21st of March was Spring equinox Day. Here in UK it has been wonderful weather. Flowers begun to open. In Spring Japanese enjoy cheery blossom. It must be beautiful now. Today I will introduce a song called [Hana] The song was written in 1940.

“Ringo” means an apple and “Hitorigoto” means soliloquy. Lets find out what the apple’s soliloquy in the song.

Hana (The flowers)

It is very simple melody. Hope you feel warmer inside your body after listening the song.

Translation

花

春のうららの　隅田川、
のぼりくだりの　船人が
櫂（かひ）のしづくも　花と散る
ながめを何に　たとふべき

見ずやあけぼの　露浴びて
われにもの言ふ　桜木を
見ずや夕ぐれ　手をのべて
われさしまねく　青柳（あおやぎ）を

錦おりなす　長堤（ちょうてい）に
くるればのぼる　おぼろ月
げに一刻も　千金の
ながめを何に　たとふべき

Cherry Blossoms

How happy, spring has come over the Sumida*,
Rowing up, rowing down in the warm sunbeams,
Drops from the boatmen’s oars look like cherry blooms,
How can I describe for you the view o’er the streams?

Lo, see the cherry trees that stand in the morning mist,
I hear them speak to me in a tender tone,
In the eve I love to see the waving willows,
They stretch their hands to me strolling alone.

Oh, see the hazy moon rising o’er the banks,
Rows of cherry trees standing o’er the stream,
How I love the cherry blossoms in the moonlight!
How can I describe for you the night like in a dream?

Translated by the Japan Information and Culture Center, a part of the Embassy of Japan.

Now let’s sing!

Hope you will enjoy this song with your childrenle and be able to learn some Japanese words! Please let me know if you enjoyed it or not!

THANK YOU Arigato