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OKEIKO 34

We present the recorded theatrical performance of "Shichifukujin" in two installments.

The lyrics of the first half depict the world of Japanese mythology. The opening word "sore" (*first word of the Japanese lyrics; in the subtitles translated as: “this happened”) is followed by "Izanagi and Izanami", who are gods appearing in Japanese mythology. They churn the sea with “Ama-no-sakahoko” (“The reversed spear of Heaven”), and when they pull it up, the drops of water that dripped from the spear became Honshu (largest of the four main islands of Japan).

The song says that Hiruko (Ebisu), born between Izanagi and Izanami, had no bones or skin and was useless, so the two gods ordered Ebisu to rule the sea, put him on a boat and sent him out to sea, but this is only a myth of course. However, Ebisu is worshipped as a god at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. Ebisu is the guardian deity of fishing and is now also famous as the god of commerce.
(Mitsuko T. Sakurai)
*Translator’s Note