“Sand dunes.” This song depicts the scene of a Japan Sea beach on the verge of harsh winter, with rough waves approaching.

As dusk sets in, the voices of children bidding “goodbye” and “see you tomorrow” overlap with the chirping of sparrows.

The poet KITAHARA Hakushu once said,

“I watch sparrows. Always watching. Not just watching, but always being with sparrows, flying and chirping along with them.”

Visible beyond the sea is Sado (or Sado Island), viewed from Yoriihama in Niigata Prefecture, the setting of this song.

Sado, once prosperous with gold and silver mines, like the juniper plains of Silverberry field, a famous spot in Niigata Town as a sandy coast during the Edo period, gradually faded into obscurity with the passage of time. Perhaps this song, too, might be unknown to the youth of modern-day Japan.

May 5th is Children’s Day, also known as Tango-no Sekku, a day to celebrate and pray for the healthy growth of boys.

Looking back, this song may have had an influence, but in the Showa era it was customary for siblings to measure their height against each other and mark it on a pillar on May 5th. Nowadays, with an increasing number of people living in rental housing, marking pillars and causing damage would likely result in anger from the parents. Such changes in the times can be felt in these aspects as well.

The line in the first verse, “Finally as tall as the string of a haori”, is said to represent the younger brother’s perspective, who had grown up to the height of the string that fastens the coat of his older brother, who had dressed up in formal attire to celebrate Tango no Sekku. In the second verse, the view of Mount Fuji from inside the house is depicted, which is likely the scenery from UNNO Atsushi’s hometown in Suruga, Shizuoka Prefecture. The mountains that compete with each other in height may be referring to the Southern Alps mountain range. Houses where one can enjoy such long views are now likely limited to the upper floors of high-rise apartments.

By the way, the “chimaki” that his older brother is measuring his height while eating is often imagined in eastern Japan as a steamed dish made with seasoned meat, bamboo shoots, and glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves or other materials. In western Japan, it is more common to refer to a Japanese confection wrapped in bamboo leaves and filled with sweet dumplings. The lyricist, UNNO Atsushi, is from Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, which is located on the border between eastern and western Japan. So, I wonder which one he was referring to.
However, it seems that the “chimaki” eaten on Tango-no Sekku often refers to the sweet Japanese confection pictured.

100 Best Japanese Songs

Amefuri Otsukisan — What Makes Japan’s Rainy Season So Special?

“Amefuri Otsukisan” perfectly captures the essence of Japan’s unique rainy season called “Tsuyu” (梅雨) or “Baiu” (梅雨)—both readings refer to the same phenomenon that occurs from June to early July. This is Japan’s wettest time of year, marking the beginning of the hot and humid summer that defines the country’s climate. Unlike sudden downpours in other regions, Tsuyu brings prolonged, gentle rains that seem to envelope the entire landscape in a misty, dreamlike atmosphere.

The song’s haunting melody and evocative imagery transport listeners directly into this season of perpetual drizzle, where clouds hide the moon and create an almost mystical setting. It’s during this time that Japan transforms—hydrangeas bloom in vibrant purples and blues, rice paddies shimmer with fresh water, and the air itself seems to carry stories of old.

tsuyu? baiu?

Why Does She Journey Alone on This Rainy Night?

The song tells the mysterious tale of a woman traveling alone to her wedding on a cloudy night when the moon remains hidden behind thick clouds. But why does she make this important journey by herself? The lyrics don’t reveal the full story, leaving listeners to imagine the circumstances. Yet rather than depicting this as a tragic tale, the beautiful melody suggests a story of quiet determination and acceptance.

This solitary journey speaks to something deeper about human resilience. The woman in the song isn’t portrayed as a victim of circumstance, but rather as someone who has found her own strength within the constraints of her time. The gentle, flowing melody mirrors the steady rain—persistent, inevitable, yet somehow comforting in its constancy.

※Source:worldbank.org (CC BY 4.0)

How Did Marriage Work in Old Japan?

To understand this song’s deeper meaning, we need to look at historical context. In old Japan, it was common for women to marry into families where they’d never met their future husbands. With about 70% of the country covered in forests and limited agricultural land, it wasn’t unusual for brides to travel over mountains to neighboring villages for arranged marriages.

The Japanese character for “bride” (嫁) beautifully illustrates this reality—it combines the characters for “woman” (女) and “house” (家), literally meaning “woman of the house.” Marriage was primarily seen as a union between households rather than individuals. In an agricultural society, the emphasis was on securing labor and ensuring the continuation of family lines through children. While this might seem harsh by today’s standards, it was the foundation upon which most families were built.

How Did Two Songs Become One Masterpiece?

Here’s a fascinating detail about this beloved song: it wasn’t originally written as a single piece! “Amefuri Otsukisan” began as two separate songs. The first, with its memorable opening about rain and the moon, was so well-received that a sequel called “Kumo no Kage” (Shadow of the Clouds) was created to continue the story.

When it came time to record the songs, composer NAKAYAMA Shimpei made the brilliant suggestion to combine both pieces into one cohesive work. This creative decision transformed two good songs into one masterpiece that flows seamlessly from the woman’s departure into the rainy night through to her journey’s end. The combined version creates a more complete narrative arc while maintaining the mysterious, contemplative mood that makes the song so captivating.

Today, this combined version continues to be cherished and has earned its place among the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” It stands as a testament to how sometimes the most profound stories emerge not from dramatic tragedy, but from quiet moments of human strength and the gentle persistence of rain on a summer night.

Fun in the Amefuri (rainfall)! Mom’s Loving Umbrella and Children’s Smiles

Young children love their mothers unconditionally. Indeed, many of the songs about parents and children in the world are probably more about mothers than fathers. As a man, as a father, I feel a little disappointed, but thinking back, I was the same way. It is inevitable.

Rain is depressing when you are an adult. However, this song depicts a fun, childlike rainfall.

When a child is under an umbrella with their mother, their bodies are close to each other and they want to talk about various things.

JYANOME is a type of Japanese umbrella. It was so called because many of its designs resemble the ME (eyes) of JYA (snake).

The Crying Child and the Willow Tree: A Mysterious Rainy Day Tale

JYANOME is a type of Japanese umbrella. It was so called because many of its designs resemble the ME (eyes) of JYA (snake).

But then you look over and see a child crying under a willow tree. Is the child crying because there is no umbrella? Or is it because their mother is not there to pick them up? So he lends the child his umbrella. He calls out “kimi kimi” and “sashitamae” in the tone of a great gentleman.

There are some different interpretations of this part. Speaking of under the willow tree, it is the usual setting for ghosts in Japan. So, this child could be a ghost who has passed away and is crying because of the loneliness of not being picked up by their mother when it rains. I thought it might be a contrast with the happy “I”. We do not know the true meaning intended by KITAHARA Hakushuu who wrote the lyrics. It may simply have reminded him of the many willow trees planted along the waterways of Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, where he grew up.

Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, famous for its waterways.

Mom’s Scent Creates Comfort! The Wonderful Science of Mother-Child Bonds

Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, is famous for its waterways.

In 2021, a research team from Reichman University in Israel found that babies may be more receptive to strangers if they smell their mothers. “Amefuri” (rainfall) must have been a very enjoyable time for children to feel their mother’s scent up close and personal.

Babies found to be more likely to accept unfamiliar women when the odor of their mother is present

A team of researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center, in Israel, working with a colleague from Canada, has found that...

medicalxpress.com

100 Best Japanese Songs