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This is a Jiuta piece in the Tegotomono style from the Ikuta Ryū school . This piece was composed for koto by Yaezaki Kengyo . This piece was composed for shamisen by Matsūra Kengyo .

Poem (translated by Tedford, John)
Maeuta:

May there be eternal tranquility
within this world!
Even the wind that blows
at the border of Nakoso
gently scatters
the blossoms of the mountain cherry
on the warrior's armored sleeve
thus giving him a flowered robe
as he urges his horse ahead
on the road to the remote provinces.
For his Emperor's sake
the bow of war is bound within its bag.
With plows and hoes
and scarecrows as companions
the farmers labor in the fields
gathering herbs and watering the soil,
harvesting the rice.
When they bend their backs
to shoulder up the firewood,
the moon between the trees
gives such delight
that they are apt to forget the pain
of the rugged mountain path.
In rain, damp dew and frost,
always persevering
the master builders
employ their ink and squares.
From olden days they have built
great shrines and palaces.
Brilliantly arrayed
and having donned the eboshi hat,
they have yet deigned to build
the poorest people's homes.
The artisan at the loom
weaving brocade,
oblivious to the cold of night,
takes the twilled silk

Atouta:

and dyes it alike
for both rich and poor.
With equanimity
he dips the fabric in the dye:
he handles the silk,
as white as snow,
with the same tender care
as that of lovers forced to part.
Though impoverished
in mien and speech
all such people hold within their hearts
simplicity and kindness.

Yotsu no Tami appears on the following albums:

Album	Shakuhachi	Koto	Shamisen
Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 27  (Listen)		Yonekawa Toshiko	Fujii Kunie
Togashi Noriko - 04  (Listen)			Togashi Noriko