伊予万歳 - Iyo Manzai (Ehime Folk Song)

Details

Description

One of the more well-known folk songs originating from the Ehime Prefecture, or the Iyo Province, back then when it was written, originating in the Edo Period around 300 years ago as a Buyō (舞踊; a type of Japanese dance) initially danced by only two men inspired by an another folk song from the modern-day Aichi Prefecture called Chita Manzai (知多万歳). The song includes various references to the history, culture, and sights in the prefecture/province, mainly focused on the surroundings of the capital city of Matsuyama (松山市).

This version is a live performance from 1993, sung by the Japanese Enka (演歌) singer Kaori Kōzai (香西かおり).

The sounds without translations written in Katanaka, especially on the refrain, do not have any real meaning, and are known as 'Hayashi-kotoba' (囃子詞), often used in Japanese folk songs as filler words and also to raise the energy of the song.

Notes:
- 勝山城 (Katsuyama Castle): Refers to the Matsuyama Castle (松山城) located in the city of the same name. It was built in the Edo Period as a base for the Iyo-Matsuyama Domain (伊予松山藩) in 1602; it is frequently called Katsuyama Castle, taking its name from the mountain it sits on, Mt. Katsuyama (勝山)
- 天守閣 (Tenshu tower): Tenshu is an architectural feature found in Japanese castles, and points to the highest point in a respective castle.
- 紫井戸の片目鮒 (the Half-eyed Carp of the Purple Well): Refers to a folktale in the city of Matsuyama that involves a well named Purple Well, a mysterious well where every carp swimming in it only possessed one eye.
- 五色総麺 (Five-colored Sōmen): Sōmen is a type of thin noodle made from wheat and water, with the five-colored variety being a local delicacy of the Ehime Prefecture.
- 三津 (Mitsu): A coastal area in the city of Matsuyama, it has historically been known for its fish markets and a fishing port.
- 菅公出船 (Departure of Kankō): Kankō is an honorific term for Sugawara no Michizane (菅原 道真), one of the most well-known poets and a politician active in the Heian Period. He is now deified as 天満大自在天神 (Tenman daijizai Tenjin) as a God of Scholars; despite his accomplishments, he was accused of plotting a coup against the then-Emperor Daigo (醍醐天皇) and replacing him with his daughter, in the Shōtai Conspiracy (昌泰の変) in 905, where he was exiled to Dazaifu (太宰府) in Northern Kyūshū. The "parting" in the lyrics likely refers to his en route to exile.
- 鍵谷 カナ (Kana Kagiya): An entrepreneur from the Edo era, she was the inventor of Iyo Kasuri (伊予絣), a type of Kasuri (A woven fabric dyed to form specific patterns) from the Iyo Province, as the name suggests, it became the most produced Kasuri in the Meiji era after her death, and was a popular wear for everday use all over Japan.
- 松づくし (Matsu Zukushi): A type of Buyō based on the various Pines (松) of Japan, it has traditionally been sung at the New Year, and the 5 parts are an excerpt from the said song.
- 志賀の松 (Pine of Shiga): A specific Pine planted on the Karasaki Shrine (唐崎神社) in the City of Ōtsu (大津) in Shiga prefecture (滋賀県).

Title: 伊予万歳
Transliteration: Iyo Manzai
Translation: Iyo Manzai
Audio: https://youtu.be/p_QDpuaZA0w
Composer: Ehime Folk
Lyricist: Ehime Folk
Performer: 香西 かおり (Kaori Kōzai)
Year Recorded: 1995

Lyrics:
ハイ！
郷土芸術　伊予万歳よ
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
さて名も高き　松山の
ハーヤッサイ！
勝山城に聳ゆるは
ハーヤッサイ！
昔偲ばす　天守閣
ハアーシタコラサッサイ！

十六日の　初桜
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
孝子の誉れ　世に高し
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
伊台の里の御寺に
ハーヤッサイ！
薄墨桜も咲き初(そ)めて
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
紫井戸の片目鮒
ハアーシタコラサッサイ！

高井の里の　手入れ木や
ハーヤッサイ！
子杜若(こかきつばた)も咲き匂う
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
五色総麺　緋の蕪ら
ハアーシタコラサッサイ！

三津の朝市　これ名所
ハーヤッサイ！
菅公出船の御時に
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
ここに今出(いまず)と残されて
ハーヤッサイ！
鍵谷カナ女の功績は
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
伊予の絣と名も高い
ハアーシタコラサッサイ！

愛媛松山　伊予万歳よ
ハーヤッサイ！
数あるうたも　そのなかで
ハーヤッサイヤッサイ！
まずはこれより　松づくし
ハアーヤサコラサッサイ！

一本目には　池の松
二本目には　庭の松
三本目には　さがり松
四(し)本目には　志賀の松
五本目には　五葉の松
ハアーシタコラサッサイ！

郷土芸術　伊予万歳よ
ハイまずこれと
目出度(と)う　候いける


Transliteration:
Hai!
Kyōdo geijutsu iyo manzai yo
Hā-yassa yassai!
Sate na mo takaki matsuyama no
Hā-yassai!
Katsuyamajō ni sobiyuru wa
Hā-yassai!
Mukashi shinobasu tenshukaku
Hā-shita korasa-ssai!

Jūrokunichi no hatsuzakura
Hā-yassa yassai!
Kōshi no homare yo ni takashi
Hā-yassa yassai!
Idai no sato no otera ni
Hā-yassai!
Usuzumi zakura mo saki somete
Hā-yassa yassai!
Murasaki ido no katamebuna
Hā-shita korasa-ssai!

Takai no sato no teiregi ya
Hā-yassai!
Ko kakitsubata mo saki niou
Hā-yassa yassai!
Goshiki sōmen hi no kabura
Hā-shita korasa-ssai!

Mitsu no asaichi kore meisho
Hā-yassai!
Kankō deshū no ontoki ni
Hā-yassa yassai!
Koko ni imazu to nokosarete
Hā-yassai!
Kagitani Kanajo no kōseki wa
Hā-yassa yassai!
Iyo no kasuri to na mo takai
Hā-shita korasa-ssai!

Ehime matsuyama Iyo manzai yo
Hā-yassai!
Kazu aru uta mo sono naka de
Hā-yassa yassai!
Mazu wa kore yori matsuzukushi
Hā-ya sa korasa-ssai!

Ipponme ni wa ike no matsu
Nihonme ni wa niwa no matsu
Sanbonme ni wa sagari matsu
Shi honme ni wa Shiga no matsu
Gohonme ni wa goyō no matsu
Hā-shita korasa-ssai!

Kyōdo geijutsu Iyo manzai yo
Hai mazu kore to
Medetō sōroikeru

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