Children in Coal Pits (Yama) in the Mid-Meiji Era (1868-1912) #7: Girls Playing Otete-tsunaide (Joining Hands in a Circle)
1964 - 1967

Meiji Chuki Yama no Kodomo #7: Otete-tsunaide; Joshi
[Children in Coal Pits (Yama) in the Mid-Meiji Era (1868-1912) #7: Girls Playing Otete-tsunaide (Joining Hands in a Circle)]
25.4 x 35.7 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

The girl who was chosen to be "it" would squat, covering her eyes with her hands while a circle of other girls stood around her, holding hands. The girls in the circle walked around her, singing as follows:

"Zato-san e! Zato-san e! Amazake ippai nomasanse. Mada mada.
Mada ga iya nara, anata no ushiro wa dare jai na?"

"Zato-san e! Zato-san e! Would you like a cup of amazake? You can't have it yet.
Guess who's behind you now, if you can't wait any longer."

[Translator's Notes: The zato was a bald and blind biwa or shamisen player in ancient times. Amazake is a sweet beverage for children made from rice.]

If she could successfully guess who was behind her, the girl whose name was guessed had to be the next "it." However, the girl in the middle could not change roles with anyone for a long time if she could not guess the name of the girl behind her. Very young girls could not be "it," could join the game as obligation-free members called aburamushis (aphids or cockroaches).


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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