[Yamagata Songs] Beloved local tunes and classic tracks celebrating majestic nature and hometown pride

Omoshiyama FallsKumi Iwamoto

Omoshiyama Falls

Omoshiro-yama is part of the Ou Mountains located on the prefectural border between Yamagata City in Yamagata Prefecture and Taihaku Ward in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

In the lyrics, there is a line that says, “the imoni train goes by,” and imoni—well-known as a cultural staple of Yamagata—gives a tranquil impression, which contrasts with the song’s theme of being betrayed by someone who promised to return but never did.

Mamurogawa BoogieHayashi Isao

Mamurogawa Boogie / Isao Hayashi

The Mamurogawa Ondo, created by Haru Sato, proprietress of the Mamurogawa restaurant BeniyA, drew on two versions of the work song Nattu-bushi: one sung by migrant workers in the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, and another learned in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, by Nakue Chikaoka—who had worked at a restaurant there and later returned to Mamurogawa.

The Mamurogawa Ondo became famous nationwide, and in 1954 a boogie-style arrangement of it became a hit.

Mom’s MonologueKobayashi Sachiko

A Mother's Soliloquy (Sachiko Kobayashi) by tetsuro

“When you want to be filial, your parents are gone.” That’s the phrase that comes to mind with this song.

Strictly speaking, the lyrics alone don’t make it clear whether the mother is alive or not, but since “I’m sorry” and “I want to see you again” are repeated, that’s how I interpreted it.

The memories that come back—simple, everyday conversations and exchanges with my mother—are heartwarming.

Saya Asakura began studying folk music from a young age and is talented enough to have won national competitions in both elementary and junior high school.

I also think the songs that make full use of her dialect are something only Asakura can uniquely deliver.