Dekansho-Bushi: Hometown Memories Passed Down in Folk Songs

Tanba Sasayama flourished as a castle town during the Edo Period and is famous for dekansho-bushi, the traditional folk songs of that region. The song lyrics depicted the local climate, human nature, famous sights, and culinary specialties of the area. People here have cherished and treasured their landscape and culture throughout the ages by singing dekansho-bushi. To this day, local people continue to compose new lyrics for the over 300 dekansho-bushi and pass these musical traditions on to the next generation. Through these songs visitors can experience the traditional town atmosphere of Tanba Sasayama with its rows of old houses and charming streets.