[2026] Classic songs themed on Kochi: A roundup of local songs and municipal anthems

Typhoon of LoveKatte ni Kankō Kyōkai

Kochi Prefecture Local Song “Love Typhoon” / Unofficial Tourism Association

A local song for Kochi released in 2004 by Miura Jun and Anzai Hajime’s duo, the Katte ni Kanko Kyokai (Self-Appointed Tourism Association).

It’s a playful number produced in their “Ryokaroku” style—improvised recordings done at inns.

From pounding out ‘katsuo no tataki’ to getting swept up in a ‘typhoon of love’ the moment they spot whales at Cape Muroto, the lyrics comically portray the start of an irresistible romance against the backdrop of Kochi’s famous sights, and just listening fills you with excitement! “Whatever happens, happens!” You can feel the protagonist’s mood in this passionate and humorous track.

It’s the kind of song that makes you want to set off on a trip, as if you can feel the Tosa breeze on your skin.

To this land ~GReeeeN

GReeeeN “To This Land ~”

GReeeeN’s “Kono Chi e ~,” written specifically for the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi, is truly a song “born to make you dance.” With a special connection to Kochi—member HIDE spent his student years there—the track is filled with deep affection for the region.

Its sound layers a nostalgic, folk-like melodic turn with grand, gospel-style choruses, beautifully capturing both the festival’s fervor and a swelling sense of homesickness.

The lyrics about “joining hands” in “this land” convey the warm-hearted bonds that people in Tosa hold dear above all else.

Listening to this song conjures vivid images of Yosakoi under the summer sky, where everyone is smiling.

It’s a masterpiece brimming with hometown pride and pure joy.

Long live old age!Jii-POP from Kōchike ALL STARS

[Official] Grandpa-POP from Kochike ALL STARS “Hail to Old Age!”

With its innovative lineup and comical vocals, many of you were probably shocked the moment you first heard it.

Released in 2016, it’s the major debut single by Jii-POP from Kochike ALL STARS.

Turning the prefecture’s high elderly population on its head, the lyrics boldly proclaim “Long live the elderly,” which is delightfully refreshing.

Along with the lilt of the Tosa dialect, the song sprinkles in humorous nods to Kochi’s blessings like buntan and bonito, as well as everyday life—such as waking up at 5:30 in the morning.

Dressed in white as they dance, they look like the blue skies and white clouds of Tosa.

Just by listening, you can feel the warmth of Kochi’s people and its culture; it might be the ultimate anthem of support.

Yosakoi enkaKaneda Tatsue

Yosakoi enka

This is a local song in which Tatsue Kaneda—who took the world by storm with “Kagai no Haha”—sings the spirit of Tosa with passionate intensity.

Released in 2022, “Yosakoi Enka” is truly a song for Kochi, blending the driving energy of a festival with the distinctive pathos of enka.

Listen closely to the lyrics and you can almost picture a single-minded man, gazing out over the Pacific Ocean with pride in his hometown swelling in his chest.

Kaneda’s rich, folk-honed vocals align with the protagonist’s spirit and stir the listener’s soul.

Doesn’t it feel like a masterpiece you’ll want to hear again and again, distilling the heat of the Yosakoi Festival and the grandeur of Kochi’s natural beauty?

Traditional Ashizuri DanceSakushi: Hirano Koichi / Sakkyoku: Izumiya Ken

Authentic Ashizuri Ondo

A song born to commemorate the establishment of city status in 1954, it is considered the very soul of Tosashimizu City.

With lyrics by Koichi Hirano and music by Ken Izumiya, this is a traditional hometown ondo.

Its lively melody, carried by shamisen and drums, is layered with the spirited shout of “Sore honni,” making you feel as if you’ve joined the festival circle just by listening.

The lyric “If I’m going with you, then to Cape Ashizuri” vividly portrays the grand rainbow born from sea spray, capturing the hearts of many.

Why not listen to this piece—where the force of the Pacific’s nature blends with the strength of its people—and savor the atmosphere of Tosa?

Kochi City SongSakushi: Shigematsu Fuji / Sakkyoku: Hirai Yasuki

Kochi City Song with subtitles and furigana (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture) 4K

With lyrics by Fuji Shigematsu and music by Yasuki Hirai—known for “Tonbo no Megane”—this piece is the city song of Kochi, born during Japan’s postwar reconstruction.

Remarkably, the lyrics were written by Shigematsu when he was a high school student, and his work was chosen from nearly a thousand submissions.

Phrases like “the seething rocky shores of the Kuroshio” and “the great phoenix soaring across the heavens” evoke Kochi’s majestic nature and an indomitable spirit looking to the future.

You can feel the citizens’ fervent wish to rise powerfully from the scorched ruins as the “heart of Tosa,” a feeling that surges together with the heroic melody.

Even now, more than 75 years later, it is still played at City Hall and sustains people’s hearts—a reminder of the profound power a song can hold.

Happy to be born in KamiSakushi: Kōchi-shi no kodomo-tachi / Sakkyoku: Horiuchi Kei

Happy to be born in Kami

This song sets gentle melodies by singer-songwriter Kei Horiuchi, a native of Kochi Prefecture, to words woven by the children of Kami City.

Created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of cityhood, its pure lyrics conjure vivid images of the hometown’s beautiful scenery as seen through children’s eyes.

The chorus phrase is truly the crystallization of local pride, and the straightforward sentiment—“I’m happy to have been born in Kami City”—rides on Horiuchi’s uniquely warm, pop sound to resonate deeply with listeners.

It is a local song brimming with the pride of the children who will shape the future—a true treasure.