Japan's 72 Microseasons - #2+

"Bush warblers sing beautifully" and birds that herald spring

February 9 - 13
黄鶯睍睆
こうおうけんかん／うぐいすなく
Kō-ō kenkan / Uguisu naku
"Bush warblers sing beautifully"

(This is the second post about this microseason—if you missed the first one, you can find it here to catch up!)

The digital pop star Hatsune Miku¹ was born as a voice.

Or, rather, a series of software programs that allow users to create songs using a sophisticated voice synthesizer². Hatsune Miku’s presence as a character, her international fame, all the merchandise and holographic appearances at Lady Gaga concerts, these are all connected to her core essence: a singing voice. It is the way she is known, defined to the world.

I mention Miku because her surname Hatsune is a word with history prior to when she debuted in 2007. Its creators were no doubt aware of the fact that hatsune (初音) also refers to the first bit of birdsong in spring. Signaling the season, it promises a new start and points to what’s next.

In that way, the virtual blue-haired songstress shares a bit with the bush warbler. And the performer of the future connects to a portent of the past.

In addition to serving as a kigo (季語)³ for early spring, bush warblers are also what’s known as a tsuge-dori (告鳥), birds whose song or sighting heralds the coming of a season. Specifically, bush warblers are 春告鳥, with 春 meaning “spring.” Some of the other spring-signifying birds include the hibari (雲雀, skylark) and uso (鷽, bullfinch).

This tradition of identifying the changing of the seasons by birdsong even made its way into Japan’s Meteorological Agency for a time, as part of a list of official seibutsu kisetsu kansoku (生物季節観測), or “observation of seasonal flora and fauna.” However, in 2021 the list of 23 animal behaviors and 34 plant life cycles was pared down to only 6 natural phenomena in total.⁴

an uguisu, hibari, and uso

Possibly because spring is often the most-awaited of the seasonal changes, the bush warbler’s song—which is heard earliest of all—has long been recognized and prized. There are records of them being kept in homes as pleasant background music and amicable companions since at least the 1400s. Even a ban on the practice (due to growing adverse effects on the bird’s natural population) could hardly still its popularity—the Tokugawa shoguns of the 18th century recorded bird-keeping staff on their books.

It’s possibly by keeping them in such close proximity that it was discovered that their droppings are surprisingly useful when it comes to removing chemicals such as dye from clothing. Most famously, a cosmetic mixture of uguisu-no-fun (鶯の糞, bush warbler excrement) and nuka (糠, rice bran) was used to remove the distinctive white face makeup used by kabuki actors and geisha⁵.

painting from the late 1400s depicting bush warblers being kept as pets

It should be noted that the distinctive song that’s heard here in early spring isn’t actually the full, complete call of the uguisu, but rather what’s called a “sub song” (or guzeri in Japanese). These are the sounds of young birds practicing their melodies but listening to what’s around them. This is usually from adult birds of their same species, but can also include a mix of other birds in the area. It’s a nice parallel of growing and learning to match the fresh start of a new year. Trying out different things before you feel confident in your voice.

In return for the songs they’ve freely given, there have been approximately a billion poems composed about the bush warbler in Japan. I’ll stick with one haiku, one waka, and one piece of traditional music to close us out for this kō.

鶯の｜声澄む天の｜青磁かな
Uguisu no / koe sumu ama no / seiji ka na

The sky resonates
with the bush warbler’s clear song
fine blue porcelain

Haiku by Kawabata Bōsha, 1900s

氷だに｜とまらぬ春の｜谷風に｜まだうちとけぬ｜鴬の声
Kōri dani / tomaranu haru no / tanikaze ni / mada uchitokenu / uguisu no koe

Icy mountain streams
remain untouched by spring winds—
Here in the valley,
the bush warblers songs and
our hearts are not yet thawed⁶

Waka by Minamoto Shitagau, 900s

“Hatsu Uguisu (The Year’s First Bush Warbler Song),” composed by Miyagi Michio in 1914; performed by Akihiko Saeki (koto), Ayaka Kubo (koto), and Teizan Fujimoto (shakuhachi flute)

Not every arrival can be greeted with a song, but if something is welcome there’s no harm in trying, even if you don’t really know the words.

See you next kō~

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[Images & info courtesy of kurashikata.com, kurashi-no-hotorisya.jp, 543life.com, and Wikipedia except where otherwise noted]

1. Or “CV01” as her programmer parents call her

2. Based on voice actress and singer Saki Fujita

3. You may remember that “kigo” are sets of words that call to mind specific seasonal periods—using at least one is a requirement for haiku poetry, but they appear frequently in literature, music, and as visual signifiers in paintings

Including bush warblers in your piece of art immediately sets a scene of early spring for your audience in Japan

4. They now are: the blooming of plum blossom flowers, the blooming of cherry blossoms, the blooming of hydrangeas, the yellowing and shedding of ginkgo tree leaves, the yellowing and shedding of maple tree leaves, and the flowering of pampas grass

5. There remains only one shop in Tōkyō that still sells this “geisha facial” treatment, the 200-year-old Hyakusuke Cosmetic Store near Asakusa Station

Alternatively, at least one spa in New York City offers a treatment using uguisu-no-fun to the tune of $180 (according to Wikipedia anyway)

6. Both these translations were done somewhat quickly by me, so I very much welcome corrections and suggestions for better English versions!