[2026] Masterpieces Themed on Ibaraki: From Local Songs to Municipal Anthems

The Crows of TsukubaMinami Haruo

Haruo Minami “Crows of Tsukuba (Ibaraki Prefecture)” [from the album ‘A Singing Tour of Japan’ – Beloved Songs of the Hometown edition]

This is a local song set in Ibaraki by Haruo Minami, known as a nationally beloved singer.

The emotionally rich “kayō-rōkyoku” style, unique to a rōkyoku balladeer, vividly portrays the scenery of Tsukuba and the human warmth that resides there.

The word “aho-garasu” (foolish crow) that appears in the lyrics likely symbolizes the protagonist’s helpless feelings and homesickness as he travels far from home.

Listening to Minami’s powerful yet gentle voice, you can almost see the sun setting over the banks of the Tone River and the scenes of Morokawa-juku.

It’s a deeply moving song filled with the spirit of Ibaraki and the bittersweet longing for one’s hometown.

For a wonderful tomorrowSakushi: Akimoto Yasushi / Sakkyoku: Gotō Tsugutoshi

[Official] For a Wonderful Tomorrow 1997 Ver.

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.

Seal of TearsKatte ni Kankō Kyōkai

Ibaraki Prefecture Local Song “Seal of Tears” / Unofficial Tourism Association

This is a local song from Ibaraki Prefecture by the duo “Katteni Kanko Kyokai,” formed by Jun Miura and Hajime Anzai.

The song’s charm lies in its unique idea of comparing the protagonist’s bittersweet feelings of love to Mito Komon’s ‘inrō’ (the seal case).

The poignant sentiment of “needing lies in order to love” is strikingly condensed into the phrase “tears as an inrō.” The lyrics are packed with Ibaraki specialties—like the “greasy sweat of Mount Tsukuba’s toad” and the “strings of Mito natto”—which comically portray the protagonist’s complex state of mind.

It’s a song overflowing with love for Ibaraki, where melancholy and humor blend to perfection.

The Wind of TsukubaMizuki Natsumi

The Wind of Tsukuba

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.

Itako LullabyMiyako Harumi

[1123] Harumi Miyako Golden Hits 12 (3): “Itako Komori Uta / Mune ni Namida ga Jin to Kuru”

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.

Itako GasaHashi Yukio

Itako-gasa / Yukio Hashi

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

Toride Citizens' Song: A New Tomorrow - Promotional Video

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.