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

So that (I/We) can carry/bring happinessKawashima Ai

Ai Kawashima - To Carry Happiness (Shiawase Hoberu You ni)

“Shiawase Hakoberu You ni” (“To Carry Happiness”) is a song composed by a man named Makoto Usui after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, wishing for Kobe’s recovery.

It was originally written as a choral piece, but it is also known for being covered by singer-songwriter Ai Kawashima.

Because it has been sung not only in Kobe but also after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kumamoto earthquakes, many of you have probably heard it.

Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY

PUFFY 'Et Cetera Related to the Beach' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A single by PUFFY released in April 1997.

It reached number one on the Oricon weekly chart and became one of PUFFY’s signature songs.

Only during the winter season, at Kinosaki Onsen Station in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, the song is reportedly used as the departure melody, in reference to the local specialty, crab.

Tower Side MemoryMatsutōya Yumi

Tower Side Memory / Yumi Matsutoya Cover

“Tower Side Memory” is a track included on Yumi Matsutoya’s 1981 album “Shall We Meet Tonight?” The “tower” refers to the Kobe Port Tower, and the lyrics also mention the Portopia Expo held in Kobe in 1981, the year the album was released.

It’s said that whenever Matsutoya performs in Kobe, this song is almost always part of the set.

Yi-Er Fan ClubMikito P

Mikito-P “Yi-er Fan Club” MV

This song is included on the compilation album “EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Vocalosensation feat.

Hatsune Miku,” released in February 2013.

The work is themed around Nankinmachi, the Chinatown located in Kobe.

Hymn to Kobe

[Vissel Kobe | Kobe Anthem] The players celebrate with the supporters to the tune of the “Kobe Anthem” | 2023 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Matchday 33

When it comes to an anthem that stirs the soul of Kobe, this song is indispensable.

It’s a Vissel Kobe supporters’ chant set to the melody of a French chanson, with original lyrics created by the fans.

Written in 2005, ten years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, it intertwines prayers for the city’s revival with devotion to the club.

The lyrics voice a powerful resolve to overcome hardship together and protect the beautiful port city, moving all who hear it.

It’s a classic filled with the bond between the city and its people—one that everyone who loves Kobe should hear.

Bluermilet

milet “Bluer” MUSIC VIDEO (Kobe Suma Sea World Official Theme Song)

This is a track included on singer-songwriter milet’s single “hanataba,” released in June 2024, which was selected as the official theme song for Kobe Suma Sea World.

Centered on a world “bluer than blue,” the lyrics portray the bond of life between humans and marine creatures, drawing listeners into a grand and mystical realm.

The anecdote of milet herself forming a connection with an orca adds depth to the dreamlike soundscape.

Listening to this piece as you explore an aquarium might let you perceive a different kind of brilliance in life than usual.

Shigure Moon in KinosakiŌe Yutaka

Hiroshi Oe “Kinosaki Shigure Moon” MUSIC VIDEO

This is a genuine local enka number by Hiroshi Oe that conjures up images of steam rising from hot springs and rows of willow trees.

Released in August 2023 to mark the 15th anniversary of his debut, it is set in Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo’s famed hot spring town, and portrays a man’s lingering attachment to someone he parted with.

Oe’s rich, resonant kobushi vocal ornamentation further highlights the protagonist’s helpless feelings and stirs the listener’s heart.

The music video—featuring his first attempt at acting in a yukata and expressive facial performance—is also a highlight.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to immerse yourself in the mood of travel, or for nights when you’d like a companion to your sentimental feelings.