[Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima

SakurajimaSEX MACHINEGUNS

Sex Machineguns – Sakurajima

I heard that one of the members graduated from a university in Kagoshima.

Apparently, they were originally active mainly in the Kyushu region, and that might be where their attachment to Sakurajima came from.

It seems to be a song about heartbreak, but the performance—like venting a haze of emotions—feels as if Sakurajima is erupting, which is fascinating.

Burning KagoshimaShimakura Chiyoko

Ms.

Shimakura has many hit songs, but I didn’t know this one.

Her gentle, beautiful voice resonates.

It specifically sings about Kagoshima, and I like how she occasionally delivers the phrases in a charming way.

It’s delicate and, I think, suits Japanese traditional dance as well.

Hang in there!Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Wii U Karaoke Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi - Kibaiyanse

It may sound a bit rough in the Kagoshima dialect, but it’s a song that hits you later, like friends or seniors encouraging you when you’re about to give up.

Nagabuchi’s manly, dialect-infused encouragement really carries weight.

Adding “yanse” makes it sound softer, doesn’t it?

Canned SongShimauta

Amami folk song 'Shima Uta' Kantzume-bushi

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.

The town where the sun smilesUeda Takashi

Kagoshima Prefecture Residents’ Song “The City Where the Sun Smiles”

This is a Kagoshima prefectural song that was selected in 1994 for “NHK’s New Songs of Kagoshima.” The author, Mr.

Ueda, was born in Ibusuki and, as one would expect, knows Kagoshima inside and out.

He sings lightly and refreshingly about Kagoshima’s sea, its historic cityscape, and its symbol, Sakurajima.

It’s an upbeat, forward-looking song.

I long for AmamiNakasone Miki

I long for Amami

This is a work from 1962.

It’s a song from Amami that carries an Okinawan image.

It evokes a relaxed, sun-warmed tranquility, like a horse ambling along.

With thoughts of my hometown Amami, I’ve resolved to return.

My hometown has a gentleness that embraces everything.

Yo-isura BushiShimauta

Chitose Hajime Amami Island Folk Song Solo Performance: Song Journey on the World Heritage Island Amami Oshima - “Yoisura-bushi”

A powerful melody that shakes the soul of Amami and resonates deep in the heart.

This song is a traditional island chant based on the belief in the Onari-gami—protective spirits dwelling in sisters who watch over their brothers and men who go to sea—and it is cherished not only in Amami but also in Okinawa.

Passed down by renowned island-song vocalists such as Chitose Hajime, many of you have likely heard it before.

Its warm atmosphere, lyrics, and vocals convey fervent feelings for one’s homeland, daily gratitude, and hope for the future.

When you think of Kagoshima, or when your thoughts drift to a faraway hometown, this song will gently wrap around you.