Minyo

I've been learning to play various Japanese folksongs on the shakuhachi.

I also thought it would be fun to learn the lyrics and sing-along with Hannah.

So, for ease of reference,  I'm posting some lyrics and translations here. 

Edo Komori Uta (Edo Lullabye)

ねんねんころりよ　おころりよ。 ぼうやはよい子だ　ねんねしな。 ぼうやのお守りは　どこへ行った。 あの山こえて　里へ行った。 里のみやげに　何もろうた。 でんでん太鼓に　笙の笛。

Nennen korori yo, Okorori yo. Bōya wa yoi ko da, Nenne shina~ Bōya no omori wa, Doko e itta? Ano yama koete, Sato e itta. Sato no miyage ni, Nani moratta? Denden taiko ni, Shō no fue.

Hushabye, Hushabye! My good Baby, Sleep! Where did my boy's baby-sitter go? Beyond that mountain, back to her home. As a souvenir from her home, what did you get? A toy drum and a shō flute.

Baba used to sing this to Hannah when she was a baby.  Youtube link

Chugoku Komori Uta  (Chigoku Lullabye)

Chugoku Region Lullaby is a traditional folk song in the city of Ibara, Okayama Prefecture, Chugoku region, Japan, and is a well known Japanese cradle song. It is best known by the arrangement by Kosaku Yamada that was made in 1938.

Japanese ねんねこ　しゃっしゃりませ 寝た子の　かわいさ 起きて　泣く子の ねんころろ　つらにくさ ねんころろん　ねんころろん ねんねこ　しゃっしゃりませ きょうは　二十五日さ あすは　この子の ねんころろ　宮詣り ねんころろん　ねんころろん 宮へ　詣った時 なんと言うて　拝むさ 一生　この子の ねんころろ　まめなように ねんころろん　ねんころろん Youtube link

[edit] Romanized Japanese Nenneko shasshari mase, Neta ko no kawaisa. Okite naku ko no Nenkororo, tsura nikusa. Nenkororon, nenkororon. Nenneko shasshari mase, Kyō wa nijūgo-nichi sa. Asu wa kono ko no, Nenkororo, Miya-mairi. Nenkororon, nenkororon. Miya e maitta toki, Nan to yūte ogamu sa. Issho kono ko no, Nenkororo, mame na yō ni. Nenkororon, nenkororon.

[edit] English translation Hushabye, sleep! How cute is the face of the baby fallen asleep, The baby who is awake and cries, Hushabye, how hateful his face looks! Hushabye! Hushabye, sleep! Today is the 25th day of his birth. Tomorrow we will go, Hushabye, to the shrine, Hushabye! Hushabye, sleep! Arriving at the shrine, what will you pray for? Through his life, may he be, Hushabye, healthy! Hushabye!

Akatonbo

Yûyake-koyake no akatombo.
Owarete mitano wa itsu no hi ka.

Yama no hatake no kuwa no mi o
Kokago ni tsunda wa maboroshi ka.

Jûgo de nêya wa yome ni yuki,
Osato no tayori mo taehateta.

Yûyake koyake no akatombo -
Tomatte iru yo, sao no saki.

 (Miki Rofû / Yamada Kôsaku)

Youtube link

Nanatsu no ko 

Japanese	Romanization[2]	English translation[2]
烏 なぜ啼くの 烏は山に 可愛い七つの 子があるからよ 可愛 可愛と 烏は啼くの 可愛　可愛と 啼くんだよ 山の古巣へ 言って見て御覧 丸い眼をした いい子だよ	Karasu naze nakuno Karasu wa yama ni Kawai nanatsu no Ko ga aru kara yo Kawai kawai to Karasu wa nakuno Kawai kawai to Nakundayo Yama no hurusu e Itte mite goran Marui me o shita Iiko da yo	Mother crow, why do you squawk so? Because high on the mountain I have seven cute children. "Cute, cute," This mother crow sings. "Cute, cute," Cries the mother crow. You should behold the old nest On the mountain. And there you'll see such Round-eyed, good children.

