Songs of Iwate: The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Enjoy While Thinking of Iwate

The Wind of Ihatovanbe mitsutoshi

Ihatov Wind by Mitsutoshi Ambe

Ambé Mitsutoshi’s gentle singing gives voice to a hymn for Ihatov, the utopia envisioned by Kenji Miyazawa.

With golden-shining peaks, rivers where fish swim upstream, and boundless grasslands, this lyrical piece conjures vivid images of Iwate’s abundant nature.

Its poetry weaves themes of living in harmony with nature and the preciousness of local culture.

Originally included on the 1992 album “Yume no Tobira,” the song was also released in May 2014 in a “~reborn~” version featuring Misaki Usuzawa, a fellow Iwate native.

The warm melodies of guitar, piano, and strings are sure to vividly revive hometown scenes in the hearts of Iwate people living far from home.

Legends of Tonoanbe mitsutoshi & usuzawa misaki

Tono Monogatari Mitsutoshi Anbe & Misaki Usuzawa

It’s a beautiful piece that not only makes you feel nostalgic for your hometown but also makes you realize how irreplaceable it is.

The composer, Mitsutoshi Ambe, is also from Iwate Prefecture, and it seems Tono was his parents’ hometown.

The beautiful summer scenes of Tono he saw as a child must be etched in his heart.

FLY AWAYSaToMansion

SaToMansion / FLY AWAY [Music Video] Official Support Song of Iwate Grulla Morioka

A song created as the official cheer anthem for Iwate Prefecture’s professional soccer club, Iwate Grulla Morioka, with themes of challenge, hope, and taking flight into the future.

It was released to the world in July 2019 as SaToMansion’s fourth single.

The track is also included on the album “the umbrella,” released in June 2022, showcasing the band’s growth and maturity.

The music video was filmed at Iwagin Stadium together with about 200 fans and supporters, capturing a strong sense of unity with the local community.

It’s a song we especially recommend to those who want to feel nostalgia for their hometown while picturing the landscapes of Iwate, and to anyone carrying hopes and challenges in their heart.

VOICESaToMansion

SaToMansion / VOICE【MV】

A passionate message song inspired by Iwate’s winter scenery.

Created by SaToMansion, a band of four real-life brothers, this carefully crafted track expresses their love for their hometown with a powerful rock sound.

Released in March 2018 as the theme for TV Asahi’s EX Theater TV, the song was also used for a high school baseball program in Iwate Prefecture, and a music video was produced set at Ōdaira Baseball Stadium in Ninohe City.

Its unique world, blending the sturdy rhythms of garage rock with the sentimentality of Showa-era pop, is sure to resonate deeply with people from Iwate who now live away from home.

Talarira Sanriku Reconstruction Support Versionunderpath!

[Official MV] Tararira Sanriku Reconstruction Support Version ~ NHK Morioka: Iwate Minna no Uta ~ #Morioka #morioka

This is a song created by underpath!, a group based in Iwate Prefecture, as a message of support for disaster-stricken areas.

Set to a bright and lively melody, it portrays the beautiful scenery of the Sanriku region and the warmth of its people, delivering courage and hope to listeners.

Produced in cooperation with the NHK Morioka Broadcasting Station, the official music video was released around 2020.

It’s recommended for those who want to rediscover the charms of Iwate or support disaster-affected areas through music.

Let the warm vocals wrap around you as you reflect on Iwate’s seasonal landscapes.

Song of the Puppy Siblingsiwate · hiraizumi kankō kyanpēn jikkō iinkai

PV of the Wanko Kyoudai song

This heartwarming, hometown-pride-filled song is packed with the charms of Iwate.

The lyrics, featuring the lively “Wanko Kyodai” characters modeled on specialties from across the prefecture, gently embrace Iwate’s nature and culture.

With an approachable, catchy pop melody, it’s a tune that makes you want to sing along.

Released in June 2008 as part of the “Iwate–Hiraizumi Tourism Campaign,” this piece played an important role in showcasing Iwate’s appeal far and wide.

Give it a listen before visiting Iwate, and your wanderlust will grow even more.

Rock and hand! Iwate! Geodude!Pokemon daisuki kurabu

[Official] “Iwate Prefecture × Geodude” Theme Song: “Rock and Hands! Iwate! Geodude!”

The prefectural support song born from the collaboration between Iwate Prefecture and Pokémon is a popular track brimming with hometown pride and humor.

Its upbeat, rock-inspired melody is paired with memorable lyrics that blend Iwate’s appeal with the distinctive traits of Geodude.

With vocals by Kazuo Sato, a native of Ninohe City, the song powerfully conveys the spirit of Iwate.

Since its release in May 2019, it has been featured at events both within and outside the prefecture, playing a role in promoting tourism.

Centered around the song, tourism promotions—such as the Geodude-wrapped trains and the installation of Pokémon manhole covers known as Poké Lids—garnered a strong response.

It’s a track perfect for Iwate natives reminiscing about home from afar, as well as Pokémon fans planning a trip to Iwate.