Contrafactum of Auld Lang Syne

Speech at end of year party...

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Foreigner: I was asked by the chair to introduce a song from my culture.

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Japanese Audience: [Sound of applause.]

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Foreigner: Wait. I'm from New Zealand but, as a European, I don’t have any songs to offer.

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Murmuring from front row: A culture without music?

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Foreigner: There are songs sung there, brought from Europe. I think you know this one. Auld Lang Syne.

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Japanese Audience: [Heads shake.]

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Foreigner: Maybe you know it better as Hotaru no Hikari.

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Japanese Audience: [Heads nod.]

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Rabbie Burns

Foreigner: Written by Robert Burns, about 1788, it has different words in English. It means, “Let’s remember old friendships and drink a toast to remembering the past.” When it was adapted for Japan in 1881, the words were changed to describe how hard it was for students studying by the light of fireflies. Contrafactum.

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Voice from the front row: Contra what?

Foreigner: Contrafactum. Putting new words to a tune.

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Voice-over

In western countries this song is played to see the old year out. In Japan the song is played at closing time in some shops every day. So although the lyrics differ, the function of the song is similar.

古い友情を思い出しましょう。

そして、過去を思い出す乾杯をしましょう。

蛍の光、窓の雪、
書読む月日、重ねつゝ。
何時しか年も、すぎの戸を、
開けてぞ今朝は、別れ行く。