Online Taiko Lesson – Tanko Bushi
Online Taiko Lesson – Tanko Bushi
Tanko Bushi is one of six songs in the Obon Classics Online Course, which adds a dance tutorial, full demonstrations, and practice tracks.
Tanko Bushi is one of the most popular Obon songs. It’s from the Kyushu region of Japan, specifically from Fukuoka. You may be familiar with the dance, which mimics the motions of coal mining. Tanko Bushi is often thought of as a coal miner work song, but it’s actually a very romantic love song. The lyrics talk about a female coal miner longing for her romantic partner.
Although very popular, I didn’t cover Tanko Bushi until this point because it’s a tricky songs to play. Both the phrasing and the form are significantly more complex than the songs we’ve covered so far. Furthermore, another factor that makes Tanko Bushi difficult is the vast number of arrangements and recordings. In this video, we’ll be covering the most standard arrangement.
Tanko Bushi Lyrics
The moon is out over Miike Coal Mine
The chimney so high it hurts the moon’s eyes
If you say so, I will gather the courage to leave you
If you return me to the girl of 18 that I was. I will leave you
Over one, two, three mountains is a camellia
Doesn’t matter how vivid it blooms if my precious doesn’t come around
Until the day we stand together, our hearts are one, our bodies two.
The sadness of being apart.
I’ll speak to my precious in my dreams.
Obon Classics Online Course
Learn Tanko Bushi and five more classic Bon Odori songs, step by step, with taiko and dance tutorials, full demonstrations, and practice tracks.
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