Tōryanse

Tōryanse (通りゃんせ?) is the name of the traditional Japanese children's tune (warabe uta). It is a common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan when it is safe to cross.

The words to the song are:

Japanese: Romaji: Translation:
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse Let me pass, let me pass
ここはどこの　細通じゃ Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja? What is this narrow pathway here?
天神さまの　細道じゃ
Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja
It's the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine
ちっと通して　下しゃんせ Chitto tōshite kudashanse Please allow me to pass through
御用のないもの　通しゃせぬ
Goyō no nai mono tōshasenu
Those without good reason shall not pass
この子の七つの　お祝いに Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni To celebrate this child's 7th birthday
お札を納めに　まいります O-fuda wo osame ni mairimasu I've come to dedicate my offering
行きはよいよい　帰りはこわい
Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai
Going in may be fine, fine, but returning would be scary
こわいながらも Kowai nagara mo It's scary but
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse Let me pass, let me pass
 
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse Let me pass, let me pass
ここは冥府の細道じゃ Koko wa meifu no hosomichi ja Here is the underworld's narrow pathway
鬼神様の細道じゃ
Kijin-sama no hosomichi ja
It's the narrow pathway of the demon's shrine
ちっと通して　下しゃんせ Chitto tōshite kudashanse Please allow me to pass through
贄のないもの通しゃせぬ
Nie no nai mono tōshasenu
Those without sacrifice shall not pass
この子の七つの弔いに Kono ko no nanatsu no tomurai ni To bury this child at age 7
供養を頼みに参ります Kuyō wo tanomi ni mairimasu I've come to offer my services
生きはよいよい　還りはこわい
Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai
Living may be fine, fine, but going back would be scary
こわいながらも Kowai nagara mo It's scary but
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse Let me pass, let me pass

There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint — at Kawagoe Castle according to one theory. In the old days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7 (as well as 3 and 5; see Shichi-Go-San), and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.

This particular warabe uta is sung as part of a traditional game where two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught'.

The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game, i.e., it is safe to cross until the music stops.

Popular culture

Tōryanse can be heard in:

See also

External links