I’m from Amami where this singer is also from. This is for those who are curious about my island, this song and language. The language she speaks is Amami language and the singing style is called Shimauta (島唄) which literally means island song/music and traditional style in my island, you can search 元ちとせ (Hajime Chitose) or 中孝介 (Atari Kosuke) and hear this style. This singing style is inherited through the generations; however, the language is completely dying as a result of discrimination that occurred until the middle of the Showa period. My island was subjugated by Ryukyu (Okinawa) and then Satsuma, which is called Kagoshima today, this is why this song (actually this is two songs) is all about poverty. Obokuri is about building a golden house we could never have, and Eeumi is about how they don’t have any nice clothes to wear for August, which is a harvest celebration season. During this time they wish for the moon to hide in the clouds, so how poorly they dress won’t be seen beneath the moonlight, when their lover visits during the night. While under the domain of the Satsuma clan from the early 1600 until the Meiji period which is over 250 years; Our islanders were not allowed to make or plant anything other than brown sugar canes (This exploitation worsened during a later period known as brown sugar hell/黒糖地獄 today.) Since sugar was a premium product in Japan back then, the Satsuma clan could sell it to the other clans and make good money to pay off their debit and buy western weapons from Europe. Some of you who are familiar with Japanese history, might get a hint as to why Satsuma suddenly became so powerful. Armed with modern western weaponry around the end of the Edo period they were able to defeat the Tokugawa shogunate with the Choshu clan, and successfully modernize Japan. During that period most of the islanders literally had nothing to eat other than cycad, which is a highly poisonous plant, you can read this article here on why Amamians had to develop a way of eating it to survive. www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200106-how-a-plant-saved-a-japanese-island Our islanders were not allowed to have family names for the time being, and later on, we were finally allowed one, however it had to be a single kanji last name so Satsuma could classify Amamians as not Japanese. Some of us (including my family) altered our names by adding another kanji or two to the original single kanji, as a means of preventing discrimination in Taisho-Showa period (most Japanese family names are made with multiple kanji), but there are still a lot of people who have a single kanji family name today on my island, just like Hajime (元), Atari (中) I mentioned above. While under the control of America after WW2, Okinawa was the only large city we could go to without a passport within Japan to get a better job etc since Okinawa was also under the control of America. So a lot of us moved to Okinawa and were discriminated against by Okinawans, you can imagine how a large group /community of people from a poor place would be treated in a better place. Due to discriminations and poverty, when my parents were still kids, there was a movement on my island. The language was publicly banned at schools in Naze, the only city on the island and where most people live. They were told to speak standard Japanese, so they wouldn’t be discriminated against when they became adults and left the island in the future. Since the majority of young islanders started speaking standard Japanese, the original language has faded away by today, around the generation of my parents (60-70 years old) probably kind of understand the language, but not completely or to a communicable level. The younger the generation, the more likely they speak only standard Japanese. I'm around 40 years old, but I don't understand most of the words this singer says, it's because of the reason I mentioned, and this singer is from Setouchi which is located in the south and I'm from central/north. The language/dialect is slightly different but I understand some words and some of the wordings/phrasings in this song are still used by old people in villages today. I don't know why this singer/song is featured for this anime when the main character is from Ryukyu, maybe it's just because of a commercial reason. This singing style had a lot of attention in Japan around the time this anime was released, this song called Wadatsumi no Ki by Hajime Chitose got a smash hit and sold over a million copies in early 2000's and it was the first time for most Japanese people hearing this singing style. Most people in mainland think Okinawa and Amami are just the same southern tropical resort island. So this song is nothing related to Okinawa/Ryukyu historical and cultural background as some of people mention here.

i think we can all agree samurai champloo has some of the most greatest soundtracks ever

*"For me hell was always here, it won't change a thing if you kill me."* ~ Mugen the Amami

Lyrics Translation In search of new lands, I build a new house I thatch the house with reed stalks, gathered neatly in bundles I thatch the house with reed stalks, gathered neatly in bundles At the stone wall, let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred carpenters. At the stone wall, let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred carpenters. Let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred carpenters. August (in the lunar calendar, it's September now) is fast approaching, and yet I have nothing to wear I want to dress up, so brother, will you lend me just one sleeve? I wish to dress my children and loved ones… in the one kimono that I own As for me, I will wear vines… that I plucked deep in the mountains The light of the harvest moon shines down, illuminating the world with its divine light When my lover sneaks in to visit me, I wish that the clouds would hide that light just a little.

