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

Yamagata Mountain Mnemonic SongHanda Giken

Mnemonic Rhymes of the Mountains of Yamagata (Official Ver.) / Handa Giken

A playful song that likens the eleven towering mountains of Yamagata to a person’s side profile.

Its straightforward awe for Yamagata’s nature is wrapped in an approachable melody.

With the energetic voices of children added in, it conveys a warm, family feel.

Before its single release in January 2020, it was included on the album “CBJAM2018” and became a live favorite.

Though it has no specific tie-ins, it has helped energize Yamagata by being used at local events.

Singing it on a family drive might naturally help you get to know Yamagata’s geography better.

Yamagata Traditional Vegetable OndoHanda Giken

[Official] "Yamagata Traditional Vegetable Ondo" Handa Giken

This is a song that expresses gratitude and respect for the farmers who support Yamagata’s rich food culture, set to a lively, cheerful ondo rhythm.

With its clear vocals and comical tone, many listeners will find their hearts lifted just by listening.

The piece was created around May 2020.

JA Yamagata also took part, and you can feel the warm intention of the entire community to promote the region’s food culture.

The lyrics feature a parade of traditional vegetables, making it irresistible for anyone interested in Yamagata’s cuisine.

It’s a perfect song for those who want to sing along with their children and have fun learning about their local bounty.

Mogami RiverMizumori Kaori

[New Song] Mogamigawa / Kaori Mizumori cover by kirara

This is a song by Kaori Mizumori that portrays a wistful journey: drifting down Yamagata’s majestic river by boat while reminiscing about someone you can no longer meet.

The depictions of nature—the river’s flow, the mist, the wind—overlap with the protagonist’s wavering heart and nostalgia for the past, resonating deeply with listeners.

The track was included on the album “Kayō Kiko 20: Narukokyō,” released in October 2021.

For those living away from their hometowns or traveling with memories of someone dear, it may feel as if the song is speaking their feelings on their behalf.

Homecoming: This Is My Way of Life GATAMCGATA feat. Micchī Chen

[Yamagata Dialect Rap] MCGATA feat. Mitchy Chen “Homecoming ~This Is My Way of Living~” Official Promotion Video

A Yamagata-accented rap blends beautifully with an ethnic, faintly nostalgic beat.

It portrays the unvarnished daily life of a young man who, after his dreams in the city fell through, has returned to his hometown.

Yet he is never self-deprecating; the song radiates warmth, affirming his love for his roots and his own way of living.

Released in June 2015, this track became the starting point for the activities that led to the later album “Agasuke no Susume.” For those worn out by city life or seeking to reevaluate how they want to live, it may resonate as if giving voice to your heart.

Yamagata Soba OndoHoshikawa Eiko

Yamagata Soba Ondo

Yamagata Soba Ondo, sung by folk singer Eiko Hoshikawa.

It’s a relatively new song created in the Heisei era.

Noticing there was no local song about soba, Ichiro Otaki wrote the lyrics, and Yoko Nagayama and Toshihide Hayabusa were commissioned to compose the music, resulting in its completion.

They say that if you visit soba shops in Yamagata Prefecture, you can find Eiko Hoshikawa’s CDs and posters in almost every store.

RAMBO N°5UNICORN

UNICORN “RAMBO No. 5” Music Clip

Rather than a song, it almost sounds like an advertisement jingle for Yamagata Prefecture’s specialty cherries, and it’s basically just some slightly goofy older gentlemen almost dancing along to a mambo tune.

Unicorn is a bona fide rock band, and while most of the members are from Hiroshima Prefecture, only Abe Bee (Yoshiharu Abe) is from Yamagata, so that might be why this song came to be.

Moon MountainKishi Yoko

Moon Mountain ~ Yoko Kishi

Mount Gassan is located in the central part of Yamagata Prefecture.

Its foothills are renowned for the Gassan Foothills Spring Group, and the mountain is also known by the alternative name “sacred mountain.” One of the suites composed from Atsushi Mori’s Akutagawa Prize–winning novel Gassan is “Mountain of the Moon.” Yoko Kishi, who was born in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, is said to have put great passion into this song.