This piano suite was commissioned by Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting in 1969 under the title "Beautiful Japan" for participation in the Arts Festival. Needless to say, this is the "title" of the lecture given by Mr. Yasunari Kawabata when he received the Nobel Prize. However, this piece was not particularly inspired by his literary content. Rather, it seems to be a common traditional sentiment among us Japanese to find beauty in the natural landscapes of Japan's four seasons.

  This suite consists of "Prelude, Warabe-uta (Children's Song), Kusakari-uta (Grass-Cutting Song), Paraphrase of Heikyoku, Rōei-style Fantasy, and Sōkyoku-style Finale." The musical materials for these pieces are seasons and landscapes, and they are indirectly connected to the historical background from which our ancestors were inspired to compose for Japanese instruments (including voice).

  "Kusakari-uta" is based on a folk song from the Nagoya region, singing of a simple connection with nature. "Paraphrase of Heikyoku" takes its theme from "Yokobue," a piece within Heikyoku, and attempts to transcribe the original piece – a Buddhist tale of fate unfolding within the Kyoto landscape – into a piano work. "Sōkyoku-style Finale" transfers the sōkyoku-style performance techniques of "Cha-ondo," which incorporates the scenery of the four seasons, to the piano. ... (Yoritsune Matsudaira)

Cha-ondo (Tea Song)

  Among all in the world, the most splendid flowers are on Mount Yoshino.

  Autumn leaves are at Tatsuta, tea is from Uji, southeast of the capital, and more than that,

  The pleasure quarters are southwest of the capital. Who established the name 'Suki' (refined taste)?

  The deep green color of thick tea. Compared to the rank of pine,

  Though the enclosure (tea room) is humble, the sentiment is the same as a grand alcove decoration,

  The unadorned heart, inside and out, from a mind unable to handle the fukusa (silk cloth),

  When I hear, expectations differ like shelves, meeting, why the incense box,

  The bamboo of the ladle is straight, but you are like the distorted characters of a tea scoop,

  Dispelling sorrow, perhaps, like old tales of grandpas and grandmas,

  Until then, the kettle never cools, our bond is like a chain, long-lasting,

  For a thousand, ten thousand generations, forever.

Junichi Ishizuka: 'On Yoritsune Matsudaira's "Beautiful Japan"'http://ooipiano.exblog.jp/15304150/