Omoigawa
思ひ川
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Ikuta Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| This song cycle consists of six songs. Each of the texts deals with unsuccessful love. The composer has not yet been identified, but Omoigawa ('River of Memory') is generally listed as the composition of either Kitajima Kengyo (d. 1690), Ikuta Kengyo (1656-1715) or Makino Kengyo (A. 1716?). Because of the sad, reminiscent mood of the song texts, this piece is often sung at memorial services in Japan. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| We meet in vain In the River of Memory. Thought like water weeds Caught among the rocks Struggle to flow, in vain. Only my sleeves are drenched. When will they dry? I do not know. His look still lives In my memory. I can't forget him He never shows up, Even in my yearning dreams. The rooster crows At dawn, too soon, too soon. My heart is broken. Suddenly, but when...? No more word from you. Too far apart now, To share as we once did. We met at 'Letter Pass.' Does it now stand between us? That Mojigaseki(1)! How I hate his name! He doesn't care. He leaves me. I can't stop him. Now he's gone, Here's my empty cloak... Oh, my sleeves! Drenched in the dew Of my tears. I loved and lost. And now alone In my bed In this poor hut, I cry though the night, My tears Gushing forth, In silent waterfall. He should have been Heartless, just that. But he wasn't. Did he betray me Because he cared? The more I think of it, The more wretched I feel. (1) Mojigaseki means 'Letter Pass.' | Oose ada naru omoigawa iwama ni yodomu mizukuki no kakinagasu nimo sode nurete hosu hi mo itsu to shiranami Omokage no tsukuzuku to wasure mo yarade omoine no yume dani miede akenureba awade mo tori no ne zo tsuraki Itsunomanika wa kakitaete hedatsuru naka to nariniken mishi tamazusa no mojigaseki to na wo kiku dani mo urameshi Tsurenaku mo iku hito wo todome-gatami no karagoromo tatsu yori itodo waga sode wa tsuyu ni zo shiore shioruru Koiwabite tada hitori fuseya no toko ni yomosugara otsuru namida wa otonashi no taki to ya nagare izuran Nakanak ni tsurakaraba tada hitosuji ni tsurakarade nasake no majiru itsuwari to omoeba fukaki urami kana |
Omoigawa appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 9 |
Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko |