Koto Sound Dictionary

Aka-tonbo (赤とんぼ)

Aka-tonbo ("red dragonfly") is a popular nursery song. The lyrics are from a poem written by Miki, Rofu (1889-1964) which first appeared in the nursery song book Shinjujima ("Pearl Island") in 1921. The poem was set to music by Yamada, Kosaku (1886-1965) in 1927.

Here is a koto score of Aka-tonbo in koto notation using Nogi-choshi:

Lyrics:

    1. Yuyake koyake no aka-tonbo ゆうやけ こやけの あかとんぼ
    Owarete mitano wa itsu no hi ka? おわれて みたのは いつの ひか
    2. Yama no hatake no kuwa no mi wo やまの はたけの くわの みを
    Kokago ni tsunda wa maboroshi ka? こかごに つんだは まぼろしか
    3. Jugo de Neya wa yome ni iki じゅうごで ねえやは よめに いき
    Osato no tayori mo taehateta おさとの たよりも たえはてた
    4. Yuyake koyake no aka-tonbo ゆうやけ こやけの あかとんぼ
    Tomatte iruyo sao no saki とまっているよ さおの さき

Sound Examples
Aka-tonbo
            MP3 (417 KB)
            WAV (2295 KB)
  Performed by Sachiko Deguchi on an itame kurikou with nogi-choshi.