"CATERPILLAR" is one of the test films of Suchanworld animation series, which Ukeke and I have made a few years ago.

DUST BATH

"DUST BATH" is one of the test films of Suchanworld animation series, which Ukeke and I have made a few years ago.

Mohedi Had a Big Comb

Inage Kaigan is located on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay. People enjoy fishing, swimming, and windsurfing. If it is fine, you can see Mt. Fuji in the distance. It is a big environmental problem that not a few introduced species were detected in Tokyo Bay recent years. These species were carried by ballast water of the ships from distant seas - the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and so on. Aliens are occasionally serious menace to the native species. Godzilla is nothing serious.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

When I was a child, children used to play this melody on the recorder. It was the first music lesson at elementary schools in Japan at that time. I thought how simple this melody was. I liked it. Simple things have power. But I didn't think the Japanese translation of this lyrics were very good because it seemed too childish and naive to me. When I grew up, I knew this song came from a French love song. Ah!  if I'd started the first music lesson with a French love song, how happy I would've been.

MISSING A FRIEND - 人を戀ふる歌 -

人を戀ふる歌 (Hito o kouru uta) was written by Yosano Tekkan (1873-1935) and the original composer is unknown. Tekkan is known as a publisher who organized modern Tanka poets in late Meiji period. His wife Yosano Akiko is one of the most famous modern Tanka poets.

Hito o kouru uta is a long poem in 16 stanzas. One stanza consists of four lines and 7-5-7-5-7-5-7-5 sound units phrases[1]. This video shows you the first four stanzas of it. As you know, Haiku consists of 5-7-5 syllables(or moras) and Tanka consists of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables(moras). 5-7(or 7-5) sound units phrases are pleasant to the ear of Japanese. You could easily find this pattern not only in Japanese classical literature but even in today's popular songs in Japan.

The lyrics of this song isn't about the romance between men and women but about men's friendship. This lyrics express romanticism, desire for a stormy life and machismo that is based on traditional bushido spirit, while the tune restrains emotional expression. This song was very popular with adolescents when it was published. Young guys at that time used to gather to drink, sing this song to express their passion.

I don't know if my poor English translation as follows might help you to appreciate this song. Better than nothing. And you could freely replace these literal phrases with your own poetical phrases.

    *    *    *    *    *

The song of missing a friend
by Yosano Tekkan, 1899

If you marry someone, choose a woman
Who is clever, beautiful and has mercy.
If you make a friend, choose a man
Who reads books, has some passion and more manly spirit.

Thinking about love,
I'd rather regard my honor highly as a man.
Thinking about friendship,
I'd throw myself into the risk for a just cause.

Come, fill the cup of sake!
Songbird has guts, which girls never have.
Being only a young desk worker,
I can see a veritable man inside of you.

Ah I don't have talent as Coleridge[2] has.
I don't have passion as Byron[3] or Heine[4] have.
I don't care, however, for the spirit of Bashō[5]
Who might love inanimate stones and compose poems in the wilds.

    *    *    *    *    *

Lastly, as to my song, I know I'm not a good singer. But I couldn't find a proper singer nearby and uh.. well.. I wanted to sing. Any complaints?

moheji

Notes :
[1] The last line of the last stanza of this lyrics is 7-7 just like Tanka.
[2] Samuel Taylor Coleridge(1772-1834)
[3] George Gordon Byron(1788-1824)
[4] Heinrich Heine(1797-1856)
[5] Matsuo Bashō(1644-1694)

 
TEN LITTLE INDIANS was released.

London Bridge Is Falling Down

Just released "London Bridge Is Falling Down".

OBORO ZUKIYO

Oboro-zukiyo means a hazy moon night in spring.

Cat's Eye View series was first released in 1997, as a Macromedia Director movie on Macintosh platform. At that time, I was working as a teacher at a preparatory school for art university.  One day when I went to the office, I found a Macintosh Performa 575 was put at the corner of my room. It was my first encounter with the computer. Adobe Illustrator was pre-installed in it. Frankly, I had looked down on that machine as a tool for the artistic activity. But contrary to my expectations, I became immediately mad to draw my pictures on the computer.

My first computer drawing was a cat. Why a cat? Perhaps, I was impressed with a name "mouse". Because I drew it with a mouse only. And it became a prototype of Cat's Eye View series.  This time I added high resolution images, 16-bit original music written and peformed by ukeke.

