Book Scan: Nezumi no Yomeiri

Here is the second children's book I have from the Hikari no Kuni, Koe no Ehon series. This one is the folk tale - Nezumi no Yomeiri. The mice are adorably drawn. For some reason, I am enchanted by the mother mouse in the drawings. The daughter mouse is very cute and I love her kimono, but the mother mouse seems to have a fun personality. Especially in the first picture that you see the mother mouse, she looks to be telling gossip to father mouse!

There is a song, I was not able to find any examples of the song on the internet. I don't know if this is a traditional song or if it is a song composed for this record book. I will, however include the romanized lyrics, for anyone who can read music and would like to sing along.
Click on the images to view them larger.

Audio Picture Book #38
The Mouse's Marriage

Here are the lyrics to the song. I will give the translation here, and the romaji lyrics below.

The Mouse's Marriage
A mouse ready to marry, is looking for a husband
They have searched all over, but surely it will be a mouse
Squeak squeak squeak
Squeak squeak squeak
The mice all congratulate

If the bride is a mouse
The best choice of husband is surely a mouse
Squeak squeak squeak
Squeak squeak squeak
The mice all congratulate

Yomeiri nezumi no, muko sagashi
Sagashi mawatta, mita keredo
Yappari nezumi de gozaimasu
Chu' chu' chu'
Chu' chu' chu'
Nezumi doushi de omedetou

Hanayome-sama ga, nezumi nara
Sangokuichi no omuko-sama
Yappari nezumi de gozaimasu
Chu' chu' chu'
Chu' chu' chu'
Nezumi doushi de omedetou

There once was a wealthy mouse family. The daughter was very lovely, and had many offers for marriage.
"I want my daughter to marry the greatest person in the world."
Just who could be the greatest person in the world?

"It is Mr. Sun, of course."
"I see! Because it is Mr. Sun that lights up the entire world."
So then the mice went to Mr. Sun and said,
"Mr. Sun, will you please marry our daughter?"
"Hoho, I'm sorry. Actually, there is someone who is much greater than I am."
"And who could that be?"
"The Cloud. Even if I am shining bright, I can be completely covered up by the fluffy Cloud."
"I see."

The mice went to the Cloud and said,
"You are the greatest Cloud in the world, will you please marry my daughter?"
"Impossible. I am not the greatest in the world. There is one who is greater than I am."
"Who could that be?"
"Mr. Wind. Even if I try my best to blanket the sky, I am blown away by Mr. Wind."
"Squeak squeak squeak, therefore Mr. Wind is the greatest in the world."
"Then let's give our daughter to Mr. Wind."

"Mr. Wind, will you accept my daughter?"
"I am grateful, but there is one who is stronger than me. Mr. Wall. Even if I blow with all my might, he won't budge at all."
The mice pleaded with the wall,
"Mr. Wall, Mr. Wall, Please accept our daughter."

Nevertheless, the wall also refused.
"Mr. Mouse, there is something that can defeat me."
"Now, who could that be?"
"It is mice. When you chew on me I become full of holes."
"I see. Therefore, the greatest in the world are mice after all."
"Then, father, lets have our daughter marry a mouse."
Therefore, the mouse father and mother decided on the mouse that lived next door.
Come, tonight is a joyous wedding ceremony.
The mouse daughter and the mouse husband lived happily ever after.


I find the image on the back of the book absolutely adorable. She looks like a little mouse maiko-san!

You can read the other children's book I have from this series here.

Book Scan: Nursery Rhymes

About 10 years ago, I found a couple of old Japanese children's books at my local thrift store. The art in the books are sooo cute, I couldn't resist the black marble eyes of the little girls in the drawings. These books originally came with LP records to sing along to, but none came with my used. I don't know how old the books are, and they are rare to find pictures from the series on the internet, so I figured I just had to share.

This one is book #41 of the series (I don't know how many there are, the back of the book only lists up to book #40). This one is a collection of Japanese children's songs. I will include translations and romanization of the lyrics, and links to the songs, for those who would like to learn the songs. Please click on the images to make them larger.

