Oshougatsu

Oshougatsu

Mou ikutsu neruto Oshougatsu
Oshougatsu niwa tako agete
Koma wo mawashite asobimasyo
Hayaku koi koi Oshougatsu

Mou ikutsu neruto Oshougatsu
Oshougatsu niwa mari tsuite
Oibane tsuite asobimasyo
Hayaku koi koi Oshougatsu

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

New Year

After a few more nights of sleep, it’s New Year’s Day!
When New Year’s comes, let’s fly kites together
Let’s spin the Spinning top and play!
Come on, come on, come on, come on, New Year’s Day!

How many more nights of sleep, it will be New Year’s
When New Year’s comes, let’s play with bounce a ball
Let’s play Japanese traditional badminton!
Come on, come on, come on, come on, New Year’s Day

utasuky

In Japan, “Oshogatsu” is a very important seasonal event.

It is the first day of the year, but it is also an opportunity to reset the body and mind for the new year.

For this reason, until around 1970, stores were closed all together and families spent time together relaxing under a kotatsu. Oranges were eaten and consumed… and adults generally enjoyed drinking sake while picking up “Osechi Ryori” (New Year’s special dishes) from noon…

This was a time when convenience stores did not exist as they do today.

It was also a great pleasure to get together with relatives who lived far away from the family and receive an allowance called “Otoshidama” (New Year’s money).

Then, they would enjoy “kite-flying,” “spinning top,” “Japanese traditional badminton,” and other games with their cousins. These were the days before video games.

This song is a standard song that has transcended time and is still sung today, describing in very simple words the feelings of children looking forward to the New Year.

The lyricist, Higashi Kume, is said to be the first person to write colloquial lyrics in Japan.

Words:HIGASHI Kume
Music:TAKI Rentaro