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Classics

From the Man'yōshū to haikai — every song, traced back to its source anthology.

The Collection

歌集めぐり

Beyond the Hyakunin Isshu, classical Japanese literature is full of words that still sing: the Man'yōshū — Japan's oldest poetry anthology — the opening bell of the Tale of the Heike, the Iroha pangram poem, Bashō's haiku. Classics collects the songs born from those texts, each with the original, its romaji reading, an English translation, and the story behind it.

Man'yōshū · c. 759

3 songs
Kagerō “First Light” — Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (Man'yōshū I · 48)Released→ Iyoyo Masumasu “More and More” — Ōtomo no Tabito (Man'yōshū V · 793)Released→ Iyashike Yogoto “Let Good Things Pile Up” — Ōtomo no Yakamochi (Man'yōshū XX · 4516 — the anthology's final poem)Released→

Kokin Wakashū (Kokinshū) · 905

20 songs
Okuyama ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 5Sarumaru no Dayū (Kokinshū, Autumn I · 215)Released→ Ama no Hara Hyakunin Isshu No. 7Abe no Nakamaro (Kokinshū, Travel · 406)Released→ Waga Io wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 8Priest Kisen (Kokinshū, Misc. II · 983)Released→ Hana no Iro wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 9Ono no Komachi (Kokinshū, Spring II · 113)Released→ Wata no Hara Yasoshima Kakete Hyakunin Isshu No. 11Sangi Takamura (Ono no Takamura) (Kokinshū, Travel · 407)Released→ Ama tsu Kaze Hyakunin Isshu No. 12Archbishop Henjō (Kokinshū, Miscellaneous I · 872)Released→ Michinoku no Hyakunin Isshu No. 14Kawara no Sadaijin (Minamoto no Tōru) (Kokinshū, Love IV · 724)Released→ Kimi ga Tame Haru no No ni Idete Hyakunin Isshu No. 15Emperor Kōkō (Kokinshū, Spring I · 21)Released→ Tachiwakare Hyakunin Isshu No. 16Chunagon Yukihira (Ariwara no Yukihira) (Kokinshū, Parting · 365)Released→ Chihayaburu Hyakunin Isshu No. 17Ariwara no Narihira (Kokinshū, Autumn II · 294)Released→ Suminoe no Hyakunin Isshu No. 18Fujiwara no Toshiyuki Ason (Kokin Wakashū, Love II · 559)Released→ Ima Kon to Hyakunin Isshu No. 21Priest Sosei (Kokinshū, Love IV · 691)Released→ Fuku kara ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 22Fun'ya no Yasuhide (Kokinshū, Autumn II · 249)Released→ Tsuki Mireba Hyakunin Isshu No. 23Ōe no Chisato (Kokinshū, Autumn I · 193)Released→ Kono Tabi wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 24Sugawara no Michizane (Kokinshū, Travel · 420)Released→ Kokoro-ate ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 29Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (Kokin Wakashū, Autumn II · 277)Released→ Yamagawa ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 32Harumichi no Tsuraki (Kokin Wakashū, Autumn II · 303)Released→ Hisakata no Hyakunin Isshu No. 33Ki no Tomonori (Kokinshū, Spring II · 84)Released→ Hito wa Isa Hyakunin Isshu No. 35Ki no Tsurayuki (Kokinshū, Spring I · 42)Released→ Natsu no Yo wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 36Kiyohara no Fukayabu (Kokinshū, Summer · 166)Released→

The Tales of Ise · c. 910

1 songs
Harumi “Spring Sea” — Ariwara no Narihira (The Tales of Ise, episode 68)Released→

Gosen Wakashū (Gosenshū) · 951

4 songs
Aki no Ta Hyakunin Isshu No. 1Emperor Tenji (Gosenshū, Autumn II · 302)Released→ Kore ya Kono Hyakunin Isshu No. 10Semimaru (Gosenshū, Miscellaneous I · 1089)Released→ Tsukubane no Hyakunin Isshu No. 13Retired Emperor Yōzei (Gosenshū, Love III · 776)Released→ Shiratsuyu ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 37Fun'ya no Asayasu (Gosenshū, Autumn II · 308)Released→