You tube link

Sakura Sakura

Japanese	Romanization	English translation
桜　桜 野山も里も 見渡す限り 霞か雲か 朝日に匂う 桜　桜 花ざかり 桜　桜 弥生の空は 見渡す限り 霞か雲か 匂いぞ　出ずる いざや　いざや 見に行かん	sakura sakura noyama mo sato mo mi-watasu kagiri kasumi ka kumo ka asuhi ni niou sakura sakura hana zakuri sakura sakura yayoi no sora wa mi-watasu kagiri kasumi ka kumo ka nioi zo izuru izaya izaya mini yukan	Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, In fields and villages As far as you can see. Is it a mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the morning sun. Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Flowers in full bloom. Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Across the Spring sky, As far as you can see. Is it a mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the air. Come now, come now, Let’s look, at last!

Youtube link

Defune

Tooku wakarete naku koto yorimo

Iso shinitai kono koi to

Ushiro gami hiku aishu defune

Namida kamishime yuku shioji

Kon'na tsumetai anata no shiuchi

Sore ga uramenu watashi nano

Muteki hito koe aishu defune

Tsukinu omoide nami ni chiru

Sooyo itsuka wa wakatte kureru

Semete hakanai sora danomi

Wakare oshinde aishu defune

Namida koraete miru shioj

Youtube link

Kuroda Bushi (Song of the Kuroda samurai)

Japanese	Romanization[2]	English translation[2]
酒は飲め飲め　飲むならば 日の本一の　この槍を 飲みとるほどに　飲むならば これぞ眞（まこと）の　黒田武士 峰の 嵐か　松風か たづぬる人の　琴の音か 駒引を止めて 聞くほどに 爪音（つまおと）高き　想夫戀（さうふれん） 春のやよいのあけぼのに　 四方の山べを見わたせば　 花の盛りも はくの　 かからぬ峰こそ　なかりけれ 花たちばなも匂うなり　 軒のあやめも薫るなり 　夕暮まえのさみだれに　 山ほととぎす名乗るなり して youtube link (first verse only)	Sake wa nome nome nomu naraba Hi no moto ichi no kono yari wo Nomitoru hodo ni nomu naraba Kore zo makoto no kuroda bushi Mine no arashi ka matsukaze ka Tazunuru hito no koto no ke ka Koma o todomete kiku hodo ni Tsumaoto shiruki soufuren Haru no yayoi no akebono ni yomo no yamabe o miwataseba, hana no sakari mo, haku no kakaranu mine koso nakarikere. Hana tachibana mo niou nari, noki no ayame mo kaoru nari, yugure mae no samidare ni yama hototogisu nanoru nari shite.	Drink, drink sake! If you drink enough, this one spear of Japan will be yours. If you drink enough, you’re a true Kuroda warrior. Is it the mountain wind? Or the wind of the pine tree? Or the sound of the koto from the person I’m searching for? Pulling up his horse, drawing near, he could hear The high sound of a plectrum; she is yearning for her husband. In the spring, in the third month, at dawn, he could see that all around him the mountainsides were covered with blooming flowers, but there were no peaks that were untouched by snow clouds. The mandarin orange blossoms smelled sweet, and the irises under the eaves were fragrant, and in the early summer rain before twilight the mountain cuckoo was calling its own name.

Kojo no Tsuki (Moon over ruined castle)

Japanese

[edit] Romanized Japanese Haru koro no hana no en Meguru sakazuki kagesashite Chiyo no matsu ga e wakeideshi Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko Aki jinei no schimo no iro Nakiyuku kari no kazu misete Uuru tsurugi ni terisoishi Mukashi no hikari ima izuko Ima kojo no yowa no tsuki Kawaranu hikari ta ga tame zo Kaki ni nokoru wa tada kazura Matsu ni uto wa tada arashi Tenjokage wa kawaranedo Eiko wa utsuru yo no sugata Utsusan toteka ima mo nao Ah! Kojo no yowa no tsuki

[edit] English translation A banquet was held  in the splendid castle in the season of the cherry blossom. Where is the light now, that shadowed the glasses and flew through the old pines? The encampment was covered with frost in the autumn. Where is the light now, that shone on the swords like plants, that were as numerous as the cackling wild geese, that flew ?  Now there is the moon over the desolate castle. Whom is it shining for without change? Only tendrils remain on the walls. Only the storm sings between branches of the pines. he shadow of the sky doesn't change. But the moon is reflecting  it as before, changing for better to worse? Ah! The moon over the desolate castle!

Youtube link