Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Kumamoto: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
Kumamoto has served as the setting for folk songs and children’s songs known throughout Japan, such as Otemoyan and Itsuki no Komoriuta.
These works vividly portray the grandeur of Aso’s natural landscape, the majestic figure of Kumamoto Castle, and the rhythms of everyday life.
From Taharabanzaka, which conveys the sorrow of the Satsuma Rebellion, to Higo Kome Ondo, which celebrates a bountiful harvest, each folk song passed down through the generations is deeply etched with Kumamoto’s history and culture.
In this article, we have gathered folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes from Kumamoto, imbued with love for the homeland and the joys of daily life.
Let us lend an ear to the world of song where the spirit of Kumamoto resides.
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Kumamoto folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes: The heart of our hometown passed down through song (21–30)
Rhapsody on the Kumamoto Folk Songs Yoheho-bushi and Itsuki LullabyOkuda Tasuku
Rooted in two folk songs that embody the spirit of Kumamoto, this work beautifully weaves the resonance of the shamisen with the melodies of the violin.
The refined sensibility of Japanese tradition and the expressive power of Western music are harmoniously balanced, stirring feelings of nostalgia and a deep, prayer-like emotion in listeners.
Commissioned by Kioi Hall and premiered around 2017, a passionate performance video by violinist Fuminori Shinozaki and nagauta shamisen performer Choryuro Imafuji remains available.
Perfect for those who wish to connect with the primal landscapes of Kumamoto or seek a fresh musical experience that fuses East and West.
Why not take your time and immerse yourself in its world?
Amakusa Haiya-bushi
This is the folk song “Amakusa Haiya-bushi,” handed down in Kumamoto Prefecture.
It was sung by sailors as a drinking song.
The reason there are various versions of “Haiya-bushi” across the country is that sailors brought it to port towns here and there.
The “Amakusa Haiya-bushi” has also been passed down with lyrics and accompaniment adapted to this region.
Battens and BaterenKatte ni Kankō Kyōkai
When the spirit and warmth of Kumamoto are rendered by Jun Miura and Hajime Anzai, they turn into such a delightful and heartwarming local song.
This track sings about Kumamoto’s specialties and history—like horse sashimi, Mount Aso, and Amakusa Shirō—with affection, humor, and nostalgia.
The gentle tone of Miura’s guitalele and the cozy sense of place created by the “Ryoka-roku” inn recordings feel truly comforting.
It was included on the album “Vol.
1” in January 2003, and later featured on the February 2008 album “Katte ni Kankō Kyōkai Katte ni Gotōchi Song 47+1.” How about giving it a listen when you want to rediscover Kumamoto’s charm or are in the mood for music that warms the heart?
Kinyamonya
A cheerful children’s song that has been passed down in Kumamoto since long ago.
Its charm lies in the rhythmic, playful sounds that make speaking it aloud feel like a game in itself.
This piece has been lovingly handed down from generation to generation across the prefecture, starting with Kumamoto City.
In places where children gather and at local festivals, it has likely taken root in people’s hearts as a lively call that brightens the atmosphere.
Don’t overthink it—just surrender to the joy of the sounds and hum along, and a smile will naturally appear.
It’s a song that lets you feel the warm spirit of Kumamoto and the cheerful hearts of the people who live there.
Shinonome-bushi
Said to have originated in Kumamoto toward the end of the Meiji era, this piece carries the heartfelt cries of people striving earnestly amid great social upheaval.
The lyrics mention specific place names and convey both the strength of women who sought freedom even in hardship and a vein of satirical expression.
Sung and passed down by many performers—such as Terukiku, Asakusa Yumeko, and Wada Hiroshi and the Mahina Stars—this song may inspire the courage to persevere by letting you feel the spirit of those who endured adversity.
Kumamoto Sawagi Song
It’s a heart-thumping work that makes the lively castle town of Kumamoto and the breath of the people who live there unfold before your eyes.
The lyrics vividly convey the grandeur of Kumamoto Castle, the rich natural surroundings, and the warmth of its people, carried by the pleasant 7-7-7-5 rhythm and the charming lilt of the Kumamoto dialect.
If you want to feel close to Kumamoto’s history and culture, immerse yourself in the beauty of traditional Japanese music, or touch the warm feelings of longing for one’s hometown, why not give this piece a listen? Its upbeat music is sure to set both your heart and body in motion.
Kumamoto Temari Song
It’s a lively hand-clapping song that begins with the question, “Where are you from?” The rhythmic back-and-forth feels like children’s bright voices leaping right out, making it so much fun! The lyrics humorously convey the warm feeling of sharing one’s hometown and the old-time custom of sharing a raccoon dog.
This piece was sung by Keiko Fuji on her 1971 album “Keiko’s Children’s Songs / Keiko Fuji and the Green Men,” and became familiar as a nursery rhyme through the Yakult “Toughman” commercial featuring Shiro Ito.
How about enjoying a hand game again for the first time in a while?