Tōryanse

"Tōryanse" (通りゃんせ) is the name of the traditional Japanese children's tune (warabe uta). It is a common choice for music played by traffic lights in Japan when it is safe to cross.

Lyrics

The words to the song are:

Japanese: Romaji: Translation:
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse You may go in, you may enter
ここはどこの　細道じゃ
Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja?
Which way is this narrow pathway?
天神さまの　細道じゃ

Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja

This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine

ちっと通して　下しゃんせ
Chitto tōshite kudashanse
Please allow me to go through
御用のないもの　通しゃせぬ Goyō no nai mono tōshasenu Those without good reason shall not pass
この子の七つの　御祝いに
Kono ko no nanatsu no oiwai ni
To celebrate the 7th birthday of this child
御札を納めに　参ります
Ofuda wo osame ni mairimasu
We've come to dedicate our offering [to offer our ofuda here]

行きはよいよい　帰りはこわい

Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai

Going in is easy, but returning is scary[1]

こわいながらも Kowai nagara mo It's scary, but
通りゃんせ　通りゃんせ Tōryanse, tōryanse You may go in, You may pass through

Toryanse - From Amatsuki Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9t_L-HHZx0

Let me pass, Let me pass, What is this narrow pathway here? This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine. (1x)

Please allow me to pass through. Those without good reason shall not pass. To celebrate this childs seventh birthday. (1x) I’ve come to dedicate my offering.

Going in may be fine, fine, But returning would be scary. It’s scary, but Let me pass, Let me pass.

Let me pass, let me pass, What is this narrow pathway here? This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin Shrine. (2x)

Please allow me to pass through. Those without good reason shall not pass. To celebrate this childs seventh birthday. (2x)

Going there is fine, But to return is frightening. I am scared, but let me pass. Let me pass . . .

Tune

Explanation
The Monument of Tōryanse in Yamakaku Shrine

There are many theories to the origin of the song, but all agree that it is a portrayal of an exchange between a civilian and a guard manning some sort of a checkpoint — at Kawagoe Castle according to one theory. In the old days when infant mortality was high, people celebrated when a child survived to reach the age of 7 (as well as 3 and 5; see Shichi-Go-San), and ordinary people were only allowed to visit the shrine within the castle compound for special occasions.

This particular warabe uta is sung as part of a traditional game where two children facing each other link their hands to form an arch 'checkpoint', and the remaining children walk through underneath in a line (and back round again in circles). The child who happens to be under the arch when the song finishes is then 'caught', not unlike Anglophone game London Bridge is Falling Down.

The tune being played at Japanese pedestrian crossings is an analogy to this game, i.e., it is safe to cross until the music stops.

Tōryanse can be heard in:

  • Adrift in Tokyo: From 31:08 to 31:17.
  • Afro Samurai (video game): During the battle against Kuma.
  • Amatsuki: In episode 1, titled Meeting Yakou (background music).
  • The Animatrix: in the short film Beyond.
  • Black Lagoon: In episode 7.
  • Bleach: In episode 2, the song is played when Orihime Inoue crosses the street.
  • Boogiepop Phantom
  • Chakushin Ari 2: Sung by the blind lady named Shu-Mei Gao.
  • Chaos;Child: The song can be heard, hummed by an unnamed character.
  • Chaos;Head: The song is frequently used to prank call the protagonist, by switching the song with a loud buzz noise. Later in the game, the song serves as a defense mechanism for an important machine.
  • Corpse Party: Sung by children during two different scenes.
  • Death Note: In episode 30.
  • Dennō Coil: In episode 17.
  • Earth Girl Arjuna
  • Netflix Erased: In episode 1.
  • Farethere City: There are two versions of this song in the game. The first version is a traffic light chime. Another version is a koto/shamisen arrangement, heard in an ending.
  • Flip Flappers: The song is played in episode 7 from 15:02, when Cocona crosses the street.
  • GossiP, the song is referenced in the band's song Akudoukai -KUSOTTARE Koushinkyoku-
  • Garnet Crow: In their song Rainy Soul.
  • Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan: In episode 10.
  • Hand Maid May
  • Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Wheel of Fortune, played at the beginning of the first live action movie, includes lines from Tōryanse.
  • Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere: The 'Song of Passage' is based on this song.
  • I"s: In the OVA as a children song.
  • Ichigo Mashimaro: In episode 6.
  • Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori: In episode 2, from 3:07 to 3:19.
  • Karin: In the anime, episode 9, from 13:02 to 13:15.
  • Kantai Collection: The personification of the Furutaka Class Heavy Cruiser, Kako, quotes a part of the song during her library intro, saying, "I'm the Second Furutaka Class Heavy Cruiser, Kako. I achieved quite a feat during the Battle of Savo Islands! Ah, the way back? Well, the verse 'Going in is easy, but returning is scary' was no joke!"
  • Kiryu (己龍): Referenced in their song "Shishoku".
  • Kuroyuri To Kage: A song on the second album recites a line from this song twice, the second time changing "Koko wa doko no hosomichi ja" to "Nigatsu ni boku wa shinimashita".
  • Lost in Translation
  • Magical Pokaan: In episode 12, from 15:11 to 15:21.
  • Magic Kaito 1412: In episode 18, from 10:35 to 10.38.
  • Mahō Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora
  • March Comes in like a Lion: Shimada Kai sings the last two lines in episode 21, from 14:20 to 14:30. The song is portrayed as a Train melody.
  • Mawaru Penguindrum: In episode 14, a line from the nursery rhyme is displayed on screen in the train.
  • Memories of a Geisha: When she arrived at the Mana, the melody plays.
  • Neo Tokyo (film): From 28:02 to 28:10..
  • Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: In episode 1.
  • Nocturnal Illusion: Mentioned by the main character.
  • Noragami: Yato sings a line of it when crashing at Tenjin's shrine for the night in episode 2, from 13:44 to 13:50. The same scene appears in chapter 3 (page 159) of the manga.
  • Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: The yokai, Tōryanse, is a member of the Hundred Tales Clan.
  • Paranoia Agent
  • Ping Pong Club
  • Pokémon: In episode 352 (or episode 76 of Advanced Generation), a version is rewritten to be about the Pokémon Baltoy (Yajiron) and is sung multiple times.
  • Power In Numbers: A sample of children singing the line "Nie no nai mono tōshasenu" is used in the track 'Acetate Prophets'
  • Pride: In episodes 5 and 8.
  • Pom Poko
  • Rurouni Kenshin: In episode 16, Tōryanse is sung by Sasaki Heihachirou's students at the end of the episode.
  • Sayonara: The Takarasiennes sing the song as they cross the bridge to their dormitories.
  • Sengoku Basara: The character Maeda Keiji often sings the last part of the song.
  • Serial Experiments Lain: In episode 5, played at the crosswalks in Shibuya before Mika crosses one.
  • Servamp: In episode 6, Tsubaki sings the song before attacking Lawless.
  • Shakugan no Shana II: At the beginning of the first episode.
  • Shikabane Hime: Several times in episode 2.
  • Tatami Galaxy: In episode 7.
  • The Forest (2016 film): In various scenes, but most noticeably at the beginning of the film.
  • Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad: From 6:24 to 6:49.
  • Urusei Yatsura: In episode 53.
  • Witchblade: In episode 5.
  • Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta: In episode 10, from 12:31 to 12:40.

See also

References
  1. This sentence is ambiguous and controversial. See 実用日本語表現辞典. The word kowai can be 強い "hard/difficult" as well. cf. 手強い（てごわい）
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