Nambu Tawarazumi-uta: A folk song rooted in Tohoku. Carefully selected videos by renowned singers and musicians!

Nambu Tawatsumi UtaJinno Mika · Nagayama Yoko

Mika Shinno (Mika Kamino) & Yoko Nagayama — Nambu Tawara Tsumi Uta — Shamisen

A luxurious collaboration of folk songs by enka singers Mika Shinno and Yoko Nagayama! Their perfectly synchronized vocals, the energetic sound of the shamisen, and the band that supports them are truly overwhelming.

This performance showcases a new range of possibilities for folk music, a treasured traditional culture.

Nambu Tawatsumi Utaabeya

Nambu Tawatsumi Song ~Abeya Style~ (Nambu Folk Song)

A bold arrangement of a traditional door-to-door song from the southern Aomori region by a young, skilled ensemble of Tsugaru shamisen and folk singers.

It blends the muscular energy of a work song for stacking rice bales with the celebratory spirit of a New Year’s congratulatory song, creating a distinctive sound world.

Abeya’s performance respects traditional vocal ornamentation while effectively incorporating shakuhachi and spirited calls, resulting in a live, dynamic structure.

Included on the August 2015 album “HINOMARHYTHM,” it drew attention as an authentic folk-song arrangement using only Japanese instruments.

Recommended not only for those interested in Japan’s traditional music, but also for anyone who wants to feel the vitality of Japanese instruments and the new possibilities of folk music.

Nambu Tawatsumi Utasuzune

Tsugaru shamisen “Suzune” Nanbu Tawarazumi-uta, On-tsu-do Co., Ltd. [Leave on-site performances by top-class traditional Japanese musicians to Ontsudo!]

A performance by Suzune, a six-member unit of female Tsugaru shamisen players.

They have reimagined a celebratory door-to-door folk song from Sannohe District in southern Aomori Prefecture for the stage, making full use of Tsugaru shamisen’s rapid picking and percussive techniques to create a lively, festive atmosphere.

Suzune are proven talents, having won first place in the group division at the All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Competition Nagoya Tournament in July 2018.

While preserving traditional melodic phrasing, they elevate it into a contemporary stage performance.

Their striking appearance in kimono is also memorable, making this an ideal performance for those wishing to experience Japanese traditional culture or to bring a bright, joyful mood to celebratory occasions.

Nambu Tawatsumi UtaInoue Kouhei

Nanbu Tawatsumi Uta / Aomori Prefecture Folk Song – Shinobue (bamboo flute), Shamisen, Taiko, with Lyrics [Japanese Flute]

This piece is a contemporary reimagining of a traditional folk song from Aomori, arranged for shinobue flute, shamisen, and wadaiko drums.

It features an ensemble portrayal of the rhythms and calls associated with stacking rice-straw bales, delivering an impression of lively tempo and dynamic energy.

The clear, resonant tone of the shinobue blends with the powerful sound of the wadaiko, achieving a compelling fusion of the vigor of a work song and the distinctive melodic inflections of folk music.

While honoring tradition, it also conveys a spirit of innovation in Japanese instruments, making it a performance well worth hearing for anyone interested in Japan’s musical culture or looking to rediscover the appeal of wagakki.

Nambu Tawatsumi UtaItō Takio & TAKiOBAND

Takio Ito & TAKiOBAND “Tawara Zumi Uta (Rice-bale Stacking Song)” — January 6, 2017, at “Shibuya New Year Waon Festival, Part 23” @ SHIBUYA TAKE OFF 7

This work powerfully revives a labor song from the southern Aomori region in a modern band style.

Its hallmark sound blends the melodic patterns that accompanied stacking rice bales with traditional Japanese instruments like Tsugaru shamisen and shakuhachi, alongside Western instruments such as drums and bass.

While preserving the flavor of traditional folk music, it’s arranged to suit live performance.

It was included on the October 1988 album “TAKiO — Soran Bushi,” and has been performed repeatedly at local festivals and folk music stages, including the November 2003 concert “TAKiO SPIRIT — Now, the Folk Song (Uta).” This is a performance recommended for those who want to experience Japan’s traditional culture or are interested in crossover sounds that fuse Japanese and Western musical elements.

Nambu Tawatsumi UtaShōji Keiko

65 years in show business! Keiko Shoji sings “Nanbu Tawatsumi-uta (Nanbu Rice-Bale Stacking Song)”

A folk song from Aomori Prefecture, handed down as a Tohoku work song, is being carried forward by Keiko Shoji, a folk singer from Miyagi Prefecture.

Depicting the task of stacking straw rice bales, this piece follows a traditional style woven with calls and refrains over the powerful tones of shamisen and drums.

Her clear voice and refined phrasing seem to convey even the very breath of labor.

A highlight is her mother-daughter performance with her daughter, Kasumi Tarasawa, which brings folk culture closer across generations.

This is a performance we especially recommend to those who want to experience Japanese traditional music or who are interested in the climate and everyday life of Tohoku.

Nambu Tawatsumi UtaIkegami Mayumi

Mayumi Ikegami – First Folk Song: Nanbu Tawarazumi-uta (Nanbu Rice-Bale Stacking Song)

This work features Mayumi Ikegami, an enka singer from Nara Prefecture, taking on a traditional folk song from Aomori.

It is her first full-fledged folk song cover after building her career around enka, and it was performed in collaboration with a Tsugaru shamisen player at her 10th anniversary concert in 2025.

The result blends the rich vocal style unique to an enka singer with folk traditions, conveying a deep respect for regional culture.

Recommended for those who want to rediscover the appeal of local folk music or who are interested in traditional performing arts.

Also serving as a tourism ambassador for Nara City, she delivers an ambitious project that shares Tohoku’s folk culture from the Kansai region.