The boat stops at a place called Hane (wings), and a child tells everyone that this town was named after its wing-like shape and reads a poem. This child reminds Tsurayuki of his lost daughter again, as he quietly reads a poem to himself.


If this place was a real wing like its name, we’d all be able to fly to Kyoto in no time.

Of all emotions you go through in life, there is nothing more tormenting than the sorrow of a parent who has lost his/her child.


Shinobi Uta Mov. 3 - At Hane (A Town named "Wings")

Another rainy and windy day - not able to sail any further, the boat stops at a shore, where there believed to be shells that make you forget about everything. Both Tsurayuki and his wife read poems regarding the shells. When the boat starts moving again, Tsurayuki’s wife reads another poem wishing to stop over at another location called Sumie, where she can collect some forgetting grass that is also said to make you forget. 

Ah, dear big waves, please bring in a forgetting shell to this shore – a shell that they say will make me forget about my dear little girl…


Even if there was one, I won’t pick up a forgetting shell. I rather cherish those precious memories of my beautiful girl forever, as that’s the only treasure she’s left for me.

Please captain, sail further and stop over at Sumie as I hear I can collect some forgetting grass there!

Shinobi Uta Mov. 4 - Forgetting Shells and Forgetting Grass

The group of travelers finally arrives at Kyoto with mixed feelings. Tsurayuki and his wife are happy that they finally arrived, but their house and property have been badly neglected albeit the neighbor’s effort. The feeling of sorrow settles in even more as they look at their old house with new surroundings without the presence of their daughter.


It’s pitiful to see a new pine tree growing so vigorously, while the girl who was born in this house will never grow or be back here.


If children could live a thousand years like these pine trees do, I would’ve never had to say good-bye to my little dear daughter…


taesakamoto