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 is the third-largest island of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa and the other Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Islands). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regio ...

(Tagawa City). It is a common song used in Bon dances during the

Bon Festival or just is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ance ...

, 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.

Excerpt from Tankō Bushi

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. 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 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). A second release of the 45 RPM was Victor of Japan MVK-1. 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.The Folk Dancer Record Service MH 2010a record label 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

Tanko Bushi - featuring the 1963 recording - Public Performance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanko Bushi Japanese folk songs Songs in Japanese