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
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
- [Akita Songs] A Collection of Gem-Like Local Tunes Filled with Love for Hometowns
- [Songs of Aomori] A collection of local songs depicting the grandeur of nature and the warmth of its people.
- [Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride
- Beautiful Folk Songs Passed Down in Miyagi Prefecture: A Collection of Masterpieces that Play the Heart of the Hometown
- A Collection of Moving Shakuhachi Masterpieces | Beautiful Japanese Melodies That Stir the Heart
- [2026] Masterpieces Themed on Ibaraki: From Local Songs to Municipal Anthems
- 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)
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.
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?
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.
VOICESaToMansion
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!
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
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.