Tokushima’s Folk Songs, Children’s Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Traditional Songs Rooted in the Region, Including Awa Odori
In Tokushima Prefecture, where abundant nature and traditional culture thrive, many traditional songs vividly depict the land of Awa and the lives of its people.
From work songs sung during farm labor and Bon dance songs to lullabies, Tokushima’s folk songs—passed down through daily life—are filled with charms worth sharing across generations.
In this article, we have gathered a selection of Tokushima’s captivating folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes.
Why not lend an ear to a musical world, born in Tokushima and lovingly carried on by locals, where nostalgia and freshness blend together?
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Tokushima Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Traditional Songs Rooted in the Region, Including Awa Odori (1–10)
Janko jankomin’yō
A traditional song from Misato Village in Tokushima Prefecture, whose powerful taiko rhythms and improvisational calls stir the soul.
It began as a children’s song born from work and play, and you can feel the vibrancy of daily life coming through directly.
This track was produced from recordings made on-site in 1988 and was included on the album “Awa Hyakkei,” released in July 2020.
One of the fascinating aspects of this song is how it balances earthy, indigenous appeal with refined sound quality.
It’s a perfect pick when you want to experience the depth of Japan’s roots music.
Sosoro-bushi (a traditional Japanese lyrical tune/style)min’yō
This charming song from Mugi Town in Tokushima Prefecture has a simple, nursery-rhyme-like quality.
Its light, pastoral melody, reminiscent of a lullaby, seems to gently embrace the listener’s heart.
The original recording appeared on the cassette “Awa no Minyō-shū,” released in July 1988, and later gained wider recognition when it was included on the compilation album “Awa Hyakkei.” It’s the perfect piece for moments of relaxed nostalgia for your hometown or for quietly listening on a calm night.
Why not listen while picturing the expansive natural landscapes of Tokushima?
Shonga-e Song of Teba Islandmin’yō
It is a folk song rich in emotion, evoking Tokushima’s abundant nature and the very breath of life in its port-town residents.
You can almost see the boats traveling between Mugi Port and Teba Island and the beautiful seascapes unfolding before your eyes.
The singer’s warm, conversational voice blends with the lively accompaniment of flute, drums, and shamisen, leaving listeners with a gentle, comforting feeling.
This piece can be heard on the compilation album “Awa Hyakkei,” released in July 2020.
It’s also beloved at local events, so you may well hear it during your travels in Tokushima.
Tokushima Folk Songs, Children's Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Traditional Songs Rooted in the Region, Including Awa Odori (11–20)
Fall asleep, fall asleep.min’yō
This is a lullaby from the Iya region of Tokushima Prefecture, whose gentle melody—like a mother speaking to her child—resonates in the heart.
In the movement to preserve local culture from the 1990s onward, it was one of the songs transcribed and recorded as part of efforts to document folk songs and children’s songs.
While rare as a standalone piece, it can be heard on albums such as “Selected Japanese Lullabies: Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.” It’s perfect for lulling little ones to sleep, and even adults may find it evokes a certain nostalgia and a soothing sense of calm.
Terano Sensu Dance Songmin’yō
A folk song that vividly conjures scenes of people dancing with fans in a remote mountain village of Tokushima.
It conveys, directly and sincerely, the breath of everyday life carried on since ancient times and the bonds among the local people.
The simple sounds of flute and drum stand out, drawing you in as if you were right there—that’s part of its charm.
This track is also included on the album “Awa Hyakkei,” released in July 2020.
Why not give it a listen when you want to step away from the rush of daily life and attune your heart to Japan’s original landscapes, or when you wish to let your thoughts wander to the land of Tokushima?
Bon Nagashi Songmin’yō
This piece, performed during the traditional Obon ceremony of sending off one’s ancestors, is a new folk song from Tokushima that skillfully weaves together the subdued sentiment of a zabushi-uta (parlor song) with the lively, bouncing rhythm meant for procession dances.
You can hear it on albums such as Minyo Furusato Kiko, released in November 2006.
It is reportedly a staple tune for the “Bon-nagashi” event during the summer Awa Odori.
Why not immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a Japanese summer while letting your thoughts drift to the scenery of Tokushima?
Thread-Pulling Songmin’yō
A song handed down in Yamashiro, Tokushima, sung to the rhythm of hand-spun thread.
You can feel how it gently portrays the quiet prayers and the breath of everyday life born within the repetition of daily routines.
This piece is also included on the July 2020 album Awa Hyakkei.
Many listeners may find its melody, deeply rooted in local life, stirring a sense of nostalgia.
It’s a perfect work to listen to softly on a quiet night when you want to reflect on the profound culture and landscape of Tokushima.