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

Wasyu Travel SentimentsDyūku Eisesu

Wasyu Travel Sentiments

A richly lyrical local song set against the seascapes of the Seto Inland Sea.

Produced in 2012 by a local NPO, it features lyrics by Fumiko Nishino and music by Yasuhiro Takeuchi, a singer-songwriter based in Shimotsui.

A recording by Duke Aces was released on CD in early 2013 at the Washuzan Visitor Center and has been used as part of tourism promotion.

While weaving in specific place names such as Kusumi-no-Hana, the Great Seto Bridge, and Odaishidō, its structure—where wistfulness and the romance of travel intersect—strikes a deep chord.

In 2019, a push-button song monument was erected at the Second Observation Deck on Mount Washuzan, allowing visitors who come to enjoy the evening view to be enveloped on-site in the rich resonance of a men’s chorus.

Amazing Okayama!Katsuragi Yuki

Theme song “Monge Okayama!” Yuki Katsuragi

A local song sung in a husky voice by singer Yuki Katsuragi, who hails from Kawakami Town in Okayama Prefecture.

The dialect word mongee, meaning “amazing,” makes a powerful impact and conveys a strong sense of hometown pride.

Also keep an eye out for the footage of Yuki Katsuragi wearing a sailor-style school uniform.

Wild BoyKawashima Eigo

Melancholic Japanese Song Eigo Kawashima Nobuzo (No-Kaze-Masu)

“Nofūzo” is probably an unfamiliar word, but in the Okayama dialect it means “cheeky” or “impudent.” The song was originally written by Hiroyuki Yamamoto as a message to his son, and it has since been covered by various singers, including Eigo Kawashima, Takao Horiuchi, and Yukio Hashi.

Kurashiki River Long SongNakamura Mitsuko

Kurashiki River Long Song

This is an enka piece set in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter of Okayama Prefecture.

A farewell story unfolds along the whitewashed streets and the banks of the Kurashiki River, depicted with the falling willow leaves and the autumn air.

With lyrics by Showa-kayō master Miyuki Ishimoto and a melody by Tetsuya Gen, it was produced by a classic powerhouse duo.

Released in March 2012 by King Records as the coupling track to the single “Nasakegawa / Kurashiki-gawa Enka,” the song borrows the local scenery—storehouses and bridges—to sing of the sorrow of human bonds unraveling.

Strings that suggest the rippling of the water’s surface, nuances of traditional Japanese instruments, and Mitsuko Nakamura’s vibrato-rich vocals together create a superb sense of travel and nostalgia.

Kurashiki RiverHarada Yuuri

Kurashiki River (Full Version) - Yuri Harada - Local Song Okayama, Vol. 7

This enka piece portrays the emotions of a woman who has resolved to say goodbye, set against the river flowing through Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter.

The lyrics weave in quintessential Kurashiki scenery—white-plastered townscapes, indigo-dyed shop curtains, and stone-paved streets—and the promotional video was also filmed in the Bikan area, fully showcasing the charms of Okayama.

After its release, it reached No.

20 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and took the top spot for enka requests on cable radio.

It also received high acclaim for its lyrics, being selected as an award-winning song at the 45th Japan Lyricist Awards.

The depiction of a woman who embodies both dignified strength and lingering attachment is memorable, making this a recommended track not only for those who have visited Kurashiki, but also for anyone who’s thinking of going.

Kurashiki, alone in the rainKouzai Kaori

Kurashiki Alone in the Rain – Kaori Kozai – Local Song Okayama, Volume 5

Set against a rainy backdrop reminiscent of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter, this piece portrays the aching heart of a woman as sung by Kaori Kozai.

It poignantly narrates the image of a woman who keeps waiting in the rain for someone whose arrival is uncertain, intertwining her longing with the concrete place name of Kurashiki.

The song was included in March 2008 as the B-side to the single “Kazekoi Uta.” With its relaxed tempo, it’s easy to sing; those who can delicately convey breathy nuances will be able to savor the world of this work even more deeply.

In everyone’s heartsYuki Saori

In Everyone’s Heart ~ Saori Yuki ~ cover by: Hirona

Selected in 1982 by the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Foundation as a beloved prefectural song, it is probably the most famous piece themed around Okayama.

The composer was Asei Kobayashi, and the vocalist at the time was Saori Yuki.

Even today, it is sung by various artists and cherished as a song that symbolizes Okayama.

Incidentally, neither of the two is from Okayama.