Japanese Songs: Series Two

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. The design of each stamp is colorful and fun, to appeal to children. Make sure to 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.

The stamps were issued in pairs, known as a “series,” (against typical nomenclature where the entire group is a series). This post is about the Japanese songs series two (or set two) released on November 26, 1979.

Momiji (Autumn Leaves)

The first stamp in the series is about the song Momiji (Autumn Leaves). It was written in 1911 by Okano Teiichi, with lyrics by Takano Tatsuyuki. The stamp shows multi-colored leaves falling from a tree into running water below. As with all of the Japanese song stamps, the first few measures of the notation of the song appears on the bottom edge.

Autumn colors on the mountain lit by the sunset,
Deep colors and pale ones,
A kimono skirt pattern of pine, maple and ivy trees
Decorating the mountain’s base.

In the valley stream, scattered autumn leaves
Tremble on the waves alone and together,
Various shades of red and yellow
Forming a woven brocade on the water’s surface.

Listen to Momiji

Furusato (Home)

The second stamp features another song by the duo Takano Tatsuyuki (lyrics) and Okano Teiichi (music). The song was written in 1914 and is about one’s home, or birthplace. The stamp features a man middle age man walking through a landscape with homes, a farmer (?) pulling a cart, birds, and several plants. The man is walking towards the viewer and holds a parcel, perhaps on his way home after work. The stamp design is by T. Murakami.

The following English translation of the lyrics convey simply lovely sentiments:

The mountain where I chased rabbits
The river where I fished small carps 
Dreams of these still surrounds me
The home village that I cannot forget 

How are my parents staying now
Are my old friends without trouble 
At each rain and at each wind
Cannot help remembering my home village 

After fulfilling my aspiration
On someday I must come home 
The mountain is blue in my home village
The water is pure in my home village

List to Furusato: