This post is about the Japanese Song Series Stamps issue eight. The “Japanese Song Issue” is a series of postage stamps that Japan created between 1979 and 1981. The stamps feature children’s songs (or folk songs) and each have a few notes from the start of the song. Of course, the design of each stamp is colorful and fun, to appeal to children. Equally important, please visit my main page about the series to learn more. Also check out this excellent post by Richard Scott Morel, Curator, Philatelic Collections of the British Library about this series.
This post is about the eighth set of two stamps (called series eight). The release of the series was on February 9, 1981.
Komori Uta (Lullaby)
Scott Number JP 1397
The first stamp of this pair features a colorfully dressed mother with a small baby strapped to her back. Additionally, to catch the child’s attention, she plays (or spins) the den-den daiko drum. This type of drum, specifically, was made famous internationally with the movie Karate Kid Part II. Indeed, the instrument is actually named in the lyrics for the traditional folk song the stamp celebrates.
At the top of the stamp four measures of music notation for song Komoriuta, a lullaby, that is a traditional Japanese song from the Edo region. The design for the stamp is by K. Morita.
Japanese
Nen, nen korori yo, Okorori yo.
Bōya wa yoi koda, Nenneshina~
Bōya no omori wa, Doko e itta?
Ano yama koete, sato e itta.
Sato no miyagē ni, nani morōta
Denden taiko ni, shō no fue.
English
Hushabye, Hushabye!
My good Baby, Sleep!
Where did my boy’s baby-sitter go?
Beyond that mountain, back to her home.
As a souvenir from her home, what did you get? A drum and a flute.
Yashinomi (Coconut)
Scott Number JP 1398
The second stamp is the design of M. Yonekura. The stamp shows a young girl, head in hands, looking straight at the viewer. Above all, her pose suggests that she is day-dreaming. Behind her, are images that are obviously a part of her dream including, most clearly, a sunny island with a palm tree. The stamp celebrates the song Yashinomi (Coconut) which was written by Tōson Shimazaki and Toraji Ōhaka.
Japanese
namo shiranu tooki shima yori
nagare yoru yashi no mi hitotsu
furusato no kishi o hanarete
nare wa somo nami ni ikutsuki
moto no ki wa oi ya shigereru
eda wa nao kage o yanaseru
ware mo mata nagisa o makura
hitorimi no ukine no tabi zo
mi o tori te mune ni atsureba
arata nari ryuui no urei
umi no hi no shizumu o mireba
tagiri otsu ikyou no namida
omoiyaru yae no shiozio
izure no hinika kuni ni kaeran
English
From a distant island that does not even know the name.
One coconut has been washed away
Far from hometown coast.
How long have you been shaken by the waves?
The born tree will be in good health.
The branches will still be thick enough to make shadows.
I like sleeping on the beach just like you,
and I am traveling alone, not making a family.
I tried to put the coconut on my chest,
andfelt the loneliness that has flown far.
I saw the sunset set in the sea,
My tears came to my head when I was in an unknown place
I think it is a wave come and return
One day I want to go back home
Below is a lovely instrumental version of this song:
