While it might be difficult to tell in certain regions of the northern hemisphere, spring has arrived. While that means different things to different countries, in Japan it can truly only mean one thing: cherry blossom season.
If you’ve consumed enough Japanese pop culture over the years, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the standard blossom viewing party trope where people gather under the cherry blossoms and drink themselves stupid. It can also mean other things, though, such as the singing of the traditional folk song “Sakura, Sakura” along with the traditional dance that goes along with it. What’s that? You don’t remember how to do either of those things? Luckily, the Pokémon Kids TV Japan YouTube account has us covered with this video of three Pikachu dancing to the traditional song.
For those of you Pikachu fans who don’t read hiragana, I’ve helpfully included the lyrics (as transcribed by the official Wikipedia page) below:
Sakura sakura
Noyama mo sato mo
Mi-watasu kagiri
Kasumi ka kumo ka
Asahi ni niou
Aakura sakura
Hana zakari
Sakura sakura
Yayoi no sora wa
Mi-watasu kagiri
Kasumi ka kumo ka
Nioi zo izuru
Izaya izaya
Mini yukan
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains, and villages
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the rising sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let’s go and see them.
Naturally, this isn’t the first time that Japanese characters have been associated with the song over the years, ranging all the way from Piston Honda using the song as his theme in the Nintendo game Punch-Out. This extends to modern times with the song being sampled by the likes of Babymetal, virtual YouTuber Akai Haato, and even the mobile game Genshin Impact.
Source: SoraNews24