The Tales of Yamato · c. 951

1 songs
Koke no Koromo “The Robe of Moss” — Ono no Komachi & Archbishop Henjō, poem exchange (Gosenshū / Tales of Yamato 168)Released→

Iroha — Heian Songs · c. 1000

1 songs
Iroha Uta “The Iroha Song” — Iroha — the pangram poem (attr. Kūkai, Heian period)Released→

Shūi Wakashū (Shūishū) · c. 1006

8 songs
Ashibiki no Hyakunin Isshu No. 3Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (Shūishū, Love III · 778)Released→ Ogurayama Hyakunin Isshu No. 26Teishin-kō (Fujiwara no Tadahira) (Shūishū, Misc. Autumn · 1128)Released→ Wasuraruru Hyakunin Isshu No. 38Ukon (Shūishū, Love IV · 870)Released→ Shinoburedo Hyakunin Isshu No. 40Taira no Kanemori (Shūishū, Love I · 622)Released→ Koi su Chō Hyakunin Isshu No. 41Mibu no Tadami (Shūishū, Love I · 621)Released→ Aimite no Hyakunin Isshu No. 43Fujiwara no Atsutada (Shūishū, Love II · 710)Released→ Yaemugura Hyakunin Isshu No. 47Priest Egyō (Shūishū, Autumn · 140)Released→ Nagekitsutsu Hyakunin Isshu No. 53Mother of Michitsuna (Fujiwara no Michitsuna no Haha) (Shūi Wakashū, Love IV · 912)Released→

Shōyūki — Court Diaries · 1018

1 songs
Mochizuki “The Full Moon” — Fujiwara no Michinaga's 'Full Moon Poem' (Shōyūki diary, 1018)Released→

Goshūi Wakashū (Goshūishū) · 1086

11 songs
Chigiriki na Hyakunin Isshu No. 42Kiyohara no Motosuke (Goshūishū, Love IV · 770)Released→ Kimi ga tame oshikarazarishi Hyakunin Isshu No. 50Fujiwara no Yoshitaka (Goshūi Wakashū, Love II · 669)Released→ Arazaran Hyakunin Isshu No. 56Izumi Shikibu (Goshūishū, Love III · 763)Released→ Arimayama Hyakunin Isshu No. 58Daini no Sanmi (Goshūishū, Love II · 709)Released→ Yasurawade Hyakunin Isshu No. 59Akazome Emon (Goshūishū, Love II · 680)Released→ Yo o Komete Hyakunin Isshu No. 62Sei Shōnagon (Goshūishū, Miscellaneous II · 939)Released→ Ima wa Tada Hyakunin Isshu No. 63Fujiwara no Michimasa (Goshūishū, Love III · 750)Released→ Urami wabi Hyakunin Isshu No. 65Sagami (Goshūi Wakashū, Love IV · 815)Released→ Kokoro ni mo Hyakunin Isshu No. 68Emperor Sanjō (Sanjō-in) (Goshūi Wakashū, Miscellaneous I · 860)Released→ Sabishisa ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 70Ryōzen Hōshi (Goshūishū, Autumn I · 333)Released→ Takasago no Hyakunin Isshu No. 73Ōe no Masafusa (Goshūishū, Spring I · 120)Released→

Kin'yō Wakashū (Kin'yōshū) · 1127

3 songs
Ōeyama Hyakunin Isshu No. 60Koshikibu no Naishi (Kin'yōshū, Miscellaneous I · 550)Released→ Yū Sareba Hyakunin Isshu No. 71Dainagon Tsunenobu (Minamoto no Tsunenobu) (Kin'yōshū, Autumn · 183)Released→ Oto ni kiku Hyakunin Isshu No. 72Lady Kii of Princess Yūshi's Household (Yūshi Naishinnō-ke no Kii) (Kin'yō Wakashū, Love II · 469)Released→

