Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi

"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi"
Song by Chisato Moritaka
from the album Pepperland
Language	Japanese
English title	Rock 'n' Roll Prefectural Government
Released	November 18, 1992 (1992-11-18)
Recorded	1992
Genre	J-pop pop rock
Label	Warner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)	Chisato Moritaka
Producer(s)	Yukio Seto

"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi" (ロックンロール県庁所在地, Rokkunrōru Kenchōshozaichi, lit. "Rock 'n' Roll Prefectural Government") is a rockabilly song by Japanese singer/songwriter Chisato Moritaka, from her 1992 studio album Pepperland. Written by Moritaka, the song was released as the B-side of her 1993 single "Watashi no Natsu".

Background

The song's lyrics consist of Japan's prefectures and their capitals, as well as their dishes. It popularized shimotsukare and shiroshitakarei, which were not well-known nationwide at the time.

At the time of the song's recording, Urawa was the capital of Saitama Prefecture; in 2001, Urawa, Ōmiya, and Yono merged into the new capital of Saitama City. Cover versions of the song have since corrected the lyrics to reflect the capital change.

The song has been used by some junior high schools to educate students on their Japanese geography.

Other versions

A remix of the song, titled "Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi '95", is included in Moritaka's 1995 greatest hits album Do the Best.

Moritaka re-recorded the song on vocals and drums and uploaded the video on her YouTube channel on December 28, 2012. This version is also included in Moritaka's 2013 self-covers DVD album Love Vol. 3. She recorded a second self-cover of the song and uploaded it on July 18, 2015. The 2015 version is also included in Moritaka's self-covers DVD album Love Vol. 9.

Minimoni version

"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi (Oboechaina Series)"
Single by Minimoni
from the album Minimoni Songs 2
Language	Japanese
English title	Rock 'n' Roll Prefectural Government: Memory Series
B-side	"Oshaberi Suki ya Nen"
Released	April 9, 2003 (2003-04-09)
Recorded	2003
Genre	J-pop
Label	zetima
Songwriter(s)	Chisato Moritaka
Producer(s)	Tsunku
Minimoni singles chronology
"Minihams no Kekkon Song" (2002) "Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi (Oboechaina Series)" (2003) "Minimoni Kazoe Uta (Ofuro Version)/Minimoni Kazoe Uta (Date Version)" (2003)

"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi (Oboechaina Series)" (ロックンロール県庁所在地 ～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ～lit. "Rock 'n' Roll Prefectural Government (Memory Series)") is a cover version by the Morning Musume subgroup Minimoni as their eighth single and their first single with Ai Takahashi as a member of the group. It was released on April 9, 2003 by zetima. This was the first version of the song to reflect the change of Saitama Prefecture's capital from Urawa to Saitama.

The single peaked at No. 7 on Oricon's singles chart, selling 58,084 copies.

Track listing

CD

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi (Oboechaina Series)" ((ロックンロール県庁所在地 ～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ～, lit. "Rock 'n' Roll Prefectural Government (Memory Series)"))	Chisato Moritaka
2.	"Oshaberi Suki ya Nen" ((おしゃべりすきやねん, lit. "Talkative Plow"))	Tsunku
3.	"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi (Oboechaina Series) (Original Karaoke)" ((ロックンロール県庁所在地 ～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ～ （オリジナル・カラオケ）))

Members at the time of single

• Mika Todd (ミカ)
• Nozomi Tsuji (辻希美)
• Ai Kago (加護亜依)
• Ai Takahashi (高橋愛) (First single with Mini Moni)

Other cover versions

• A cover of the song, along with a karaoke version, was included in Osamu Nishimoto's 2008 picture book The First Japan Map Picture Book ~ 47 Prefectures to Sing and Remember (はじめての日本地図絵本　歌って覚える47都道府県, Hajimete no Nihonchizu Ehon Utatte Oboeru 47 Todōfuken).
• Mariko Takase covered the song in her 2011 children's CD Let's Learn Utatte! ~ Kuku no Uta, Prefectural Capitals (うたって覚えよう!〜九九のうた、県庁所在地, Utatte Oboeyoō!〜 Kuku no Uta, Kenchōsozaichi).
• Dream5 covered the song as the B-side of their 2012 single "Shekimeki!"

External links

• Rock 'n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi: Oboechaina Series entry on the Hello! Project official website