“A samurai who smells of sunflowers? Sunflowers don’t have a scent. So wouldn’t that mean the samurai you’re searching for…doesn’t even exist?"

You know a song is good when you don't understand a single word yet the words resonate with you. Powerful stuff.

Si des français passent par là on est d’accord que cette ost est incroyable

This song along with the scene of Mugen descending deeper and deeper into his past was a true masterpiece

Its crazy how a song can so accurately convey emotion like this even when you dont understand the words.

"It's just not fair. It's not fair that they get to be beautiful...not when everything is so ugly down here." "They can't see a thing from up there... if we were looking down from up there we'd look no bigger than a grain of sand." I love Mugen.

We Japanese can't understand these dialects even if we listen to them as they are, because they are more difficult than English and Chinese, and there are no textbooks. There are similar dialects in the northeastern part of Japan and Hokkaido, and they are also very difficult to understand. However, the content of these folk songs and lullabies generally does not contain much happiness. Most of the lyrics are about the soul that has been squeezed out of a difficult living environment.

The song tells of a family that endures many hardships including losing their home. In the song, the community comes together and builds them a modest home that means the world to them (their Golden House).

Episode 14, what a mind fuck. That ending was so fucking brutal.

For those of you who are even slightly curious about the language, and want to gain some insight on the cultural background of this song: Mugen (from Samurai Champloo) is a pirate that hailed from the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Ikue Asazaki sings this song in a Ryukyu dialect, most likely one spoken on the islands of Amami, Asazaki's birthplace. The Ryukyu Kingdom (which lasted from the 1400s to the 1800s) had its own set of cultures and languages that were related to, but independent from, the "mainland" Yamato Japanese (the ethnic group of Japanese that you are probably most familiar with) as well as the Chinese Ming and Qing dynasties. Over time, though, the Ryukyuans were gradually assimilated into Japanese society to a point of near-extinction. Fortunately, the end of World War II saw a comeback for the ethnic Ryukyuans, who initially resented war and Japanese/American imperialism due to the native Ryukyuans being used as "fodder for the war." You can also figure out why this song is sad as shit from the centuries of war and trade disputes that the Ryukyuans had to deal with. Ryukyuan history is surprisingly eye-opening.

Here from Episode 14. This anime is an absolute masterpiece.

This song stands beside Gut’s theme. As an equal.

Did anyone else feel like re-watching the show after listening to this? This is one of the best anime songs I've heard because of the emotions that are displayed here.

In 2005, my gmother passed and I didn't cry. I was too busy making sure everyone was taken care of. Days passed after all was done, still no tears. I thought I was over the pain. Then, for no reason, this song played and without warning.................. *I have no more words. The music will speak for me*

🪷 Samurai Champloo hits different in your 40s 🪷

This song gives me chills, even out of context and without knowing the language. Man, I need to rewatch Samurai Champloo.

This is the saddest song about farming that I have ever heard.

Right in the feels, every time.

I'm a doctor who works with emergencies; nothing really manages to get me emotional, but this music...

I'm not crying.. You're crying!! I don't even know why 😢

Hits way harder than I thought it would. I'm not sure why I'm tearing up so much but it feels right.

