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- Hakata Komoriuta -

博多子守唄

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This is a Min'yo piece from the Min'yo school .

History (from Takahashi Yujiro)
One of Japan's numerous traditional lullabies (komoriuta). Young village girls from impoverished families were often sent to rich homes in nearby villages as nursemaids (komori), thus reducing the number of mouths to feed at home. They were generally treated poorly and looked forward to returning home twice a year - at the Bon festival and New Year's. While the gentle music may soothe a crying child, the lyrics may express the self-pity or anger of the nursemaid, as in this one from the Hakata in Kyushi.

My mistress is like a bad persimmon: she looks good, but she's really sour.
Mistress, listen well; master, listen too: if you mistreat the nursemaid, the baby will suffer.

Hakata Komoriuta appears on the following albums:

    AlbumShakuhachiKotoShamisen
    Min'yo - Folk Song from Japan - Takahashi Yujiro and friends  (Listen)


      One of Japan's numerous traditional lullabies (komoriuta). Young village girls from impoverished families were often sent to rich homes in nearby villages as nursemaids (komori), thus reducing the number of mouths to feed at home. They were generally treated poorly and looked forward to returning home twice a year - at the Bon festival and New Year's. While the gentle music may soothe a crying child, the lyrics may express the self-pity or anger of the nursemaid, as in this one from the Hakata in Kyushi.

      My mistress is like a bad persimmon: she looks good, but she's really sour.
      Mistress, listen well; master, listen too: if you mistreat the nursemaid, the baby will suffer.

      Copyright 1999 - Dr David W. Hughes
      e-mail dh6@soas.ac.uk

    Minyo Meijin Series Watanabe Kizo  (Listen)


    Nihon Minyo - Shakuhachi Tokusen Shu - 2  (Listen)




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