Tōryanse

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Tōryanse (通りゃんせ, Tōryanse^?) is the name of the traditional Japanese children's tune (Warabe uta). It is the most common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan when it is safe to cross.

The words to the song are:

Japanese: 通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ ここはどこの　細通じゃ 天神さまの　細道じゃ ちっと通して　下しゃんせ 御用のないもの　通しゃせぬ この子の七つの　お祝いに お札を納めに　まいります 行きはよいよい　帰りはこわい こわいながらも 通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ ここは冥府の細道じゃ 鬼神様の細道じゃ ちっと通して　下しゃんせ 贄のないもの通しゃせぬ この子の七つの弔いに 供養を頼みに参ります 生きはよいよい　還りはこわい こわいながらも 通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ

Romaji: Tōryanse, tōryanse Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja? Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja Chitto tōshite kudashanse Goyō no nai mono tōshasenu Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni O-fuda wo osame ni mairimasu Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai Kowai nagara mo Tōryanse, tōryanse Tōryanse, tōryanse Koko wa neifu no hosomichi ja Kijin-sama no hosomichi ja Chitto tōshite kudashanse Nie no nai mono tōshasenu Kono ko no nanatsu no tomurai ni Kuyō wo tanomi ni mairimasu Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai Kowai nagara mo Tōryanse, tōryanse

Translation: Let me pass, let me pass What is this narrow pathway here? It's the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine Please allow me to pass through Those without good reason shall not pass To celebrate this child's 7th birthday I've come to dedicate my offering Going in may be fine, fine, but returning would be scary It's scary but Let me pass, let me pass Let me pass, let me pass Here is the underworld's narrow pathway It's the narrow pathway of the demon's shrine Please allow me to pass through Those without sacrifice shall not pass To bury this child at age 7 I've come to offer my services Living may be fine, fine, but going back would be scary It's scary but Let me pass, let me pass

There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint - at Kawagoe Castle according to one theory. In the olden days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7 (as well as 3 and 5 - see Shichi-Go-San), and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.

This particular warabe-uta is sung as part of a traditional game identical to "London Bridge Is Falling Down". Two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught'.

The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game i.e. it is safe to cross until the music stops.

[edit] Popular culture

Tōryanse can be heard in:

• The Animatrix - in the short film "Beyond"
• Serial Experiments Lain
• Lost in Translation
• Pom Poko
• Nocturnal Illusion - mentioned by the main character
• Pride (episodes 5 and 8)
• Boogiepop Phantom
• Earth Girl Arjuna
• Hand Maid May
• Ping Pong Club
• Ichigo Mashimaro
• Chakushin Ari 2 - sung by the blind lady named Shu-Mei Gao.
• Bleach
• Paranoia Agent
• Magical Pokaan - 10 seconds worth at 15:11 in episode 12.
• Death Note - Episode 30
• Black Lagoon The Second Barrage - Episode 7
• Dennō Coil
• Amatsuki - Episode 1
• Pokemon Episode 352 - A version rewritten to be about the Pokemon Yajiron is sung more than once.

[edit] External links

• A "musicbox" midi file of Toryanse

• A midi file at Music Laboratory Database

• About Shichi-go-san, The 7 - 5 - 3 Festival in Japan and Tooryanse