Some songs are written for a movie. Some are written for a drama. This one was written to make people take a train.
In November 1978, Japanese National Railways launched a travel campaign called “Ii Hi Tabidachi” (いい日旅立ち, “A Good Day to Set Out on a Journey”). Its theme song, sung by Momoe Yamaguchi, became one of the most loved songs in Japan.
The song
“Ii Hi Tabidachi” (いい日旅立ち) was released on November 21, 1978, as Momoe Yamaguchi’s 24th single. Shinji Tanimura wrote both the lyrics and the music. It was the first time he wrote one of her singles. The song reached #3 on the Oricon chart. According to Oricon, it sold about 536,000 copies, and the record company reports a total of one million.
Japanese National Railways, often called JNR, is the predecessor of today’s JR. The campaign was made to invite people to travel around Japan by train. The title is said to come from the first letters of two companies that supported the campaign, Nippon Travel Agency (日本旅行) and Hitachi (日立).
A song for weddings and graduations
Today, many people sing it at weddings and graduations. Interestingly, Tanimura himself said that the content is not really suited for celebrations. It is a song about leaving, after all. In 2007, it was chosen as one of “Japan’s 100 Songs” (日本の歌百選). Even now, it is played when special JR revival trains leave the station.
Why I love Momoe’s version
I like both versions: Momoe Yamaguchi’s, and the one by Shinji Tanimura, who wrote the song. But for me, hers is the one that sounds like travel.
Her version opens with an introduction that makes you want to travel. Before she even starts singing, you can feel the train leaving the station. I also love her voice in the line where she sings about “somewhere in Japan.”
What are “sheep clouds”?
One word in the song stays with me: hitsujigumo (羊雲). It means “sheep clouds.” These are small, round, fluffy clouds that spread across the sky like a flock of sheep, and you often see them in autumn. I love the image of going out to look for them. It is such a gentle reason to take a trip.
As a kid, I had no idea what hitsujigumo was. I remember looking it up. It is a cloud I still love today. Whenever I see hitsujigumo, I think of this song. And the best part is that the sky is the same in every country. Wherever you are in the world, you can look up and see the same clouds.
Back then, and still today, I think the same thing every time I hear it: what a truly good song.
Listen
Compare the two versions on Spotify:
Want to own the song? Momoe Yamaguchi’s complete singles collection at CDJapan includes “Ii Hi Tabidachi” (disc 2, track 6). This is an affiliate link. If you buy through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
And a book about her (CDJapan, affiliate link):
And a concert video (CDJapan, affiliate link):
Which one makes you want to travel? Tell me in the comments. And if you have ever looked up at the sky in Japan and seen hitsujigumo, I would love to hear about it.
This is part of my series: one Showa-era song a day, with a focus on the 80s.
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