Shiki no Fuji
四季の富士
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Kumiuta |
| [School] | Ikuta Ryû - 生田 |
| [Composed] | Mitsuhashi Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| Mitsuhashi, a blind musician and a student of Kurahashi Kengyo (d. 1724), who was in turn a disciple of Ikuta Kengyo (1656-1715) of Kyoto, was sent to Edo (present day Tokyo) by his teacher in order to disseminate the Ikuta style of koto music there. He was a prolific composer of music kumiuta. Shiki no Fuji ('Mt. Fuji in the Four Seasons') is one of his representative compositions. This song cycle consists of an opening song, four songs praising the beauty of Mt. Fuji in each of the four seasons, and a concluding song which was formally considered a secret piece and rarely performed in public. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| When I emerge Upon the Shore of Tago, I can see the famous mountain Rising above the clouds. Its shape is graceful In all the four seasons- Which is best I cannot tell. Through the haze Of a spring morning Is revealed Yesterday's snow, White blossoms Without compare- Only on this sacred peak, Mt. Fuji. In my hand A three-ply Folding fan As white as snow: The heat of summer fades As the evening glow Is reflected On Mt. Fuji. In autumn, of course, The moon and the snow: If I described the scene To one who has not been there, He would never, Never understand. Therefore I shall not even try. Mt. Fuji. When winter comes, People in the capital Look forward to viewing the snow. But if you live Far to the east, Everyday in the morning calm You can see it on Mt. Fuji. Above the changing seasons, Beyond the changing seasons, Mt. Fuji seems not to know That summer is still with us. Already it wears a white-spotted veil Of freshly fallen snow, Already it wears a white-spotted veil Of freshly fallen snow. | Tago no uranami uchiidete mireba kumoi ni takaki na no yama no sagata ni yotsu no toki wakuru zo wakite iishiranu Haru wa kasumi no asamoyoi kinoo no yuki wo sore nagara uenaki hana no iro zo tote miru ya yama wa fuji no ue Yuki ni tatoete miegasane oogi wo toreru te no uchi natsu wa kiete yuugure no nagame wo utsusu fuji no ue Aki wa sara nari tsuki yuki minu hito ni shimo katarinaba nakanaka nare ya nakanaka ni iwade yaminan fuji no ue Mifuyu ni nareba miyakobito matsuran yuki wo tori ga naku azuma ni sumeba asanagi ni mite koso arame fuji no ue Toki shiranu toki shiranu yama wa fuji no ne itsutoteka kanoko-madara ni yuki no fururan kanoko-madara ni yuki no fururan |
Shiki no Fuji appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Kikuhara Hatsuko Zenshu vol. 6 |
Voice : Kikuhara Hatsuko Koto : Kikuhara Hatsuko |