Kaigara Bushi (, literally Shell tune), also spelled Kaigarabushi or Kaigara-bushi, is a Japanese folk song that originated in Hamamura Onsen, Ketaka Town, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. It is a work song of the fishermen who worked on the Japan Sea coast.
History It is not known when this folk song originated. On the sea coast of Hamamura Onsen (:ja:浜村温泉),Hamamura Hot Springs, San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark Ketaka Town (:ja:気高町), Tottori City in central Tottori Prefecture, there used to appear in several year cycles abundant shellfish, which the fishermen caught by bottom trawling. Rowing the boat pulling the trawling net was such hard labor that the rowers used to sing this song, consoling themselves.
Words The most common words of this folk song starts with "Nan no inga de kaigara kogi narouta?", which means "What destiny has made me to row the boat to catch shellfish?"Kaigara Bushi, sung by Michiya Mihashi (三橋美智也) (in Japanese)貝殻節〜Kaigara Bushi, sung by Keiko Ueda (上田圭子）at California Jazz Conservatory, 2018 (in Japanese)
Dance Several styles of dance to this music are known. They are most popular at the bon dances in Tottori Prefecture and the nearby prefectures. Each August, a festival of Kaigara Bushi dance, fire displays and local food is held in Ketaka Town, Tottori City.Annual Event Schedule (Tottori City)
Professional dancers, such as the geisha at indoor dances in Hamamura Onsen, sometimes hold small dishes so they can imitate clacking of the shells.
See also Bon dance Work song
References
External links Our folk song, "Kaigarabushi" (Tottrori City) in Japanese