Utsusemi
空蟬
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Kitajima Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| This kumiuta was composed by Kitajima Kengyo, the ablest disciple of Yatsuhashi Kengyo and the teacher of Ikuta Kengyo. The present song cycle consists of six short songs, the texts of which are based on the chapter entitled 'The Shell of the Locust' (Utsusemi) from 'The Tale of Genji.' Utsusemi was the wife of Iyo-no-suke a provincial governor, and was courted in vain by Genji. While the third and fifth songs in the cycle describe Utsusemi's feelings, all the others speak of Genji's attraction to her. The name Utsusemi literally means the 'cast-off shell of the locust or cicada.' |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Can it be that Utsusemi is here? No it is only A meaningless vision- Yet her scent lingers On the bed quilt, An empty cocoon. How I long for her! I visit her, but She is reluctant, She refuses to see me, She never shows herself. What a miserable thing This life can be! My lonely heart Burns with desire. Night after night My sleeves are Drenched with tears. I long for him, Yet he does not know He is in my every thought. In my position, how Lonely can it get! How I yearn for her! It is hard to live In this world of disappointments! My feelings for her Are as patient as The steadfast pines of Sumiyoshi. Shall I not, then, grow old Waiting for her? As the years go by My longing increases, And the memories Grow sweet. But tonight As I think of him, My tears start to fall Like a sudden rain. And yet, And yet, If I remain true, Though we are separated By the tossing waves, Shouldn't we be able To meet again someday? | Utsusemi no aruka to miredo omokage no kage mo ayana ka wo tomeshi sayogoromo monukeshi hito zo koishiki Tazunete mo nakanaka ni awade no mori no awade nomi tsurenaki mono wa inochi nite hitori mune wo ya kogasuran Yoruyoru nimo waga tamoto nuretsutsu masaru koigokoro hito koso shirane wasurarenu mi no hodo ikade wabimashi Koshi yukashi to tsurenakumo kai naki yo nimo sumiyoshi no matsu wa waga mi no omoi nite awade ya toshi wo fururan Omoi kasanete toshitsuki wo fureba mukashi no natsukashiku omoi idetaru koyoi shimo namida ni ame wo sasooran Tonikaku ni tonikaku ni makoto no araba araiso no nami no anata ni hedatsu tomo yorube no nadoka nakaran |
Utsusemi appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 5 |
Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko |