Bon Daiko Lesson – Soran Bushi
Soran Bushi is a song that would keep fishermen warm and entertained during the monotonous and physically demanding tasks of lifting herring-filled nets from the freezing waters of Hokkaido. It’s likely that the Soran Bushi we know today is a combination of several work songs originating from the area.
During the spring, fishermen would gather in Hokkaido and the surrounding areas to wait for schools of herring. Once they received word that the herring were near, they rowed out to sea with their nets. Aside from a small portion that was dried and used for food, the herring were boiled to extract the fish oil, and the remains were used as high quality fertilizer.
