This song for elementary school students was published in the early Taisho period.

As with all shouka of this era, neither the lyricist nor the composer has been made public and remains unknown to this day.

The place where the lyrics were set has also not been identified.
And surprisingly, it has not been selected for inclusion in the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” making it difficult to understand the literary lyrics,
The lyrics are no longer included in textbooks, perhaps because of the difficulty of understanding the literary lyrics.
However, the original scenery of the summer sea in Japan, which is being forgotten, can be found here.

Passing through a forest of pine trees, perhaps a windbreak, one comes to a stretch of beach.
At a nearby fishing port, nets are drying and the smell of the sea is in the air.
All that can be heard is the charming voices of children and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.
As dusk approaches, more and more boats with fishing lights (fish-collecting lights) are seen offshore.

Nowadays, the summer sea is a beach resort with elaborate performances for young people,
However, until around the 1970s and 1980s, the sea was known as “Kaisui Yokujyou (bathing beach).
And there were only a few huts selling yakisoba (fried noodles), uninspired ramen, curry and rice, and shaved ice.
That was the scenery of the summer sea.

Just like the song, beautiful time passed slowly and unobtrusively.

Even now, you might be able to enjoy such a scene at a beach near a not-so-famous local fishing port.

“Hanabi” The joy of fireworks sung in nursery rhymes

The children’s song “Hanabi” (Fireworks) expresses children’s longing and joy for fireworks festivals, which are a hallmark of Japanese summer. From the era when this song was created to the present day, fireworks have continued to be beloved as a special presence that colors Japanese summers.

This nursery rhyme, beginning with the lyrics “Don to natta, Hanabi da kirei dana” ( A booming sound, it’s a fireworks display, how beautiful ), expresses children’s honest surprise and emotion toward the sound and light of fireworks. The beauty of fireworks launched into the night sky has fascinated people across generations, and fireworks festivals held almost every weekend throughout summer across Japan continue to attract many people.

Shidare yanagi

Japanese summer scenes in the lyrics

The lyrics of the children’s song “Hanabi” vividly depict scenes of Japanese summer festivals. The onomatopoeia “Don Don” representing the sound of fireworks expresses the realistic atmosphere of fireworks festivals that children actually experience, inviting listeners to the festival grounds.

Utagawa_Hiroshige Meisho edo 100 kei, Ryougoku hanabi

One reason this song continues to be beloved is that fireworks festivals go beyond mere entertainment to serve as important events that deepen bonds between families and local communities. The experience of wearing yukata, visiting night stalls, and looking up at the night sky to enjoy fireworks continues to be passed down as a traditional way of spending summer in Japan.
“Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

The origin of this event is said to be the “Ryougoku no Kawabiraki” (opening of the river at Ryougoku), which was held in 1733 by TOKUGAWA Yoshimune, the 8th shogun of the Edo shogunate, to pray for the end of the plague.

Diversity of Fireworks Culture Spreading Across the Nation

Japan’s fireworks culture has various characteristics depending on the region. From large-scale competitions including the famous “Japan’s Three Great Fireworks Festivals” to small community-based local festivals, their scale and format vary widely.

Whether it’s the fireworks sung about in the children’s song “Hanabi” or modern fireworks, the underlying desire to “move and delight people” remains unchanged. While technological advances have dramatically improved the scale and beauty of fireworks, the expressions of people looking up at the large flowers blooming in the night sky are always filled with the same timeless emotion.

Inheriting Japanese Culture through Children’s Songs

The children’s song “Hanabi” plays an important cultural role in passing down Japan’s summer seasonal traditions to the next generation. Through this song, children learn about the joy of fireworks festivals and the beauty of Japanese summer.

The traditional fireworks calls “Tamaya~” and “Kagiya~” that have continued since the Edo period originated from the shop names of two major fireworks masters who competed at the Ryougoku River Opening, where spectators cheered by calling out the names of their preferred fireworks masters.Is it a characteristic of the Edo people that these calls are somewhat similar to those of Kabuki performances?

Even today, the name of Kagiya continues to be used as the name of a Tokyo pyrotechnician.

Additionally, the haiku “Omoshiroute yagate sabishiki hanabi kana” (How amusing, yet soon melancholy, these fireworks), said to be an adaptation of MATSUO Basho‘s verse, beautifully expresses the Edo summer at its peak with hints of approaching autumn, and continues to be beloved today.

Now, where will this year’s fireworks display be the most exciting?

In recent years, however, this song may be the most popular among the younger generation as it conveys well the atmosphere of fireworks and summer festivals.

