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

Moon-waiting Waterfall Love SongMizumori Kaori

Kaori Mizumori “Tsukiza no Taki Koika (Love Song of the Moon Samurai Falls)” Daigo, Kuji District, Ibaraki Prefecture

This is a lyrical enka number performed by Kaori Mizumori, renowned as the “Queen of Local Songs,” set against the power spot Tsukimachi Falls in Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture.

It portrays a single-minded, heartrending love that longs to meet someone no longer reachable—“even if only in a dream.” Mizumori’s clear, wistful voice blends beautifully with the waterfall’s serene, mystical atmosphere, leaving a deep impression on the listener’s heart.

Listening to this song may make you feel as though you’re standing amid the rich natural scenery of Ibaraki.

Hospitalityibaraki wakadanna

Ibaraki Young Innkeepers “O-MO-TE-NA-SHI” MV [Ibaraki After Destination Campaign Support Team]

Ibaraki Wakadanna is a unit formed as part of a tourism promotion for Ibaraki.

Their debut song, “O-MO-TE-NA-SHI,” is, as the title suggests, a welcome song filled with the spirit of hospitality.

Set to a melody reminiscent of nostalgic Showa-era pop, it conveys a warm sentiment toward those visiting Ibaraki.

Because the members actually work in lodging facilities, their message of “We’ve been waiting for you” carries genuine warmth and real persuasive power.

Just by listening, you can almost picture the entrance of an inn welcoming travelers and the gentle smiles of the people of Ibaraki.

This song will surely make you want to set out on a journey to experience the charms of Ibaraki.

The Tree of HitachiHide Yuki

Hitachi Tree: What Kind of Tree Is This? with Lyrics

Located in the northeastern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, the city of Hitachi is where Hitachi, Ltd., one of Japan’s leading companies, was founded.

The familiar Hitachi Group commercial song is “The Tree of Hitachi.” It has been sung by various artists, and this video features the version by Hide Yuki.

Song of Oarai TownBxAxG

Oarai Town Song PV / BxAxG

This is the official image song of Oarai Town, created by the locally rooted mixture rock band BxAxG.

The vocalist, NAOI, lives in Oarai as a fisherman, and that authentic perspective is a major appeal of the track.

The line “born, raised, and felt in the town of Oarai” conveys a deep affection and pride that goes beyond simple scenic description.

The lyrics, which vividly evoke the warmth and kindness of the townspeople, are truly the everyday life of Oarai.

Carried by an energetic sound, the straightforward feelings it delivers warmly embrace listeners’ hearts—making it a quintessential local anthem overflowing with love for the town.

Ah, Mito RōshiKitajima Saburō

Ah, Mito Rōshi

This is a celebrated song that sings of Mito’s history, delivered with the soul-stirring voice of Saburo Kitajima, a giant of the enka world.

The piece takes the late-Edo “Tengu Party Rebellion” as its theme, depicting the grim resolve and pride of the Mito loyalists who rose out of concern for their country.

Kitajima’s powerful yet heartrending vocals feel as if the spirits of those warriors have possessed him.

Listening to his voice, you can vividly picture their arduous journey toward snowy Tsuruga and the fiery convictions they held close to their hearts.

Created to commemorate the sister-city partnership with Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture, this song profoundly conveys the spirit of righteousness that lives on in Ibaraki’s history.

It is a weighty work that will captivate anyone who loves historical narratives and refuse to let go.

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 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.