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

Kobe, the City of LoveRosu Indiosu

Los Indios / Koi no Machi Kobe (Love's City, Kobe)

I’m not exactly sure when this “Koi no Machi Kobe” was released, but since it’s from the period when Sylvia was the vocalist, I think it was between 1979 and 1983.

It’s a poignant song about someone who met and fell in love in Kobe, then broke up, and now returns alone to Kobe to search for that person.

Number 5 bibIzumi Tachibana

Izumi Sakaki / Bib Number 5

“Bib Number 5” is a song included on Izumi Tachibana’s third album, “Because the Sun Is Watching,” released in 1994.

It feels very human, and it’s the kind of song that makes you want to run away.

Izumi Tachibana is from Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, and Akashi mentioned in the lyrics is a city next to Kobe.

Habatán Carnivalkoimidori

Habatan Carnival (with vocals)

Habatan is a character created as the mascot for the 2006 Nojigiku Hyogo National Sports Festival, and since April 2007 it has been active as the mascot character of Hyogo Prefecture.

Its theme song is “Habatan Carnival.”

Kobe Festival OndoZa Shadekkusu

Kobe Festival Ondo - The Shadelux

It’s an incredibly old song.

It seems that a group called The Shadylacks disbanded in 1973 (lol).

There are three major festivals said to represent Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe: Osaka has the Tenjin Matsuri, Kyoto has the Gion Festival, and Kobe has the Kobe Matsuri.

To be honest, Kobe’s is too small in scale to be grouped together with the others, which feels a bit presumptuous… This song is the main theme for that Kobe Matsuri.

And, KobeUchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five

And then, Kobe — Hiroshi Uchiyamada and The Cool Five

If you’re asked about a song associated with Kobe, this is probably the first one that comes to mind, right? It’s “Soshite, Kobe” by Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.

They often sing songs with place names in the title, don’t they? Like “Nagasaki wa Kyō mo Ame Datta” and “Tokyo Sabaku.”

fresh snowHaida Katsuhiko

Shinsetsu Katsuhiko Haida.wmv

“Shinsetsu” (New Snow) is a novel by Fujisawa Takeo that was serialized in the Asahi Shimbun.

It was adapted into a film in 1942, with most of the location shooting taking place in Kobe.

This song is its theme song.

In addition to Katsu Handa, it has been sung by various artists such as Yumeji Tsukioka and Frank Nagai.

Kobe StrutWatanabe Furawā

[Watanabe Flower] Kobe Strut (MV) Short ver.

Watanabe Flower is a three-member band formed in 2001 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

This song, “Kobe Strut,” appears to have been created as a tribute to Ulfuls’ “Osaka Strut.” The lyrics, the music video, and so on are made to closely resemble Osaka Strut.