Kagome Kagome
Encyclopedia
Kagome Kagome is a Japanese children's game. One child is chosen as the oni (literally demon
or ogre
, but similar to the concept of "it" in tag
) and sits blindfolded (or with their eyes covered). The other children join hands and walk in circles around the oni while chanting the song for the game. When the song stops, the oni speaks aloud the name of the person behind them, and if they are correct, the person behind will exchange places with the oni.
Sometimes the last few lines are translated literally as the following:
A version found in Tactics
, episode 3, "The Mountain's Fairy Tale":
A version used in Descendants of Darkness
, Volume 9:
A version used throughout Remember11:
In reality, the people making the cage are the oni, and the person in the center is the caged bird, Kagome.
In Japan, the crane
symbolizes vigilance, prudence, innocence, and a thousand years of happiness, and the turtle
, a good omen, symbolizes 10,000 years of life.
When the rhyme asks "who is behind the fall of the turtle and the crane", or "a turtle and a crane slipped and fell, who is directly behind you", it has a sinister meaning, as in, "who is the backstabber" or "the one who brings ill".
There is belief, the game could have been based on the betrayal of Oda Nobunaga
(as he had nickname, the Demon-king, he is believed to be symbolized by the oni) by Akechi Mitsuhide
, who is the mysterious backstabber.
The rhyme can be given an even more sinister meaning when you imagine that "in the evening of the dawn" translates to "in the end of light", "the end of first light", or to "one who backstabs you early in the morning (in your sleep)". The latter makes even more sense because Kagome, in the cage, is blind-folded.
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
or ogre
Ogre
An ogre is a large, cruel, monstrous, and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore, and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature...
, but similar to the concept of "it" in tag
Tag (game)
Tag is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations...
) and sits blindfolded (or with their eyes covered). The other children join hands and walk in circles around the oni while chanting the song for the game. When the song stops, the oni speaks aloud the name of the person behind them, and if they are correct, the person behind will exchange places with the oni.
Lyrics
In Japanese, this song can be rendered several ways including:| Japanese characters Japanese language is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an... |
English transliteration (Romaji) |
| かごめかごめ 籠の中の鳥は | Kagome kagome, kago no naka no tori wa |
| いついつ出やる 夜明けの晩に | Itsu itsu deyaru? Yoake no ban ni |
| 鶴と亀と滑った | Tsuru to kame to subetta. |
| 後ろの正面だあれ | Ushiro no shoumen daare? |
| Translation: |
Kagome kagome, the bird in the cage,
when, when will you come out?
In the evening of the dawn,
the crane and turtle slipped.
Who stands right behind you now?
Sometimes the last few lines are translated literally as the following:
At dawns and evenings.
Who is in front of the back,
where a crane and turtle slipped and fell?
A version found in Tactics
Tactics (manga)
is a Japanese manga series collaborated between Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama. It was serialized in Comic Blade Masamune. Kinoshita supplied the character "Kantarou," and Higashiyama supplied the character "Haruka." The manga was first released in North America by ADV Manga in 2004...
, episode 3, "The Mountain's Fairy Tale":
Kagome Kagome
crouch little bird inside your cage,
when oh when will he get out?
Up before the light of dawn.
Crane and turtle slipped and fell,
who is behind you can you tell?
A version used in Descendants of Darkness
Descendants of Darkness
is a fantasy manga series created by Yoko Matsushita. The story revolves around shinigami. These Guardians of Death work for Enma Daiō, the king of the dead, sorting out the expected and unexpected arrivals to the Underworld...
, Volume 9:
Kagome, Kagome,
When will the bird come out of its cage?
The turtle and the crane slipped out at dawn
Who's that behind you?
A version used throughout Remember11:
Kagome, kagome...
The bird within the cage...
When oh when will you come out?
In the evening lit by the dawn...
The crane and the turtle slipped and fell...
Who's that behind you?
Analysis
A better description of the roles the children represent in the game is that the person inside the center of the circle is "Kagome", the bird inside the "cage", which the other people make with linked hands surrounding her. The first question in the rhyme, "when is she released from her cage?", is answered by the second question in the rhyme: she escapes when she answers correctly "who is behind the falling of the turtle and the crane"-- in other words, who is about to stab her in the back.In reality, the people making the cage are the oni, and the person in the center is the caged bird, Kagome.
In Japan, the crane
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
symbolizes vigilance, prudence, innocence, and a thousand years of happiness, and the turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
, a good omen, symbolizes 10,000 years of life.
When the rhyme asks "who is behind the fall of the turtle and the crane", or "a turtle and a crane slipped and fell, who is directly behind you", it has a sinister meaning, as in, "who is the backstabber" or "the one who brings ill".
There is belief, the game could have been based on the betrayal of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
(as he had nickname, the Demon-king, he is believed to be symbolized by the oni) by Akechi Mitsuhide
Akechi Mitsuhide
, nicknamed Jūbei or called from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...
, who is the mysterious backstabber.
The rhyme can be given an even more sinister meaning when you imagine that "in the evening of the dawn" translates to "in the end of light", "the end of first light", or to "one who backstabs you early in the morning (in your sleep)". The latter makes even more sense because Kagome, in the cage, is blind-folded.