Image search results - "imazu" |
On June 16, 2007, Imazu marked the 90th anniversary of the song by organizing a boat cruise on Lake Biwa and other events. Omi-Imazu Station had a sign directing guests to Imazu Port. 90周年の記念「琵琶湖周航クルーズ」の近江今津駅内
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Imazu Port. A large crowd of people waiting to board the chartered boat for a 3-hour cruise on Lake Biwa to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the song, Biwako Shuko no Uta.
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The "Rio Grande" cruise boat awaits at Imazu Port on a miraculously sunny day during the rainy season. 梅雨でありながら、奇跡的にこんないい天気になった。今津港
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Reception desk for passengers. A little over 100 people joined the cruise. クルーズの受付
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Boarding time at Imazu Port. In the forefront is a song monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta.
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Megan and Jamie Thompson about to board the boat. トンプソン姉妹
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Boat name "Rio Grande" operated by Biwako Kisen. Named after Shiga's sister state in Brazil. There is also the "Michigan" paddlewheel boat named after Shiga's sister state in the USA.
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Inside the front of the Rio Grande boat. 琵琶湖周航クルージング
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Open deck at the rear. The boat departed at about 11:30 am.
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We passed by various scenic spots such as Shirahige Shrine, noted for the torii gate in the lake.
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Shirahige Shrine 白髭神社
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Shirahige Shrine torii as seen from the cruise boat.
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Omi-Maiko with green pines on white sands. 近江舞子の「松は緑に 砂白き」
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Omi-Maiko appears in the song.
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Rolling with the waves
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Okino-shiraishi Rocks, a favorite resting place for birds which turned the rocks white from bird droppings. Four rocks stand 80 meters deep in the lake. Out of the water, the tallest stands 14 meters high. 沖の白石
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So what does "Coral shrine" mean in the song? (There's no coral in the lake.) "I think it just refers to a beautiful place..." 「珊瑚の宮」はどういう意味?
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We landed on Chikubushima for about an hour. Jamie and Megan also sang in English in front of the Verse 4 song monument.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sing in English in front of the Verse 4 song monument, Chikubushima. Next time we need to have an amplifier.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sing in English in front of the Verse 4 song monument, Chikubushima. They sang up to Verse 4. ジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソン姉妹が歌う
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The man holds the 90th Anniversary tour sign as a guide for the tour guests.
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Getting back on the boat. Little over a hundred people came on this cruise. If people knew it was gonna be such a beautiful day during this rainy season, more would have certainly come.
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Sachiko Tsuji, the MC, interviews the sisters before they sang on the boat. 自動販売機前でインタービュー。船内の客は姉妹の顔や姿がほとんど見えへん。
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sing in English while cruising on Lake Biwa. 船の真ん中で歌って自動販売機がバックになって最悪。客に背中を向くばかりで申し訳ない。船の一番前に歌いたいと頼んだけど...
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After they sang, there was a mad rush to buy the CD priced at 800 yen. 英語版CDの購入者が殺到。
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Then they signed autographs on the CD. CDのサインを求める。
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More autographs. 姉妹はやはり人気者。
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Water lilies. The melody of the song originally came from a song called "Hitsuji-gusa" which means water lilies.
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Water lily (Hitsuji-gusa). ひつじぐさ
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After the boat cruise, there was a walking tour of Imazu. A special exhibition was held at the local community center in Imazu. 「周航の物語展」今津東コミセン
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「周航の物語展」今津東コミセン
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This showcase showed things from the old Daisan Koto Gakko college.
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Student uniform for Daisan Koto Gakko school.
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Daisan Koto Gakko Rowing club towel
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Daisan Koto Gakko book of songs
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Chojiya ryokan along the lake shore. Likely this is where Oguchi Taro and crew stayed. 丁子屋という旅館
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Inside Chojiya. Very impressive Japanese-style inn with lake views.
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Room in Chojiya ryokan.
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Inside Chojiya. The inn is famous for serving duck.
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Another local landmark was this former bank building designed by William Merrell Vories who designed many buildings in Shiga, especially in Omi-Hachiman.
