Folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: the enduring spirit of our hometown carried on in song
In this article, we feature folk songs and children’s songs related to Osaka!Osaka has long been a key hub of logistics, situated at the confluence of busy sea routes and rivers.Because of that, Osaka’s folk repertoire includes pieces like the Yodogawa boat songs that evoke its deep history.At the same time, there are newer tunes that symbolize contemporary Osaka, such as the Harukas Ondo inspired by Abeno Harukas.Listen to the folk and children’s songs of Osaka—once called the “nation’s kitchen”—and immerse yourself in its long, rich history!
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Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: The enduring heart of our hometown (21–30)
Shopping BoogieKasaogi Shizuko
One of the signature songs of Shizuko Kasagi, who took postwar Japan by storm as the “Queen of Boogie.” The lyrics, written by Ryoichi Hattori and inspired by Kamigata rakugo, are entirely in Osaka dialect, which was remarkably innovative for the time.
Its brisk tempo and chatty, distinctive lyrics have been beloved by many and continue to be sung today.
king (shogi piece)Murata Hideo
“Osho” — and no, not the Chinese restaurant, but the classic number by the great Hideo Murata.
This song, modeled after the famed Osaka shogi player Sankata Sankichi, became a massive hit when it was released in 1961, selling over 1.5 million copies.
The lyrics were penned by poet Yaso Saijo, also known for writing children’s songs such as “Kanariya” and “Katatataki.”
Folk songs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Osaka: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (31–40)
Mamekachi Ondo
The lyrics mention Sumi-no-ye Yora Village, which refers to the present-day areas around Asaka, Karita, Sugimoto, Niwai, and Yamanouchi in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City.
This shows that the song was a type of bon-odori that spread in that region.
The title comes from the term “mame-kachi,” used for the task of cracking the shells of dried fava beans, and from how that work looked as if people were dancing.
Great Osaka Subway Ditty
This is a song included on the B-side of the “Great Osaka Subway March,” which was produced when the Osaka Municipal Subway opened in 1933.
Like the “Great Osaka Subway March,” it praises the newly opened subway, but what makes this one unique is that it’s a much more adult-oriented kouta (short traditional song).
Set to a snappy kouta rhythm, it promotes the subway’s convenience and comfort.
Yodogawa Thirty-Koku Boat Boat Song
This is a boatmen’s song sung by the helmsmen of the “San-jukkoku-bune,” the thirty-koku cargo boats that traveled along the Yodo River between Fushimi in Kyoto and Hachikenya in Osaka from the early Edo period.
In the rakugo story Sanjukkoku, there is a famous scene in which the boat heads down the Yodo River toward Osaka at night and the boatman sings this very song; even today, rakugo performers proudly showcase their singing voices with it.
Yodogawa Embankment Thousand-Drumming Song
This is a piece often chosen as a practice tune for the shamisen.
“Senbon-zuki” refers to the task of compacting a soil embankment by striking it repeatedly with a pole.
It is said that many people worked while singing this song during the reconstruction of the Yodo River.
Fantasy on Osaka Folk SongsŌguri Yutaka
This is Fantasia on Osaka Folk Songs for wind band, arranged in 1970.
While folk songs and children’s songs have long been passed down in vocal form, this 12-minute work for wind band conveys a hometown-like sound within the ensemble, moving listeners with its sense of nostalgia.
