# Furusato (children's song)

Furusato (Japanese: 故郷, 'old home' or 'hometown') is a well-known 1914 Japanese children's song, with music by Teiichi Okano and lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano [ja].
Although Takano's hometown was Nakano, Nagano, his lyrics do not seem to refer to a particular place. Instead, they describe a person who is working in a distant land, expressing his feelings of nostalgia for the hills and fields of his childhood home.

## Background

The Japanese government has designated Furusato as a Japanese children's song to be taught in the Japanese public school system, and the song has also been included in the recent popular song collection known as Nihon no Uta Hyakusen.
The composer and the writer of the song were unknown until the 1970s. Since 1992, however, the names of both Teiichi Okano and Tatsuyuki Takano have been printed with the song in Japanese music textbooks.
At the closing ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the song was played, and in 2014, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Furusato, the song was performed by children's chorus with orchestral accompaniment at the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in Nagano, under the direction of Seiji Ozawa.
Plácido Domingo, one of The Three Tenors, sang the song in Japanese at his concert that held in NHK hall on April 10, 2011.

## Lyrics

| Standard | Hiragana | Romaji | Translation | Verse translation |
| 兎追いし　彼の山 小鮒釣りし　彼の川 夢は今も　巡りて 忘れ難き　故郷如何にいます　父母 恙無しや　友がき 雨に風に　つけても 思い出づる　故郷志を　果たして いつの日にか　帰らん 山は青き　故郷 水は清き　故郷 | うさぎおいし　かのやま こぶなつりし　かのかわ ゆめはいまも　めぐりて わすれがたき　ふるさといかにいます　ちちはは つつがなしや　ともがき あめにかぜに　つけても おもいいづる　ふるさとこころざしを　はたして いつのひにか　かえらん やまはあおき　ふるさと みずはきよき　ふるさと | usagi oishi ka no yama ko-buna tsurishi ka no kawa yume wa ima mo megurite wasure-gataki furusato ika ni imasu chichi-haha tsutsuganashi ya tomogaki ame ni, kaze ni tsukete mo omoi-izuru furusato kokorozashi o hata shite itsu no hi ni ka kaeran yama wa aoki furusato mizu wa kiyoki furusato | I chased after rabbits on that mountain. I fished for minnow in that river. I still dream of those days even now Oh, how I miss my old country home. Father and mother―are they doing well? Is everything well with my old friends? When the rain falls, when the wind blows, I stop and recall of my old country home. Some day when I have done what I set out to do, I'll return home one of these days Where the mountains are green, my old country home, Where the waters are clear, my old country home. | Sometimes I dream that I'm on the hill Chasing the wild hares freely at will Catching small fish as the brook murmurs by Place of my birthright, for you I sigh. Father and mother―once you taught me That treasures of life are all given free Friendship and happiness - Sunshine and rain, Your words come back to me time and again. Clear crystal brooklet - fresh hills of blue Whisper across the breeze - where are you? When fortune smiles on me, then Furusato, I will return to you, I love you so. |

## English version

The song was translated into English by Greg Irwin and this was published in the album called "Japan's Best Loved Songs of the Season" in 1998. This version was also performed by Lexi Walker.
My Country Home by Greg Irwin
Back in the mountains I knew as a child
Fish filled the rivers and rabbits ran wild
Memories, I carry these wherever I may roam
I hear it calling me, my country home
Mother and Fathers, how I miss you now
How are my friends I lost touch with somehow?
When the rain falls or the wind blows I feel so alone
I hear it calling me, my country home
I've got this dream and it keeps me away
When it comes true I'm going back there someday
Crystal waters, mighty mountains blue as emerald stone
I hear it calling me, my country home