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

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?

Playlist

Songs of Iwate: The Heart of Our Hometown Passed Down in Song | A Collection of Classics to Enjoy While Thinking of Iwate
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastFlowers will bloom.Sakushi: Iwai Shunji/Sakkyoku: Kanno Yoko
Flowers will bloom.Sakushi: Iwai Shunji/Sakkyoku: Kanno Yokoplay_arrow
A support song for disaster-stricken areas: Yoko Kanno’s delicate melody
2eastSakuramachiCody Rī (Ri)
SakuramachiCody Rī (Ri)play_arrow
A gemlike ballad depicting the landscapes of Hanamaki City
3eastAlighting in the green townMatsutōya Yumi
Alighting in the green townMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
A song composed by Yumi Matsutoya inspired by the beauty of Iwate Prefecture
4eastBring it on! Iwateyoshitaka&eririn
Bring it on! Iwateyoshitaka&eririnplay_arrow
Campaign song of Iwate Prefecture
5eastVOICESaToMansion
VOICESaToMansionplay_arrow
A rock song filled with love for Iwate
6eastTalarira Sanriku Reconstruction Support Versionunderpath!
Talarira Sanriku Reconstruction Support Versionunderpath!play_arrow
A message of support to the disaster-affected areas in a reconstruction support song from Iwate Prefecture
7eastSong of the Puppy Siblingsiwate · hiraizumi kankō kyanpēn jikkō iinkai
Song of the Puppy Siblingsiwate · hiraizumi kankō kyanpēn jikkō iinkaiplay_arrow
A pop song brimming with hometown pride that sings of Iwate's charms
8eastWith AllLyrics: Masaki Sawauchi · Yumiko Omori / Composition: Mao Yoshida
With AllSakushi: Masaki Sawauchi・Yumiko Omori / Composition: Mao Yoshidaplay_arrow
A cheering song imbued with prayers and hope for disaster recovery
9eastHometown ~Blue Sky Homeland~Usuzawa Misaki
Hometown ~Blue Sky Homeland~Usuzawa Misakiplay_arrow
Iwate songstress expresses feelings about the earthquake disaster in her debut song
10eastSanriku ŌfunatoNiinuma Kenji
Sanriku ŌfunatoNiinuma Kenjiplay_arrow
An image song that sings about the beautiful coastline of Ōfunato City
11eastThe Wind of Ihatovanbe mitsutoshi
The Wind of Ihatovanbe mitsutoshiplay_arrow
A lyrical song that sings of Kenji Miyazawa’s Ihatov
12eastMorioka BluesAoe Mina
Morioka BluesAoe Minaplay_arrow
Mina Aoe releases a classic song themed around Morioka
13eastLegends of Tonoanbe mitsutoshi & usuzawa misaki
Legends of Tonoanbe mitsutoshi & usuzawa misakiplay_arrow
A beautiful piece that makes you realize the importance of your hometown.
14eastFLY AWAYSaToMansion
FLY AWAYSaToMansionplay_arrow
Official Support Song of Grulla Morioka
15eastRock and hand! Iwate! Geodude!Pokemon daisuki kurabu
Rock and hand! Iwate! Geodude!Pokemon daisuki kurabuplay_arrow
Collaboration support song between Iwate Prefecture and Pokémon
16eastIhatov SymphonyTomita Isao
Ihatov SymphonyTomita Isaoplay_arrow
Isao Tomita’s Kenji Miyazawa Symphonic Works Hatsune Miku
17eastI think this is Iwate Prefecture.Go!Go! Setagaya Ōrusutāzu
I think this is Iwate Prefecture.Go!Go! Setagaya Ōrusutāzuplay_arrow
A song gently singing about Iwate's culture and nature, written and composed by George Tokoro.
18eastSoul of Tohokugurūpu damashii
Soul of Tohokugurūpu damashiiplay_arrow
A rock song brimming with love for Tohoku
19eastNanbu Cattle Drover’s SongIwate ken min’yō
Nanbu Cattle Drover's SongIwate ken min'yōplay_arrow
The Tradition and Allure of the Ox-Driver’s Song, a Folk Tune of Iwate Prefecture
20eastHometown WindShibata Yasutaka
Hometown WindShibata Yasutakaplay_arrow
A gem-like ballad supporting the reconstruction of Iwate Prefecture
21eastSanriku CoastKanazawa Misaki
