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#shakuhachi #soran #bushi (Work Song Version) Herring fishing brought thousands of migrant workers to Hokkaido, Japan's northern island, each spring until early this century. Songs accompanied each stage of fishing, such as rowing and net-hauling. “Soran Bushi“ was sung while transferring the herring from large drift-nets into small taxi-boats with giant hand-nets. The abundant lyrics are often improvised, erotic or comical - helping to keep workers awake during several days without sleep. This recording - which eschews the bawdier verses - gives an idea of how “Soran Bushi“ would have sounded as a functioning work song, as opposed to the following track: rough-edged, spontaneous, in a northeastern accent. (introduction: meaningless rhythmic calls) (chorus:) Ee yaren soran soran soran soran soran (hai hai) Yoichi's a fine place - come visit sometime: flames of gold shoot up from the waves. If you ask the seagull, “Have the herring come?“, “I&#