Historical Origins and Publication

In 1910, following the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, the beloved children’s song “Ware wa Umi no Ko” (I am Child of the Sea) was first published in “Jinjou shougakkou tokuhon shouka,” an official songbook designed for elementary school students of that era. This publication marked the beginning of what would become one of Japan’s most enduring and musical heritage, capturing the essence of Japan’s deep connection to the sea.

The song emerged during a period of significant national transformation, when Japan was establishing itself as a modern maritime power. The timing of its publication was particularly meaningful, as it reflected the country’s growing awareness of its oceanic identity and the importance of maritime culture in shaping the Japanese national character. The song quickly gained popularity in schools across the nation, becoming an integral part of children’s musical education and cultural heritage.

Russo-Japanese War (Public Domain)

The Mystery of Authorship

Due to the educational policies of the Meiji era Ministry of Education, which deliberately concealed the identities of authors to maintain the perceived objectivity of educational materials, “Ware wa Umi no Ko” was officially classified as “author unknown” for many decades. This anonymity shrouded the song in mystery and contributed to its folk-like quality, as it seemed to emerge organically from Japanese culture itself.

However, this mystery was eventually solved during the Heisei era (1989-2019), when compelling evidence emerged pointing to the song’s true creator. Based on artifacts and documentation presented by surviving family members, scholarly consensus now widely accepts that the lyricist was MIYAHARA Kouichirou, a poet and educator of the Meiji period. This revelation added a human dimension to the song’s history while highlighting the collaborative and often anonymous nature of Japan’s cultural creation during the early modern period.

Cultural Significance and Maritime Identity

The song stands as a vivid and poetic portrayal of a young boy born and raised in a traditional Japanese fishing village, embodying the robust physical strength and resilient spirit that characterizes Japan as a quintessential maritime nation. The lyrics paint a picture of coastal life that resonated deeply with the Japanese experience, celebrating the connection between the people and the sea that surrounds their island nation.

Originally, the complete song consisted of seven verses, with verses four through seven depicting the protagonist’s evolution into a military serviceman actively serving on the seas. These later verses reflected the militaristic spirit of early 20th-century Japan and the importance of naval power in the nation’s identity. However, following Japan’s defeat in World War II, these martial verses were removed by the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Allied occupation forces as part of the broader demilitarization efforts.

The song subsequently disappeared from school textbooks for an extended period, not only due to its military associations but also because its classical Japanese wording had become increasingly difficult for modern children to comprehend. The language gap between Meiji-era Japanese and contemporary speech patterns made the song less accessible to new generations. It wasn’t until 1958 that “Ware wa Umi no Ko” was officially restored to educational curricula, though only the first three verses were reinstated, focusing on the innocent portrayal of coastal childhood rather than military themes.

Japan’s Oceanic Geography and Enduring Legacy

Japan’s profound connection to the sea, as celebrated in this song, is rooted in remarkable geographical facts. According to the 2004 edition of Japan’s official “Coastal Statistics,” the nation boasts a coastline stretching 35,297 kilometers, ranking as the sixth longest in the world. This extensive maritime boundary is made even more remarkable by Japan’s unique geographic position, spanning from subarctic regions in the north to subtropical zones in the south, creating an extraordinary diversity of oceanic landscapes and marine ecosystems.

This geographical diversity manifests in stunning contrasts: from the drift ice seas of Hokkaidou, where ice floes create ethereal winter seascapes, to the vibrant coral reefs of Okinawa, where tropical fish display brilliant colors in crystal-clear waters. Each region offers distinct marine environments that have shaped local cultures, traditions, and ways of life. Japan’s renowned food culture owes much to these oceanic riches, with each coastal region developing unique culinary traditions based on local seafood specialties. When visitors explore fishing villages throughout Japan, they encounter an incredible variety of distinctive marine products, from Hokkaido’s sea urchin and crab to Kyushu’s yellowtail and sea bream.

Fishing Village

Despite the passage of more than a century since its creation, “Ware wa Umi no Ko” continues to touch hearts with its plaintive melody and evocative lyrics that capture the essence of Japan’s maritime soul. The song’s enduring appeal and cultural significance were formally recognized when it was selected as one of the prestigious “100 Best Japanese Songs,” cementing its place in the nation’s musical heritage. Today, it serves not only as a nostalgic reminder of Japan’s coastal traditions but also as a bridge connecting modern Japanese people with their maritime roots and the timeless relationship between the Japanese people and the sea that has shaped their civilization for millennia.

There are many songs about the sea, but this song is probably the first sea song that a child is exposed to.
It is a very simple song about how it feels to see the sea.

Japan is one of the few maritime nations in the world that has no national borders on the ground.
Children are probably exposed to the sea at a relatively early age, and the awe of the size of the sea is palpable.

