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

Ishinomaki BluesKajiwara Akira

Sendai Rhapsody / Funaki Bin

The name “Hiyoriyama” that appears in the song is the name of mountains found all over Japan, said to be hills sailors would use to judge whether to set sail.

The Hiyoriyama that appears in this Ishinomaki Blues refers to the mountain located in Ishinomaki City.

Though it’s a blues number, it also features powerful kobushi vocal ornamentation in places, and the song is set in the port of Ishinomaki—where departures overlapped with farewells as ships set out to sea.

Pray at dawnItō Hisao

Prayer at Dawn – Hisao Ito

It’s a song that somehow brings tears to my eyes.

It was the theme song for a film made in 1940, but it’s practically a military song.

It’s the song of a man from Miyagi Prefecture who is being sent off to war, resolved never to return to his hometown, entrusting his feelings for his family to the moonlight along with his loyalty to Japan.

Every time I hear a song like this, I hope Japan will never repeat its mistakes.

The power of the song comes through in Hisao Itō’s magnificent voice and vocal strength.

Lovely SendaiDate Kiyotaka

Lovely Sendai / Kiyotaka Date

“Lovely Sendai” is a new version of the song released in 2004 as the top prize-winning piece of the Sendai Citizens’ Anthem for the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding.

It has a vibe that’s somewhat bluesy, somewhat enka-like, and reminiscent of mood kayō.

Kiyotaka Date, who hails from Tagajō in Miyagi Prefecture, celebrated his 50th anniversary since debut in 2015.

There really are so many singers who are active in their local communities.

Lament of the Kitakami RiverHirohata Atsumi

Lament of the Kitakami River

From the very first high notes, it’s absolutely impossible for an amateur to sing.

As for Miyagi’s representative rivers, the Hirose and the Kitakami, lyrics about the Hirose River often evoke faint first love or passing memories, while the Kitakami River seems to express lingering attachment and tragic love.

This song “Kitakami River Zesshō” is also a story of letting lingering feelings flow into the Kitakami before marriage, and trying to forget.

Nice to meet you, SendaiSawada Yuki

Nice to meet you, Sendai / Yuji Mori and the Southern Cross ♪ Yukio Sawada [With Lyrics]

This is an approachable song themed around Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture.

Yuki Sawada’s vocals gently embrace the feelings of a woman who has just moved to Sendai as a bride.

You can sense her earnest resolve to seize happiness even as she feels bewildered by her new surroundings.

Among the many local songs produced by Southern Cross, its fresh and breezy atmosphere stands out.

While fully conveying Sendai’s charm, it beautifully portrays the mingled hopes and anxieties of starting a new life.

It’s a song that residents of Sendai—and those planning to move there—should definitely hear.

It’s sure to give you courage.

setting sunyoshida takurou

setting sun

This is a song written by folk singer Masami Okamoto based on real-life experiences.

The dice symbolize gambling, and the lyrics liken life to the encounters made while wandering and to the phrase “back to square one” when rolling the dice.

The ferry from Tomakomai, Hokkaido to Sendai is operated by Taiheiyo Ferry and still runs today.

Perhaps Sendai is the very first step back at the starting point.

Come to ShiogamaKikuchi Toshihiko

Come to Shiogama / Toshihiko Kikuchi

This is a song composed by Toshihiko Kikuchi, who hails from Shiogama City, which suffered devastating damage in the 3.11 disaster, with a heartfelt wish for recovery.

When local festivals and other events resume, the joy is all the greater, isn’t it? This song is also a recommended piece by the Shiogama Minato Festival Sponsorship Association, and it’s a festival tune that conveys the feeling of a fresh new start.