There’s a Japanese children’s song called ‘Koganemushi’ (黄金虫). Koganemushi is a type of metallic green beetle (pictured left). There are many different kinds of beetles in Japan. One other beetle that is also common in Japan is a horned beetle called ‘Kabutomushi’ (カブトムシ) [pictured below]. Beetle collecting is a big pastime of Japanese schoolboys. Some schools give summer assignments where children have to trap and collect beetles and do a research project on them. In particular the Kabutomushi or horned beetle hatches in early summer and dies sometime in the late fall. Beetle collecting is a way for Japanese children to understand the fragility and sanctity of life.

 

黄金虫は　金持ちだ (Koganemushi wa kanemochi da)

The beetle is rich

金蔵建てた　蔵建てた (Kanegura tateta. Kura tateta)

It built a money warehouse. Built a warehouse

飴屋で水飴　買って来た (Ameya de mizuame katte kita)

It bought syrup candy from a candy store and came back

黄金虫は　金持ちだ (Koganemushi wa kanemochi da)

The beetle is rich

金蔵建てた　蔵建てた(Kanegura tateta. Kura tateta)

It bought candy from a candy store and came back

子供に水飴　なめさせた (Kodomo ni mizuame namesaseta)

A child made it eat syrup candy

黄金虫は　金持ちだ (Koganemushi wa kanemochi da)

The beetle is rich

金蔵建てた　蔵建てた (Kanegura tateta. Kura tateta)

It built a money warehouse. Built a warehouse

飴屋で水飴　買って来た (Ameya de mizuame katte kita)

It bought syrup candy from a candy store and came back

黄金虫は　金持ちだ (Koganemushi wa kanemochi da)

The beetle is rich

金蔵建てた　蔵建てた(Kanegura tateta. Kura tateta)

It bought candy from a candy store and came back

子供に水飴　なめさせた (Kodomo ni mizuame namesaseta)

A child made it eat syrup candy

*This水飴 literally means “water candy” but this candy is a type of candy where a kind of starchy syrup is used as the main ingredient of this candy.