:Sakura Sakura

{{About|the Japanese folk song|the Japanese visual novel of the same name|Sakura Sakura (visual novel)}}

Image:Sakura.song.png

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{{nihongo|"Sakura Sakura"|さくらさくら||"Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms"}}, also known as "Sakura", is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossoms. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan.{{Cite web |date=24 March 2022 |title=Pikachus perform classical Japanese dance routine for Japan's most famous cherry blossom song【Vid】 |url=https://soranews24.com/2022/03/24/pikachus-perform-classical-japanese-dance-routine-for-japans-most-famous-cherry-blossom-song%e3%80%90vid%e3%80%91/ |url-status= |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=SoraNews24 -Japan News- |language=en-US}}

Contrary to popular belief, the song did not originate in ancient times; it was a popular, urban melody of the Edo period.

Melody

The "Sakura Sakura" melody has been popular since the Meiji period, and the lyrics in their present form were attached then.{{Cn|date=November 2024}} The tune uses a pentatonic scale known as the in scale (miyako-bushi pentatonic scale) and is played in quadruple meter and has three parts (ABBAC) which stretch over 14 bars (2 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2).{{Cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=Sangmi |last2=Yoo |first2=Hyesoo |last3=Fung |first3=C. Victor |last4=Matsunobu |first4=Koji |date=March 2024 |title=Virtual Musical Instruments in Music Classrooms: Performing with East Asian Music Cultures. |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00274321241237403 |journal=Music Educators Journal |publisher=National Association for Music Education |volume=110 |issue=3 |pages=28–36 |doi=10.1177/00274321241237403 |issn=0027-4321 |eissn=1945-0087 |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 November 2024 |via=SAGE Publications}}

Expressed as diatonic notes in the major scale, the In scale is 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (1), 10 (3); or the notes E F A B c e{{Efn|Lower-case letters are an octave higher; see Helmholtz notation.}} (nominally A minor); or in solfège Mi Fa La Si Do Mi. The melodic scale can either be represented in older Western musical theory by the Phrygian minor or the Phrygian major mode, with the 3rd and 7th notes in the scale omitted.

Because the melody spans a modest range, it is ideally suited to instruments that have a limited pitch range, such as the Native American flute (similar to the shakuhachi).{{cite web |url=http://flutopedia.com/song_Sakura.htm |title=Sakura Sakura |series=Sheet music for the Native American Flute |author=Clint Goss |date=2011 |website=Flutopedia.com |access-date=2011-10-10 |archive-date=2019-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002753/http://flutopedia.com/song_Sakura.htm |url-status=live }}

The melody arranged by Ongaku Torishirabe-gakari was included in Collection of Japanese Koto Music issued in 1888, for beginning koto students in the Tokyo Academy of Music.{{harvnb|Ongaku Torishirabe-gakari (arr.)|1888}} cited by {{Harvnb|Tsuge Gen'ichi|2016}}

Often, It is the first piece that koto beginners learn because they can play any phrase by picking closer strings without skipping to distant strings. There are several adjustment methods suitable for the in scale in Koto. Among them, hira-joshi is used for "Sakura".

