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Usugoromo

薄衣

[Genre]Sokyoku
[Style]Kumiuta
[School]Ikuta Ryû - 生田
[Also Known As]Tegai No Kyoku, Kashiwagi No Kyoku
[Composed]Yatsuhashi Kengyō - Koto

History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):

Usugoromo is one of the 'Thirteen Yatsuhashi Song Cycles,' and is classified into ura category (1). The texts of the six songs are not related to one another. The last two songs, however, refer to episodes concerning the tragic affair between Kashiwagi and the Third Princess in the 'New Herbs: Part One' (Wakana, Jo) chapter of 'The Tale of Genji.'

(1) Kumiuta are traditionally classified into four categories according to the degree of profundity and stylistic proficiency required and sometimes the technical difficulties involved. These are omote (lit. "outside"), ura (lit. "inside"), naka (lit. "interior"), oku (lit, "deep interior"). By way of illustration, it may be helpful to imagine these categories as representing the structure of the imperial palace or a Shinto shrine with outer and inner walls, and further inside, the outer and inner sanctuaries. It should also be mentioned that these categories represent stages of a student’s progress in the learning of the koto repertoire, and are regulated by the issuing of diplomas along the way.

Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)

Oh that my love pains
Were as insignificant in me
As I am
In your affections.
Sad tears flow
Over the sleeves
Of my robe,
My thin, worn-out robe.

Yearning for my lover,
I drifted into a shallow sleep.
His image appeared
In dream,
But just as I spoke to him,
The dream broke,
And with it,
His image.

Even when the years
Accumulate on my head
As white as deepening snow,
My heart will never change.
Every morning
For as long as we live
I will admire
Your sleep-tousled hair.

There were many
Who would delight in playing
The strings of your heart (2).
But if the song of your soul
Still is in the same key,
Let it sound for me as exquisitely
As the autumn wind
Passing over a koto.

In the courtyard
Of the Rokujo Palace,
Guardsmen are playing kickball.
Kashiwagi kicks the ball, ton!
And lodges it in a branch
Of a plum tree.
Blossoms flutter down
Soundlessly down.

And in the end
How unfortunate!
He tried to gain the affection
Of the Third Princess,
But she would pay him no heed.
For she was like a cat
Kept closely leashed
By Genji.

(2) The original words of this poem are directed to a koto, while the underlying message is directed at a woman. The translation has forgone some of the wordplay in favor of the message.
Kazu naranu
mi miwa tada
omoi mo nakute
arekashi
hitonami-nami no
usugoromo
sode no namida zo
kanashiki

Akogarete
omoine no
makura ni kawasu
omokage
sore ka tote
kataran to
omoeba yume wa
samekeri

Shirayuki no
miyuki no
tsumoru toshi wa
furu tomo
akumaji ya
morotomo ni
nemidare-gami no
kaobase

Hiku hito wa
sorezore
amata aredomo
tsuma-goto no
moto no kokoro
kawarazuba
kotoji ni ochiyo
akikaze

Kashiwagi no
emon no
mari wo ton to
ketareba
mari wa eda ni
tomarikere ba
ume wa harari
horori to

Saritote wa
tsurena ya
hikooru kimi ga
tamoto no
ayanikuni
nabikanu wa
tegai no tora no
hikizuna

Usugoromo appears on the following albums

Album Artist

Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 3 Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko
Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko