One of the most important elements in Nishizawafs movies is music. The director collaborated once again with the exceptional musician Makoto Kuriya in order to make the music for gJAPAN, Our Homelandh as refined as that of his previous work. By featuring Doyo and Shoka as the main themes of "JAPAN, Our Homeland," we expect the audience to discover the uniqueness of Japanese beauty. We hope you will all enjoy the amazing chorus performed by three traditional and powerful childrenfs choirs.
What are Doyo and Shoka?
Shoka refers to the songs especially made for the music education in Japanese elementary school and junior high school since the beginning of the Meiji Era. Most of the songs on gThe Shoka Book for Elementary Schoolh were modified versions of the folk songs and carols that were very popular in the Western countries. Although many Japanese think that typical Shoka songs such as gAuld Lang Syne,h gHush, My Babeh and gThe Last Rose of Summerh trace their origins to Japan, they were actually born in various countries like Scotland, Ireland and Spain.
At one point Shoka songs were sung by the Japanese to boost the militaristic morale. After the war, however, the Japanese government abolished all the militaristic songs. Ever since, Shoka songs have become the symbol of Japanese values in the heart of the Japanese. The motif song of the film, gThe Moon Over the Deserted Castle,h is one of the typical Shoka songs, too.
Meanwhile, Doyo traces its origin to the childrenfs magazine gAkaitorih first published by Miekichi Suzuki in 1918. The magazine aimed to present the children with artistically valuable songs and stories. The very first Doyo in history appeared in the magazine titled gKanariya,h which was composed by Tamezo Narita.
Miekichi Suzukifs idea to express feelings in childrenfs shoes and deliver the songs that would be affectionately sung by the children were supported by the first-rate writers in those days, leading to the Doyo Movement and the Childrenfs Literature Movement. gAkaitorih was followed by the publications of many childrenfs literature magazines including gKinnohuneh and gKodomonokuni.h The number of such magazines climbed up to a few dozens in their prime. Lyrics by Hakushu Kitahara, Saijo Yaso and Ujo Noguchi were set to music by composers like Tamezo Narita, Kosaku Yamada and Shinpei Nakayama. These songs still attract many fans and singers to date.
"City of Flowers"
Words by Shoko Ema
Music by Ikuma Dan
Arranged by Kan Wakamatsu
Song by Maya Yoshizawa
(Suginami Childrenfs Choir) and Kaori Watanabe
"Dragonflies"
Words by Rofu Miki
Music by Kosaku Yamada
Arranged by Kan Wakamatsu
Chorus by Morinoki Childrenfs Choir
"Hometown"
Words by Tatsuyuki Takano
Music by Teiichi Okano
Arranged by Kan Wakamatsu
Song (solo) by Sakurako Igarash
Chorus by Tanpopo Childrenfs Choir
"A Song at Seashore"
Words by Kokei Hayashi
Music by Tamezo Narita
Arranged by Kan Wakamatsu
Chorus by Morinoki Childrenfs Choir
"The Moon Over the Deserted Castle"
Words by Masao Kato
Music by Suguru Sasaki
Arranged by Makoto Kuriya
Song (solo) by Momoka Furuya and Maya Yoshizawa
Chorus by Suginami Childrenfs Choir
Mr. Tsutomu Aragaki and Ms. KOKIA
The starting point of the film production was Director Nishizawafs encounter with Mr. Tsutomu Aragaki. The director found by chance a CD of Mr. Aragaki and was thunderstruck by the music. Mr. Aragakifs CD motivated Director Nishizawa to create an animation movie featuring Doyo and Shoka to promote their virtues to the audience.
The next musician the director discovered following Mr. Aragaki was Ms. KOKIA. The director was having trouble finding the right artist to sing the outro of the movie. Should he write a song by himself and let Mr. Kuriya set it to music just like he did in his previous film? Or should he just ask Mr. Kuriya to compose a piano music to be played during the outro? Then the director discovered gThe Singerh by Ms. KOKIA. The moment he first heard the song, he felt the sudden urge to use it for his film. Believing that the song was exactly made for his film, the director requested the executive producer Mr. Murakami to negotiate with her management office right away.
Motif Music
"The Moon Over the Deserted Castle"(AtMark Corporation)
Song by Tsutomu Aragaki
Words by Bansui Doi
Music by Rentaro Taki
Theme Music at the end of the film
"The Singer"(Victor Entertainment)
Song by KOKIA
Words/Music by KOKIA
Other music in the movie
"The Apple Song"
Words by Hachiro Sato
Music by Tadashi Manjome
Song by Michiko Namiki
"Tokyo Kid"
Words by Ko Fujiura
Music by Tadashi Manjome
Song by Hibari Misora
"When the White Flower Blooms"
Words by Chisa Terao
Music by Shigeru Tamura
Song by Atsuro Okamoto
Rakugo (Japanese sit-down comedy):"Yabuiri" by Kinba Sanyutei the Third.
Rokyoku (Storytelling with Shamisen music): "Ishimatsu Sanjukkokubune" by Torazo Hirosawa Junior