[Hyogo Songs] A Collection of Local and Love Songs Set in Hyogo

Memories of KobeSugi Ryōtarō

Memories of Kobe

A song by Ryotaro Sugi, who hails from Kobe.

It was released as a single in June 2002.

The following year, a newly recorded version was included on the mini-album “Omoide no Kobe ’03.” Set against Kobe’s scenery—places like Motomachi and the city of slopes—the lyrics portray a man’s poignant feelings as he reflects on a love that has passed.

The descriptive imagery is so vivid you can almost smell the sea breeze, stirring a sense of nostalgia in listeners.

Sugi’s rich, resonant voice blends with the beautiful melodies crafted by masters of the enka world, creating a deeply moving effect.

Nun’s SongTHUNDER

THUNDER “Nun’s Song” Music Video

A heartwarming reggae song that conveys love and pride for one’s hometown straight from the heart.

Created by THUNDER, an artist from Amagasaki City in Hyogo Prefecture, the track reflects on his roots and is included on his independently produced debut album Raion, released in 2011.

The song also drew attention for selling out 4,000 copies purely through word of mouth.

Memories of the town where he spent his childhood, recollections of the earthquake, and scenes of bustling shopping streets are portrayed with care over a warm, comforting sound.

It’s a piece that will quietly resonate with those who want to look back on where they come from, as well as with people working hard away from home.

Akashi StraitMizumori Kaori

Kaori Mizumori – Kazabana Strait Japanese enka folk song kayōkyoku waka with lyrics Enshū-nada new song 2023 Hyuga Cape Nichinan Coast Parting Sorrow…Takachiho new release

This is a song by Kaori Mizumori, the queen of local-theme songs, depicting a woman gazing out at the sea from Suma in Kobe toward Akashi as she waits for her beloved.

The pain of being apart and her single-minded devotion are expressed through Mizumori’s signature, soaring vocals, and listening to it makes your heart ache.

The track is included on the album Kayō Kikō VIII: Aki no Miyajima, released in September 2009.

The album itself spent 40 weeks on the charts, showing how enduringly popular it is.

Please take your time to savor it along with the beautiful seascapes of Hyogo.

Kinosaki Love SongHosokawa Takashi

Kinosaki Love Song

This is a signature ballad by Takashi Hosokawa, marking the milestone of his 30th anniversary as a singer.

Set in Kinosaki Onsen, a famed hot spring in Hyogo Prefecture, it poignantly sings of memories of a lost love fading beyond the steam.

Local words like “straw craft” intertwine with the protagonist’s helpless emotions, gently soaking into the listener’s heart.

Released in January 2005, the song also served as the title track of that year’s album, “Takashi Hosokawa Complete Collection: Kinosaki Koi-uta (Love Song).” A monument to the song stands at the site itself, and it is cherished as a classic that stirs the spirit of travel.

Juu 10Katte ni Kankō Kyōkai

Hyogo Prefecture Local Song “Juu-10” / Unofficial Tourism Association

This is a local anthem overflowing with love for Hyogo, created by the Self-Proclaimed Tourism Association, which operates under the concept of “Mind your own business.” The punk rock–style riffs, evoking the sizzling sound of Kobe beef on a hot teppan, are really unique.

Hyogo’s specialties appear one after another—like Akashi octopus, the Ijinkan district, and Nada’s junmai sake—giving you the exhilarating feeling of touring the prefecture to a rock ’n’ roll beat.

The song first appeared on the February 2008 album “Self-Proclaimed Local Songs 47+1: Japan National Inn Recordings,” and it was re-recorded in 2013 with an arrangement by Gagaga SP.

Its boundlessly bright sound is a number that gives listeners a boost of energy.

Tunnel of LoveHanjuku BLOOD

[MV] Love Tunnel / Hanjuku BLOOD (Support Song for Hokushin Yumeko, the official mascot character of Hokushin Kyuko Railway)

A track that paints a bittersweet love story about riding the train to see someone you like.

Created by Hanjuku BLOOD, a “railway-themed music group,” it’s a love song set on the trains of Kobe.

The racing heartbeat from bursting out of a tunnel to arriving at your destination, along with secret feelings you can’t tell anyone, are expressed dramatically with a whimsical, pop sound.

The song was produced in April 2016 as a cheer anthem for Hokushin Kyuko Railway’s mascot, Hokushin Yumeko, and was also included on the best-of album White.

How about it as a soundtrack when you want to savor the flutter of a one-sided crush, or when you’re touring the city of Kobe by train?

Summer BreezeMatsushita Moeko

Summer Breeze

This song captivates with a refreshing yet bittersweet feel, as if washing away the pain of heartbreak on a summer seaside.

Sung by Moeko Matsushita, a native of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, the lyrics feature Suma Beach in Kobe.

You can picture the protagonist, spending time with dear friends, overcoming a tear-stained heart and looking ahead.

The sparkling sound and gentle vocals are soothing, and the vivid imagery is deeply moving.

The track is included on the single “Ame,” released in January 2003, and it also served as an ending theme for a TV anime.

If you listen to it when you’re feeling a bit sentimental, its charm may resonate even more.