During the Battle of Weihaiwei, the Imperial Japanese Army experienced heavy snow and low temperature, while being under-equipped with water, food and fuel. Nagai reflected in his song the hardship Japanese soldiers experienced and their discontentment about the war. The song, which was popular at the time of its publication and is described by scholars to have an upbeat melody, was said to be favoured by Ōyama Iwao. It was also taught and sung in Japanese schools during the late Meiji period.