In the late 90s Katsumi Tanaka moved to Fussa, a city in western Tokyo steeped in counter-culture folklore as the home of Eiichi Ohtaki of Japanese rock band Happy End. Tanaka met Tsukamoto playing in a session band where the latter was singing soul. Aware that Freddie’s true passion was min'yō, Tanaka asked him to form a band to revive this style. They invited other musicians such as local drumming legend Sono and for the first few years played low-key shows yet a turning point came when bassist DADDY U, a veteran of the Tokyo roots music scene and the respected Ska Flames, joined. Through him they met keyboard player Moe, the leader of spiritual Caribbean jazz band Kidlat; sax player Koichiro Osawa, a member of Japanese-reggae/ska groups Matt Sounds and J.J. Session and regular pick-up for reggae musicians visiting Japan; trumpeter Yamauchi Stephan, also a member of J.J. Session; percussionist Mutsumi Kobayashi of Tokyo’s cumbia Banda de la Mumbia; Irochi, conga player with Afro Cuban band Cubatumb and vocalist Meg, a member of respected tropical DJ collective Tokyo Sabroso. Since then they have become a fixture on the Tokyo music scene and went national in 2018 through festivals such as Fuji Rock.
Minyo Crusaders are:
Freddie Tsukamoto (vocals)
Meg (vocals, melodica)
Katsumi Tanaka (guitar)
DADDY U (bass)
Moe (keyboards)
Sono (timbales)
Mutsumi Kobayashi (bongos)
Yamauchi Stephan (trumpet)
Koichiro Osawa (sax)
Irochi (congas)
Tanko Bushi
MINYO CRUSADERS Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(ヨイヨイ)
三池炭坑の 上に出た
あんまり煙突が 高いので
さぞやお月さん けむたかろ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
(ヨイヨイ)
なんの辛かろ 共苦労
好いて好かれて 暮らすなら
夢に黄金(こがね)の 花が咲く
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
あなた オームか九官鳥
(ヨイヨイ)
見ればきれいで 口上手
うれしがらせを 言うけれど
にてもやいても 喰わりゃせぬ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
ダイヤモンドが 欲しいなら
(ヨイヨイ)
一度来てみな この山へ
男ざかりの さまちゃんが
意気で掘りだす 黒ダイヤ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
Tanko Bushi is a traditional Japanese work song that was sung by coal miners as they worked in the mines. The song portrays the struggles and hardships of the coal miners' lives, as well as the hope and dreams they held onto. The first stanza talks about the moon appearing above the San'ya mining town, symbolizing the workers' long days and nights of hard labor. The smokestacks are so high that they seem to be engulfing the moon in smoke, expressing the idea that the workers' exhaustion obscures even the light of the moon.
The second stanza talks about the workers' living conditions, in which they dwell in small huts made of reeds. It highlights the shared hardships and the idea of persevering together. If they can live harmoniously without causing harm to one another, their dreams of a better life can be realized, and the yellow flowers of their dreams might finally bloom.
The last stanza talks about a canary or a bird called a nine-bird that is known for being talkative and pretty. The canary’s song is a musical beacon of light in an otherwise bleak and dreary environment. It seems to act as a symbol of hope and happiness within the dark and grueling coal mines. The last line of the verse speaks of hope for finding the elusive black diamond, which carries a double meaning: a hope for a brighter future and obtaining something precious.
Line by Line Meaning
月が出た出た 月が出た
(ヨイヨイ)
三池炭坑の 上に出た
The moon has risen up! The moon has risen up above the San'ichi coal mine. (Yo-i Yo-i)
あんまり煙突が 高いので
さぞやお月さん けむたかろ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
The smokestacks are so tall that the moon must be surrounded by smoke. (Sa-no Yo-i Yo-i)
月がさし込む あばら家も
(ヨイヨイ)
なんの辛かろ 共苦労
好いて好かれて 暮らすなら
夢に黄金(こがね)の 花が咲く
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
Even if the moonlight shines on our bare and simple homes, it cannot alleviate the hardships we all face together. But if we live with love and kindness, a dream of blooming golden flowers will come true. (Sa-no Yo-i Yo-i)
あなた オームか九官鳥
(ヨイヨイ)
見ればきれいで 口上手
うれしがらせを 言うけれど
にてもやいても 喰わりゃせぬ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
Are you an ohm or a cockatiel? You are beautiful to look at and a great talker, but even if you charm us with happiness, we cannot eat you. (Sa-no Yo-i Yo-i)
ダイヤモンドが 欲しいなら
(ヨイヨイ)
一度来てみな この山へ
男ざかりの さまちゃんが
意気で掘りだす 黒ダイヤ
(サノ ヨイヨイ)
If you want diamonds, come to this mountain at least once. The young men here dig up black diamonds with great spirit. (Sa-no Yo-i Yo-i)
Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@25092004
sukiga-deta deta-tsukiga-deta a yoi yoi
Uchi no oyama no-ueni-deta
Anmari entotsuga-takai-node (a yoisho)
sa-zoya otsukisan- kemuta-karo sano yoi yoi
Hitoyama futayama miyama koe a yoi yoi
okuni saitaru-yaetsu-baki
na-n-bo iroyo-ku saita-tote (yoisho)
samachan- kayowanya mudano- hana sano yoi yoi
Mogura- hi no me wa nigate- dana a yoi yoi
yama no oira wa- ikina - mono
shi-ki o deru no o machika-nete
ka-wai- ano ko- ga sode o - hiku sano yoi yoi
Anataga sonokide yuno-nara a yoi yoi
Omoikirima-su wakare-masu
motono musume-no juhachi-ni (yoisho)
kaeshite kureta-ra wakare-masu sano yoi yoi
O-mae sakiyama shigoto- nara a yoi yoi
watasha sentan- ondo-tori
kuro- suru ki-to saseru- ki yo
uta de noroke-te tomoka-segi sano yoi yoi
@arono9304
I saw these live at Le Guess Who festival in Utrecht, so probably around the same time as this was recorded. Absolutely enticing and vibrant live show, meticulously choreographed and tightly performed, yet with a liberating joy at the forefront. Thank you for this!
@ConnorGhostHeart
This is one of the best things I've watched in a long time. Merci pour les musique a formidable!
@huesicos
Que placer para los sentidos poder disfrutar de un nuevo plano-secuencia de Vincent. Mil Gracias!
@imyugioh
Their first acoustic session and they crushed it🔥
@Deedee-ee1sg
A really cool mix of music styles! Cerys Matthew's played this band on her Sunday show!
@G.Man-
I catch Cerys's Radio 6 show from time to time, usually great tracks & guests, amongst the great presenting! Gilles Peterson on Saturday afternoons is No.1 though!!
@pham4stewie
Was listening to these guys in a reggae bar in Tokyo was pleasantly surprised to hear this mix up of genres! ありがとうございます😊
@ellocoavs
These people are so lovely. Great time @ LGW2019!!
I was bummed out to miss out on their merch to try and support them! I want one of those kimonos!
@daftlife6569
I've stumbled on minyo crusaders by accident and fell in love with their frantic energy. I wish I was standing there in Utrecht that day. I live not that far from it. I would have probably shouted the lyrics from the bridge.
@stephendelacruzone
The best thing I heard this morning! So fresh and refreshing! 💎👌🏻😁👍👍