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

Lovestruck RabbitYamagata-ken zaijū no JK-san

Stationmaster Mocchi: “Love-Struck Rabbit” PV — Sung by a high school girl

This is a cheer song for the Flower Nagai Line, a local railway in Yamagata Prefecture.

Lately there have been many animals holding the title of stationmaster.

Cats, dogs, and sometimes even koi—there’s quite a variety.

This song is a refreshing tune that also sings about the youth of a high school girl and “Mocchii,” the rabbit who serves as stationmaster of the local line’s Miyauchi Station.

It’s soothing, isn’t it? I’ve heard there are also two rabbits and a turtle working as station staff.

Oshin’s LullabyYamamoto Kazuko

49 Kazuko Yamamoto, “Oshin’s Lullaby”

When people hear “Oshin” and can immediately picture the drama, is it only those up to around their 40s nowadays? The NHK morning drama series that began in 1983 caused a tremendous sensation at the time.

Above all, the unforgettable scene is when seven-year-old Oshin, sent away to work to lessen the number of mouths to feed, rides a raft on the Mogami River and parts from her family.

In the falling, bitterly cold snow, her farewell to her mother was something that cannot be described as mere sadness.

The song sounds as if it recreates the drama.

One cherry, please.Iwase Yukiko

One Cherry, Please (Iwase Yukiko)

It’s an utterly charming children’s song inspired by Yamagata’s local specialties.

Sung from the pure perspective of a child asking, “May I have one?”, it melts your heart with its innocence.

The crystalline vocals and sprightly melody together conjure up a sun-drenched scene of cherry orchards.

This piece is the memorable debut work of Yukiko Iwase, released using a submission to the “Yamagata Children’s Songs” call for entries by the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun in 1933 as its original composition.

It might be the perfect track when you want to muse on Yamagata’s tranquil natural beauty.

Safflower LongingHayama Mizuki

Mizuki Hayama “Benibana Bojō” Music Video

Safflower is a plant in the Asteraceae family and is also the prefectural flower of Yamagata.

Since the Edo period, the Mogami River basin—with its fertile soil and good drainage—has been a major production area for safflower, and boats loaded with the flowers were reportedly carried to Kyoto and Osaka.

There’s a certain charm to drifting downstream with boats full of blossoms.

Unfortunately, the song is about unrequited love.

Kamiyama LongingAoyama Hikaru

Hikaru Aoyama / Kaminoyama Longing [Official PV]

This is a tragic love song set in the Kaminoyama Onsen area of Yamagata Prefecture.

The chirping of nightingales overlaps with the castle in the music video, evoking memories of history.

Hikaru Aoyama is the last disciple of Hiroyuki Nakagawa—known as the emperor of mood kayō—who composed many songs such as Love You Tokyo and Silver Fox of the Night.

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.

Yoshiko’s Hanagasa OndoMiko Takekawa

Shin-buyō [Yoshiko's Hanagasa Ondo] by Yoshiko Takekawa, Ushio Shin-buyō Research Association, Toyama Prefecture Takaoka Cultural Hall

When it comes to folk songs that represent Yamagata, it has to be the Hanagasa Ondo.

It’s famous nationwide, not just among Yamagata residents, especially as a Bon dance song.

Because of that, there are many titles like “Traditional Hanagasa Ondo” and “Singer X’s Hanagasa Ondo,” where the singer’s name is placed in front.

There are slight arrangements, but nothing drastically different.