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[Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride
Yamagata Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan and is blessed with rich natural beauty woven by mountains and rivers through the changing seasons.
This environment has given rise to heartfelt folk songs and hometown melodies.
The masterpieces born from people who love their homeland have captured the hearts of many, not just the prefecture’s residents.
This time, we’re spotlighting songs connected to Yamagata! From folk tunes rooted in the region to soul-stirring enka and cheerful local songs that lift your spirits, we’ll introduce a wide range.
Please enjoy these songs brimming with the charms of Yamagata.
[Yamagata Songs] Masterpieces and Local Tunes Celebrating Majestic Nature and Hometown Love (1–10)
Tokyo (Yamagata dialect)Asakura Saya
Amid the unfamiliar bustle of city life, they sometimes find themselves longing for home, yet resolve to do their best right here.
This debut song by Saya Asakura warmly voices the earnest feelings of such a young person in the Yamagata dialect.
Her clear, expansive vocals, forged through folk singing, together with the shamisen’s tones, gently seep into the listener’s heart.
Released in April 2013, the song was also chosen as an ending theme for a YBC Yamagata Broadcasting program.
For those who have left their hometowns to start a new life, or who feel a touch of loneliness in the city, her simple yet powerful singing may feel as if it’s speaking directly on their behalf.
River Boat Song ft.GOMESSAsakura Saya
This is an adventurous track by Saya Asakura that pays homage to Mogamigawa Funauta, a folk song emblematic of Yamagata, while fusing it with the contemporary sound of rap.
Many listeners may find themselves relating to the lyrics, which portray the anxious heart of someone setting off by boat and the warm feelings of those wishing for their safe return.
The classic album featuring this song, “River Boat Song – Future Trax –,” was released in September 2015 and won the Planning Award at the 57th Japan Record Awards.
It’s a compelling piece for anyone who wants to enjoy the meeting of a hometown’s original landscape and new musical expression.
Stranger to the cityKu-Wa de MOMPE
Amid the hustle of the big city after leaving his hometown of Yamagata, he feels impatience and loneliness—yet never loses his pride in where he’s from.
Ku-Wa de MOMPE’s song vividly captures the protagonist’s state of mind.
At the heart of the story is MOMPE’s burning resolve: he picked up the mic again to reclaim what he left behind in his youth.
Released in October 2020, it resonated with dreamers everywhere.
If you’re a bit worn out by city life or feeling nostalgic for home, this track might just give you the energy to face tomorrow.
Mogami River (Yamagata Prefectural Anthem)Shūgiin giin Takatōri Shūichi
This work was composed by Akatarō Shimazaki, who was a professor at the Tokyo Music School at the time, setting to music lyrics that quoted a waka poem composed by Emperor Shōwa during his imperial visit to Yamagata, describing the scenery of the Mogami River.
Although Mogamigawa was created in 1933, it was not officially adopted as the prefectural anthem until 1983.
Today, it is loved by the people as a song that symbolizes Yamagata.
MemoriesEgashira Yuya
This is a song by Yuya Egashira that portrays him sending encouragement to his past self with a powerful yet warm voice.
Its lyrics awaken precious memories in the heart—like roads once sped down on a bicycle and familiar, nostalgic smiles—so much so that you may feel as if it’s singing about your own experiences.
The track was released in November 2019 as a PR song for Iide Town in Yamagata Prefecture, known as one of “the most beautiful villages in Japan.” Many listeners will surely find courage in its gentle message, like a reassuring “You’ll be okay” from your future self.
In the Wind of the Shonai PlainMizumori Kaori
Enka singer Kaori Mizumori, who has secured an unshakable position as the queen of regional songs.
“Shonai Heiya Kaze no Naka” is a piece that overlays a bittersweet love with scenes of the Shonai Plain—famous as a rice-producing area on the Sea of Japan side in the northwestern part of Yamagata Prefecture.
Although it’s a song about an unfulfilled love, the majestic scenery of Mount Chokai, the Three Mountains of Dewa, and the Shonai Plain in Yamagata Prefecture springs to mind, leaving you involuntarily entranced.
Gatta YamagataKatte ni Kankō Kyōkai
This is a song by the Self-Styled Tourism Association that humorously portrays Yamagata’s landmarks and culture from a traveler’s perspective.
Scenes from a visit to Yamadera, the flow of the Mogami River, and local specialties like human shogi and imoni stew are depicted with playful onomatopoeia.
It’s as if the local energy comes alive—just listening naturally lifts your spirits.
The track was included on the album “Self-Styled Tourism Association,” released in February 2008, and is also beloved in the prefecture’s tourism promotions.
For anyone planning a trip to Yamagata, it’s sure to heighten the excitement.