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Sakura Sakura

さくらさくら

[Genre]Min'yo
[School]Min'yo
[Also Known As]

History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):

Sakura ('Cherry Blossoms') is one of the best known melodies of Japan. Originally it was an old urban popular tune known by the name of Saita sakura. It is also one of the most popular children's songs.

Arranged by Ongaku Torishirabe-gakari during the Meiji Era, this song was included in the Sokyoku shu ('Collection of Japanese Koto Music,' Vol. 1, Tokyo, 1888), and has been used for beginners of the koto ever since.

Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In the March sky,
As far as one can see -
A mist? A cloud?
Their fragrance fills the air.
Come, everybody!
Let's go and see them.
Sakura sakura
yayoi no sora wa
miwatasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan

Sakura Sakura appears on the following albums

Album Artist
Play ButtonAll the Best from Japan
Play ButtonArt of the Koto - The music of Japan Played by Kimio Eto Koto : Etō Kimio
Cherry Blossoms

A set of variations on in old Japanese folk song, arranged by Kimio Eto.
Play ButtonEndless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi : John Singer
Play ButtonFlute and Koto of Japan Shamisen : Yonekawa Toshiko
Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō

Haru no Umi - Koto Meikyoku Sen - 2 Koto : Sawai Tadao
Shakuhachi : Yamamoto Hōzan
Play ButtonIsaac Stern - The Classic Melodies of Japan Shakuhachi : Yamamoto Hōzan
Play ButtonJapan - Shakuhachi and Koto Koto : Kariya Shunju

Japan Revisited Shakuhachi : Ono Mamoru
Play ButtonJapanese Folk Songs
Japanese traditional ancient song about cherry blossoms, Japanese national flower. This song has been well-known for over 1000 years.

Koto and Shamisen - Koten/Gendai Meikyoku Shū 04 Koto : Miyamoto Masatoki

Koto and Shamisen - Koten/Gendai Meikyoku Shū 09 Koto : Miyamoto Masatoki
Play ButtonKoto Music of Japan

Koto no Kyoshu Nihon no Merodi-shu Koto : Yonekawa Toshiko
Koto : Tsujimoto Chikatoyo
Koto : Yonekawa Toshiko II
Shakuhachi : Suginuma Sachio
Koto : Yonekawa Megumi

Koto no Miryoku - Disk 2 Koto : Yamauchi Kimiko
Play ButtonMagenta Koto : Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto

Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi : John Singer

Nihon no Shirabe Shakuhachi : Mitsuhashi Kifu
Koto : Sawai Tadao
Play ButtonRinko Koto : Kida Atsuko
Shakuhachi : Tanabe Shōzan
Koto : Nomura Tomoko
Koto : Nishi Yōko
Shakuhachi : Sakata Ryōzan

Sankyoku Gassō Dai Zenshū vol. 24  (三曲合奏大全集24) Koto : Yonekawa Toshiko II
Shakuhachi : Hayashi Reirin