Akatombo

RED DRAGONFLY ::: English translation

Red dragonflies are flying in the sunset glow
I wonder when it was that I saw them on someone’s back

We picked mulberries in the mountain field
and I put them in a small basket, but I wonder if it was an illusion

The nursemaid who took care of me married and left when she was fifteen,
and after that, no news about her arrived from her hometown

Red dragonflies are flying in the sunset glow
One is now resting at the end of a pole

夕焼ゆうやけ小焼こやけの 赤あかとんぼ
負おわれて見みたのは いつの日ひか

山やまの畑はたけの 桑くわの実みを
小籠こかごに摘つんだはまぼろしか

十五じゅうごでねやは 嫁よめに行ゆき
お里さととのたよりも 絶たえ果はてた

夕焼ゆうやけ小焼こやけの 赤あかとんぼ
とまっているよ竿さおの先

Composed by Kōsaku Yamada in 1927

Lyrics based on a poem by Rofū Miki in 1921