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

Kiso is in the mountains.Katsuragi Yuki

Kiso Is in the Mountains / Katsuragi Yuki

Yuki Katsuragi, known for her impactful vocals in “Bohemian,” surprisingly also has songs with a folk-song feel.

It’s a classic about a woman traveling alone who is moved by the quiet, unassuming nature deep in the Kiso mountains.

It’s unclear whether she’s heartbroken or her lover is so free-spirited that they can’t meet often, but it’s a masterpiece about longing for someone you love.

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.

Longing for the Chikuma RiverIshihara Yūjirō

Yujiro Ishihara - Chikuma River Yearning

The Chikuma River sounds like a song that layers the images of Toson Shimazaki’s “First Love”—‘beneath the apple tree where the bangs had only just begun to be raised’—and “Chikuma River Travel Sentiments”—‘By the old castle in Komoro, the clouds are white and the wanderer is sad.’ Mr.

Yūjirō also sang quite a few local-themed songs.

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.

Tenryu GorgeMizumori Kaori

Tenryū Gorge / Kaori Mizumori Cover: Eiko Yamaguchi

There’s a narrow footpath in the Tenryu River gorge that runs through Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.

I’m sure the protagonist of the poem must have walked this path.

In that melancholy poem about parting, it says that ringing a bell lifted their spirits a little, and if you cross the Tsutsuji Bridge at the end of this path, there’s a small “Bell of Happiness.” Naturally, it’s said that ringing it will bring you good fortune.

I’d recommend it more as a dating spot than a place for farewells.