With melodies that resonate in the heart, Iwate’s beautiful scenery unfolds before your eyes…
The culture rooted in this land and the lives of its people have become countless beloved songs that are still sung today.
The timeless history of the World Heritage site Hiraizumi, the mystical folklore of Tono, and the warm feelings of the people who live in the region.
The stories woven into each song are like a single painting capturing Iwate’s landscapes through the changing seasons.
In this article, we introduce gems of classic songs brimming with love for Iwate.
Why not let these songs stir your thoughts toward Iwate?
- Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Iwate: the heart of the hometown passed down through song
- Songs of Iwate: The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Enjoy While Thinking of Iwate
- Bands, artists, and singers from Iwate Prefecture
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- Miyagi Songs: Popular tracks that celebrate famous sights and specialties, and timeless pieces filled with love for home
- [People・Songs・Heart] A Collection of Miyuki Kawanaka’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Folk Songs of Yamagata] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song: Feelings Woven into Nostalgic Melodies
[Songs of Iwate] The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Listen to While Thinking of Iwate (1–10)
Bring it on! Iwateyoshitaka&eririn
Released in 2000, this piece is a campaign song for Iwate Prefecture, sung by a married couple living in Saitama.
The lyrics include Iwate’s famous spots and notable figures, and it’s said to still be loved by the prefecture’s residents.
With people like Kenji Miyazawa and Takuboku Ishikawa, Iwate has produced many historically renowned individuals.
SakuramachiCody Rī (Ri)
This is a gem-like ballad set in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, resonating with a heartfelt longing for home.
The scenery of Sakuramachi, the hometown of Hibiki Takahashi, is vividly portrayed alongside a beautiful melody.
Originally released in April 2020 as a digital single on the independent label “sakuramachi records,” the track was later included on the album “Seikatsu no News.” It received high praise from music fans, including selection for TOWER RECORDS’ “Tawarekomen.” It’s a song you’ll want to listen to quietly when you wish to reflect on the landscapes etched in your heart and memories with loved ones, even when far from home.
Alighting in the green townMatsutōya Yumi
This is a piece composed by Yumi Matsutoya based on her impressions when she visited Iwate Prefecture in 1975.
It was later adopted as the image song for Iwate Hanamaki Airport.
Early summer in Iwate was so beautiful that Yuming couldn’t help but write a song—just imagining the scenery makes you want to visit, doesn’t it?
Flowers will bloom.Sakushi: Iwai Shunji/Sakkyoku: Kanno Yoko
A heartwarming anthem created to support the areas and people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The delicate melodies woven by Yoko Kanno, who hails from Iwate Prefecture, and the warm tones of the piano imbued with love for her hometown gently resonate with listeners’ hearts.
Released in May 2012 as part of NHK’s Great East Japan Earthquake Project, the song also drew attention for being performed in a relay format by 34 notable figures with ties to the disaster-hit regions.
The lyrics, written from the perspective of those who lost their lives in the quake, deliver a powerful message to those of us who remain.
Offering the courage to overcome sorrow and face forward, this is a song you’ll want to listen to while picturing the landscapes of Iwate.
Sanriku ŌfunatoNiinuma Kenji
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.
Ihatov SymphonyTomita Isao
A symphonic work brimming with Isao Tomita’s love for Iwate, depicting the literary world of Kenji Miyazawa in grand sonic scale.
Released by Nippon Columbia in January 2013, this piece garnered attention for its groundbreaking use of the virtual singer Hatsune Miku as soloist.
Across nine tracks inspired by Miyazawa’s poems and fairy tales, the soundscape brilliantly evokes Iwate’s majestic nature and the mystique of its folklore.
Premiered at Tokyo Opera City in November 2012 to a sold-out audience on the first day, it was followed by a nationwide tour starting in Hanamaki, Iwate, the next year.
A gem of a masterpiece recommended not only for those from Iwate, but also for lovers of Kenji Miyazawa’s literature and anyone intrigued by new possibilities in music.
FLY AWAYSaToMansion
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.