[Song Review #106] "Tsuki-ni yorisotte" by "Tōhoku Shin-kan-sen"
Hi. Today's song is "Tsuki ni yorisotte" (Snuggling up to the moon) by "Tōhoku Shinkansen"(band).
Before starting talking about today's song, we would like to touch little on one of the Japan's seasonal event called "O-tsukimi" (Moon viewing party), and a well known folklore "Moon rabbit" as well.
Because "O-tsukimi" and "Moon rabbit" are both moon related topic, and are prone to become a hot subject in Japan usually in September.
That might explain why we tend to post the moon related songs on this month. So, please have a look at it if you have time(5min?).
If you are in a hurry, please "click here" for the song.
O-tsukimi
On the day of the full moon (Harvest Moon) between mid September to the autumnal equinox day (23.Sep this year), we are having a cultural event called "O-tsukimi(Moon viewing)"
"O-tsukimi"(moon viewing party) is basically a party occasion to enjoy viewing the excellent September full moon with family and friends. Some traditional sweets or cooking are also prepared and served to everyone.
According to wikipedia, "O-tsukimi"(moon viewing party) is partly originated from a harvest celebration of old time.
Although there is a sober atmosphere a bit, it is still a fun event.
"Hanami or "Tsukimi"
While "Hanami"(Cherry blossom viewing gathering), a similar social occasion in early spring, is usually a blowout party, an autumnal event "Tsukimi" is conversely, a little serene and somewhat ceremonial.
Even so, "Tsukimi" is still an enjoyable, eatable, and drinkable feast.
Now, "Otsukimi" is becoming out of date and not many families are holding a party.
But it is still an excellent cultural asset, and many public events called "Kangetsu-kai" (Moon viewing party. Like this, or like this.) will be held across Japan.
So, please join us and enjoy "Otsukimi" if you happen to visit Japan on this season.
Offering for the moon
As a natural belief, or indigenous culture of Japan, we prepare offerings to the moon. (It might be a original form, or root of Shintō-ism, though, we don't usually care much.)
(Rice cakes, chestnuts, and susuki grass)
Here is a short video about "O-tsukimi" Offering.
Offering for O-tsukimi
Moon rabbit
As shown in the above picture, we have a old tale that there is a rabbit(s) on the moon, and making (pounding) rice cakes ("Mochi" in Japanese).
(The yellow circle is the moon. The moon is commonly drawn in yellow in Japan.)
In fact, the children in our country usually hear this story in kindergarten. So, most of us are familiar with the moon rabbit(s).
Anime fans are perhaps already aware that the heroine of "Sailor moon" is "Tsukino Usagi" which means "Moon rabbit".
Obviously, the fantasy is coming from the surface pattern of the moon. Do you find 1 rabbit? 2 rabbits? Or something else?
Moon rabbit looks like a very common folklore across Asia, though there are interesting differences between the countries.
If you would like to see more information, please refer to the page linked in below.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Moon rabbit)
Back to the main topic now,
Some articles have been put away in a " ▼Memo " tab in each section, so please click it to read.
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Index
- The topic of the season
- "Otsukimi"
- Moon rabbit
1. Song data
| Title | Tsuki ni yorisotte (Snuggling up to the moon) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Tōhoku Shinkansen |
| Album Title | THRU TRAFFIC |
| Catalog Number | RATCD-4399 |
| Track No. | 6 |
| Duration | 5:20 |
| Released | 1982 |
| Publisher | PHILIPS |
| Lyricist | Etsuko Kisugi |
| Composer | Etsuko Yamakawa |
| Arranger | Tōhoku Shin-kansen |
- About the creators
Etsuko KisugiLyricist
Etsuko Kisugi is a renowned lyricist, author, and essayist active since 1976.
She started her professional career in music by offering a lyrics to her younger brother "Takao Kisugi".
The first song they (Etsuko & Takao) released was "Asai Yume"(A dream in a light doze) in 1979. Since then, she began to write lyrics as a professional lyricist.
"Asai yume"
In the early stage of career, she was writing a lyrics exclusively for her brother Takao. So, they were often taken as a unit by "Kisugi" siblings.
But later, she started to offer lyrics to the various artists, and the number of lyrics offered are now exceeded 1000.
So, she is regarded as one of the greatest lyricist in Japanese popular song world. Quite a few of her lyrics have been the hit songs represent popular song history of Japan.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Etsuko Kisugi)
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Takao Kisugi)
Etsuko YamakawaComposer
Etsuko Yamakawa is a prominent composer, arranger, music producer, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and a former member of "Tōhoku Shin-kansen" active since mid '70s.
She took the first step of her music career during college years as a tour member of various J-pop musicians including "Hiroko Taniyama" and "Junko Yagami".
In 1979, she was a member of Junko Yagami's backing band "Meting pot". At this time, Yamakawa wrote and offered a song titled "Be My Best Friend" to Yagami. And it became a debut song for Yamakawa as a professional song writer.
It is a nice song. Please give it a try.
