Submitted by Maiko Heller on Mo, 12/26/2011 - 22:38
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Kiyoshi konoyoru
Holy night

kiyoshi konoyoru hoshiwa hikari

sukuino mikowa mihahano muneni

nemuri tamô

yume yasuku

Holy night, the stars are sparkling,

at the mother’s chest,

the Redeemer child is sleeping

and dreaming blessedly.

This song was introduced in Japan as a church song in 1900. Only in 1961, it was included in a school book for the sixth grade, and thereafter, was spread widely. The wording “at the mother’s chest” is included in the school book, while it is worded “in the horse food trough” in the church song version.