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

With AllLyrics: Masaki Sawauchi · Yumiko Omori / Composition: Mao Yoshida

With All (2020 Ver.)—A Support Song from the Disaster-Affected Iwate!!

This is a heartwarming support song from Iwate, imbued with prayers for recovery after the earthquake.

Set to a refreshing melody, it’s a memorable piece that brings feelings of hope and unity to the fore.

First unveiled as the theme song for a disaster recovery charity concert held in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture in November 2016, the song is performed by the “Morioka Kurukoi Family,” featuring members of the local band quad.

In 2020, a newly recorded version was produced as an encouraging message to those facing hardships during the pandemic.

It’s the perfect track for times when you want to feel that warm bond that keeps our hearts together, even when we’re apart.

Hometown ~Blue Sky Homeland~Usuzawa Misaki

Misaki Usuzawa / Hometown ~Blue Sky Homeland~

This is the debut single by a songstress from Iwate, resonating with pure vocals and the breath of folk music.

Released in July 2012, the piece conveys her feelings for her hometown after the earthquake, expressed by 13-year-old Misaki Usuzawa through her crystal-clear voice.

With a grand melodic line that evokes the vast skies and earth of Tohoku, and vocals that deeply touch the heart, it stands as a gem of a song in perfect harmony.

Upon release, it reached No.

1 on the USEN request chart, and she went on to receive numerous honors, including the Japan Record Award’s New Artist prize.

It’s a masterpiece best listened to while picturing the landscapes of Iwate or reflecting on your own spiritual hometown.

Sanriku ŌfunatoNiinuma Kenji

“Sanriku • Ōfunato” Kenji Niinuma # Original popular song Lyrics: Shigetada Kuwata Music: Shosuke Ichikawa Image song of Ōfunato City, Iwate Prefecture Creative Group: Nobi

Located in the southern coastal area of Iwate Prefecture, the city of Ofunato is a scenic tourist destination.

In particular, the Goishi Coast as seen from Goishi Cape—mentioned in the lyrics—is a beautiful shoreline that has been selected for numerous “Top 100” lists, including the 100 Best Beaches in Japan and the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.

This work is cherished by local residents as the image song of Ofunato City, which boasts such a stunning coastline.

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.

Morioka BluesAoe Mina

Morioka Blues Mina Aoe mrtyuchu No. 29

This song was born from the NHK program “Anata no Melody.” There was a dream-like show where amateurs composed songs and professionals performed them.

Mina Aoe released this song and even performed it at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

For the citizens at the time, it was a source of pride that Mina Aoe—who had released local-themed songs like “Isezakicho Blues” and “Ikebukuro no Yoru”—put out a track themed around Morioka.

Of course, it remains a beloved classic among locals to this day.

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.