samurai champloo have the best playlist of songs from point a to z

The Ryukyuan languages (Japonic) are spoken on the Ryukyu Islands in the southern part of the Japanese archipelago. They are sister languages to Japanese, split off from a common ancestor language more than thousand years ago, and are generally divided into five language groups: Amami, Okinawa, Miyako, Yaeyama and Yonaguni. Once spoken in the independent Ryukyu Kingdom (1406-1879) with its distinct culture, they are now endangered with virtually no transfer to younger generations. All speakers are at least in their 50’s in general and all are bilingual in Japanese. The exact number of speakers is unknown, but can be estimated at around 20,000 at most based on age demographics. The Ryukyuan languages are primarily SOV, agglutinative, mora-timed and have contrastive pitch accent. They retain a fair amount of features found in Old Japanese, but also show distinct aspects not found in Standard Japanese. They are mutually unintelligible with mainland Japanese varieties, but generally also with each other. Selected publications: Heinrich, P., Miyara, S., & Shimoji, M. (Eds.). (2015). Handbook of the Ryukyuan languages: History, structure, and use (Vol. 11). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.

Anytime I'm lost in my life I come back here, like I landed on the shore of this island all over again, and again.

When I first heard this 10 years ago, I was half asleep. I thought I was dreaming this then I heard it again with the champloo episode. This is probably the Most Eeriest and Beautiful song I have ever heard.

best anime imo... incredible song.....language can not divide through music..

I don't wanna argue about historical matters, but few people misunderstand some points. Bacially, im writing to Kit Marcos. Asazaki sings in Amami dialect, and traditional Amami islands singing style which is called "Shimauta" that influenced to the culture of Ryukyu kingdom, today's Okinawa. In the past, Amami islands and Ryukyu kingdom were different countries. Ryukyu kingdom invated Amami islands, just like Japan invated Ryukyu kingdom. Yes, people lived in Okinawa during WWII endured horrible situation, because Okinawa was a battlefield of ground battle. On the other hand, Amami was bombed just as other Japanese cities. Btw, this song sings about poverty and love to family in mother's point of view. I can't say anything that a tragedy of Okinawa effects to this song or not. I think it is a matter of listener's interpretation. Asazaki was born and grew up in Amami islands, not Okinawa, and Amami islands and Ryukyu: Okinawa have different histories and backgrounds. At least, if someone wants to teach to other people, he or she should research more.

This song is legendary, it shall be played at every great warrior's funeral.

I am from India and dont understand a word she said..but I loved her music to death. I guess this is what they meant saying that music has no language..this is masterpiece. Now I can live in peace

Really makes you appreciate life now, living in the rural ages, struggling for the sun and sky to give its bounty to the crops. Feeding your starving children, clothing them.

I think another reason this song is so good is the piano progression and notes accompanied with the emotional singing. Amazing

I cry literally every time I hear this. I don't know why. There's just so much time and sorrow in her voice. It just pierces right through me every time.

I love epic silence at the end. It's like "yeah, you need ta contemplate this sh***"

Some languages are hard to understand some are easy to understand but there is one language that needs no translation? music transcends all language barriers. The emotions put in the song carries Thro so well.

This song was hauntingly beautiful. This whole episode was an experience.

I am a native from Canada and the lose of language hits me hard to think this was only a few generations ago, our culture is the only thing that we can keep but everything else is lost and this song really sums up how I feel about modern society.

The piano is just beautiful. Blows me away every time.

im glad mugen didnt actually die.....

This anime holds a special place in my heart right next to cowboy beepbop.

This makes me wanna cry💔 It's not always that you feel so deeply touched when you listen to a song This song has that effect. It touches too deeply, way too deeply. It hurts.

one of the best animes ever made this song just gets to your soul

i do not understand a word. but i feel every word. thanks for this!

I'm tearing up. My baby sister just said, "sissy? why does it sound like she's crying?" And idk why but my heart felt those words along with the singers. 😣😢

My closes friend just passed away. We were listening to this together and i'm alone now, full of tears, listening bro. I'm listening bro.