"Be My Best Friend"
As a professional
Since then, she has composed hundreds of melodies for the artists in both main stream and "city-pop" categories. And now, she is one of the most well known and aclaimed composer in J-pop.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Etsuko Yamakawa)
Video clip
Here is a music clip of the 2015 song, "Mata Arukihajime-mashou" (Let's start walking again) by "Mariko".
"Etsuko Yamakawa" is playing a piano in the last part of this video, since she and "Mariko" has formed a unit called "Etsu et Mari" from 2014.
* Etsu et Mari
Tōhoku Shin-kansenArranger
"Tōhoku Shin-kansen" (Narumin & Etsu) was a band teamed up by "Hiroshi Narumi" & "Etsuko Yamakawa".
They are the artist of this song. So, we would like to come back to them in the later section, "About the artist".
Cover art
- Sound impressions
Soft & mellow
This is a fine quality, beautiful duet song in mellow ballad style under relaxing slow rhythm.
The bass, drums, acoustic & electric guitar, flute, electric piano, and string synthesizer get together, and start chic introduction.
In the bridge, the lead guitar shows an excellent solo play, together with the newly joined horn section.
And the harmony of "Yamakawa" and "Narumi" is round and impressive.
- About the artist
blink-and-you'll-miss-it
"Tōhoku Shinkansen" was a pop group formed by a guitarist "Hiroshi Narumi" and keyboardist "Etsuko Yamakawa" in around 1980.
The band was debuted in 1982 with their superb 1st album "Thru traffic". But we don't know what went wrong, this became the 1st & last album for them and fans.
Melting pot
In 1977, skillful and powerful instrumental group named "Melting pot" was formed to support a rising star "Junko Yagami" as an exculsive backing band for her.
In 1978, "Yagami" had a big hit, and both the band and her gained a better position.
Mizuiro no ame(1978)
(The rain in aqua blue)
in 1979, keyboardist "Etsuko Yamakawa" was (perhaps) seconded to "Team Yagami", and became a member of "Melting pot".
In 1980, a guitarist left the band, and "Hiroshi Narumi" became a new guitarist there.
At this point, both "Narumin" (H. Narumi) and "Etsu" (E.Yamakawa) became members of the "Melting pot".
The birth of "Tōhoku Shinkansen"
Sometime in this period, someone around them suggested "Yamakawa" and "Narumi" to create a unit.
Since they were both good at playing instruments, writing music, and singing songs.
It took a long time, but they finally completed and released the first album in June 1982.
Interestingly in this year, real railway "Tohoku Shinkansen", which we will explain later a bit, was a hot subject in Japan.
Since the 1st train was about to run, finally after the construction of railway took very long time to complete.
"Yamakawa", "Narumi" and people around them found a similarity between the train and their band.
Then, they named their band as "Tōhoku Shinkansen".
(Curiously, the timing of the first train run, and the release date of their 1st album was only 2 days difference, according to the reference.)
End of the band and afterwards
In 1983, "Hiroshi Narumi" left Yagami's backing band "Melting pot". Simultaneously, the band activity of "Tohoku Shinkansen" was also stopped.
Fascinatingly, "Hiroshi Narumi" became an indispensable super guitarist in pop music through supporting big artists like "Takao Kisugi, "Tatsuro Yamashita", or "Mariya Takeuchi".
And actively continued to perform his super guitar play until his departure in 2015.
"Etsuko Yamakawa" has written hundreds of good songs for main stream market so far, and has been one of the most prominent and acclaimed composer in J-pop.
So, "Tōhoku Shinkansen" was like a band of mirage.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Melting pot)
(Ref: mystery music tour, 25.03.2012)
(Ref: davidtwalker.jp, Something for T. #08)
For the next time
Thank you for reading long article. We would like to finish now, and continue for the next time.
For your referenceTōhoku Shinkansen(railway)
Finally here is a bit of information about the real "Tōhoku Shinkansen".
Basically, "Shinkansen" means the Japan's super-express railway system, and "Tōhoku" is the name of the region which locates northern part of main land "Honshu".
So, "Tōhoku Shinkansen" is a railway for super-express toward Tōhoku region.
For further details, please check with the wikipedia page linked in below.
(Ref: Wikipedia-en, Tōhoku Shinkansen)
This is a picture of "Tōhoku Shinkansen" trains. The left one is the 2nd oldest 200 series, and right one is the latest E5 model.
Which one do you prefer?
We found a photo of "Tōhoku Shinkansen" train in original color (white & green), which was running in 1982. But the use of picture is not allowed.
So, please click the link below to see the photo at flicker.com if you like. Thank you.
- Samples from online music stores
About the samples
Please go to the page below, and just play or click track No.6.
Trial button is on the left side of the song title.
AD : Free listening samples
Amazon JP(en)
neowing.co.jp
Vividsound.co.jp
billboard-japan.com
8. Japanese Letters
| Song Title | 月に寄りそって (Tsuki ni yorisotte) |
|---|---|
| Artist | 東北新幹線 (Tōhoku Shinkansen) |
| Album Title | THRU TRAFFIC |
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