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Verse 3 Song Monument, Imazu. A lantern, at the end of the pier at Imazu Port. 三番の歌碑。今津港の桟橋。夜に赤く点灯。This is at the end of Imazu Pier. At night, this lamp lights up in red. You can see Chikubushima island and Mt. Ibuki in the background.
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Inside former bank building.
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Verse 3 Song Monument
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In the evening during 5 pm-6:30pm, a slide show lecture about Oguchi Taro and Yoshida Chiaki was given by Iida Tadayoshi, a song researcher. Held at a hotel in Imazu. 歌と映像でつづる「小口太郎と吉田千秋の物語」講演会
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German-made accordian used by Yoshida Chiaki was also on display.
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View of Imazu shore from hotel
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A reception was held afterward in the hotel. The mayor of Takashima, Hidekazu Kaito, speaks. I gave him a copy of our CD. 高島市長 海東英和
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Verse 3 Song Monument is written with Verse 3.We drift from wave to wave, straying aimlessly.
On shore we see red fire, brings back memories.
With our sights set nowhere, rolling with the waves.
Today is Imazu or, Nagahama huh.
Nami no mani mani, tadayoeba
Akai tomaribi, natsukashimi
Yukue sadamenu, nami makura
Kyo wa Imazu ka, Nagahama ka
浪のまにまに 漂えば
赤い泊火 懐かしみ
行方定めぬ 浪枕
今日は今津か 長浜か
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Interestingly, the mayor's first name "Hidekazu" means "English-Japanese." The next day, at the choir contest, he told us that he listened to and liked our song.
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Imazu Port. Verse 3 Song Monument is at the end of the dock. The same dock used by boats going to Chikubushima. The dock is usually closed.Chikubushima island and Mt. Ibuki can be seen.
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Kanpai!
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Meeting Iida Tadayoshi, song researcher and former NHK announcer.
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In the end, we all sang the song, including the mayor of Takashima.
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最後に皆で周航歌を歌う。
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Biwako Shuko no Uta Birthplace Monument, Imazu. This is Imazu's second monument for the song. 全歌詞碑の「琵琶湖周航の歌」誕生の地 今津。今津港。背景には竹生島行きの船。Imazu has two monuments for the song. The first one is a lamp at the end of the pier (visible in this picture on the right of the boat). That was for Verse 3 which is written on the lamp post.
Later in 1994, Imazu town built this red clay monument to commemorate the song's birth in Imazu. The entire lyrics is also engraved. It is next to the Imazu boat pier where boats depart for Chikubushima. Looks like a red flame, but it's shaped after the geographical shape of Imazu town.
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The monument is engraved with the entire song and a picture of rowers.
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Imazu Port. The song monument is on the right. Looks like a "red fire" as mentioned in the song.From Imazu Port, you can easily go to Chikubushima island by boat, from where you can take another boat to Hikone or Nagahama. Going vice versa is possible too. It's a great way to traverse the lake.
See more photos of Imazu here.
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Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum) moved to this building's 1st floor and opened on April 1, 2020. This is the Imazu-Higashi Community Center (今津東コミュニティセンター).Right across from the Imazu Shimin Kaikan concert hall.
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The museum sign includes English! Official English name is "Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum." 琵琶湖周航の歌資料館
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Entrance to the new Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum) in Imazu. 琵琶湖周航の歌資料館
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"On shore, we see red fire"Imazu was where the song was born. The town has two monuments for the song. One is the lamp monument built in 1985 on the boat pier (top photo) for Verse 3 (written on the lamp post), and the other is a red stone monument in the shape of a fire dedicated to the entire song. The lamp monument lights up in red at night. The above image was digitally altered.
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The museum has various panel exhibits, videos, etc. Currently, no explanations in English. Tokiko Kato scored a national hit with the song in 1971.
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Model of fixed-seat boat used during Oguchi Taro's time in 1917.
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"On shore we see red fire, brings back memories." (Imazu)This is the lake beach at Imazu.
See more photos of Imazu here.
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Exhibit for Oguchi Taro who composed the song.