First time I'm hearing this song. Okinawan language is just that it is not a dialect of Japan. The Japanese illegally overthrew the Ryukyuan Kingdom and the people were forced to speak the Japanese Language and even punished for speaking Okinawan hogen. Japan Yamatunchu were truly cruel to Ryukyuans so if you listen to their music there are strains of sadness due to their experiences with Japan, WWII and their continued struggles with the US occupation on their small islands which Japan does not help in relieving their burden. Also compared to all the other prefectures in Japan Okinawans are still paid the lowest and are fighting for their language revitalization & identitiy as indigenous people to the Ryukyus. They have the same mirrored history as the Hawaiian People when the USA Government overthrew their Kingdom illegally too. Even the title Samurai Champloo is a derivative of Champuru an Okinawan word for mixed up like Goya Champuru.a tasty bittermelon dish that I like.

r.i.p dat boat

Just watched Samurai Champloo in 2020. First I couldn’t believe it was 26 episodes long, then I couldn’t believe it came out in 2004! Such a wonderful watch. Instant favorite. The music incorporated was something special too. All around greatness, thanks

I was not ready for this show to drop one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in my entire life on me and make me bawl my eyes out for 30 minutes straight after hearing it for the first time.

I had this song going on the background while watching the scene in Princess Mononoke where the forest spirit kills the last of the gods. I cried man.

the way i found the song was i searched up "samurai champloo old lady song" XD

need to watch Samurai Champloo one more time. Have already missed that guys

for some reason this song played randomly in my head - Its coming up to 6 years since I first watched the series and well its time to rewatch it ig

11/10 needs more bass "it was alright"- IGN

Some days, some nights Some live, some die In the name of the samurai Some fight, some bleed Sun up to sun down The sons of a battlecry

Samurai Champloo is an extraordinary work of art

Oh boi... I'm listening to it after so many years & it still doesn't fail to bring tears to my eyes... How can a song be so beautiful & sad at the same time... I might cry!

I get this song. Mugen is so fast paced while alive, he tried fighting through being slow and dying. i can't stand being calm for an extended period of time, you sleep when you're sleepy, dying or making love to a sexy lady. life is too short to live it like you got a thousand years.

its raining. my computer table is next to the sliding doors that lead out onto our small deck. the river beyond the trees is twinkling as the raindrops dance on the surface. and i am pouring tears. idk today was a shitty day, and this song reminds me of the anime, where i was in my life when that anime came out, who i watched that anime with... anyway. lol :[

You know the track is good when you felt it once deep or cried. The best

I'm getting goosebumps from a song who's language I dont understand and that makes me very happy

It hurts my heart listening to this song. It's as if all her sorrows are being poured out into it. It doesn't help that I associate all of Mugen's anger and sadness with it.

I really love listening to songs in diffrent languages. This makes me want to become multilingual even more. This brings me peace and sorrow at the same time...

I appreciate the history lesson I've gotten from this video. Between the lyrics, the background on the song, and the many comments explaining and debating Okinawa.... it's truly enlightening.

After finding out MF Doom had passed away, made me think of this song. R.I.P brother

I dont understand a single word but I still love this song...gives all kinds of feels.

that picture of fuu without a nose is terrifying

This was the moment I realized samurai champloo was a classic anime. Such a powerful moment conveyed with only visual, actions, and only a few words. Shinichiro Watanabe is still one of the best anime directors even today.

it's not just the music, it's especially the old lady's voice which hits hard! So much raw emotions when she sings.

If you are Lucky enough to watch this anime , this is one of the tracks u will not forget among others , even now after so many years everytime i hear this my heart is trembling

This song makes you think about life and appreciate what you got

this is one of the most beautiful things i’ve ever heard

This song reaches the depths of a human soul that it overwhelms your spirit and soul that you have no other choice but to cry ,god bless her .

I don't know the what this women is saying. But I can almost feel her words. Her pain so translated threw song. I absolutely love this song.

This song, though melancholy, fills my heart with love. I don't want to sound edgy here guys, but I struggle with cynicism. Not self loathing or your typical depression, but rage. Wrath that I've used to overpower a deep seeded sorrow that crushed me in my youth. Anger "feels" better than sorrow. If this makes sense, it overpowers the sadness. But somewhere in that storm, I know the despair still exists. I just ignore it.. This song, however. . . . fills my heart with so much love. And I want to get rid of this anger, this hatred. I want to love the world, love all people, be kind and gentle like I was when I was innocent and so young. Thank you, Asazaki Ikue.

