The World of Kagoshima Folk Songs: Traditional Melodies that Carry On the Spirit of the Hometown
Folk songs and children’s songs rooted in the land of Kagoshima vividly reflect the spirit and daily life of the region.
Masterpieces that capture a range of emotions—such as the toil of land-reclamation work, the prayers and joys of islanders, and the pure romantic feelings of young people—have been passed down across generations and are still cherished today by locals and by those living away from their hometown.
In this article, we’ve gathered folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes brimming with love for Kagoshima.
Please enjoy the moving world of Kagoshima’s folk music.
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The World of Kagoshima Folk Songs: Traditional Melodies Passing Down the Heart of Our Homeland (11–20)
The Chawanmushi Songogojōzu
This is a song that everyone from Kagoshima Prefecture is said to know.
Long ago, when a customer entered a shop and ordered chawanmushi, the clerk and the owner didn’t know the dish.
The owner questioned the clerk, thinking there might have been bugs on the rice bowls, and the clerk supposedly replied that they washed them three times a day.
It’s a comical piece that turns that story into a song.
Although it can sound like a children’s song, it is also presented as a folk song.
Tropical Love Story
A song that vividly evokes warm southern scenes and the pure love nurtured there.
The duet’s playful back-and-forth in love blends with a wistful melody and the distinctive inflections of folk singing, gently enveloping the listener’s heart.
Depicting the tender yet bittersweet romance between a deep-sea sailor and a woman from Satsuma, the piece was originally released in 1957, sung by Akira Wakayama and Yoshiko Nozawa, and later covered by the Komadori Sisters in 1963.
Frequently featured in films and radio programs, it also helped convey the charms of the region.
It is said to be beloved as a local song sung by bus guides during sightseeing in Kagoshima.
Kuninao Yone Ane-bushiShimauta
A single track that sinks deep into the heart, evoking the beautiful seas and greenery of Amami.
It richly sings, to the sound of the sanshin, the tale of the beautiful sisters known as “Kome-nee,” said to have once truly lived there.
For those who listen, it may gently bring to mind the landscapes of a distant homeland and the warm feelings of the people who live there.
Carefully handed down by artists such as Takashige Nakama and Minami Kizuki, this work is one to savor when you feel nostalgic for home or want to immerse yourself in the island’s unhurried flow of time.
Watasya BushiShimauta
A traditional island song that vividly evokes a sea voyage around the Amami Islands.
With a lively yet wistful melody, it sings of the feelings of those who travel by boat from island to island—partings, longing, and love.
Revitalized by a new generation of artists, including collaborations between Chitose Hajime and Kousuke Atari and remixes by Ryuichi Sakamoto, its allure continues to reach contemporary audiences.
Adopted by Kagoshima Prefecture’s cultural preservation initiatives, it is cherished and carefully protected by local communities.
When you want to experience heartwarming island music, why not take the time to listen closely?
Canned SongShimauta
A beautiful melodic phrasing of the island language, sung at a relaxed tempo, paints scenes of the homeland as if unfolding before your eyes—this is the island song.
In addition to being performed by artists who carry on the island-song tradition, it is often featured in programs that showcase local festivals and culture, and has taken root as a piece that conveys the allure of Amami.
For those living away from home who wish to feel the island breeze, or for anyone seeking to experience the profound depth of traditional Japanese music, it offers a soothing moment of peace.
Kushinoki SanosaSeikou
It is said that in the Meiji era, when fishermen from Kushinoki went out to fish off the coast of Korea, they sang while thinking of their hometown.
The Sanosa-bushi originated in Goto, Nagasaki Prefecture, but fishing on sailing ships in those days was a life-risking endeavor, and many boats reportedly never made it back.
The fishermen’s longing for home turned into a folk song tinged with sorrow, and it is said that there are over 120 verses to the lyrics.
The World of Kagoshima Folk Songs: Traditional Melodies Carrying on the Spirit of the Hometown (21–30)
Kagoshima Ohara-bushiMori Masako
Among Kagoshima’s folk songs, the Ohara-bushi is a representative piece whose light rhythm and accompanying dance are beloved by the prefecture’s residents.
The song is said to have originated in the early Edo period, but it is believed that the original “Yasuhisa-bushi” from Yasuhisa-cho in today’s Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, was passed down from Harara Village near Kagoshima.
Many singers have covered this song, including Teruhiko Saigo, Akira Kobayashi, and Masako Mori.