Akiko hosaki –

Songs of kazuno

This album represents a trove of new and never-before recorded songs from the Kazuno region in northern Japan world premiere recordings. Many of the works by renowned local Kazuno children's song composers were largely unknown with beautiful melodies, even though the Japanese culture reveres children's songs, taught to children and sung often by both children and adults. The scores for these children's songs were not published for commercial sale and were believed to be inaccessible but were lent to soprano Wakako Kawasaki by two individuals residing in Kazuno who possessed complete children's songs collections of composers Jujin Odajima and Takatomo Kurosawa for this recording project, as these works of these great composers from Kazuno were not even being sung in their hometown. These collections were used as the base works for the album in addition to pieces composed by Sapporo composer Kyoichi Enda, inspired by Japanese author Ryusuke Saito's story of the Kazuno floods. The album also includes a revival performance of "Dainosaka," a song associated with the Kemanai Bon Dance not sung since the early Showa period (1926-1989), arranged with piano accompaniment by Dr. Akiko Hosaki. Today "Dainosaka" is performed only with flute, drum, and dance, but historical records indicate it was accompanied by song as well. "Dojokko Funakko," was discovered on an original song monument at a temple in Kazuno and added to the album. The album is the result of years of research and discussions with Japanese musicologists in order to create a collection which will be historical in the annals of Japanese music

Country of Pressing	US
Artist	Akiko Hosaki
Released	2025
Music Genre	Pop / Rock
Label	AFFETTO RECORDS
Condition	New
UPC	195269296582
SKU	al-195269296582

1.1 Dai-no Saka (Kenmani Bon'-Odori Hozon'-kai version)
1.2 Dai-no Saka (Nihon' Min'yo Daikan' Tonhoku version)
1.3 Hamabe-no Uta (Song of the Beach)
1.4 Komban'-san' (Good Evening)
1.5 Akibare (Sunny Autumn Day)
1.6 Akizora-ni Utau (Sing to the Autumn Sky)
1.7 Kikyo (Chinese Bellflower)
1.8 Wasurenagusa (Forget-Me-Not)
1.9 Suzuran' Kosuzu (Lily-of-the-Valley, Small Bells)
1.10 Komori (Bat)
1.11 Kaeru Tsubame (Returning Swallow)
1.12 Akai Sori (Red Sleigh)
1.13 Omocha-no Machi (Parade of Toys)
1.14 Kodomo-no Abe Maria (Children's Ave Maria)
1.15 Yama-wa Yuyake (Sunset in the Mountains)
1.16 O-tera-no Kane (Temple Bell)
1.17 Kitsune-no Yomeiri (Fox's Wedding)
1.18 Usaghi (Rabbit)...
1.19 Suzume-no Me (Eyes of a Sparrow)
1.20 Hibari (Skylark)
1.21 Sasabune (Bamboo-Leaf Boat)
1.22 Nen'ne-no Sato (Childhood Hometown)
1.23 Uba-no Sato (My Nanny's Village)
1.24 Bira (Flyers)
1.25 Hitotsu-Boshi (Morning Star)
1.26 Hisa-no Hoshi (Hisa's Star)
1.27 Dojokko-Funakko (Loaches and Crucian Carps)