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

Come Come KasaokaKasaoka Seinen Kaigi

[Come Come Kasaoka] - A community revitalization song from Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture -

Created by the Kasaoka Junior Chamber to revitalize Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture, this regional promotion song is a fun number that vividly showcases local charms through music and video.

Built on a J-pop base with danceable hip-hop and rock elements, it was produced by SONPUB, a music producer from the area.

The video features local highlights such as Kasaoka Bay Farm and the Horseshoe Crab Museum, and with appearances by about 100 residents, it has surpassed 100,000 views.

Inviting listeners with the friendly phrase “Come visit,” the song is a welcoming anthem that celebrates Kasaoka’s nature and warm-hearted people as a community.

It stirs pride in the hometown and makes you want to visit as a tourist.

Horseshoe CrabxKasaoka Seinen Kaigi

[Horseshoe Crustaceanics] - A Community Revitalization Song from Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture -

This is a regional revitalization song produced by the Kasaoka Junior Chamber to promote Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture nationwide as “the town of horseshoe crabs.” It’s a reworked, officially approved parody of a popular children’s exercise song, rebuilt to highlight local character.

The lyrics help listeners learn about horseshoe crab ecology in a fun way, and the choreography makes you want to move along.

Released in October 2024, it was performed two days later at the local Horseshoe Crab Festival.

It’s the perfect track for anyone who wants to discover local charm or enjoy learning about the region.

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.

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.

Okayama Sakaba-machi BluesMinami Kouzuki

Kougetsu Minami Singing Show ♪ Okayama Tavern Town Blues (Original Song)

This is a song by Minami Kōzuki, an enka singer from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture.

Released in December 2012, the piece is set in the entertainment district of Okayama City, the prefectural capital, and conveys the feelings of people in a tavern.

You can picture the neon-lit night streets and the human stories unfolding there.

Kōzuki’s powerful voice and classic, vibrato-rich phrasing evoke a love for the region, just like her other works that sing of places across Okayama such as port towns and hot spring resorts.

It’s a beloved classic that continues to be performed at local events and concerts.

That’s why Asahikawa.Mizuta Ryūko

[Music Video] Ryuuko Mizuta “That’s Why It’s Asahikawa”

Released in August 2022 by enka singer Ryuko Mizuta, this work captivates with a story that plays on two place names written with the same kanji but read differently: Asahigawa, the river running through Okayama City, and Asahikawa, Mizuta’s hometown in Hokkaido.

Characteristic Okayama scenes such as Tsukimi Bridge and the castle town are woven in, tenderly portraying the feelings of a heartbroken woman who, while traveling, suddenly overlays the landscape with memories of her hometown.

The song features lyrics by Reiji Mizuki, composition by Chiaki Oka, and arrangement by Tatsuya Nango—an Okayama-connected creative team coming together on a single work for the first time.

Prior to the release, Mizuta visited Okayama City Hall to explain the concept to the mayor, conducting promotion that emphasized ties with the local community.

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.