Beautiful Folk Songs Passed Down in Miyagi Prefecture: A Collection of Masterpieces that Play the Heart of the Hometown
The many folk songs that live on in Miyagi Prefecture are sonic treasures that vividly reflect Tohoku’s culture and the lives of its people.
From mountain songs set against majestic peaks to fishermen’s songs praising the bounty of the sea, the rich voices born from the land and people’s way of life can still be heard across the region.
This article brings together folk songs from Miyagi, centered around Sendai.
Why not lend an ear to the gentle melodies imbued with the feelings of our forebears—melodies that evoke the changing seasons, the bustle of festivals, and the joys of farm work?
Beautiful Folk Songs Handed Down in Miyagi Prefecture: A Collection of Masterpieces That Play the Heart of the Hometown (1–10)
Sendai Medeta
A folk song brimming with a bright, festive charm, passed down and sung at celebratory gatherings.
Long cherished in the region as a New Year’s doorstep song wishing for people’s happiness, it pairs a gentle, simple melody with universal prayers that resonate in the listener’s heart—hopes for the future and an ode to the vitality of life.
It’s a perfect piece not only for New Year celebrations, but also to tenderly accompany wishes for the future prosperity of someone dear.
And it’s just right for those moments when you want to lift your spirits through the sounds of traditional Japanese music.
Sansa ShigureYoshizawa Hiroshi
Sansa Shigure is a folk song widely cherished mainly in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, as well as in Mizusawa City in Iwate Prefecture, the eastern part of Yamagata Prefecture, and from Soma City to the Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture.
It is regarded as one of the most refined songs among Japanese folk music.
According to tradition, it originated when Date Masamune adapted a poem by Watari Goro Shigemune of the Date clan—“Without a sound, the night’s drizzle comes over the thatch fields, falling ‘sansa’ upon my sleeves”—into the song Sansa Shigure and had his soldiers sing it.
Saitaro-bushiFORESTA
Saitaro-bushi is a folk song sung by fishermen along the Matsushima coast in Miyagi Prefecture when they head out for skipjack tuna fishing, praying to the sea gods for a bountiful catch.
It is said to have developed from Kesenzaka, a song from Iwate Prefecture.
On days of big catches, it is also sung upon returning to the bay, and it is cherished as a celebratory song for venerating Toshitokujin, the deity who presides over the year’s good fortune.
Shiogama Obara-bushi
It’s a piece that seems to carry the bustle of a port town and the cheerful laughter of people gathered at a feast.
What began as a work song born in salt making and sake brewing eventually transformed into a lively tune beloved by the people.
Its evolution from short poetic forms to a narrative, kudoki-style delivery is one of those deeply fascinating aspects unique to folk music.
This work, accompanied by the powerful tones of the Tsugaru shamisen, is a masterpiece that conveys the breath of our forebears to the present day.
As you let your thoughts wander to the rich natural and cultural landscape of Tohoku, why not take your time and listen closely to its simple, warming melody?
Great Haul Chant
This is one of Miyagi’s signature folk songs, known for its spirited calls and powerful vocals that seem to resonate through the earth.
The lyrics proudly sing of local landmarks such as Matsushima and Ishinomaki, conveying both the joy of people who live with the bounty of the sea and a deep affection for their homeland.
It was familiar to many as the arrival chime at JR Tohoku Shinkansen’s Sendai Station until 1991, and the band NeoBallad has also created a modern arrangement titled “Tairyo Utaikomi ~Saitaro-bushi~.” You can enjoy it in many ways—by joining voices with friends to feel a sense of unity, or by letting it evoke the majestic landscapes of Miyagi.
Weeding Song of Miyagita
This song, born from people encouraging each other through the grueling task of weeding rice fields, carries the earthy scent of Miyagi.
You can feel the resilience and warmth of those who tried to brighten the monotonous, back-bending work through the power of song.
Over the years, it has been passed down not only by locals but also by various folk singers.
Why not listen to this simple melody—one that has accompanied people’s lives—while picturing the tranquil rural landscapes of Miyagi? If you play it when you’re working hard at something, it will surely give you a gentle push forward.
Miyagi Bakuro-bushi
This is a labor song from Miyagi that vividly depicts a horse dealer leading his horse along a night road and the nostalgia dwelling in his heart.
Set to a plaintive melody, it features an emotionally rich phrasing that conveys the hardships of a long, harsh journey and a yearning for home—an impressive piece.
It can also be heard on the acclaimed album “Miyagi Folk Song Collection,” released in September 2013.
This work paints scenes that resonate deeply with listeners.
When you want to reflect on the grandeur of Tohoku’s natural landscapes and the lives of the people who lived there with strength, why not take the time to listen closely?