Shiretoko Love Song

To shoot a film, Hisaya Morishige (1913–2009), a Japanese actor and comedian, stayed in Rausu Town in the Shiretoko Peninsula and wrote this song in 1960.

This version sung by Tokiko Kato became extremely popular, and single record was a million seller in Japan.

The first stanza can be translated as: At Cape Shiretoko Where hamanasu roses bloomed by the sea, Please remember, dear, That we loved each other.

We drank together, made merry, And, as we climbed the nearby hill, Saw the day break Over the island of Kunashiri.

The second stanza, starting with "Tabi no nasake ni", translates: On this trip so far away from home, I drank too much till I swayed.

Shiretoko Peninsula (red circle) in Hokkaido , Japan
Shiretoko Peninsula, a Landsat space photo
Kunashiri Island, located immediately east (right) of the Shiretoko Peninsula, is shown with the other islands, now occupied by Russia.
Looking down upon Rausu Town , Hokkaido , from the "nearby hill" in the song