Study on the Areas Related to the "Sea" Represented in School Songs/Fukuoka and Kitakyushu

Abstract

The sea is regarded as one of the important elements forming a scenary. Its physical appearance has greatly influenced on people and been translated into mental sceneries that are often observed in songs singing the praise of the sea. Focusing on regional school songs and examining the relevant phrases and the environmental characteristics of the sea, this study is to clarify the position of the sea with regards to the formation of a seascape.

The approach taken here is to select the elementary and junior highschools whose songs have phrases of the sea in Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City. Then, as comparing the phrases with the ones enchanting other environmental factors , the characteristics of the expressions and the location of a school are individually analyzed in connection with the environmental features of the sea and the condition of a coastal development.

The ways of expressions of the sea vary depending upon several factors as follows: the distance from a coastline, the geographical characteristics of a school, the condition of a coastal development, and the relationship with other environmental elements, such as rivers and mountains.

Finally, the influence of the urban structure and the natural environment on a seascape are recognized and also the difference of the views on a seascape between Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City are clarified.