Sakura Sakura

nihongo|"Sakura Sakura"|さくら さくら|, also known as "Sakura", is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossom. Contrary to popular belief, the song did not originate from ancient times (as in, not from the Heian period or prior). It was first composed during the Edo period for children learning to play the "koto". Originally, the lyrics "Blooming cherry blossoms" were attached to the melody. The song has been popular since the Meiji period, and the lyrics in their present form were attached then. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan. Throughout the ages there have been many rearrangements of the song, but Michio Miyagi's rendition is often regarded to be the best of them all.'Dream of the Cherry Blossoms' by Keiko Abe, a Japanese virtuoso percussionist, is a 5 minute long piece for marimba based on an improvisation on the tune of 'Sakura sakura', and has become one of the most played pieces in the marimba repertoire.Also, Yukijiro Yokoh, a Japanese classical guitarrist made an arrangement for the instrument. Which is, like Keiko Abe's version, a theme with variations in which he uses different guitar techniques to imitate the sound of the Koto.

Lyrics

Standard

:桜　桜:野山も里も:見渡す限り:霞か雲か:朝日に匂ふ:桜　桜:花ざかり

:桜　桜:弥生の空は:見渡す限り:霞か雲か:匂ひぞ　出づる:いざや　いざや:見に行かん

Hiragana

:さくら　さくら:のやま　も　さと　も:みわたす　かぎり:かすみ　か　くも　か:あさひ　に　におう:さくら　さくら:はな　ざかり

:さくら　さくら:やよい　の　そら　は:みわたす　かぎり:かすみ　か　くも　か:におい　ぞ　いずる:いざや　いざや:みに　ゆかん

Romaji

:"sakura sakura":"no-yama mo sato mo":"mi-watasu kagiri":"kasumi ka kumo ka":"asahi ni niou":"sakura sakura":"hana-zakari"

:"sakura sakura":"yayoi no sora wa":"mi-watasu kagiri":"kasumi ka kumo ka":"nioi zo izuru":"iza ya iza ya":"mi ni yukan"

Translation

:Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,:On Meadow-hills and dale,: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,:Let’s look, at last!

Uses in popular culture

*Cat Stevens used the melody of "Sakura Sakura" at the intro in the live version of his "Hard Headed Woman" song, during his 1976 Earth Tour that was later released on his album and DVD entitled "Majikat".
*Bon Jovi sampled "Sakura Sakura" at the opening of their song "Tokyo Road," featured on their 1985 "7800° Fahrenheit" album.
*Thrice used a sample of a music box playing "Sakura Sakura" as the intro to the song "Music Box" on their 2005 album entitled "Vheissu". The song is also built on the chord progression of "Sakura Sakura."
*DDR Extreme contains a variation of the song, under the title "Sakura".
* [Sakura Sakura is used in the 2005 game of the year, Civilization IV.

External links

* [http://classic-midi.com/midi_player/uta/uta_sakura.htm Link to midi recording]
* [http://www.mamalisa.com/world/sakura.html Link to mp3 recording of Sakura, Sakura, the Japanese lyrics with another verse, an English translation and sheet music]