In this episode of THE KIMI KATO SHOW, Kimi Kato takes listeners on a rich musical and cultural journey through Ibaraki Prefecture, one of Japan’s most underrated yet deeply fascinating regions.
Located just over an hour from Tokyo, Ibaraki reveals a striking blend of natural beauty, layered history, regional pride, and powerful music. From the twin peaks of Mount Tsukuba and the vast waters of Lake Kasumigaura to the dramatic Pacific coastline, fertile plains, and the mountain valleys of Okukuji, this episode explores a prefecture where land, water, tradition, and innovation all meet.
Along the way, Kimi dives into Ibaraki’s storied past—from the warrior legends of Satake Yoshishige and the resilient legacy of Oda Ujiharu, to the cultural memory of Mito Kōmon and the enduring prestige of Kairakuen Garden. The episode also highlights Ibaraki’s modern identity as both an agricultural powerhouse and a center of advanced science and manufacturing, home to specialties such as melons, natto, dried sweet potatoes, Hitachi Beef, and world-class research institutions in Tsukuba Science City.
This episode’s soundtrack brings Ibaraki’s spirit to life through artists and songs connected to the prefecture, including Kome Kome CLUB’s “Kimi ga Iru Dake de” and “Roman Hikō,” Jun Isoyama’s “Soshite Mirai e,” Huwie Ishizaki’s “Wasuregataki,” Hayato Adachi’s “FANFARE,” Travis Japan’s “Still on a Journey,” and Elephant Kashimashi’s “Koyoi no Tsuki no Yō ni.” Together, these songs reflect the emotion, pride, resilience, and forward-looking energy that define Ibaraki.
The episode also features this week’s Japan Entertainment News, including the global milestone of ONE PIECE surpassing 600 million copies worldwide, making this installment a blend of contemporary pop culture and regional discovery.
A place sometimes joked about as “Japan’s hidden last-place prefecture,” Ibaraki emerges here for what it really is: a destination full of beauty, character, history, and musical legacy.
Host: Kimi Kato
Producer: Kimi Kato
Executive Producer: Jeremiah D. Higgins
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