Lyrics

The original lyrics{{Sfn|Ongaku Torishirabe-gakari (arr.)|1888}} are listed as the second verse in the table below. In 1941, the Ministry of Education published a new verse in Uta no hon (うたのほん教師用下) which was listed first, with the original verse listed second.{{cite book |editor=東京音楽学校編 Tōkyō ongaku gakkō hen [Tokyo Academy of Music] |title=「うたのほん教師用下」 Uta no hon, kyōiku-yō, ge |trans-title=Book of Songs for Educational Use |volume=2 |year=1941 |publisher=文部省 Monbushō |location=Tokyo, Japan}} However, there are various theories about the original lyrics. According to one theory, it is said that "Sakura Sakura" is a parody of "Saita sakura".{{cite book |author=藤田圭雄 Fujita tamao |title=「日本童謡唱歌大系1」 Nihon dōyō shōka taikei 1 |trans-title=Compendium of Japanese nursery rhymes 1 |year=1997 |publisher=東京書籍 Tōkyō syoseki }} "Saita sakura" is thought to have been made as a Japanese koto song in during the Edo period. (Lyrics: さいた桜　花見て戻る　吉野は桜　龍田は紅葉　唐崎の松　常盤常盤　深みどり){{cite book |title=「山田流琴のかがみ」 Yamadaryū kotonokagami |trans-title=Model of The Yamada school of Koto |year=1948 |publisher=博信堂出版部 Hakushindō shuppanbu }}{{cite journal |author=Yumi Shimada |title="Sakura, Sakura"- a study of its development and popularisation into a school song |year=2002 |journal=Japanese Journal of Music Education Research |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=1–14 |publisher=Japan Music Education Society |doi=10.20614/jjomer.32.2_1 }}

Symbolism of Sakura (cherry blossom) is deeply rooted in the culture of Japan. This is because it symbolizes the transience of life and impermanence. For Buddhists, the five petals of Prunus yedoensis represent the five skandas that traditionally make up a human being; they arise, are beautiful for a brief time, and fall too soon. They are a primary example of the concept of "mono no aware", the beauty of passing things. 'Falling flowers' is a metaphor to represent the warriors who died in battles and souls of the dead.{{Cite magazine |last=Uren |first=Alison |date=September 2007 |title=Sakura Sakura for four flutes (Traditional Japanese) |magazine=Pan: The Flute Magazine |page=61 |volume=26 |issue=3}}

style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border:none; vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
text-align:center;" \| Standard ! text-align:center;" \| Hiragana ! text-align:center;" \| Romaji ! text-align:center;" \| Translation
lang="ja"\| 桜　桜野山も里も見渡す限り霞か雲か朝日に匂う桜　桜花ざかり桜　桜弥生の空は見渡す限り霞か雲か匂いぞ　出ずるいざや　いざや見に行かん{{cite book \|title=「箏曲集」 Sōkyokushū \|year=1888 \|editor=東京音楽学校編 Tōkyō ongaku gakkō hen [Tokyo Academy of Music] \|location=Tokyo, Japan \|trans-title=Collection of Koto Music}} \|style="padding-left: 2em;" lang="ja"\| 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 \|style="padding-left: 2em;"\| sakura sakura noyama 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 izaya izaya mini yukan \|style="padding-left: 2em;"\| Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, In fields, mountains and villages As far as the eye can see. Is it mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the rising sun. Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Flowers in full bloom. Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Across the spring sky, As far as the eye can see. Is it mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the air. Come now, come now, Let's go and see them.

style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border:none; vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"

text-align:center;" | Standard

! text-align:center;" | Hiragana

! text-align:center;" | Romaji

! text-align:center;" | Translation

lang="ja"|

桜　桜
野山も里も
見渡す限り
霞か雲か
朝日に匂う
桜　桜
花ざかり

桜　桜
弥生の空は
見渡す限り
霞か雲か
匂いぞ　出ずる
いざや　いざや
見に行かん{{cite book |title=「箏曲集」 Sōkyokushū |year=1888 |editor=東京音楽学校編 Tōkyō ongaku gakkō hen [Tokyo Academy of Music] |location=Tokyo, Japan |trans-title=Collection of Koto Music}}

|style="padding-left: 2em;" lang="ja"|

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

|style="padding-left: 2em;"|

sakura sakura
noyama 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
izaya izaya
mini yukan

|style="padding-left: 2em;"|

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains and villages
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the rising sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let's go and see them.

