Tōryanse


"Tōryanse" is the name of the traditional Japanese children's tune. It is a common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan when it is safe to cross.

Lyrics

The words to the song are:
Toryanse - From Amatsuki
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9t_L-HHZx0
Let me pass,
Let me pass,
What is this narrow pathway here?
This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine.
Please allow me to pass through.
Those without good reason shall not pass.
To celebrate this childs seventh birthday.
I’ve come to dedicate my offering.
Going in may be fine,
fine,
But returning would be scary.
It’s scary, but
Let me pass,
Let me pass.
Let me pass, let me pass,
What is this narrow pathway here?
This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine.
Please allow me to pass through.
Those without good reason shall not pass.
To celebrate this childs seventh birthday.
Going there is fine,
But to return is frightening.
I am scared,
but let me pass.
Let me pass...

Tune

Explanation

There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint — at Kawagoe Castle according to one theory. In the old days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7, and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.
This particular warabe uta is sung as part of a traditional game where two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line. The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught', not unlike Anglophone game London Bridge is Falling Down.
The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game, i.e., it is safe to cross until the music stops.

Popular culture

Tōryanse can be heard in: