Tag Archives: Japanese song
To the Shore! Posted by Ginny on Jul 22, 2011
This season is a perfect season to go to the seashore in Japan. It made be think of this old Japanese song that made me feel nostalgic of all the times I played at the seashore as a kid. This song is called 浜辺の歌 (hamabe uta), which means ‘the shore song’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W7rgjL-5Ss 明日浜辺を さもよえば (ashita hamabe…
Sakura Sakura Posted by Ginny on Apr 13, 2011
The sakura (桜) or cherry blossoms in Japan are in full bloom. I guess you can say that cherry blossoms are one of the iconic symbols that people associate with Japan and Japanese culture. There’s also a Japanese folk song about the sakura. You might have heard of it before because it’s often chosen as…
Japanese Song About A Hometown Posted by Ginny on Jan 3, 2011
Do you miss your hometown? ふるさと (Furusato) is a popular Japanese song about one’s hometown. Here is a video to the song : Here are the lyrics : うさぎ おいし かの やま (I chased rabbits on that mountain) こぶな つりし かの かわ (I fished for minnows in that stream) ゆめ は いま も めぐりて (I…
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Posted by Ginny on Nov 28, 2010
Kira Kira Boshi (きらきら星) is the Japanese version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Here’s a nice video to sing along to : きらきらひかる (kira kira hikaru) Twinkle twinkle little star お空の星よ (osora no hoshiyo) How I wonder what you are まばたきしては (mabataki shitewa) Up above the sky so high みんなを見てる (minna o miteru) Like a…
Tōryanse Posted by Ginny on Oct 1, 2010
Tōryanse (通りゃんせ) is a very well known song in Japan. You’ve probably heard this song when crossing the street in Japan. When the traffic light plays this song, children in Japan known it is safe to cross the street. Here are the lyrics to the first verse : 通りゃんせ 、通りゃんせ (Tōryanse, tōryanse) Let me pass, let…
Teru Teru Bōzu Posted by Ginny on Sep 7, 2010
Teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主) is a nursery rhyme sung by Japanese children. The lyrics are somewhat disturbing, especially the part about drinking sake and head severing. It’s not exactly appropriate for children, but everyone just seems to sing the song without really paying attention to the meaning. So sing along and learn some Japanese while…