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

Zunda Mochi DuoOowada Ritsuko

Fortnite with my big brother! Just regular Duos or sometimes Rumble.

When it comes to Sendai’s zunda mochi, it seems this Kitakami Kyo Dango Honpo is the place to go.

The lyrics to this song were written and composed by none other than Takashi Yanase, famed for Anpanman, and it’s said the mochi was so delicious that the tune came to him right away.

According to legend, one of Lord Date Masamune’s retainers, Jinta, hastily mashed edamame with his camp sword (jintachi) to make the mochi; from names like Jinta mochi, jintachi mochi, and mame-uchi (zuda) mochi, the term evolved into “zunda mochi.” As expected, Masamune’s gourmet tastes were the starting point here as well.

I love it! Gyutan-tanmo-tan

I love it! Gyutan-tan

Speaking of Sendai, the nationally famous food has to be beef tongue! I’ve had it a few times, and it’s truly delicious.

Domestic beef tongue has a delicate flavor and tenderness—it’s a real treat, though it’s also quite pricey.

As for the song promoting beef tongue, for some reason the image character is a girl wearing a cow costume, and the singing style is made to sound somewhat childlike.

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).

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.

Song of Sendai MisoUikurī Sasaki

Song of Sendai Miso

Sendai is also a city with a diverse food culture, but for Japanese people, it all comes back to miso soup.

These days, many young people skip breakfast, so I hope they’ll listen to this song and feel like having a bowl of miso soup.

Sendai miso is a rice-based miso, a long-aged red miso with a dry, robust flavor, and its ingredient blend is said to date back to Lord Date Masamune.

Speaking of whom, Date Masamune was apparently quite the gourmet and a skilled cook.

Still, it’s a bit of a shame that this song only uses “Sendai” in the title and doesn’t go further.

Chasing SendaiHigashiyama Makoto

Chasing to Sendai / Higashiyamajō (PV with karaoke-style lyrics captions)

The person singing is Mr.

Higashiyamashiro, who produced the song, and it seems like this is a demo tape for Mr.

Isamu Fukushima, a singer based in Miyagi Prefecture.

I listened to it carefully.

When I first heard the Tsugaru shamisen in the prelude and interlude, I wondered, “Tsugaru in Miyagi?” but the more I listened, the more it made sense.

The “northbound plane” is a flight to Sendai, and the song is about going to see an unforgettable woman.

It’s an enka number with a somewhat nostalgic feel.

MasamuneDate Keiichi

Masamune / Date Keiichi

When it comes to Sengoku warlords from the Tohoku region, it has to be the One-Eyed Dragon, Date Masamune.

He was also the one who built Aoba Castle.

Despite battles and hardships, he may have enjoyed the happiest later years among the warlords.

With its majestic imagery, this piece evokes a hero who, even without seizing the realm, was unquestionably a great lord who unified Tohoku.