“Sasa no ha sarasara, nokiba ni yureru, Ohoshisama kirakira, kingin sunago…” This is “Tanabata-sama,” a song widely cherished by the Japanese people. The lyrics were co-written by children's song writer Hanayo Gondo and poet Ryūha Hayashi. Kan'ichi Shimofusa composed the music in 1940 (Showa 15).

“Tanabata-sama” is a so-called Monbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education song) included in the lower volume of “Uta no Hon” (Song Book). Under the wartime system, elementary schools were renamed “Kokumin Gakkō” (National Schools), and in 1941, “Uta no Hon” (both upper and lower volumes) was created as a textbook for the elementary division of Kokumin Gakkō. “Tanabata-sama,” featured as the seventh song in the lower volume, has been sung continuously to this day, receiving high praise such as “the most successful and elegant masterpiece among the music textbooks of the Kokumin Gakkō” and “the purified, transparent lyricism of this piece is unparalleled.” (Refer to “Genten ni yoru Kindai Shōka Shūsei — Tanjō, Hensen, Denpa — Kaisetsu, Ronbun, Sakuin,” p. 85.) The melody, composed in a pentatonic scale (Ritsu scale), is simple yet familiar and deeply expressive.

For piano solo performance, please refer to various arranged versions published in works such as “Akira Miyagawa no Piano ga Yorokobu Dōyō/Shōka” (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, 2019), “Concert de Hikitai Nihon no Uta: Piano Solo” (edited by Yuri Tashiro, Octo Publishing, 2013), and “Kodomo no Popular Melodies” (edited by Chihiro Todoroki, Zen-On Music Company Ltd., 2012).

Major References

• “Genten ni yoru Kindai Shōka Shūsei — Tanjō, Hensen, Denpa — Kaisetsu, Ronbun, Sakuin” (Victor Entertainment, 2000)