さくら さくら
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms, cherry
blossoms,
In fields and villages
As far as you can see.
Is it a
mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry
blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry
blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let's
look, at last!
Popular urban melody of the Edo period (1603 and
1867) and was adopted as a piece for beginning koto* students in 1888.
The song has
been popular for over 100 years.
It is often sung in international settings as a song
representative of Japan. And is beloved in Japan nursery rhyme. (from Wikipedia)
*"The Japanese
harp, or O-koto, is one of a series of Japanese classical instruments that,
along with the appropriate musical scales, give Japanese music and culture its
distinctive sound. The sound is produced by plucking the strings using
artificial "nails" which are placed over two fingers and the thumb of
the right hand."
http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/koto.htm
