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Aka tombo (1927) – 赤とんぼ

akatombo2 1 Mid Autumn Songs
akatombo2 1
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Aka tombo

Yuuyake koyake no aka tombo
Oware te mitano wa itsu no hi ka

Yama no hatake no kuwa no mi wo
Kokago ni tsunda wa maboroshi ka

Jyuugo de neeya wa yome ni yuki
Osato no tayori mo taehateta

Yuuyake koyake no aka tombo
Tomatte iruyo sao no saki

lyricist:MIKI Rofuu
Composer:YAMADA Kousaku
in 1927

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Red dragonfly
Sunsets and red dragonflies, it’s a little sunset
How old was I when she carried me on her back and I saw it?

The mulberry that grew in the mountain field,
Was the day when I picked it up in a small basket on my back was an illusion?

At the age of 15, my sister went to her bride
And the news from our home was cut off.

Red dragonfly with sunset, it’s small sunset
It stops at the end of the fence.

 

utasuky
utasuky

Let’s look for the red dragonfly in the evening sky

“Akatombo” is a beautiful song that sings of the heart filled with nostalgia as one watches the red dragonflies that fly from early to mid-autumn, as if stained by the setting sun.

 

The image of the dragonflies glowing in the evening light has long been a symbol of Japan’s autumn, giving listeners a bittersweet reminder of childhood days and hometown landscapes.

 

A melody born from a poet’s window

The lyricist, MIKI Rofuu, is said to have been inspired by seeing a red dragonfly flying outside his window while teaching literature at the Hakodate Trappist Monastery.

 

Surrounded by the quiet of nature and the solemn atmosphere of the monastery, the sudden appearance of the delicate insect must have left a vivid impression, one that later took shape in his poignant lyrics.

 

Memories of a poor mountain village

The kanji for “akatombo” is written as follows.

aka tombo kanji

 

About 100 years ago, in the early Showa period (early 20th century), mountain villages in Japan were very poor.

MIKI Rofuu’s mother ran away from home when he was five years old, and he was raised by a nanny girl. However, that “neeya” also married off at the age of 15.

komori

In a time when food was scarce, this may have been part of the so-called “kuchiberashi,” a way of trying not to feed anyone other than the work force of the farm.

 

Loneliness entrusted to the song

Later, when the author left for the city, he no longer received letters from his hometown. How must Rofuu have felt when he lost his family?

 

Such loneliness was entrusted to “Akatombo,” a song widely loved as a representative Japanese song. However, although sentimental, this loneliness does not mean unhappiness. That is why it is widely sympathized with and has remained in the present age.

 

Still loved all over Japan

“Akatombo” won first place in the “Songs of Japan and Hometowns You Choose” conducted by the NHK National Executive Committee in a nationwide survey.

 

Monuments to “Akatombo” can be found all over Japan, which shows the popularity of the song.
The monument shown in the map below is one of them.

 

100 Best Japanese Songs

 

▼Jean=pierre rampal “Aka Tombo” flute



 

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