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Lake shore at Imazu
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CD listening station for many cover versions by famous Japanese singers and groups. There are many, and you can listen to each of them.The song was included in a record for the first time in 1958 when Kyoto University made an album of its university songs on the 90th anniversary of the school's founding. In 1961, a chorus group named Boney Jacks recorded the song in an album of Japanese songs. And so did singer Peggy Hayama in 1962.
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Peninsula where Oguchi Taro and crew departed Imazu. On this peninsula at Imazu, Taro Oguchi and crew departed in their boat for Chikubushima island. The large building is a boathouse that stores two reconstructed fixed-seat boats.
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The large boat house houses two reconstructed fixed-seat boats. This is where Oguchi and crew departed Imazu for Chikubushima.
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Lake waters of Imazu, with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the distance.
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Imazu shore
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Imazu road along the lake shore, near Chojiya inn.
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Chojiya ryokan inn, Imazu. This is probably the inn where Taro Oguchi and crew stayed in Imazu and created the song in 1917. 丁子屋It is along the lake shore and still in business today.
It was on June 28, 1917 in Imazu, after dinner on the second day of their rowing trip, when a boatmate named Jiro Nakayasu exclaimed, "Hey everyone, listen up! Oguchi has written this song," and showed everyone the song. Then another boatmate named Taniguchi, who knew a popular song called Hitsuji Kusa (Water Lilies), began singing Oguchi's lyrics to the melody. Since the melody went well with the words, the seven boat crewmates sang the song together that night. It was the birth of the Lake Biwa Rowing Song. The boys worked on the song further and sang it while rowing.
See more photos of Imazu here.
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Chikubushima as seen from Imazu
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On Aug. 8, 2007, I was allowed to join the Imazu Jr. High School Rowing Club as they rowed from Nagahama to Imazu. Photo: A briefing by the club's coach before departure in front of a minshuku lodge near Nagahama Castle.
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This "Biwako shuko" (Rowing around Lake Biwa) between Imazu and Nagahama was the club's annual summer tradition since 1995. Photo: Assembling a two-man kayak.
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On the day before, they were supposed to row from Imazu to Nagahama, but high waves forced cancellation. So they were bused to Nagahama where they stayed overnight. Photo: Carrying the kayak to the lake, passing by Nagahama Castle.
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Almost 50 members in the club, and almost all of them participated in this rowing trip. Some of them did this for the third time. Photo: Carrying life vests. All rowers are required to wear life vests.
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In the morning, two fishing boats pulled the rowing boats from Imazu to Nagahama Port where we met them here. 今津中学校ボート部の琵琶湖周航
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They used five boats to row, including these two ocean scull boats.
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Two fixed-seat boats were also used.
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And girls on the other fixed-seat boat. These boats have fixed seats which do not slide as in modern rowing boats. This boat is a replica of the fixed-seat boat used 90 years ago by Oguchi Taro and crew when he wrote the song, Biwako Shuko no Uta.
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I wanted to experience rowing this fixed-seat boat on Lake Biwa, and rowed with these jr. high girls from Nagahama Port. 千秋・太郎号のフィックス艇
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"We're children of the lake, off to wander 'round..." (Mt. Ibuki in the distance)「われは湖の子...」
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"This journey fills my heart with intense happiness..."「さすらいの 旅にしあれば しみじみと」
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Yes, replenishing your fluids is important...
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We were far behind, so a support boat pulled us along. Two fishing boats provided support for the rowing trip.
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"Hira and Ibuki too, only but a dream"
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After about an hour, our first on-shore break, nears Sports no Mori in northern Nagahama.
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Our fixed-seat boat 千秋・太郎号のフィックス艇
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Twin fixed-seat boats. One is named "Chiaki/Taro" and the other is called "Yodo," after Yodogawa River in Osaka. Lake Biwa's water feeds Yodogawa River.
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Rowers changed boats. Those without a rowing boat were transported on the fishing boats.
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Ocean scull
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Chikubushima and ocean scull
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Chikubushima and fixed-seat boat
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Three ocean sculls wander in front of Mt. Ibuki
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Chugging along on a fishing boat.