In popular culture

The first lines of the original verse ('sakura sakura yayoi no sora wa mi-watasu kagiri') serve as a prelude to Bon Jovi's song "Tokyo Road" from their second album {{proper name|7800° Fahrenheit}} (released in 1985).{{cite web |url=https://bordercityrocktalk.ca/2021/08/14/tokyo-road-bon-jovi/ |title=Tokyo Road... Bon Jovi |website=Border City Rock Talk |date=August 24, 2021 |access-date=January 19, 2025}}
In the Punch-Out!! games, an instrumental rendition is used for Piston Hondo's opening theme.{{cite web |title=Sakura – Traditional Japanese Song on Koto |url=https://ledgernote.com/blog/interesting/sakura-traditional-japanese-song-on-koto/ |website=LedgerNote |access-date=31 October 2021 |language=en |date=24 June 2015 |archive-date=31 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031170558/https://ledgernote.com/blog/interesting/sakura-traditional-japanese-song-on-koto/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Kevin |title=8 Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!-themed boozy punch recipes, knocked out by the country's top mixologists |url=https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/8-mike-tysons-punch-out-themed-boozy-punch-recipes-knocked-out-by-the-countrys-top-mixologists |website=Thrillist |access-date=3 December 2021 |language=en |date=18 June 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203170002/https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/8-mike-tysons-punch-out-themed-boozy-punch-recipes-knocked-out-by-the-countrys-top-mixologists |url-status=live }}
Japanese band Buck-Tick used this melody in live versions of their "Victims of Love" song in the early 1990s.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Alfred Reed's Fifth Symphony "Sakura" (1994) is based on this folk song.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and French pianist Jason Kouchak recorded Sakura on Lloyd's album Cello Moods (1998) and presented by Olympic ice skater Yuka Sato in 1999. Kouchak performed his interpretation of Sakura at the Kobe earthquake charity event in 1995 and for Emperor Akihito at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 1998.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In 2003, Ōta Jun'ya composed "Sakura, Sakura ~ Japanize Dream" as part of the credits theme for the video game Perfect Cherry Blossom.{{Citation|last=ScarletFlameFlandre|title=PCB Staff Roll Theme: Sakura, Sakura ~ Japanize Dream (Re-Extended)|date=27 June 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoBbCCteNLs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DoBbCCteNLs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-05-03}}{{cbignore}}
Dream of the Cherry Blossoms by Keiko Abe, a virtuoso percussionist, is a five-minute piece for marimba that is based on "Sakura Sakura" that has become popular in the marimba repertoire.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In 2007, it was selected for Nihon no Uta Hyakusen, a collection of songs and nursery rhymes widely beloved in Japan.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In the early 2010s, Japanese singer Kiyoshi Hikawa performed the second of the two verses of "Sakura Sakura" – the first and (so far) only Enka singer to do so.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}
Yukihiro Yoko, a classical guitarist, made an arrangement for his instrument, a theme with variations, in which he uses different guitar techniques to imitate the sound of the koto.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
Babymetal used this melody in their song "Megitsune" (2013).{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In 2013, Marc Edwards recorded an album featuring three 20-minute versions of "Sakura Sakura", in a free jazz electric guitar style.{{cite web |url=http://marcedwards.bandcamp.com/album/sakura-sakura-3-variations |title=Sakura Sakura (3 variations) {{pipe}} Marc Edwards |publisher=Marcedwards.bandcamp.com |date=22 October 2013 |access-date=2014-07-16 |archive-date=2013-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001255/http://marcedwards.bandcamp.com/album/sakura-sakura-3-variations |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Applegate |first=Grego |url=http://gapplegateguitar.blogspot.com/search/label/avant%20free%20psychedelic%20metal%20jazz%20rock |title=Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog: avant free psychedelic metal jazz rock |publisher=Gapplegateguitar.blogspot.com |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=2014-07-16 |archive-date=2023-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318145802/http://gapplegateguitar.blogspot.com/search/label/avant%20free%20psychedelic%20metal%20jazz%20rock |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://dogandpanda.com/cdstore/sakuraedwards.htm |title=DogAndPanda Records |publisher=Dogandpanda.com |access-date=2014-07-16 |archive-date=2014-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418234725/http://dogandpanda.com/cdstore/sakuraedwards.htm |url-status=dead }}
Many electronic crosswalks in Japan play the melody as "guidance music".{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Headhunterz sampled part of this song for his song "Path of the Hunter" (2017).{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In Kara, a short film/tech demo created by David Cage and his company Quantic Dream about a robot who is built to serve humanity, the robot is asked to "sing something in Japanese", after which she sings this song.{{Citation|last=GameSpot|title=Kara – Heavy Rain/Quantic Dream Tech Demo|date=13 March 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EvqiGm0wz8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/1EvqiGm0wz8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-06-26}}{{cbignore}} Eventually, this short film was adapted into a video game, Detroit: Become Human. In the game, one of the main characters, Markus – an android, is trying to put himself together in a junkyard. This references the short film when Markus stumbles upon a dying Kara model, the one from the film, that is still singing the song.{{Citation|last=MooniGaming|title=Detroit: Become Human Kara Tech Demo Sakura Easter Egg|date=3 June 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fp9IpuUiVQ|access-date=2018-06-26}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
The song appears in the soundtrack of the video game Total War: Shogun 2, playing during the game's campaign map mode.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal and harpist Lily Laskine recorded a version for their album Japanese Melodies for Flute and Harp.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Sakura-Variationen (Sakura Variations) is a 2000 trio composition scored for saxophone, piano, and percussion by Helmut Lachenmann.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
"Sakura Sakura" appeared on Wii Music as one of the song selections in the Jam Mode.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In the Tokyo area, each train station has its own distinctive jingle used to signal train departures. The jingles for the Komagome and Musashi-Koganei stations are both based on "Sakura Sakura".{{fact|date=May 2023}}
Hololive Production virtual youtuber Akai Haato used this melody in a scary version of the song, jokingly talking about herself.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In the video game Genshin Impact, the background music (tracks such as "Separated Dream" among others) of Inazuma – an in-game world region inspired by Japan, uses musical arrangements that reference Sakura Sakura.{{Citation|last=Yu-Peng Chen, HOYO-MiX|title=Separated Dream|date=22 September 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBH1fbYj9U&list=OLAK5uy_lI6vXjZ_xR9Rzm9lrQelPaDtTNb4lstIk&index=3&t=10 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/xgBH1fbYj9U |archive-date=2021-09-22 |url-status=live|access-date=2024-06-11}}{{cbignore}}
Canis Canem Edit uses a melody based on Sakura Sakura for the ConSumo minigame.{{fact|date=May 2023}}
In Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures episode, "Hanami Hijinks!", Minnie Mouse sings "Sakura Sakura".

