Nambu Tawarazumi-uta: A folk song rooted in Tohoku. Carefully selected videos by renowned singers and musicians!
The folk songs “Tawara-tsumi Uta” and “Nanbu Tawara-tsumi Uta” are among Japan’s treasured musical traditions, passed down through generations at worksites.
These valuable songs embody the wisdom and ingenuity of our predecessors—setting the rhythm for heavy labor and uniting the hearts of those working together.
In this article, we present performances of “Nanbu Tawara-tsumi Uta” by a variety of singers and instrumentalists.
You’ll even find rare versions that collaborate with Western music! If you’re interested in experiencing Japan’s traditional culture, be sure to check them out.
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- The Spirit of Japan: A Collection of Famous and Popular Shamisen Pieces
- Soran Bushi: Compare renditions of this classic folk song by various artists!
- [Folk Songs and Children's Songs of Akita] A curated selection of local masterpieces that evoke love for one’s hometown
- Folksongs, children's songs, and nursery rhymes of Fukushima: the heart of our hometown passed down in song
- Donpan-bushi: An Akita folk song passed down and sung by various artists
- [Akita Songs] A Collection of Gem-Like Local Tunes Filled with Love for Hometowns
Nambu Tawatsumi Uta: Folk songs rooted in Tohoku. Carefully selected videos by master singers and musicians! (11–20)
Nambu Tawatsumi UtaInoue Kouhei
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 UtaShōji Keiko
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 UtaIshikawa Kiyomi
Kiyomi Ishikawa, a certified master instructor of folk songs, delivers a brilliant rendition of a work song handed down in Aomori Prefecture.
Included on the album “Uta Tsumugi,” released in September 2012, this piece is arranged by shakuhachi player Keisuke Doi and enriched with traditional instruments such as Tsugaru shamisen and hayashi (festival accompaniment).
You can fully appreciate Ishikawa’s expressive vocals, characteristic of an artist who received the Prime Minister’s Award in 2000.
This performance is highly recommended for those who want to savor the traditional phrasing of min’yō and for anyone interested in Japan’s labor culture.
Nambu Tawatsumi UtaYajima Akiyo
In March 2024, Akiyo Yajima presented a performance of Tohoku folk songs—renowned for their powerful voices born from labor—by releasing a video.
Based primarily in Ibaraki Prefecture, Yajima took on one of the Tohoku region’s representative work songs.
Highlights include the shouts and melodic turns that capture the rhythm of stacking rice bales, accompanied by shamisen and drums.
The integrated dance-and-accompaniment performance is drawing attention as a fresh expression of traditional folk music.
It’s a perfect performance for celebratory occasions and for those wishing to experience Japan’s traditional culture.
Nambu Tawatsumi Utaomodaka akiko
Nambu Tawaratsumi-uta performed by Akiko Omotaka, who is energetically active as a folk singer.
Ever since her debut as a folk singer while still a high school student, she has sung folk songs from various regions, and her undeniable skill is sure to leave you in awe.
Please enjoy it together with the evocative tones of traditional Japanese instruments.
Nambu Tawatsumi UtaKosaka Genzō
Nambu Tawarazumi-uta performed by Mr.
Genzō Kosaka in the general division for high school students and older at the National Nambu Tawarazumi-uta Competition held at the Sannohe Town Gymnasium in November 2015.
You can see that folk songs continue to be loved in modern Japan, as they are passed down by people of all ages and competitions are held nationwide every year.
Nambu Tawatsumi Uta: Folk songs breathing in Tohoku. Carefully selected videos by master singers and musicians! (21–30)
Nambu Tawatsumi Uta
The 50th Anniversary Fujita Shūjirō Fujinami Association Folk Song Festival.
We’ll groove to various rhythms through dance, chorus, and a variety of videos.
There are still songs and dances across the country that we haven’t heard yet, and we’re carrying on with a single-minded desire to incorporate even a little of them.
Personally, I’m looking for famous songs themed around folk music.