Of course, the sea still has a special place in the hearts of Japanese people, not only as a source of food such as fish, but also as an object of healing and, as the song says, an interface to foreign lands. Songs such as “Yashi no Mi (Palm Seed)” speak of the sea as a gateway to foreign lands.

The Japanese, being an earthquake-prone country, also know that the sea has two faces, one gentle and the other terrifying.
When you visit the sea, please make sure that there is a place where you can escape in case of emergency.

By the way, it is precisely because Japan has benefited greatly from the sea that a food culture such as “sushi” was born,
The taste component called “Umami,” which is said to be difficult for foreigners to detect, is mainly extracted from kelp.

While the entertainment value of conveyor-belt sushi is enjoyable, I would like people to try traditional sushi restaurants where they sit at a counter and are confronted by a sushi chef.

You will discover the magic of a dish that appears to be nothing more than a slice of fish on a bed of rice.

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“Shizuka na Kohan” – Origins and Mysterious Background

“Shizuka na Kohan no Mori no Kage Kara” (From the Forest Shadows of the Quiet Lakeside) is a children’s song believed to have been created in 1936 at the YMCA Nojiri Lake Camp. Lake Nojiri is a beautiful lake straddling Shinano-machi in Kamiminochi District and Nagano City in northern Nagano Prefecture. Located at an elevation of 654 meters in the highlands about an hour’s drive from Karuizawa, this lake remains cool even in summer—truly the perfect camping environment.

Lake Nojiri ( Nojiri-ko )

The song’s title can be written as either “Shizuka na kohan” or “Shizuka na kohan no mori no kage kara,” and this casual flexibility is part of its charm. The lyricist is credited as YAMAKITA Takihiko, but various versions of the lyrics exist, and the true author is often considered unknown.

Interestingly, the original melody is said to be either a Swiss or French folk song, but the actual country of origin remains unclear. Perhaps it’s precisely because this melody has been beloved and sung across so many European countries that it has become so cherished in Japan as well.

Incidentally, there’s also Lake Nozori in Gunma Prefecture, known as the “Lake in the Sky” at 1,500 meters elevation, but this lake has no connection to our children’s song.

Lyrical Structure and Why It’s So Beloved

The most famous part of this song is the first verse: “Shizuka na kohan no mori no kage kara, mou okicha ikaga to kakkou ga naku, kakkou, kakkou” (From the forest shadows of the quiet lakeside, the cuckoo calls ‘won’t you wake up now?’ Cuckoo, cuckoo). Most Japanese people could probably hum along to this part.

The cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) is a migratory bird known for its distinctive “cuckoo” call, and in Japan it’s cherished as a herald of early summer. The lyrical expression of the cuckoo calling out “won’t you wake up now?” demonstrates the beautiful Japanese use of personification.

Actually, there are subsequent verses featuring owl sounds like “hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo,” but unfortunately these are rarely sung. The first verse alone became overwhelmingly popular because of the rhythmic simplicity of the “cuckoo, cuckoo” refrain and the way it conveys the refreshing feeling of a highland morning. It really gets you excited for the camping adventure ahead!

Cultural Spread Through Singing in Transit

When people think of “Shizuka na Kohan,” many probably remember singing it in buses on the way to school camps or nature retreats. While it’s sometimes sung around campfires, it’s actually more commonly heard during travel—in buses and trains.

Gazing out at the flowing green scenery while everyone sings “cuckoo, cuckoo” together—many people have experienced this. This song has a mysterious power: as you sing it, spirits naturally lift and the distance between participants seems to shrink.

When outdoor activities became popular in postwar Japan, this song was actively sung in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and school nature programs. It’s also beloved in kindergartens and nursery schools as a seasonal song, playing an important role as children’s first introduction to nature.

Contemporary Significance and International Value

In our digital age, the value of “Shizuka na Kohan” shines even brighter. Rather than staring at smartphone screens, this song invites us to look at the blue sky reflected on lake surfaces and the green of forests. It continues to serve as an important gateway to such experiences.

For foreign visitors, this song offers a fascinating glimpse into Japanese attitudes toward nature. With about 70% of Japan’s land consisting of mountains and forests, this geographical feature has nurtured the Japanese people’s delicate sensitivity to nature. The ability to find beauty in “quietness” and to listen carefully to birdsong represents a uniquely Japanese forest culture.

By Bourrichon (atelier graphique), CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, Link

The unknown authorship is also intriguing. While created by an individual, it has been passed down and sung by many people, gradually changing while continuing to be loved. This perhaps represents the very life force of folk songs and traditional culture.

Even today, somewhere in Japan, children are probably humming this song while riding in a bus. The little song born at Lake Nojiri continues to color new generations’ summer memories nearly 90 years later.

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