Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

He says, "Frosted Flakes taste GREAT!"

People, people, PEOPLE!

Are we going to actually tolerate this rank irreverence?

Well, are we?

Last edited by edosan (2008-12-07 10:20:35)

Kiku, the insert is all in Japanese except for;

P-2007 Universal Music Jasrac
DTC-1882

The tracks are;
1. Furrin
2. Murasaki Shoden
3. Honshirabe
4. Hokkoku Renbo
5. Shin-ya
6. Shin Kyorei
7. Soh Shingetsu
8. Shinseki
9. Ryohbo
10. Jikiku "Mimei"

07-6-30

I can send an mp3 of track 10 if requested, fairly short, I thought he was venting after his wife had skinned his cat to make new in-soles, because it kept shitting in her slippers !

Kel.

Hey Kiku,
  That's probably the same CD you guys are talking about. Shoganken Reibo is Fuurin, just Watazumi's name for it. One of the shakuhachi tradition's interesting/slightly annoying at times same song different name thing.

Kiku you said you have the LP version?  I have the same version as Kel does, I think it's the same performances plus one very long Reibo they added, which he calls Ryoubo and then the growl. It might have been remastered, not sure, but it's good quality.  I got my cd through the Hogaku jounal online site.
We listened to it it in Shimura sensei's van on the way to the Komuso temples in Wakayama.

As for the meaning of the growl... sorry, I have yet to inquire

Hello Kiku and everyone else. Kiku I just sent you an mps of the  Jikiku "Mimei growl, if someone hadn't sent one already. It's track 10 on the cd version of Sokuin Rancho/Ryohbo that was released awhile back. I had always wanted to know what he was saying as well.

Thank you Kel and Jeff for the mp3 of the growl.
Josh, I think you are right. The CD has bonus tracks. I only have the LP. Mmmmm, I would have loved to have got my hands on the CD. I think it is sold out now. It was last time I checked. Yes, I do remember we heard it in Shimura's van together. Certainly one of my favourite Watazumi CDs.

When I first heard this, I thought Watazumi was using classical Japanese... or he recites in the style of it anyway. It first sounded to me as he is reciting some kind of mythology.
But no, in fact it has a lot to do with himself and his practice.
I will attempt to do a translation although neither Japanese nor English is my native language. I apologise for the lack of poetical talent:

Dawn has yet not lifted
Only one star twinkle in the sky
It is the quiet world of sleep
The birds wake up.
Powerfully, they fly out (I am missing a word here I don't understand: hakenaku after powerfully. Perhaps without hesitation)
Cry out strongly!
Do not get caught by humans!
On this earth, even I am not loosing (to the birds?)
I am getting up earlier than the birds
Throughout the year I am intensifying my ki and... chouyaku (either dose or jump according to the dictionary. Here probably the growl)
Grrrrrrraaaahhhhhhh..... ! ! ! !

Great stuff! He was something!
Kel, thank you for posting this!

PS. It could be very interesting to know what the title jikiku mimei means. Is anyone able to find the characters and post them?

Cheers!

Last edited by Kiku Day (2008-12-09 05:51:14)

have listened to that CD for years but don't understand a word. Would love to read the translation. Thanks very much for the effort.

Here is the reply I have just received from my Japanese friend Michi, to Watasumis words.

--------


Here is my best translation of "Mimei"
(Mimei means early dawn.
In CD Watazumi Douso's voice)

The day has not yet broken
     A star is twinkling
     It is quiet in a still sleeping world

Birds !
     Awake, fly and cry as you will
     Don't be caught by man

On the earth I want to be successful too
     I will awake earlier than you
     with determination and renewed vigor

I hope this translation will be ok.

Regards     Michi

-----

Kel.