Notes and references

=Notes=

=References=

= Sources =

{{cite web |author=Tsuge Gen'ichi |year=2016 |title=Sakura |url=http://komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=2106 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415110840/http://komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=2106 |archive-date=2012-04-15 |access-date=2011-12-27 |website=komuso.com |publisher=International Shakuhachi Society}}
{{cite book |author=Ongaku Torishirabe-gakari (arr.) |title=「箏曲集」 Sōkyokushū |publisher=hakkōsha Tōkyō Ongaku Gakkō |others=Distributed by Dai Nihon Tosho Kabushiki Kaisha |year=1888 |editor=東京音楽学校編 Tōkyō ongaku gakkō hen [Tokyo Academy of Music] |volume=1 |location=Tokyo, Japan |trans-title=Collection of Koto Music |chapter=桜 Sakura}}

External links

[https://archive.org/details/TokyoFieldRecordings/13_3Kotos-CherryBlossomSong.mp3] Sakura Sakura played in 1959 by three artists from Tokyo's University of Art on three different Koto's (17 string, 13 string and 9 string)
[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]
{{iMSLP2|work=Sakura Sakura (Japanese Folk Music)|cname=Sakura Sakura}}

Category:Japanese folk songs

Category:Songs in Japanese

Category:Japanese songs

Category:Year of song unknown

Category:Songs about cherry blossom

de:Japanische Kirschblüte#Das Sakura-Lied