A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.

Kurohime Monogatariozawa akiko

Akiko Ozawa / The Tale of Kurohime

It’s a narrative enka that lets you experience it as if you were watching a film.

Akiko Ozawa’s “Kurohime Monogatari” is a single released in June 2025, inspired by the folklore of her hometown Nagano, the Legend of Kurohime.

The progression from a quiet, storytelling tone to a dramatic climax truly captivates the listener’s heart.

If you’d like to explore enka rich in storytelling or feel the beauty of Japan’s traditions, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Evening Moon over ShinanoMitsubishi Michiya

Shinano’s Evening Moon / Michiya Mihashi

Michiya Mihashi, who is also a folk singer, calmly speaks of an unfulfilled love to the flow of the Chikuma River from a gently rising hilltop; it’s a song of travel-worn melancholy, reflecting on the past while drawing solace from the mountains of his hometown in difficult times.

Perhaps the reason there are more songs about heartbreak than happy ones is that they turn the kind of nature that heals the heart into poetry.

Karuizawa ConnectionOginome Yōko

TFMLIVE02-2 Karuizawa Connection.mpg

This is one of the tracks from the album “246 Connection,” which is themed around National Route 246 and summer retreats.

Yoko Oginome, who later scored a huge hit with “Dancing Hero” in 1985, was still a teenager at this time, and the songs portrayed a city girl image.

In the context of the album, this particular song is set in summer Karuizawa and, reflecting Oginome’s age, expresses the feelings of young people who “don’t want to grow up.” There is audio available, but no images.

Young Lady of the PlateauFunaki Kazuo

Miss of the Highland (Kazuo Funaki)

“The Girl from the Highlands” is a coming-of-age film from 1965 starring Kazuo Funaki and Masako Izumi, set against the backdrop of the Tateshina Highlands.

In the lyrics, the only clue that vaguely suggests Nagano is the mention of white birch trees, but the film is unmistakably set in Tateshina, Nagano Prefecture.

By the way, Masako Izumi was truly beautiful in her younger days.

Kiso-bushi SandogasaHashi Yukio

Kiso Bushi Sandogasa - Yukio Hashi

As the title suggests, incorporating the Kiso-bushi into a popular song was a novel idea for its time.

With his debut song “Itako Gasa,” a matabi-mono (wandering swordsman) number, he quickly became a star, and Hashi Yukio’s matabi-mono style gained widespread support.

As a result, a one-man show was scheduled early on, creating a need for more songs.

In particular, this “Kiso-bushi Sandogasa” was well received by many folk music fans.