Gallery » Kaishin Takeda

Kaishin (Takeda) branch female division (Buraku Liberation League of Kyoto Federation).

When we sang ‘Takeda no Komoriuta (Takeda Lullaby)’ on a stage for the first time, all of us cried hard after coming back to the theater wings. That was the moment we were all united as one. We were looking forward to watching this show broadcast on TV, but it showed only our legs. That was disappointing. I felt it odd because we wanted to declare our Buraku origins. That’s why we sang a Buraku lullaby on a stage.

We wore white blouses at that time, but, since this is the song our parents sang while babysitting as a part of hard labor, we tailored Kimonos with a Kasuri pattern and now wear them for the performance. We believe that we should not sing this song superficially. Rather, we should sing this as a song for protecting children while reflecting our suffering, sadness and wishes, all of which are conveyed in the song.”