Info
This is a ball-playing song that comes from Akita Prefecture, Japan. It references Higan (彼岸), which is a Buddhist festival, celebrated at both equinoxes, where people visit the graves of loved ones.
Romaji
(Folk song from Japan)
Tsubodono, tsubodono.
O higan mairi ni
yuju mai ka (repeat)
Iya da? Iya da?
Naze iya da.
Karasu to iu,
kuro tori wa,
Itchau tsutsu ki
gito tsutsuki,
sore de
Taro san
Nuki mashi ta
English Translation - Snail
Snail, snail¹
Shall we go visit the graves
For Higan? (repeat)
No, I don’t want to.
Why not?
Because the black bird,
The crow,
Pecks and pecks,
Pecks away at us.
So…
Mr. Taro²
You can skip it [stay home].
¹ This is an edible snail people find in rice paddies in early spring.
² This can be a name or a euphemism for a cockroach in restaurants.
Japanese - つ ぼ どの
つ ぼ どの
つ ぼ どの
お ひがん まいり に
ゆじ まい か (repeat)
いや だ
なぜ いや だ
からす と いう
くろ とり わ
い t ちゃう つつ き
ぎと つつき
それ で
たろ さん
ぬき まし た
See also
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
