Furusato (children's song)

Furusato monument in Tottori Prefecture.

Furusato (故郷) is a Japanese children's song composed by Teiichi Okano and written by Tatsuyuki Takano in 1914. It is included in the Nihon no Uta Hyakusen.

Furusato means old home or hometown. Takano's hometown was Nakano, Nagano, but the song's "furusato" does not specify a particular place.^[1]

The composer and the writer of the song were unknown until the 1970s.^[2] Since 1992, both names were listed in Japanese music textbook.^[3]

The lyrics describe a narrator, who is now working in a distant land, expressing his feelings of nostalgia for the hills and fields of his childhood home.

The song is designated as a Japanese children's song to be taught in Japanese school system by Japanese government since Meiji Era and became one of the most well known Japanese children's songs. It was used at the closing ceremony of 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano, which is the prefecture of Takano's birthplace.

In 2014, commemorating the 100 anniversary of the song, the song was performed by children at Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in Nagano with orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa as a conductor.^[4]

Lyrics

English version

The song was translated into English by Greg Irwin and this was published in the album called "Japan’s Best Loved Songs of the Season" in 1998.^[5] This version was also performed by Lexi Walker.^[6]

My Country Home by Greg Irwin

Back in the mountains I knew as a child

Fish filled the rivers and rabbits ran wild

Memories, I carry these wherever I may roam

I hear it calling me, my country home

Mother and Fathers, how I miss you now

How are my friends I lost touch with somehow?

When the rain falls or the wind blows I feel so alone

I hear it calling me, my country home

I've got this dream and it keeps me away

When it comes true I'm going back there someday

Chrystal waters, mighty mountains blue as emerald stone

I hear it calling me, my country home

References