Miyagi Songs: Popular tracks that celebrate famous sights and specialties, and timeless pieces filled with love for home

Shining HometownMiyagi-ken

Miyagi Prefectural Anthem “Radiant Homeland” (Unveiled at the ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of Miyagi Prefecture)

Shining Hometown was created during the postwar reconstruction period as part of efforts to revive a devastated homeland.

With lyrics by Tokuo Tohyama and music by Fumihiko Fukui, it carries a powerful message vowing the advent of peace, the promotion of industry, and the building of a new Miyagi.

Unlike the prewar prefectural anthem, the process of selecting the lyrics through a public call in collaboration with the Kahoku Shimpo reflects the residents’ own zeal to rebuild their homeland with their own hands.

It is also noteworthy that the song continues to be sung at official occasions to this day.

Fall in love with SennanKitarouta

Ryota Kita - In Love, Sennan.wmv

In Miyagi Prefecture, the large city of Sendai inevitably becomes the focal point, and it’s naturally where tourists tend to gather.

But the Sennan area (Shiroishi City, Kakuda City, Zao Town, Shichikashuku Town, Ogawara Town, Murata Town, Shibata Town) is every bit as appealing—featuring hot springs and a castle—and this song is a local anthem sung in a mood-kayōkyoku style with a sultry, rich voice.

Tanabata DanceShimakura Chiyoko

Tanabata Dance Chiyoko Shimakura

Speaking of famous festivals in Sendai, there’s the Tanabata Festival.

While Tanabata festivals are now held in regions all across Japan, Sendai’s Tanabata Festival is one of Japan’s representative festivals, handed down as a traditional event dating back to the time of Lord Date Masamune.

The song “Tanabata Matsuri,” sung by Chiyoko Shimakura, was released in 1962, and even more than half a century later, it is still played as music for Bon Odori.

Miyagi Sendai Goza-in Ondokunoichi hata

Zain Ondo of Sendai–Miyagi [Highlights Introduction Edition]

Every region puts a lot of effort into their tourism PR songs, and they’re fun to watch and listen to.

This “Gozain” is a dialect word from Miyagi Prefecture meaning “Come visit, even as soon as tomorrow,” and they’ve used it cleverly in the title.

In the PV, a guy dressed in armor and a kabuto helmet introduces various sightseeing spots.

When I visited before, I also saw some pretty handsome guys doing tourism PR in different areas.

Zunda Festival SongMiyagi-ken Kakuda-shimin-sama

Zunda Festival Song, Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture

It’s also a PR song created with the cooperation of citizens who take pride in the fact that the only festival in Japan (and the world) where “zunda” is the star is in Kakuda City.

Using locally grown Kakuda edamame and rice and highlighting an authentic flavor, their zunda mochi is said to be the best.

Every year around late September, during the harvest season, the Kakuda Zunda Festival is held.

Longing for the Hirose RiverNoji Yukiko

Hirosegawa Yearning by Yukiko Noji

This is a local song about a woman who shared her sorrows along with the Hirose River and her faint first love.

The relaxed melody, combined with Yukiko Noji’s outstanding vocal ability, further enhances the song’s emotional depth.

In the Showa era, the true star of Sendai was the Hirose River—it was indispensable in songs.

Inn in AkiuChiba Kazuo

Kazuo Chiba Akih o no Yado Enka Hyakusen

The three major hot springs in Miyagi Prefecture are Akiu, Naruko, and Sakunami, but people who don’t know the readings often get them wrong.

I myself used to read Akiu as “Akiho” at first.

It’s Akiu Onsen.

The song portrays a secret love in a mature enka style with a sultry touch.

Kazuo Chiba has been active as a singer for over 35 years, but he used to be an employee of the Japanese National Railways (now JR).