(Composite art with base photo by Mark Wilson)
The song is mesmerizingly beautiful as the cherry blossoms that are blooming all over this spring time. I first learned of this song when I played it on the piano as a child. The melody was peculiar to a young girl's ears, but was entrancing. I appreciated it more as I tinkered the piano keys, pretending it to be a twangy koto. It remained to be one of my favorite songs to this day.
Here are the lyrics in Hiragana:
さくら さくら のやま も さと も みわたす かぎり かすみ か くも か あさひ に におう さくら さくら はな ざかり
sakura sakura noyama mo sato mo mi-watasu kagiri kasumi ka kumo ka asahi ni niou sakura sakura hana zakari さくら さくら やよい の そら は みわたす かぎり かすみ か くも か におい ぞ いずる いざや いざや みに ゆかん
sakura sakura yayoi no sora wa mi-watasu kagiri kasumi ka kumo ka nioi zo izuru izaya izaya mini yukan It translates to English as follows: Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, In fields, mountains and villages As far as the eye can see. Is it mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the rising sun. Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Across the spring sky, As far as the eye can see. Is it mist, or clouds? Fragrant in the air. Come now, come now, Let's go and see them! To celebrate the beauty of the pink blooms, Here are Bunnylou’s friends, Michiko and Aki sharing with us sakura in Hakone, with a glimpse of Fuji-san looming over the green hills of the countryside.