SHABONDAMA
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Shabondama was written in 1923 by Ujo Noguchi (1883-1945) and composed by Shinpei Nakayama (1887-1952). Before the song was written, Noguchi lost his young daughter and his pain made him writing the song. It also was written for all children who died young. Back then, Japan suffered from the Spanish Flu. It killed almost 150'000 Japaneses, many of them were children. Moreover, the rate for infant mortality was high so natural deaths of children were common in this era. It was Noguchi's wish, that all causes for infant mortality would disappear. However, 8 months after the song's debut, the Great Kanto Earthquake claimed about 100'000 lives.