Sanriku CoastKanazawa Misakiplay_arrow
The Sanriku Coast, which sings of Iwate Prefecture’s famous sights
22eastThe Narrow Road to the Deep NorthAtsumi Jirō
The Narrow Road to the Deep NorthAtsumi Jirōplay_arrow
A song that set Matsuo Basho’s haiku to music
23eastWelcome to KitakamiNemoto Miki, Chiba Kazuo
Welcome to KitakamiNemoto Miki, Chiba Kazuoplay_arrow
Introduction to Kitakami Bon Odori songs
24eastsnowneko
snownekoplay_arrow
The group Neko is debuting with a song written and composed by Takuro.
25eastMichinoku HiraizumiOosawa Momoko
Michinoku HiraizumiOosawa Momokoplay_arrow
Hiraizumi is inscribed as a World Heritage site. The historical value of Tsukimizaka.
26eastThe Woman of EzurikoMiko Takekawa
The Woman of Ezuriko by Miyako Takekawaplay_arrow
Ezuriko Village was merged into Kitakami City and used in the facility name.
27eastYearning for HiraizumiKanazawa Misaki
Yearning for HiraizumiKanazawa Misakiplay_arrow
Misaki Kanazawa promotes Miyako City through enka
28eastSong of the South DiverAndo Mutsuo
Song of the South DiverAndo Mutsuoplay_arrow
A folk song from Iwate Prefecture used in an NHK morning drama.
29eastNanbu sakeKobashi Koji
Nanbu sakeKobashi Kojiplay_arrow
A simple song that reminds me of my hometown
30eastThe monk from IwateMitsubishi Michiya
The monk from IwateMitsubishi Michiyaplay_arrow
A monk who runs away from training and returns to his hometown
31eastKitakami NocturneWada Hiroshi to Mahina Sutāzu, Tama Sachiko
Kitakami NocturneWada Hiroshi to Mahina Sutāzu, Tama Sachikoplay_arrow
Kitakami Nocturne has lyrics written by Noriyuki Kikuchi in his teens
32eastKitakami RiverNomura Mina
Kitakami RiverNomura Minaplay_arrow
A song of Morioka set on the Kitakami River
33eastHachimantai Travel SentimentsUrushibara Emiko
Hachimantai Travel SentimentsUrushibara Emikoplay_arrow
A folk singer put the scenery of Hachimantai into lyrics.
34eastWoman of HanamakiChiba Genta
Woman of HanamakiChiba Gentaplay_arrow
Introduction to a song themed on Kenji Miyazawa and Hanamaki
35eastMorioka RomanceYuko Kinoshita
Morioka Romance by Yuiko Kinoshitaplay_arrow
A piece about the beauty of Morioka, imbued with longing for my hometown
36eastLegends of TonoMatsubara Takeshi
Legends of TonoMatsubara Takeshiplay_arrow
A song based on anecdotes from the Tono region
37eastRock-Splitting Cherry TreeMizuno Wataru
Rock-Splitting Cherry TreeMizuno Wataruplay_arrow
A 360-year-old cherry tree growing out of a rock
38eastThe wind does not cease.Fukuda Kouhei
The wind does not cease.Fukuda Kouheiplay_arrow
Kohei Fukuda expresses life through the wind of Mount Iwate
39eastTravel Sentiments of HiraizumiRumiko Hayama
Travel Sentiments of Hiraizumi Rumiko Hayamaplay_arrow
A work that sings about the World Heritage Sites of Hiraizumi
40eastNostalgic Hometown TavernNakamura Mitsuko
Nostalgic Hometown TavernNakamura Mitsukoplay_arrow
My heart wavers at the song of my hometown
41eastKitakami Station of FarewellsInoue Hiroshi
Kitakami Station of FarewellsInoue Hiroshiplay_arrow
A song set at Kitakami Station in 1962 (Showa 37). It features Hiroshi Inoue’s sweet voice.
42eastNambu wind chimeNariye Shōhei
Nambu wind chimeNariye Shōheiplay_arrow
Traditional products of Iwate are still loved today.
43eastPoem of Miso SoupHiguchi Yoichi
Poem of Miso SoupHiguchi Yoichiplay_arrow
A song that became famous through impressions for its imitation of Masao Sen’s classic.
44eastHanamaki UjōFujimoto Haneyuki
Hanamaki UjōFujimoto Haneyukiplay_arrow
Hanamaki Onsen is a representative hot spring resort of Iwate.
45eastA lone pineSen Masao
A lone pineSen Masao
The Miracle Pine Tree is a symbol of hope