HAKONE HACHIRI

Hakone is located on the Tōkaidō highway connecting Edo with Kyoto, which is known by Hakone checkpoint at the Edo period and known by a steep mountain trail. Hachiri means traveling about 30 kilometers. Hakone Hachiri was originally composed by Taki Rentaro (1879 - 1903) , a genius died at the age of 23. He left several famous pieces - such as Kojo no Tsuki, Hana and this one. This movie is an hommage to him.

Bride Doll

I've just released "Bride Doll -Hanayome Ningyou".



This sentimental music was composed by Sughiyama Haseo (1889 - 1952) on the basis of a poetry "Hanayome Ningyou (Bride Doll)" by Fukiya Koji (1898 - 1979) who was a painter and a poet. This movie is an hommage to them.

Just released "Mary Had a Little Lamb". A famous American children's song.
We hope you enjoy it.

 

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

We've just released "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". This is the first release of Suchanworld Karaoke Series. Ukeke and I have been making a number of music videos in recent years. Many of them are Ukeke's original compositions, and others are from Japanese old songs or foreign childern's songs.

Three stooges

This is an old work. At first I intended this movie for Cat's Eye View series, but gave up for several reasons. So this would've been a part of Cat's Eye View vol.8.

About my songs

Yep, I know I'm a poor singer.
For various reasons I decided to sing myself in the end.

At first Ukeke recruited singers at a small avant-garde theater company where she taught before. Two guys applied for it. One is an actress and the other is an actor. They desired to sing our songs. They seemed to us to be earnest.
Ukeke gave each of them two lessons and gave a month in advance for recording.
I reserved a rental studio in Tokyo. No matter how we're looking forward to the recording day !
But.......I swear that was a horribly bad day. I would believe easily even if I was told that these guys had been trained how to sing badly during a month.
The recording was a disaster. We had to try again and again.They obliged me to reserve extra time and to ask the studio operator to digitally-remaster the recorded data. Despite this, there were only craps with us.
They looked like feel a little bit shame at their clumsy singing.
"If I had one more chance !" said the actor.
I said in my head."The professional would never say so."
Anyway Ukeke and I were thoroughly disappointed.
This failure taught us a lesson with no small fees. There are people who don't do their best in the world. We should've realised in advance why they wern't famouse. They're minor actors and will probably be minor to the end of their life.
Ukeke cursed herself to be blind to others.
"You can't blame anybody."
"YOU sing, moheji" said Ukeke.
"ME ? SING ?......... You know I'm a poor singer." surprised I was.
"You're singing these songs everyday, huh ?"
"Yeah, because I wrote them."
"You know, singers have skills and hearts as singers. If it's alternative, I'd choose heart. You have no skill, but heart. Because you wrote them."
"mmm........"

This is the whole story about why I sing poor songs.

About "Inaghekaigan suchan ondo" and "Inaghe no chunji - otoko michi"

These songs are composed as Japanese traditional music. The former is a "Ondo" and the latter is a "Enka". These music styles are very popular in Japan.
Ondo is a typical music of "the Bon festival dance", which takes place by districts all over the country in summer evening. (cf. Wikipedia)
Enka is a Japanese sentimental song style, which theme is mostly love song. You will hear these tunes in the drinking places in evening. (cf. Wikipedia)
Inaghekaigan is located in the east of Tokyo Bay Area. That is one of the newest residential area of Tokyo. Makuhari is the next city of Inaghekaigan, in which Macworld expo/Tokyo took place from 1992 to 1999. (cf. Google Map)

The story of "Inaghekaigan suchan ondo" and "Inaghe no chunji - otoko michi" is interrelated.
Suchan and Chunji were born and grown in Inaghekaigan. Suchan is an ordinary female sparrow. Meanwhile Chunji is a sensitive and stoic male sparrow. He leaves his home and starts on a journey for inquiring the meaning of sparrow life.
I want to say something about Chunji's costumes. That is the Yakuza's clothing during their journeys in the Edo period. Chunji is a vagabond. (cf.Wikipedia)

This and that...Sorry for my poor English.

Welcome to suchanworld !

My name is moheji. I announced myself as "eij" before, when I released "Cat's Eye View" movie series and "KURO the cat" mascot program series. Now I changed my name and started new movie series. You can enjoy them as videos on YouTube.


"Inaghekaigan suchan ondo"


"Inaghe no chunji - otoko michi"


"Monthly Suchanworld" opening movie


I'm very sorry they're in Japanese, but I assure you can enjoy them.