Brings a tear to the eye

music is crazy how it could break barriers. You can listen to something and have no idea what the words mean and still find it to be the most emotional song you've ever felt.

Vraiment magnifique!

If this isn’t playing at my funeral i ain’t dying

Still here 2024

This reminded me of my great grandmother that took care of my dad when his mother died when he was three...when my great grandma died her chest rose up and that was the most heartbreaking thing I saw...her strength was out of this world...she could walk and use the restroom with no help even when she was 98 years old...her children never loved her yet my dad was always with her and she died when he separated to come to United States...he always has her in his heart tho...A loving and caring women like that has to be an angel sent down to protect my father. Such a gentle loving women is truly a myth...she had such great stories she used to tell me. Thank God I had a chance to have a loving bond with her knowing she is watching me from above and I'm safe in her hands. This song...what is this? I remember memories that I've never even thought of so clearly like it happened yesterday yet I can't grasp on how or why it's so clear. At this point my fingers are just typing what I'm thinking and I don't know anymore but it's been a long time since I cried

Samurai Champloo is a real masterpiece. I'll never forget these 3

I am never going to rewatch Samurai Champloo again.Not because I didn't like it or because I have a big list going on and don't have time for a rewatch.I am never going to rewatch it because it is such a bittersweet story,making friends,going through hardships together and when finally reaching the destination it all ends.Times that won't ever come back.Kinda reminds me of my lost friendships and relationships with people gone from my life.But I guess that's how life is.A nostalgia but an ugly,if you will,one.This scene in the anime was the trigger;it made me realize the above and how attached I grew to the characters and their adventures, without ever taking notice of it.And I am not ready to face that.Thank you Samurai Champloo.Guess it is one of those anime where one is enough. PS I know it is an unpopular opinion but I enjoyed Samurai Champloo more than Cowboy Bebop.Of course,I loved Cowboy Bepop,but Samurai Champloo had that something that won me over

"Life will cut you deep, but there will always be hope if you can believe." That's what I hear this song saying to me.

This song resonates in all of our hearts even if we dont know the language. We are one people on this planet. We are all more alike than we are different. Art reminds us of this basic truth.

I always play this when I'm kinda down, and don't know why. I love this song, but it would make more sense to turn on an upbeat tune to lighten my mood.. but nah, gotta play the saddest song in my playlist and get hit with a million waves of super hard feels. #constantlyscrewingmyself.

What a masterpeace this is.., I've heared it so many times ... and still , it drives me to tears .....

The fact that sunflowers have no recognizable scent. That they spent their entire travels searching for someone or something that may not even exist.. regardless of what they found... this was a search for God.. the show represents 3 entirely different people on entirely different paths searching for meaning, and essentially god.. a truly deep anime.

I'm amazed this song has 4 million views. It only played once throughout the anime and the full song didn't even play, yet it's one of the most popular tracks of the anime on KZfaq. Amazing...

I'm addicted to this track, 4:14 - 4:41 is so deep and touching.. Can't wait to listen to this during holidays, all by myself, cuz it kinda expresses that weird, intense sadness that hits me at Christmas every year..

My grandmother passed away last night, Her 8 year long fight with cancer has finally come to and end, She was the first person I seen and could remember when I came into this world. This song plays a memory of flashes detailing; her holding my hand as a small child while we walked together down the street. The memory of me having no care in the world as im with my most favorite person, the image plays bitterly sweet like an old grainy record. The love and loss I feel is immense, But this song conjures up long forgotten memories of her. Beautiful.

This show absolute masterpiece. My favourite is episode 11. So much of emotions in just 20 mins ! Whole episode, each scene just keeps you sticked to screen.

In a world of excessive film makers and artists.. u stand tall in narratives of the best formats.. I love u creators.. 13 years laters we love u.. so please.. keep making.. I love you

the longing and remembrance in her voice breaks me down every time. this will be my funeral song.

Why aren't there more anime's out there on the same level as Shinichirō Watanabe's?

This song makes me feel like it is ok to cry

Cant watch SC in any other language than japanese, because Mugen's voice actor is just that phenomenal