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Itsuki Lullaby facts for kids

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Itsuki Lullaby (called Itsuki no komoriuta in Japanese) is a very famous lullaby from Japan. It's a special folk song that many people know, especially from the Kyūshū island.

What is the Itsuki Lullaby?

The Itsuki Lullaby is a well-known lullaby in Japan. It comes from a place called Itsuki Village in Kumamoto Prefecture, which is on Kyūshū Island. This song is a type of folk song, meaning it was passed down through generations.

For a long time, people believed this song was sung by young babysitters from poor families. These children often had to work to help their families. Itsuki Village was near a place called Gokanosho. Long ago, after a big war, some families (the Heike people) settled there. Later, other families (the Genji samurai) came to watch over them. This led to some families being richer and others poorer.

The lullaby was "discovered" by a school teacher in 1935. This happened long after the song was commonly sung.

Itsuki Lullaby Lyrics

There are two main versions of this lullaby. One is the most common version, and the other is the original version sung in the Itsuki Village dialect.

The Most Common Version

In Japanese In English

  1. Odoma bon-giri bon-giri,
    Bon kara sakya oran-do
    Bon ga hayo kurya,
    Hayo modoru.

  2. Odoma kanjin -kanjin,
    Anhito-tacha yoka-shu
    Yoka-hu yoka obi,
    Yoka kimon'.

  1. I will be here until Bon Festival,
    After Bon Festival, I will not be here.
    If Bon Festival comes earlier,
    I would return home earlier.

  2. I am from the poor families,
    They are from the rich families.
    The rich people wear good belts,
    Wear good clothes.

The Original Version

In Japanese In English

  1. Odoma iya iya,
    Naku ko no mori nya.
    Naku to iwarete uramareru,
    Naku to iwarete uramareru.

  2. Nenne shita ko no
    Kawaii sa, muzo sa.
    Okite naku ko no tsura niku sa.
    Okite naku ko no tsura niku sa.

  1. I certainly hate
    Taking care of the crying child.
    They hate me for keeping the child to cry,
    They hate me for keeping the child to cry.

  2. The sleeping child's
    Cuteness and Innocent look!
    The crying child's ugly look,
    The crying child's ugly look.
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Itsuki Lullaby Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.