Hi everybody! As part of my Japanese language studies, I decided to do this blog about the children’s song, Tōryanse. Do you know something about it? Well, if you don’t, you can find a lot of stuff here. Little by little I am updating this blog with everything that I can find about the song, your versions and curiosities. Take your time and enjoy the blog. For now, some parts are available only in japanese, but Im going to translate soon. AH! Please, if it’s possible, answer the survey (click here!). Will help me a lot! Thank you very much.
Romaji
Tōryanse, tōryanse
Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja?
Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja
Chitto tōshite kudashanse
Goyō no nai mono tōshasenu
Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni
O-fuda wo osame ni mairimasu
Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai
Kowai nagara mo
Tōryanse, tōryanse
Tōryanse, tōryanse
Koko wa neifu no hosomichi ja
Kijin-sama no hosomichi ja
Chitto tōshite kudashanse
Nie no nai mono tōshasenu
Kono ko no nanatsu no tomurai ni
Kuyō wo tanomi ni mairimasu
Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai
Kowai nagara mo
Tōryanse, tōryanse
Lyric
Let me pass, let me pass
What is this narrow pathway here?
It's the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine
Please allow me to pass through
Those without good reason shall not pass
To celebrate this child's 7th birthday
I've come to dedicate my offering
Going in may be fine, fine, but returning would be scary
It's scary but
Let me pass, let me pass
Let me pass, let me pass
Here is the underworld's narrow pathway
It's the narrow pathway of the demon's shrine
Please allow me to pass through
Those without sacrifice shall not pass
To bury this child at age 7
I've come to offer my services
Living may be fine, fine, but going back would be scary
It's scary but
Let me pass, let me pass
About
Origin
Tōryanse is a traditional Japanese children's tune from the Edo era. Usually, these Japanese songs are followed by some plays and games. However this is questionable, because according to a quotation in an old record from the 1920’s, Ujo Noguchi is the author.
About the name
I didn’t know almost anything about the meaning of the name, but I thought that was some kinda of old Japanese. Looking for information about the song, I read a lot of translations and almost of then use “Let me pass” as the meaning for Tōryanse. I thought that Tōryanse was a noun, but talking to my Japanese friend we realized that Tōryanse is probably a verb. The verb, “Toru”, means to pass (by, over, through).
The Game
This particular Warabe-uta is sung as part of a traditional game. Two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught'. [from Wikipedia; later, I do the translation of my japanese explanation]
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