ひらいた ひらいた (Hiraita, Hiraita)
"Hiraita, Hiraita" is a song about a lotus flower blossoming. The circle dance that accompanies it mimics a flower opening and closing.
ひらいた ひらいた (Hiraita, Hiraita)
Open Up, Open Up
Circle Dance
Circle Dance
(Japanese)
(English)
ひらいた ひらいた
何の花が ひらいた
れんげの花が ひらいた
ひらいたと 思ったら
いつのまにか つぼんだ
つぼんだ つぼんだ
何の花が つぼんだ
れんげの花が つぼんだ
つぼんだと 思ったら
いつのまにか ひらいた
Open up, open up,
What flower has opened up?
A lotus flower opened up
Just when I thought it opened up,
Before I knew it, it closed up.
Closed up, closed up
What flower has closed up?
A lotus flower closed up
Just when I thought it closed up,
Before I knew it, it opened up.
 - Japanese Children's Songs - Japan - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
"Pin It")
Notes
Pronunciation
Hiraita hiraita
nan no hana ga hiraita?
renge no hana ga hiraita
hiraita to omottara
itsu no ma ni ka tsubonda
Tsubonda tsubonda
nan no hana ga tsubonda?
renge no hana ga tsubonda
tsubonda to omottara
itsu no ma ni ka hiraita
Game Instructions
The children start in a circle holding hands. They start out close together and when they start singing, they widen the circle. Then they circle around while singing. At the end of the first verse they all go back in towards the center and crouch down while still holding hands.
On the second verse, they stay close together, and go around in a circle while singing. At the end of the 2nd verse, they widen the circle and they all put their hands up in air like a blooming flower.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation by Lisa.
Image of Lotus Flower: By T.Voekler - Own work, cc by-sa 3.0.