Audio Picture Book
Golden Sheet 41
Bright Country, LP 33 1/3 rpm
Children's Songs - part 1

This page contains instructions for moms on singing with children and on how to use the vocal sheets that weren't included when I bought the books.

Ame / Rain

Ame ga furimasu, ame ga furu
Asobi ni yukitashi, kasa wa nashi
Beni o no kakko mo, o ga kireta

Ame ga furimasu, ame ga furu
Iya demo ouchi de, asobimashou
Chiyogami orimashou, tatamimashou


It's raining, it's raining
I want to play but don't have my parasol
The strap broke on my crimson geta (clogs, "kakko")

It's raining, it's raining
I don't want to, but let's play inside
Let's fold chiyogami, let's fold


This Youtube video has more lyrics than the children's book has, the uploader has included romaji lyrics in the video description.

Juu-nin no Indian / 10 Little Indians

This one is the American children's song, 10 Little Indians, in Japanese! (note: the Japanese version doesn't include "little" in the lyrics, it translates to simply "there are 1, 2, 3 of them")

Hitori, futari, san-nin iru yo
Yo-nin, go-nin, roku-nin iru yo
Shichi-ni, hachi-nin, ku-nin iru yo
Juu-nin no indian booizu

Juu-nin, ku-nin, hachi-nin iru yo
Shichi-nin, roku-nin, go-nin iru yo
Yo-nin, san-nin, futari iru yo
Hitori no indian booi


One little, two little, three little Indians
Four little, five little, six little Indians
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians
Ten little Indian boys

Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians
Seven little, six little, five little Indians
Four little, three little, two little Indians
One little Indian boy

Here is the audio, sing along!

Ningyou / Doll

Watashi no ningyou wa, yoi ningyou
Me wa pacchiri to, irojiro de
Chiisai kuchi moto, airashii
Watashi no ningyou wa, yoi ningyou

Watashi no ningyou wa, yoi ningyou
Uta o utaeba, nen'neshite
Hitori de oitemo, nakimasen
Watashi no ningyou wa, yoi ningyou


My doll is a good doll
Her eyes are big and beautiful, and has fair-complexion
Her small mouth is lovely
My doll is a good doll

My doll is a good doll
When I sing a song, she goes beddy-bye
She doesn't cry if left alone
My doll is a good doll

Here is a video with the song, and a dance performed by two very cute little girls!

人形 from alte Jungfer on Vimeo.

Katatsumuri / Snail

Den den mushi mushi, katatsumuri
Omae no atama wa, doko ni aru
Tsuno dase yari dase, atama dase

Den den mushi mushi, katatsumuri
Omae no medama wa, doko ni aru
Tsuno dase yari dase, medama dase


Snail, snail
Where is your head?
Stick out your horns, stick out your antenna, stick out your head

Snail, snail
Where are your eyeballs?
Stick out your horns, stick out your antenna, stick out your eyeballs

(note: dendenmushi, and katatsumuri both mean snail)

Omacha no maachi / March of the Toys

Yattoko yattoko, kuridashita
Omocha no maachi ga, ra'ta'ta'
Ningyou no heitai, seizoroi
O-uma mo ko-inu mo, ra'ta'ta'

Yattoko yattoko, hitomawari
Kyuupi mo Poppo mo, ra'ta'ta'
Furansu ningyou mo, tobidashite
Fuefukya taiko ga, pan para pan


Yo-ho! Yo-ho! Here they come
The march of the toys go rat-a-tat-tat
Soldier dolls all lined up
The horses and puppies go rat-a-tat-tat

Yo-ho! Yo-ho! Going around
Kewpie and toy trains go rat-a-tat-tat
Even the French doll joins in
The flutes and drummers go pan para pan

Here is the song, although the video has nothing to do with marching toys... They also use "wanwa" for the word puppy instead of "koinu". This song is fun, I sing it to my son!



You can see the other book I have from this series here.