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Getting a free ride were these girls heading for Sugaura, a small town on the northern shore of Lake Biwa.
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Ocean scull rowers and a sickly Chikubushima going bald. The numerous cormorants are killing off the trees on the island.
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Heading toward Sugaura, Nishi-Azai in northern Lake Biwa.
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Approaching Sugaura
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Boys posing for a picture at Sugaura
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Lunch break at Sugaura, a scenic lakeside town. It is also where the scenic Oku Biwako Parkway road starts.
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Fixed-seat boat フィックス艇
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I love the design of this boat. 千秋・太郎号のフィックス艇
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This boat's name is "Chiaki/Taro," named after the writer (Oguchi Taro) and composer (Yoshida Chiaki) of the song, Biwako SHuko no Uta.
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Sugaura
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Departing Sugaura
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Departing Sugaura with Chikubushima in the background.
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Fixed-seat boats
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Fishing boat for human transport. It was a very hot day with no wind.
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Boys watch their classmates row.
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Rowing away from Sugaura
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"With our sights set nowhere, rolling with the waves..."「ゆくえ定めぬ、波枕」
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Off Makino Sunny Beach
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Fixed-seat boat with Mt. Ibuki and Chikubushima in the background. 千秋・太郎号のフィックス艇
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"Today is Imazu or, Nagahama huh..."「今日は今津か 長浜か」
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All-girl crew pose for a picture. The rowing club has more girls than boys. はい、ポーズ!
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Sleek boat slicing through the water.
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They refused to be pulled by the fishing boat. They wanted to row all the way home to Imazu.
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Catch, row, catch, row...
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Fixed-seat boats and ocean sculls rendezvous toward home in Imazu.
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Target destination in sight
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Imazu boathouse
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Bringing the boat to dock.
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The boat is first carried onto a trolley.
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Hauling the fixed-seat boat to the boat house
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Water drain
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Fixed seat
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Oarlock on fixed-seat boat
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Cox seat and rudder (removed). Beautiful boat, and I'm darn happy to have rowed on this rare boat. Felt almost like Oguchi Taro.
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Inside the boat house
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"Tell us my friends your stories, with your fervent hearts."「語れ我がが友 暑き心」 Also see my YouTube video here.
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My video of Imazu Junior High School Rowing Club on Lake Biwa.
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Imazu Vories Museum in Imazu, Takashima, a former bank building designed by William Merrell Vories. Now a coffee shop and exhibition space. MAP
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On the mountain top is Biwako Hakodateyama ski grounds near Imazu. びわこ箱館山
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Approaching Imazu in winter.
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Interlaken at Imazu Port.
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Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.
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Walking to Imazu Port on the boat dock. New Imazu Port building.
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Inside the new Imazu Port building made of wood. Waiting room.
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Inside the new Imazu Port building. That's the ticket office.
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At Imazu Port is another monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song). Interlaken also leaves for Chikubushima.
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From Imazu Port, it's a short walk to JR Omi-Imazu Station to catch the JR Kosei Line (湖西線) to Kyoto.
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June 3, 2006 Jamie and Megan Thompson sing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" at Imazu Port, Shiga Pref.
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This was the first time the English song was sung in public. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版の発表会、今津港の歌碑前
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As if drawn to the singing, the floating school named "Uminoko" (Child of the Lake) also docked at the same time.
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JR Omi-Imazu Station on the JR Kosei Line is Imazu's train station. Most major attractions in Imazu are within walking distance. Imazu Port is only a few minutes on foot. There are also rental bicycles and local buses.
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JR Omi-Imazu Station in spring with colorful azaleas.
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JR Omi-Imazu Station
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JR Omi-Imazu Station platform
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JR Omi-Imazu Station turnstile
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JR Omi-Imazu Station's tourist information booth where you can pick up pamphlets and rent a bicycle.
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"Birthplace of Biwako Shuko no Uta" (Lake Bwa Rowing Song) on a bulletin board in the train station.
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You can also get to Imazu by boat from Chikubushima island. Imazu Port has boats going to/from Chikubushima. On the eastern shore, Nagahama and Hikone have boats going to Chikubushima.At Imazu Port, boat named "Interlaken" operated by Biwako Kisen cruises to/from Chikubushima.
