Today, I would like to first state that.
Some of the quotes in today’s article may be misleading… Some, especially some devout believers, may find them offensive.
There are also areas that may cause a few Dry laugh for women.
But please understand that they are trivial statements based on certain historical facts and are never intended to harass women or Christianity.
Yes, really… Don’t be angry… (^_^;)
Please listen to this song first.
「Shall We Gather At The River」is one of the chants composed in the 1800s in the American Baptist Church. It says: ‘Let us gather together by the clean river that flows by God’s side for a moment of holiness…’. It conveys a sense of purity and peacefulness, whether you are interested in Christianity or not. At the same time, you can feel the good old days of America…
However, it is a hymn of an American denomination, so it is not very familiar to the Japanese.
It should not be, but there must be many Japanese who have heard a part of the melody of this song.
Here it is.
(Some ‘broadcast ban term?’ areas are masked. (^_^;)
Now what’s wrong with this song? Here are the lyrics.
〜 tan tan tanuki no “●tama” ha
kazemo nainoni būrabura
sorewo miteita oyadanuki
onakawo kakaete ōwarai 〜
And here is the English translation.
〜 The raccoon dog’s “●●” …
swinging, even though there’s no wind.
The parent raccoon dog saw this and
laughing hysterically with their stomachs in their hands.
〜
So the word that goes in “●●” is …
“testicles”…
What a thing to do to a sacred song…(~_~;)
In short, it’s called a Parody song.
The song was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period (late 19th century). It was introduced along with the arrival of Christianity, whose missionary work began with the lifting of the ban on foreign religions that had been in force until then. ※
※ Christianity was introduced to Japan in the 16th century, but was banned during the Edo period after many restrictions were imposed along the way.
Choirs singing in the streets. Although foreign cultures and Christian doctrines were new and incomprehensible to the average Japanese at the time, the melodies of the chants they sang were rather easy to remember and familiar.
The melody of the song ‘Shall We Gather At The River’ was particularly well received because of its tempo, so it was arranged beyond the confines of a chant into a song for the general public.
「タバコやの娘(Tobacconist’s girl)」
The impressive rhythm is still loved 150 years later and is even used in TV commercial songs.
「Biccamera-CM」
Parody songs are “song games” that exist all over the world.
As they are created by the playful spirit of the common people, they tend to be of secular content and dirty jokes.
Perhaps they were created by the common people as the original melody spread through society. Perhaps it was the children who wrote the parody song for “●●”.
By the way, “testicles” is called “kin-tama(金玉)” in Japanese. (Naturally, it is not a word you can say out loud in public in Japan either.)
“kin-tama(金玉)”. The literal translation is “golden ball”. Why was a part of the male body named, for example, the golden ball? There are various theories and the exact reason is unknown, but … well, the most popular theory seems to be that it is a “very important part”.
(^_^;)
So, do you know why this parody song is called “raccoon dog’s kin-tama”? Actually, it has to do with an ancient Japanese folk tale or custom…
The animal most frequently mentioned in Japanese folktales is probably the “fox”. In the past, they lived in most parts of the country from north to south, so they were easily incorporated into folktales.
The second or third most common is the “raccoon dog”.
Both the “fox” and the “raccoon dog” are characterised by their “magical power to deceive people”, but the “raccoon dog” has another characteristic.
It is called「raccoon dog’s bag of gold balls is eight tatami mats」.
‘tatami mats’ As you know, the floors of Japanese houses have been the culture of tatami mats since ancient times. There are eight of them. A realistic interpretation would be about the size of a living room. In folklore, it is interpreted as “a vast expanse” and “the raccoon dog spreads its bag of testicles to show its magical powers.”
Let me send you one folk tale about raccoon dogs and testicle bags…
『The raccoon dog’s kin-tama(testicles)』
Once upon a time, a pilgrim traveller was trudging through the fields.
The wind was blowing cold and the sun was beginning to set.
It was almost night, but as far as the eye could see, there was not a village or even a house in sight.
「Oh my god. If we don’t do something, we’ll end up camping out in the cold…」
The traveller sighs.
It was then that a small light flickered out of the woods in the distance. Whether it is a private house or a temple, it is hard to tell from here, but it appears to be a light of salvation.
「Ah! I think we’re going to be saved somehow. I will stay over there tonight…」
The traveller walked towards the light with what little energy he had left.
There was one temple where we arrived.
It was a small but well built temple, and was sufficient for a traveller to stay there for the night.
「Good evening! I am a pilgrim…」
I called out to him, but there was no reply.
I put my hand on the door and it opened quickly, so I called out again, but still no answer. I wondered if the temple staff were out somewhere…?
When I took off my straw sandals and went up, I found a beautiful tatami-matted room with a candle-lit candlestick and a large Jizo Bosatsu (Jizo-statue) in the back.
The shadow of the large Jizo statue stretches to the ceiling and looks even larger in the flickering candlelight.
(Excuse me, but could you please lend me a place to stay for the night…)
After praying to the Jizo, I looked around and saw a brazier with a charcoal fire burning in it.
(Thank God for this, but still, I wonder where the temple staff went…)
He wondered, but when he put his hand on the brazier, it was very warm.
He stayed warm for a while, as if to relieve the fatigue of his journey…
ーーー
Now, now… You, the reader, may have already noticed this. It’s all a bit suspicious. It seems to be a building that, as the story goes, you should never enter…
What will happen to the pilgrim travellers after this?
In the second part, I will tell the other half of the folk tale and discuss the significance of raccoon dog in Japan, where it was even used in a replacement song.
And “why are raccoon dogs considered to have larger testicular bag?” I would also like to mention… See you next time.