夕焼け小焼けの赤とんぼ
負われてみたのはいつの日か
山の畑の桑の実を
小籠に摘んだはまぼろしか
十五で姐やは嫁に行き
お里の便りも絶え果てた
夕焼け小焼けの赤とんぼ
止まっているよ竿の先
Romanization:
Yuuyake koyake no akatonbo
Owaretemita no wa itsu no hi ka
Yama no hatake no kuwa no mi o
kokago ni tsunda wa maboroshi ka
Juugo de neya wa yome ni yuki
Osato no tayori mo taehateta
Yuuyake koyake no akatonbo
Tomatte iru yo sao no saki
Translation:
Red dragonflies in the sunset,
When was it that I watched them on someone’s back?
In mountain fields, we gathered mulberries,
In small baskets,
Or was it just a dream?
A while ago my big sister married and moved away,
I always look forward to hearing from her,
A red dragonfly in the sunset,
On the tip of a bamboo pole.
