[2026] Masterpieces Themed on Ibaraki: From Local Songs to Municipal Anthems
In Ibaraki Prefecture, magnificent waterscapes stretch from the Pacific Ocean to Lake Kasumigaura, complemented by farm produce nurtured by its nature-rich land and historic townscapes—there are countless captivating elements.
Many songs have been composed to celebrate the wonders of Ibaraki, cherished as a source of pride by its residents.
From municipal anthems to beloved local tunes, music themed around Ibaraki is remarkably diverse.
In this article, we introduce a variety of songs that express Ibaraki in many forms—from simple hometown affection to grand hymns to nature.
You might discover a side of “Ibaraki in music” you’ve never known.
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[2026] Masterpieces themed around Ibaraki: From local songs to municipal anthems (1–10)
For a wonderful tomorrowSakushi: Akimoto Yasushi / Sakkyoku: Gotō Tsugutoshi
This is a local song created to celebrate the birth of Hitachinaka City and to entrust it with hopes for the future.
The lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto and the music composed by Tsugutoshi Goto—both hitmakers in the J-pop world—with vocals by the illustrious Minako Honda.
The hopeful lyrics, blessing the start of a new city, resonate deeply.
You can almost picture citizens joining hands and moving toward the future—toward a “wonderful tomorrow.” Honda’s clear, soaring voice feels like a sun brightly illuminating what lies ahead.
The song colors the dance parade of the Hitachinaka Festival and serves as the melody for the city’s time signal, becoming deeply embedded in residents’ daily lives.
It will surely continue to be sung as an important piece that fosters love and pride for the city.
Boatman’s BalladSakushi: Noguchi Ujō / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
Sentokuwata (Boatman’s Lament) features lyrics by poet Ujō Noguchi from Kitaibaraki City.
It is a poignant masterpiece that reflects Noguchi’s own wandering life.
The image of a boatman who can only surrender himself to the current is layered with feelings of life’s helplessness and impermanence.
The melancholy scene calls to mind the vast winter waterscapes of Noguchi’s beloved Ibaraki—places like Lake Kasumigaura or the Tone River.
The lyrics, which touch each listener’s heartstrings in their own way, merge with the desolate melody to sink deeply into the listener’s chest.
It is a song that quietly questions the sorrows of life across the ages.
The Wind of TsukubaMizuki Natsumi
This is a classic enka number overflowing with hometown pride by Natsumi Mizuki, known as an enka singer from Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Her slightly wistful voice blends beautifully with the scenery of her hometown.
The line repeated at the beginning of the lyrics is especially striking; it likens the harsh winter wind to a nurturing parent, suggesting it as the source of her inner strength as she pursues her dreams.
With Ibaraki’s landscapes—such as Mount Tsukuba and the Kinugawa River—as the backdrop, you can picture a protagonist living with unwavering resolve.
It’s a song filled with pride and gratitude for her hometown, one that’s sure to stir the hearts of Ibaraki residents.
[2026] Masterpieces themed around Ibaraki: Introducing everything from local songs to city and town anthems (11–20)
Itako LullabyMiyako Harumi
This is a lyrical song by Harumi Miyako, one of Japan’s leading enka singers, that vividly evokes the scenery of Itako City in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The wistful tones of the shamisen and the unhurried melody are like a boat gliding quietly through the waters of the Itako marshlands.
This song is more than a simple lullaby.
It beautifully weaves together the sorrow of seeing someone off as they depart from the port and the deep maternal love that wishes for the healthy growth of the child held in her arms.
Beneath the gentle refrain of “nen-nen korori” lies a yearning for the one who is leaving and a prayer for the child’s future.
It is a timeless masterpiece that softly awakens in listeners the landscapes of their hometown and warm feelings for their family.
Koise RiverYashiro Aki
The Koise River flows through Ibaraki Prefecture and empties into Lake Kasumigaura.
This song is a single by Aki Yashiro released in 1984, and it peaked at number 52 on the Oricon chart.
The lyrics were written by Aki Yashiro herself under the pen name “Megumi Akino.”
Itako GasaHashi Yukio
It’s an enka ballad in the matabi (wandering gambler) style set in Itako City.
It was Yukio Hashi’s debut single, with lyrics by Takao Saeki and music by Tadashi Yoshida.
There’s also an anecdote that when Hashi first received the sheet music, he misread the title “Itako-gasa” as “Shiokuru-kasa.”
Toride Citizens’ Song ~A New Tomorrow~Sakushi sakkyoku: Tanimoto Takayoshi
This is the new civic song of Toride City, created by singer-songwriter Takayoshi Tanimoto, known for theme songs such as those for the anime Dragon Ball Kai.
The song is a cheer for the future, crafted together with citizens to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the city’s establishment.
The lyrics are sprinkled not only with symbols of nature like the city birds—the owl and the kingfisher—but also with words contributed by citizens through a public call.
As you listen to Tanimoto’s characteristically upbeat, rock-flavored melody, you can almost picture a hopeful “new tomorrow.” It’s a song that will surely warm the hearts not only of Toride’s residents but of all people who love their hometowns.