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You can therefore traverse northern Lake Biwa between Nagahama/Hikone and Imazu via Chikubushima. Approaching Imazu by boat.
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This is Imazu as the boat approaches Imazu Port. Small, quiet town anchoring the northwestern part of the lake. Tourist base for exploring this part of Shiga and the lake.
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Near Imazu Port.
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From Imazu Port, Chikubushima island and Mt. Ibuki can be seen across the lake.
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"Interlaken" cruise boat at Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.
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"Interlaken" cruise boat at Imazu Port.
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Inside Interlaken.
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Inside Interlaken. The boat also has an outside deck.
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Imazu Port dock to the port building.
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Heading to the new Imazu Port building. On the right is the Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) song monument.
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Rear view of Imazu Port building. Rebuilt and opened on March 22, 2020.
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Imazu Port's gate to the boat dock.
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Waiting room inside Imazu Port building.
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Imazu Port building is made of wood from Shiga.
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Boat ticket office.
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Boat ticket office operated by Biwako Kisen.
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Ceiling.
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Social distancing on benches, but bad English. よい子のみなさん、この英語はダメですよ。無視してください。
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Old tourist PR posters for Lake Biwa. Great design. They don't make them like that anymore.
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The new Imazu Port, opened in March 2020. Completely rebuilt.
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This is the old Imazu Port building. It was a two-story building with a small restaurant on the 2nd floor. Ironically, it had no enclosed interior space for passengers.
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Imazu Port also has this song monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song). 琵琶湖周航の歌 歌碑The song is about college boys from Kyoto rowing around Lake Biwa while mentioning famous places like Otsu (the starting point), Omi-Maiko (Omatsu), Imazu, Chikubushima, Nagahama, and Chomeiji.
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Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument at Imazu Port. In June 1917, a song called Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) was composed by college student Taro Oguchi during a boat rowing trip around Lake Biwa.
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Oguchi Taro was a member of the rowing club at Dai-san High School (now Kyoto University). He composed it in Imazu, Shiga Prefecture during the second night of the trip.
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The monument has an engraving of rowers and song lyrics.
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Song monument buried in snow at Imazu Port in winter.
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Song monument and snow
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Imazu Port in spring.
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Lake Biwa from Imazu shore. Mt. Ibuki in the distance.
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Chikubushima as seen from Imazu Port
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At the end of Imazu Port's dock is a lantern which is a song monument.
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At the end of Imazu Port's dock, the lantern is a song monument for Verse 3 of Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).
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The lantern is not accessible when the dock is not used.The song became a national hit in 1971 when singer Tokiko Kato recorded it. Numerous famous Japanese singers and groups have since released cover versions of the song.
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The lantern/monument has the Verse 3 lyrics mentioning a red fire on shore in Imazu. This is thought to be a lamp on the dock.
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On the main road between Imazu Port and Omi-Imazu Station are sidewalk lights engraved with song lyrics. This has Verse 3 which mentions Imazu.
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The main road also has this old Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) song museum which has closed. It moved to another building nearby.
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If you are walking from Omi-Imazu Station, you can see this large sign on the side of the old song museum showing the way to the relocated song museum.
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If you are walking from Omi-Imazu Station on the main road, turn left.
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The new Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) song museum is now in this building since April 1, 2020. This is the Imazu-Higashi Community Center (今津東コミュニティセンター).
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The Imazu-Higashi Community Center (今津東コミュニティセンター) is across from the Imazu Shimin Kaikan concert hall.
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The museum sign includes English! Official English name is "Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum."
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The new museum occupies a large corner of the building's first floor. It's on the left when you enter the building.
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The museum has only one room in a square layout with glass cases and exhibits. The middle has a small showcase as well.
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It seems all or almost all the exhibits in the old museum have been moved to this new space.
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Photos of Imazu in 1917.
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The accurate scale model of a fixed-seat boat is also displayed.
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About the song lyrics.
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Song lyrics for all six verses.
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Exhibit for Oguchi Taro who composed the song.
