Shabondama facts for kids
Shabondama (シャボン玉, lit. "Soap Bubbles") is a famous Japanese nursery rhyme. It was written by Ujō Noguchi in 1922. This song is taught in many Japanese nursery schools and kindergartens. It has a simple and gentle tune. Sometimes, it is also used in elementary school classes. In these classes, students learn that the song is a way to think about the sadness of losing a child.
The Story Behind the Song
Ujō Noguchi, the writer of "Shabondama," had a daughter named Midori. Sadly, she passed away when she was only 7 days old in 1908. During that time in Japan, called the Meiji period, it was common for many children to die very young. About 20 to 30 out of every 100 children did not live to reach school age.
Noguchi was divorced, and Midori was his only child. He felt very sad about her loss for a long time. People believe that Noguchi saw girls in his village playing with soap bubbles. The bubbles float for a short time and then disappear. This might have reminded him of his daughter's short life. He then wrote this poem. However, we don't know for sure what directly inspired the song.
The Melody
The tune of "Shabondama" is a changed version of a Christian hymn. The original hymn is called "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know". This shows how music can be shared and changed over time.
Where You Might Hear It
You can hear "Shabondama" in a special place in Japan. It is used as the melody for trains leaving Yumoto Station. This station is in Iwaki, which is in Fukushima Prefecture. It's a sweet way to say goodbye to travelers.
Lyrics and Meaning
The lyrics of "Shabondama" are simple but full of deep feeling. They talk about soap bubbles that fly up high and then break. This can be seen as a way to talk about life itself. Something beautiful appears, lives for a short time, and then is gone.
The song also mentions a bubble that breaks before it even gets to fly. This part is especially sad. It reminds us of a life that ended too soon. The last lines ask the wind not to blow hard. This is like asking for gentle conditions so the bubbles, or lives, can last longer.
| Original Japanese | Literal Translation | Translation by John McLean
in Hiroshima Piano (2020 Film) (94:59 - 95:55) |
|---|---|---|
| シャボン玉飛んだ
屋根まで飛んだ 屋根まで飛んで こわれて消えた シャボン玉消えた 飛ばずに消えた 産まれてすぐに こわれて消えた 風、風、吹くな シャボン玉飛ばそ |
The soap bubble flew
It flew up to the roof But reaching the roof, It broke and was no more The soap bubble broke It broke before flying So soon after it was born, It broke and was no more Wind, wind, don't you cry Let my bubble fly |
Little bubbles flew on up
right up to the roofs so high. Up above the roofs they flew. Thereupon, they broke and died.
each and every one of them. So soon after they were born all of them have disappeared.
Little bubbles fly, oh, fly. |
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か ぜ か ぜ ふ く な シャ ボ ン だ ま と ば そ }
\addlyrics { シャ ボ ン だ ま き え た と ば ず に き え た う ま れ て す ぐ に こ わ れ て き え た } </score>
