[Okayama Songs] A roundup of local anthems and classic hits brimming with hometown pride!

Come on over to OkayamaOTK (Okayama Momoka Kōrasutai)

[Oidensee, to Okayama] Okayama Prefecture’s local song — Vocals: OTK (Okayama Momoka Chorus Team)

Brimming with hometown pride and set in Okayama Prefecture, this work was led by Mr.

Sadao Tsukamoto, a former prefectural police officer, and produced in 2021, with distribution on CD beginning in April 2022.

Sung by the OTK (Okayama Momoka Chorus), its charm lies in a warm sense of unity, as it comprehensively introduces famous spots and local specialties from the northern to the southern parts of the prefecture, accompanied by children’s interjections in the Okayama dialect.

Notably, it has become a participatory song used at festivals and neighborhood events, with local folk-dance clubs adopting it for Bon Odori.

Nurturing the joy of learning about Okayama and a sense of pride in one’s hometown, this piece is perfect for regional events and children’s gatherings.

Okayama People User Manualechirunaito no koosuke & RESTA

Okayama-jin Torisetsu / Kana Nishino (Male Version) — Theme song of the film “No Longer Heroine”

“Torisetsu” was originally a song by Kana Nishino and was used as the theme song for “No Longer Heroine.” Its derivative work, the male-version “Torisetsu,” became a hot topic online, and this is one of the many cover versions that were made.

The lyrics are about characteristics of people from Okayama Prefecture.

Shijō YoshiiItsuki Hiroshi

Shijō Yoshii - Hiroshi Itsuki - Local Song Okayama No. 18 - With Lyrics

The Yoshii River is counted as one of the three major rivers of Okayama Prefecture and flows through the eastern part of the prefecture.

Not only the river itself but also the charms of the Yoshii area along its basin are celebrated in song.

Incidentally, the Yoshii River is home to a fish called the Ayumodoki (Parabotia curtus), which is an endemic species.

Woman of KurashikiKasuga Hachirō

Kurashiki Woman — Hachiro Kasuga — Local Song Okayama, Vol. 10

Kurashiki City is a major city boasting the second-largest population in Okayama Prefecture, and a variety of local songs have been created there.

This song is one of them, expressing lingering feelings for a woman the singer met in Kurashiki.

Note that the character in the title for “woman” (女) is read as hito.

Shimotsui / Otaki / Madakana BridgeNakamura Mitsuko

Shimotsui, Otaki, Madakana Bridge — Mitsuko Nakamura — Local Song Okayama, Volume 1

This is a local song of Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture, sung by enka singer Mitsuko Nakamura, who is especially popular in the Kansai region and has appeared many times on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Incidentally, the Madokana Bridge is said to have been a place where courtesans lured the skippers of Kitamaebune ships; the bridge itself no longer remains, and a stone monument now stands in its place.

I really love the Okayama dialect folk songkeiki yoshi o

I really love the Okayama dialect folk song

The dialect spoken in Okayama Prefecture is called Okayama-ben.

The word “mongee” in the title means something like “tremendous” or “amazing.” It’s not so far removed from standard Japanese, so people who aren’t from Okayama can probably understand it to some extent when they hear it.

Ryujin Mabi Rangermacchotenguman

Theme song of the local hero “Ryujin Mabi Ranger” from Mabicho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture

This is a powerful, rock-style cheer song sung by Macho Tenguman, created as the theme for the local hero of Mabi, Kurashiki City, which suffered severe damage in the 2018 Western Japan floods.

To convey justice and hope to children, it’s built around a simple, straightforward melody and an easy-to-remember chorus, with the refrain repeating the region’s name and symbolic words.

Released in October 2018, the theme song has been used at local events aimed at recovery from the disaster, designed so everyone at the venue can sing along.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to feel the bonds of the local community through music.