Hello! I’m Miyako, a soprano singer.
Today, I’d like to introduce a beautiful Japanese art song: *”Yoimachigusa” (Evening Primrose).
It’s a short piece, but it’s incredibly impactful.
The lyrics were written by Yumeji Takehisa, and the music was composed by Tadasuke Ôtomo.
Contents
About Yumeji Takehisa
Yumeji Takehisa (1884–1934) was both a poet and a painter.
He is especially known for his ‘bijin-ga’ (portraits of beautiful women),
and is often called a leading figure of ‘Taisho Romanticism’ or even a modern-day ‘ukiyo-e’ artist of the Taisho era.
The more I researched Yumeji’s life, the more I found myself thinking…
To put it nicely, he was “a man of many loves.” To put it bluntly… well, let’s just say he wasn’t exactly the faithful type 😅
It’s said that at least four women actually lived with him at various times!
I guess when you’re someone who pursues beauty to the fullest—like many musicians and artists—these things tend to happen?
Anyway, even this hugely popular piece “Yoimachigusa” seems to carry the fragrance of a love story… 🤣
Lyrics of ’Yoimachigusa’ (Evening Primrose)
| まてど くらせど こぬひとの よいまちぐさの やるせなさ こよいは つきも でぬそうな |
Matedo kurasedo konu hito no Yoimachigusa no yarusenasa Koyoi wa tsuki mo denu sō na |
Waiting and waiting, but he never comes… The loneliness of the evening primrose Tonight, it seems, even the moon won’t show |
About the Song
The poem was written in 1910 (Meiji 43) and first published in the magazine ’Shōjo’ in 1912.
Violinist Tadasuke Ôtomo composed the music, and the song was premiered in 1917 (Taisho 6).
The following year, in 1918, a printed score featuring Yumeji’s artwork on the cover was published and quickly became popular, leading to its continued performance to this day.
When Yumeji wrote this poem, he was 27 years old.
After divorcing his first wife, Tamaki Kishi, he had gotten back together with her and was traveling with their two-year-old son in Chiba.
There, he happened to meet a 19-year-old woman named Kata Hasegawa from Akita, who was also visiting Chiba at the time.
They fell in love.
Yumeji returned the following year to see her again—but by then, she had left and was already married.
This poem is said to be written in longing for her—a woman he would never see again, no matter how long he waited.
Line-by-Line Breakdown for Japanese learners:
1. まてど くらせど こぬ ひと の
“Matedo kurasedo konu hito no”
まてど = ‘Although I wait’ (from the verb 待つ, to wait; the form 〜ど is classical and means “even though”)
くらせど = ‘Though I pass the days’ (from 暮らす, to live or spend time)
こぬ = ‘does not come’ (negative classical form of 来る— “来ぬ” \[こぬ] = does not come)
ひと = ‘person’ (likely refers to a loved one)
の= possessive or descriptive particle, here linking to the next line
Translation: Though I wait and wait, the one I long for never comes…
2. よいまちぐさ の やるせなさ
“Yoimachigusa no yarusenasa”
よいまちぐさ = *Evening primrose, literally “evening-waiting grass” (a poetic image of longing)
の = possessive particle, “of”
やるせなさ= helplessness, sorrow, emotional frustration
Translation: The helpless sorrow of the evening primrose
📝 Note: The “yoimachigusa” is a metaphor for the poet’s own emotions—waiting in vain, blooming at dusk with no one to see.
3. こよい は つき も でぬ そうな
“Koyoi wa tsuki mo denu sō na”
こよい= Tonight (a more poetic word for “tonight” than こんや)
は = topic marker
つき = the moon
も= also / even (adds emphasis: “not even the moon…”)
でぬ = does not appear (classical negative of 出る — “出ぬ” = does not come out)
そうな = it seems / it appears that
Translation: It seems even the moon will not appear tonight*
Key Grammar and Vocabulary Highlights:
〜ど (classical concessive): similar to “even though”
ぬ(classical negative): old-fashioned, poetic alternative to ない
やるせない: an untranslatable but deeply emotional word meaning “without outlet for one’s sadness”
そうな: used to express hearsay or assumption; a softer, poetic version of 〜そうです
Cultural Note:
This poem reflects Taisho-era romanticism,
where emotion, longing, and fleeting beauty were often central themes in literature and music.
Knowing the background of the poet, Yumeji Takehisa, adds another layer—this was written after he fell in love with a woman he would never meet again.
My Thoughts
Honestly, this is the kind of story that just begs for commentary!
There are ‘so many’ things to unpack here… I don’t even know where to begin!
In Conclusion
Knowing the romantic (and slightly dramatic!) backstory behind the lyrics makes the song all the more intriguing.
And the fact that the composer was a violinist?
That certainly explains the passion and striking intensity of the music—it all makes sense!
Thank you so much for reading to the end!
Let me know if you’d like this version to be more formal, poetic, or tailored for video narration or subtitles!