filled with Gunma’s natural beauty, warmth of its people, and the allure of its hot springs, vividly conjuring up the prefecture’s famous sights as you listen.
Released in December 2023 as a PR song for Gunma Prefecture, the piece was followed by a 1,000-person dance event in February 2024.
It’s a chance to rediscover the wonders of Gunma together with family and friends.
Summer MemoriesSakushi: Ema Akiko / Sakkyoku: Nakata Yoshinao
Natsu no Omoide (Summer Memories) is a song so famous for depicting Japan’s original pastoral landscape.
The “Oze” that appears in the lyrics is said to refer to a high-altitude marshland spanning three prefectures: Fukushima, Niigata, and Gunma.
If you listen while picturing the majestic natural scenery that remains in Gunma, you may experience a different kind of emotion than when hearing it simply as a traditional school song.
MY CITYDOTAMA
Known as the “pinnacle of disses in glasses” for his razor-sharp words in MC battles, DOTAMA expresses a warm love for his hometown in this work through rap.
Over a rhythmic beat, he speaks about familiar cityscapes and local specialties, as well as the shifting realities of regional cities and the gentle gaze he casts upon the people who live there.
His straightforward hometown pride is enough to make you feel nostalgic for your own roots just by listening.
Released in October 2018, this track was produced as the official promotional song for Sano City in Tochigi Prefecture, DOTAMA’s birthplace.