Aizu Folk Song, Aizu Bandaisan｜The Soulful Sound of Japan

What is "Aizu Bandaisan"?

Aizu Bandaisan is one of the most famous folk songs from Fukushima’s Aizu region. It is sung at summer festivals and bon dances, where shinobue(flutes), shamisen, and taikos(drums) bring a lively energy to the music. With its joyful rhythm, the song creates a festive atmosphere as dancers gather around the yagura tower, keeping alive the spirit of Aizu’s summer.

Mount Bandai and Its Scenic Setting

The song’s backdrop is Mount Bandai, an active volcano rising 1,816 meters north of Lake Inawashiro. The mountain is part of the Bandai-Asahi National Park and is celebrated for its seasonal beauty.

Historically called Iwahashiyama, meaning “a ladder of rocks reaching to heaven,” the mountain presents different faces: Omote Bandai on the south side and Ura Bandai to the north.

Lyrics Example

Well-known verses of Aizu Bandaisan include:

Aizu Bandaisan is a mountain of treasures,
Bamboo leaves are heavy with golden fruit.

Why does Bandai look so young?
It beautifies itself in the mirror of the lake.

Bandai to the north, the lake to the south,
Okinajima rising in between.

The master plays the flute, I dance,
Above and below the tower drum.

The refrain famously introduces Ohara Shosuke:

Ohara Shosuke, how did you lose your fortune?
Sleeping late, drinking, and bathing in the morning.
That’s how you ruined yourself.
Ha! Indeed, indeed.

Who Was Ohara Shosuke?

Ohara Shosuke is a humorous character known for squandering his wealth through drinking and idleness. While some say he was based on a real man, others see him as a fictional symbol of satire. Either way, he represents the wit and humor of Aizu’s people.

Origins and the Kansho Dance

The roots of Aizu Bandaisan trace back to the early Meiji era, said to be derived from Gokahama Jinku, a song brought by craftsmen from Gokahama in Niigata. Back then, it was called simply a “bon dance song,” and the dance was known as the Kansho Dance.

In Aizu dialect, kansho means “to become wildly excited.” Men and women of all ages would wear free-spirited outfits, add their own gestures, and hop energetically to the rhythm. Today, this tradition continues in the Nagashi Kansho Dance, held every August in Aizuwakamatsu City.

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