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Exhibit for Yoshida Chiaki, credited for composing the original melody.
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Uniform of the Dai-sanko college where Oguchi Taro studied.
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CD listening station where you can listen to numerous cover versions of the song by famous artists.
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Photos of the Kanazawa college rowers who died due to strong winds that capsized their boat in 1941.
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Old records of the song.
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Old records of the song covered by many famous Japanese singers.
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Display of Biwako Shuko no Uta calendars featuring the kirie works of ??.
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A few old parts from a lake cruise boat. Compass, lamp, and other things.
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Showcase dedicated to the works of the late song researcher Iida Tadayoshi who spent many years researching the song from the 1970s. His books and booklets about the song greatly contributed to the understanding of the song, how it was created, and the people behind it.
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Iida donated his notebooks and cassette tapes of many interviews related to the song. Some of it is displayed here.On the lower shelf are books about the song by Iida and others.
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Unlike the old museum, the relocated museum does not have a gift shop. However, it does sell these stationary.
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The museum is staffed by volunteers unlike the old museum which was staffed by employees from the local tourist office.Also see my blog post about the museum: https://shiga-ken.com/blog/2022/01/lake-biwa-rowing-song-museum/
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From 1997 to 2019, Imazu held the annual Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) choir contest in June at Imazu Shimin Kaikan concert hall. (Discontinued after 2019.)「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭合唱コンクール
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Held annually in June since 1997, this choir contest has over 20 choirs, mainly from western Japan, competing for cash prizes. Takashima Shimin Kaikan Hall, venue of the choir contest. Near Omi-Imazu Station on the Kosei Line. 高島市民会館
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Poster for song competition. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクールHeld annually in June since 1997, this song contest has over 20 choirs, mainly from western Japan, compete by singing two songs each. One song they must sing is Biwako Shuko no Uta, while the other song can be anything. On June 17, 2007, the English version, called "Lake Biwa Rowing Song," was sung for the first time at this contest. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクールでジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソン姉妹がコンクールで英語版を歌った。
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Hall lobby and reception desk where you pay 500 yen admission.
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Imazu-cho Tourist Association booth in the lobby where they sold song-related souvenirs, including our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD.
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD flyer. The CD is 800 yen.
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Program. 残念ながら、私どもがこのプログラムに掲載されていませんでした。
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In 2007, 25 choirs, mainly from Shiga and neighboring prefectures, competed. They sang the same song in various ways.
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To enter the choir competition, the choir must have at least 12 members. The entry deadline is late Feb. Entry fee is 5,000 yen per choir (3,000 yen for high school and younger choirs).
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Each choir has to sing two songs: One is Biwako Shuko no Uta, and the second one could be any song. Each choir must sing both songs within 8 min.
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The choirs sing the same song in various ways. Most of them also had a piano player. The choir competition lasted from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Jamie Thompson コンクールで初めて英語で歌われた。歌が終わると大きな拍手。
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Megan Thompson 昼休み中だったし、プログラムにも載っていなかったので大勢の客が退場した後に英語版が歌われた。
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Backstage
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Awards ceremony (受賞式). Sadly, this choir contest has been discontinued after the last time it was held in 2019. Held annually in mid-June from 1997 to 2019. In recent years, there have been fewer choir entrants and fewer from within Shiga.
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Trophies. The 1st place winner would receive 100,000 yen, 2nd place 50,000 yen, and 3rd place 30,000 yen.
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1st place winner 「合唱団かやの樹」(三重県伊賀市)が金賞
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During the choir contest, Imazu Jr. High rowing club offered rides on a wooden, fixed-seat boat. It is a replica of the boat used 90 years ago by Oguchi Taro and crew.
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Made of wood with non-sliding seats. This boat became obsolete as sliding-seat boats came to fore. 小口太郎たちがこういうもの乗ってましたね。
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We rowed for about 20 min. Great fun, but they don't offer this boat ride anymore during the choir contest. Probably due to the lack of demand. 今津中学校ボート部がフィックス艇の体験乗船もやって面白かった。
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Imazu's main lakeshore road leads to more tourist sights.
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