 Image search results - "imazu-cho" |
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
Reception desk for passengers. A little over 100 people joined the cruise. クルーズの受付
|
|
Boarding time at Imazu Port. In the forefront is a song monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta.
|
|
Megan and Jamie Thompson about to board the boat. トンプソン姉妹
|
|
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.
|
|
Inside the front of the Rio Grande boat. 琵琶湖周航クルージング
|
|
Open deck at the rear. The boat departed at about 11:30 am.
|
|
We passed by various scenic spots such as Shirahige Shrine, noted for the torii gate in the lake.
|
|
Shirahige Shrine 白髭神社
|
|
Shirahige Shrine torii as seen from the cruise boat.
|
|
Omi-Maiko with green pines on white sands. 近江舞子の「松は緑に 砂白き」
|
|
Omi-Maiko appears in the song.
|
|
Rolling with the waves
|
|
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
|
|
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？
|
|
We landed on Chikubushima for about an hour. Jamie and Megan also sang in English in front of the Verse 4 song monument.
|
|
Jamie and Megan Thompson sing in English in front of the Verse 4 song monument, Chikubushima. Next time we need to have an amplifier.
|
|
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
|
|
The man holds the 90th Anniversary tour sign as a guide for the tour guests.
|
|
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.
|
|
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。
|
|
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...
|
|
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。
|
|
Then they signed autographs on the CD. CDのサインを求める。
|
|
More autographs. 姉妹はやはり人気者。
|
|
|
Water lilies. The melody of the song originally came from a song called "Hitsuji-gusa" which means water lilies.
|
|
Water lily (Hitsuji-gusa). ひつじぐさ
|
|
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
|
|
「周航の物語展」今津東コミセン
|
|
This showcase showed things from the old Daisan Koto Gakko college.
|
|
Student uniform for Daisan Koto Gakko school.
|
|
Daisan Koto Gakko Rowing club towel
|
|
Daisan Koto Gakko book of songs
|
|
Chojiya ryokan along the lake shore. Likely this is where Oguchi Taro and crew stayed. 丁子屋という旅館
|
|
Inside Chojiya. Very impressive Japanese-style inn with lake views.
|
|
Room in Chojiya ryokan.
|
|
Inside Chojiya. The inn is famous for serving duck.
|
|
Another local landmark was this former bank building designed by William Merrell Vories who designed many buildings in Shiga, especially in Omi-Hachiman.
|
|
Inside former bank building.
|
|
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
|
|
German-made accordian used by Yoshida Chiaki was also on display.
|
|
View of Imazu shore from hotel
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
Kanpai!
|
|
Meeting Iida Tadayoshi, song researcher and former NHK announcer.
|
|
In the end, we all sang the song, including the mayor of Takashima.
|
|
最後に皆で周航歌を歌う。
|
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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。
|
|
Hall lobby and reception desk where you pay 500 yen admission.
|
|
Imazu-cho Tourist Association booth in the lobby where they sold song-related souvenirs, including our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD.
|
|
Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD flyer. The CD is 800 yen.
|
|
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。
|
|
In 2007, 25 choirs, mainly from Shiga and neighboring prefectures, competed. They sang the same song in various ways.
|
|
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).
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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。
|
|
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。
|
|
Backstage
|
|
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.
|
|
Trophies. The 1st place winner would receive 100,000 yen, 2nd place 50,000 yen, and 3rd place 30,000 yen.
|
|
1st place winner 「合唱団かやの樹」（三重県伊賀市）が金賞
|
|
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.
|
|
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。
|
|
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。
|
|
|
|
Lakeshore road in winter
|
|
On Imazu's lakeshore road, Chojiya ryokan. From the roadside, it looks like a small building, but it has much depth toward the lake shore. 丁子屋
|
|
Inside Chojiya. Very impressive Japanese-style inn with lake views. This ryokan is also well-known for duck dinners.
|
|
Inside Chojiya.
|
|
In winter, road toward Imazu Port
|
|
Entrance to grove of Eastern Skunk Cabbage (zazenso). This is too far to walk from the train station, so you'll need a car to get here. 座禅草
|
|
Imazu is also noted for zazenso Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers blooming in Feb. and March.
|
|
Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers 座禅草
|
|
These flowers actually generate heat, so if it's a snowy ground, the snow around the flower would be melted.
|
|
Eastern Skunk Cabbage flower 座禅草
|
|
Eastern Skunk Cabbage flower 座禅草
|
|
Path through the grove of Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers 座禅草
|
|
Confection in the shape of Eastern Skunk Cabbage flowers
|
|
|
|
|
|
