Old children's songs of Japan 童謡

♪ ふるさと Hometown

兎追いし かの山

小鮒釣りし かの川

夢は今もめぐりて

忘れがたき故郷


如何に います父母

恙なしや 友がき

雨に風につけても

思いいずる故郷


こころざしをはたして

いつの日にか帰らん

山はあおき故郷

水は清き故郷

In my child days, I pursued the rabbit in the mountain. I also did crucian carp fishing on the river. 

Even now, I can picture a sight of those days in my mind vividly. That is a hometown which I do not forget. 

 

Are my parents living well? Are my friends of youth living well? 

I always remember people of a hometown on a rainy day or the day of a strong wind. 

 

If my dreams come true, I will return to a hometown. To a hometown with a beautiful green mountain. To a hometown with very clear water. 


♪ 紅葉 Autumnal leaves

秋の夕日に照る山紅葉

濃いも薄いも数ある中に

松をいろどる楓や蔦は

山のふもとの裾模様


渓の流に散り浮く紅葉

波にゆられて離れて寄って

赤や黄色の色様々に

水の上にも織る錦

The setting sun of autumn is illuminating the autumnal leaves of the mountain. The autumnal leaves have many colors, such as a deep color and a light color. 

The leaves of the maple and ivy have covered the pine colorfully. The leaves of the maple and ivy have covered the pine trees colorfully. 

The foot of the mountain is beautiful like the pattern of the skirt of a kimono. 

 

Autumnal leaves go to the mountain stream, breaking up. And many leaves have floated in the water of the mountain stream. 

The autumnal leaves which are shaking by the wave have separated or approached each other. The scenery seems to be the graceful textiles woven using red leaves and yellow leaves on water.