[Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride

Ishin Dancin’ Kagoshima Citykagoshima shi kankou nabi

Ishin Dancin’ Kagoshima City – Special Movie

This is a tourism promotion piece that expresses the charms of Kagoshima City through music and dance.

The first installment was released in January 2018 and drew attention with a unique video featuring the Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School boys’ rhythmic gymnastics team dressed as Saigo Takamori.

The second installment, released in January 2019, delves deeper into regional attractions such as World Heritage sites and the Kagoshima dialect.

In the third installment, Saigo Takamori returns from space and joins citizens to promote Kagoshima City.

Set to upbeat, cheerful pop music, the work blends comical performances with Kagoshima’s rich scenery and food culture.

It’s a perfect piece for those who want to explore the region’s history and culture.

Dotonbori SentimentTendō Yoshimi

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Dotonbori (Tonbori) Ninjō (Full Ver.)

It’s a song so perfect that if Yoshimi-chan doesn’t sing it, who will? It’s steeped in Osaka through and through, and, just like the title says, I felt it was full of human warmth.

Yes, it’s a song that truly carries that spirited attitude.

I think it’s a track that makes it clear why Yoshimi-chan, the most quintessential Osaka girl, is loved by everyone.

“Mijumarism” — Mie Prefecture Version

[Official Pokémon] Oshawott’s Song “Mijumarhythm” – Mie Prefecture Version – Pokémon Kids TV [Children’s Song]

Cuing seaside, mountain, and village scenes of Mie, a bouncing beat and claps invite you into a pop groove.

Repeated wordplay and call-and-response design create a friendly feel, as the song tells a guide’s-eye story that leads listeners to local landmarks.

Pride in one’s hometown and the joy of dancing together breathe through its light melody.

Released in July 2023 as an official video within a prefectural regional-collaboration project.

The original track is a regional version based on a pre-release from March 2023, tied to Mijumaru-themed tourism initiatives and resonating with on-site plans like a wrapped limited express debuting in 2025.

Perfect for family drives, outings, and dances at schools or events.

It’s also great for setting the mood before a trip to Mie—sure to spark your excitement.

The wind is future-colored.

The wind is future-colored.

This song captivates with a hopeful sound that shimmers like Saga’s lush greenery under an endlessly blue sky.

Set to a refreshing, pure melody, it portrays the vitality of nature and the figure of someone taking a step toward the future.

Celebrating the warmth of human connections and the beauty of believing in your dreams and moving forward, this piece will gently illuminate the listener’s heart.

With additional lyrics and composition/arrangement by Kazuo Zaitsu, it was produced in April 1993 as an image song for Saga Prefecture.

Listen to it on a morning when you’re beginning a new challenge or while driving through Saga’s beautiful scenery, and you’ll surely picture a bright future in your heart!

The flower that blooms in KuwanaMummy-D(RHYMESTER)

"The Flowers that Bloom in Kuwana" (Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture) / Mummy-D (RHYMESTER)

This piece unfurls like the river breeze and festival music suddenly opening up before your eyes.

Mummy-D’s supple narration weaves rhymes with Shichiri no Watashi, the Ishidori Festival, and even grilled clams, vividly reflecting the gaze and pride of a local guide.

Sway along to the warm beat.

Released in August 2019, it was produced as a tie-in connected to tourism initiatives in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.

While he released the solo album “Bars of My Life” in March 2024, this work stands independently as a freshly commissioned piece by the municipality.

It’s perfect prep before a trip to Kuwana, company for a homebound drive, or a companion to a historical stroll.

You might enjoy opening a map and tracing the place names that linger in your ears.

Mie Prefecture Arare Ondoatsu

Mie Prefecture Arare Ondo / Atsu

It’s a song that makes you want to hum along on a journey, with the heartbeat of the hometown woven into it.

From Ise Grand Shrine and the Kumano Kodo to the pearls of Ago Bay and the peaks of the Suzuka Mountains, Mie’s landscapes are painted one after another in a traditional ondō rhythm, bringing smiles as listeners nod at all the local “so true!” moments.

Pride in one’s hometown and a gentle wish to share it outward seep into the call-and-response, and you can feel the energy behind the video production that toured 29 cities and towns.

Released in January 2018 and included on the 2020 album “Song‑Letter: A Poem’s Tidings.” The video is featured on Mie Prefecture’s tourism promotion site “Tsudzuki…,” and it shines with the upbeat pop sensibility characteristic of Atsu from Tsu City.

Perfect for local festivals and tourism events, and a reassuring home song for those living away from Mie.

Treasure Huntkururi

Quruli × Kōhoku Town, Saga Prefecture “Treasure Hunt” main video — Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the town administration

This song is drawn from a warm perspective that discovers small joys shining in cityscapes and everyday life.

After the members of Quruli actually visited Kōhoku Town in Saga Prefecture and experienced its rich nature and culture, their impressions were sublimated into a melody filled with the delight of finding a treasure.

Released in August 2022, the piece was created as the theme song commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kōhoku Town’s incorporation.

It has also been adopted as the station jingle at Kōhoku Station, the town’s gateway, gently blending into the daily lives of local residents.

When you’re a little tired from hectic days, it’s lovely to listen closely to the gentle tones spun by Quruli and try searching for the “treasures” right by your side.