[Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
Across Japan, there are many “local songs” created around themes like regional climate and traditions, long-standing customs, hometown pride, and specialty foods.
However, few people are likely familiar with songs from places far from their own living area or hometown.
Some might even have spent years in a region without knowing its local songs at all.
In this article, we’ll introduce some highly impactful, must-hear local songs from across Japan that we hope many of you will get to know.
If it’s a place you’ve visited, try listening while picturing the local scenery.
If it’s somewhere you’ve never been, let the song help you imagine the land and the lives of the people who live there.
- A roundup of regional enka songs: classic hits that feature places from all across Japan in their lyrics.
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- [2026] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: the heart of a beloved homeland passed down in song
- Introducing famous songs about Shizuoka: Local anthems and popular tracks [2026]
- [Songs of Saitama] A Wealth of Humor-Filled Classics! Local Anthems Packed with Love for Saitama
- Songs related to Mie Prefecture. Beloved local tunes of Mie that continue to be cherished.
- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.
- A classic song that celebrates Niigata. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Songs about Tokyo: A collection of popular J‑Pop classics [2026]
- Masterpieces that sing of love. Recommended popular songs.
- [Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima
[Local Songs] Recommended Tracks Filled with Hometown Pride: Beloved Classics from Across Japan (131–140)
Talarira Sanriku Reconstruction Support Versionunderpath!
This is a song created by underpath!, a group based in Iwate Prefecture, as a message of support for disaster-stricken areas.
Set to a bright and lively melody, it portrays the beautiful scenery of the Sanriku region and the warmth of its people, delivering courage and hope to listeners.
Produced in cooperation with the NHK Morioka Broadcasting Station, the official music video was released around 2020.
It’s recommended for those who want to rediscover the charms of Iwate or support disaster-affected areas through music.
Let the warm vocals wrap around you as you reflect on Iwate’s seasonal landscapes.
Give me your heart[Kōshiki] Hiroshima-ken Kure-shi Orijinaru Songu
![Give me your heart[Kōshiki] Hiroshima-ken Kure-shi Orijinaru Songu](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bu7C1RYDOZo/sddefault.jpg)
An official song from Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture overflowing with local pride, conveying a deep love and pride for one’s hometown.
Realized in January 2019 at the long-held wish of Kure’s PR character “Kureshi,” the song features a pure, nostalgic melody.
Produced by Ryosuke Imai—known for work on Namie Amuro’s “Hero” and Hiroshima-born artist TEE—it successfully expresses Kure City’s appeal through music.
As part of the city’s promotional activities, dance lesson videos and sheet music for various instruments have been released, drawing attention as a citizen-participation project.
This is a recommended track for anyone who wants to express hometown love through music or experience Hiroshima’s culture.
Song of the Puppy Siblingsiwate · hiraizumi kankō kyanpēn jikkō iinkai
This heartwarming, hometown-pride-filled song is packed with the charms of Iwate.
The lyrics, featuring the lively “Wanko Kyodai” characters modeled on specialties from across the prefecture, gently embrace Iwate’s nature and culture.
With an approachable, catchy pop melody, it’s a tune that makes you want to sing along.
Released in June 2008 as part of the “Iwate–Hiraizumi Tourism Campaign,” this piece played an important role in showcasing Iwate’s appeal far and wide.
Give it a listen before visiting Iwate, and your wanderlust will grow even more.
Ishin Dancin’ Kagoshima City Returns ~This Is the Real KAGOSHIMA~kagoshima shi kankou nabi
Brimming with humor and energy, this work lets viewers enjoy a tour of Kagoshima City’s sightseeing spots and gourmet locales through a dynamic performance, earning particular popularity among younger audiences and families.
It was produced as the third installment of Kagoshima City’s official tourism promotion video series “Ishin dancin’,” released in December 2022.
Featuring the Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School boys’ rhythmic gymnastics team dressed as Takamori Saigo and delivering sharp, striking routines, the video quickly drew widespread media attention and became a hot topic upon release.
It’s a track that lets not only local residents looking to rediscover Kagoshima’s appeal, but also those who have never visited, feel the passionate spirit of Satsuma and its rich culture.
Come on! Party! Kanoya Kanpachi!gavamentowaakaa
A pop tune that cheerfully introduces Kanoya City, Kagoshima’s specialty: greater amberjack (kanpachi).
With lively vocals and lyrics brimming with hometown pride, it creatively expresses the deliciousness of kanpachi and the passion of the fishermen, brightening your mood.
Released in 2015 as part of a regional revitalization project, the song has been performed at various events, including “Hakata Kanpachi Jack” in the JR Hakata Station front plaza.
It’s a recommended track for anyone who wants to experience Kagoshima’s climate and culture, is interested in local specialties, or just needs an energy boost.
Soul of Tohokugurūpu damashii
A rock song filled with love and laughter, infused with the spirit and soul of Tohoku, sets Iwate’s heart ablaze.
Blending Group Tamashii’s unique humor with deep affection for the Tohoku region, this work bursts with hometown pride.
Released as a single in June 2004, it was created by Tohoku-connected members: lyrics by Kankuro Kudo from Miyagi Prefecture and music by Taku Tomizawa.
In 2014, an alternative version incorporating Buddhist-chant elements was also released.
It’s a piece that warms the hearts of people from Iwate living away from home—one to listen to while picturing Tohoku’s beautiful landscapes and rich culture.
Apollo (Hiroshima dialect ver.)Porunogurafiti
A song that radiates pride and love, sung in the Hiroshima dialect.
The local-version debut single by Porno Graffitti, released in September 1999, gained instant attention when it was used as the ending theme for the TBS program “Koko ga Hen da yo Nihonjin.” Its poetic imagery intertwines the grand dream of a moon landing with the stirrings of romance, made even more approachable by the warmth of Hiroshima-ben.
It’s the perfect track for anyone seeking a sense of nostalgia and hope for the future, or for those who want to experience the charm of Hiroshima through music.