Shika Wakashū (Shikashū) · 1151

4 songs
Kaze o itami Hyakunin Isshu No. 48Minamoto no Shigeyuki (Shikashū, Love I · 211)Released→ Inishie no Hyakunin Isshu No. 61Ise no Taifu (Shikashū, Spring · 29)Released→ Wata no Hara Kogiidete Hyakunin Isshu No. 76Hosshōji Nyūdō (Fujiwara no Tadamichi) (Shikashū, Miscellaneous II · 382)Coming soon→ Se o Hayami Hyakunin Isshu No. 77Retired Emperor Sutoku (Shikashū, Love I · 229)Released→

Senzai Wakashū (Senzaishū) · 1188

7 songs
Haru no yo no Hyakunin Isshu No. 67Suō no Naishi (Senzai Wakashū, Miscellaneous I · 964)Released→ Nagakaran Hyakunin Isshu No. 80Taikenmon'in no Horikawa (Senzaishū, Love III · 802)Released→ Hototogisu Hyakunin Isshu No. 81Go-Tokudaiji no Sadaijin (Fujiwara no Sanesada) (Senzai Wakashū, Summer · 161)Released→ Nageke tote Hyakunin Isshu No. 86Priest Saigyō (Senzaishū, Love V · 929)Released→ Naniwae no Hyakunin Isshu No. 88Kōkamon'in no Bettō (Senzaishū, Love III · 807)Released→ Misebaya na Hyakunin Isshu No. 90Inpumon'in no Taifu (Senzaishū, Love IV · 884)Released→ Waga Sode wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 92Nijōin no Sanuki (Senzaishū, Love II · 760)Released→

Shin Kokin Wakashū (Shin Kokinshū) · 1205

11 songs
Haru Sugite Hyakunin Isshu No. 2Empress Jitō (Shin Kokinshū, Summer · 175)Released→ Tago no Ura Hyakunin Isshu No. 4Yamabe no Akahito (Shin Kokinshū, Winter · 675)Released→ Naniwa-gata Hyakunin Isshu No. 19Lady Ise (Shin Kokin Wakashū, Love I · 1049)Released→ Yura no to o Hyakunin Isshu No. 46Sone no Yoshitada (Shin Kokin Wakashū, Love I · 1071)Released→ Wasureji no Hyakunin Isshu No. 54Mother of Gidō Sanshi (Takashina no Takako) (Shin Kokinshū, Love III · 1149)Released→ Meguriaite Hyakunin Isshu No. 57Murasaki Shikibu (Shin Kokinshū, Miscellaneous I · 1499)Released→ Akikaze ni Hyakunin Isshu No. 79Sakyō no Daibu Akisuke (Fujiwara no Akisuke) (Shin Kokinshū, Autumn I · 413)Released→ Nagaraeba Hyakunin Isshu No. 84Fujiwara no Kiyosuke (Shin Kokinshū, Miscellaneous II · 1843)Released→ Murasame no Hyakunin Isshu No. 87Priest Jakuren (Shin Kokinshū, Autumn II · 491)Released→ Tama no O yo Hyakunin Isshu No. 89Princess Shikishi (Shin Kokinshū, Love I · 1034)Released→ Miyoshino no Hyakunin Isshu No. 94Councillor Masatsune (Asukai no Masatsune) (Shin Kokinshū, Autumn II · 483)Released→

Shin Chokusen Wakashū (Shin Chokusenshū) · 1235

3 songs
Yo no Naka wa Hyakunin Isshu No. 93Minamoto no Sanetomo (Shin Chokusenshū, Travel · 525)Released→ Konu Hito o Hyakunin Isshu No. 97Fujiwara no Teika (Shin Chokusenshū, Love III · 849)Released→ Kaze Soyogu Hyakunin Isshu No. 98Fujiwara no Ietaka (Shin Chokusenshū, Summer · 192)Released→

The Tale of the Heike · c. 1240

1 songs
Gion Shōja no Kane “The Bell of Gion” — The Tale of the Heike, opening lines (Kamakura period)Released→

Haikai — The Narrow Road to the Deep North · 1694

1 songs
Samidaregawa “River of May Rain” — Matsuo Bashō, haiku (The Narrow Road to the Deep North, 1689)Released→