{{Short description|Japanese folk song}} [[Image:炭坑節発祥の地PB120260.jpg|thumb|The ''Tankō Bushi'' originated at Miike Mine, Kyushu, Japan.]] {{Nihongo|'''''Tankō Bushi'''''|炭坑節}} is a Japanese folk song. Despite the term "fushi/bushi" found in its name, the rhythm is in swung, ondo style. It is a song about coal mining, and it refers to old Miike Mine in Kyūshū (Tagawa City). It is a common song used in Bon dances during the Bon Festival, and the dance that accompanies it depicts actions in mines such as shoveling coal, throwing a bag of coal over the shoulders, shading the eyes from the sun, pushing a cart of coal and a ceremonial bow as captured on the notes by Folk Music International.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socalfolkdance.org/dances/T/Tanko_Bushi_D_Japanese.pdf|title=Folk Dance Federation of California south|website=socalfolkdance.org}}</ref>
== Excerpt from Tankō Bushi == {{blockquote| {{col-begin|width=auto}} {{col-break}} Japanese:
''Tsuki ga deta deta''<br /> ''Tsuki ga deta, a yoi yoi''<br /> ''Miike Tankō no ue ni deta''<br /> ''Anmari entotsu ga takai no de''<br /> ''Sazoya otsukisan kemutakaro''<br /> ''Sa no yoi yoi''
{{col-break|gap=2em}} Rough English translation:
The moon, has come out,<br /> Oh, the moon is out, heave ho (kakegoe)<br /> Over Miike Coal Mine has the moon come out.<br /> The chimney is so high,<br /> I wonder if the moon chokes on the smoke...<br /> Heave Ho! {{col-end}} }}
Modern arrangements of Tankō Bushi replace the lyric "Miike Tankō" with "uchi no oyama," which in traditional mining dialect means "our coal mine" or "our coal pit," as Miike Mine is no longer in service, and the song is played at Bon dances outside of Kyūshū.
==History== The song was recorded in Japan in 1932.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/11/03/national/tanko-bushi-inspiration-honored/|title = 'Tanko-bushi' inspiration honored|date = 3 November 2008}}</ref> It was originally recorded on 78 RPM as Victor V-41543 featuring Suzuki Masao and Kikumaru. This recording features five verses, with Suzuki Masao singing verses 1, 3 and 5 and Kikumaru singing verses 2, 4 and 5.
A popular version <ref>''The Japanese Bon Dance in Hawaii'', Judy Van Zile, Press Pacifica, 1982, p. 52</ref> is the 1963 commercial rerecording of Victor V-41543 featuring Suzuki Masao and Kikumaru with the Victor Orchestra. It was released as a 45 RPM as Victor of Japan, MV-1 (JES-1041).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Masao%20Suzuki%20%E3%80%81%20Kikumaru&title=%E5%B8%B8%E7%A3%90%E7%82%AD%E5%9D%91%E7%AF%80%EF%BC%8F%E7%82%AD%E5%9D%91%E7%AF%80|title=Masao Suzuki 、 Kikumaru - 常磐炭坑節／炭坑節|via=music.metason.net}}</ref> A second release of the 45 RPM was Victor of Japan MVK-1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5672416-%E5%88%9D%E4%BB%A3-%E9%88%B4%E6%9C%A8%E6%AD%A3%E5%A4%AB-%E5%96%9C%E4%B9%85%E4%B8%B8-%E5%B8%B8%E7%A3%90%E7%82%AD%E5%9D%91%E7%AF%80-%E7%82%AD%E5%9D%91%E7%AF%80|title=MVK-1 Tanko Bushi 45 RPM Rerelease|via=discog.com}}</ref>
A very similar recording of Suzuki Masao and Kikumaru with Japanese musicians was made in 1950. It was the version of Tanko Bushi most commonly heard at the Bon Dances in Hawaii during the second half of the 1900's. It was recorded in Japan by Yoshio Nakayama and released by The Folk Dancer Record Service as a 78 RPM MH 2010a.<ref name="MH-2010a">The Folk Dancer Record Service MH 2010a record label</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sfdh.us/encyclopedia/folk_dancer_record_service.html|title=The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH) - The Folk Dancer Record Service|website=sfdh.us}}</ref> This recording features five verses, with Suzuki Masao singing verses 1, 3 and 5 and Kikumaru on verses 2, 4 and 5. It lacks the four measure interlude after versus 2 and 4 from the JES-1041 version.
==Video== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlypZHA5uik Tanko Bushi - featuring the 1963 recording - Public Performance]
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanko Bushi}} Category:Japanese folk songs Category:Songs in Japanese