is a 1915 romantic ballad that was popular in Taishà  period Japan. Lyrics were written by Isamu Yoshii, melody by Shinpei Nakayama. The lyrics of the song are presented as the advice of an experienced individual to younger souls regarding the fleeting nature of youth and the caution against missing the opportunities of youth when they are available and before they have passed with growing age.
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å½çÂÂãÂÂ<br />æÂÂãÂÂãÂÂå°Â女<br /> é»Â髪ã®è²<br />褪ãÂÂãÂŽÂÂã«<br /> å¿Âã®ãÂȋ®ãÂÂ<br />æ¶ÂãÂÂãÂŽÂÂã«<br /> ä»ÂæÂ¥ã¯ãµãÂÂãÂÂã³<br />æÂ¥ã‹ÂÂã®ãÂÂ
In rà Âmaji: <br /> <br /> inochi mijikashi<br /> koi seyo otome<br /> akaki kuchibiru<br /> asenu ma ni<br /> atsuki chishio no<br /> hienu ma ni<br /> asu no tsukihi no<br /> nai mono wo
inochi mijikashi<br /> koi seyo otome<br /> iza te wo torite<br /> ka no fune ni<br /> iza moyuru ho wo<br /> kimiga ho ni<br /> koko ni wa dare mo<br /> konu mono wo
inochi mijikashi<br /> koi seyo otome<br /> nami ni tadayou <br /> fune no yo ni<br /> kimiga yawate wo <br /> waga kata ni<br /> koko niwa hitome mo <br /> nai mono wo
inochi mijikashi<br /> koi seyo otome<br /> kurokami no iro <br /> asenu ma ni<br /> kokoro no honoo<br /> kienu ma ni<br /> kyou wa futatabi<br /> konu mono wo
In English: <br /> <br /> life is brief<br /> fall in love, maidens<br /> before the crimson bloom<br /> fades from your lips<br /> before the tides of passion <br /> cool within you,<br /> for there is no such thing <br /> as tomorrow, after all
life is brief<br /> fall in love, maidens<br /> before his hands<br /> take up his boat<br /> before the flush of <br /> his cheeks fades<br /> for there is not a person<br /> who comes hither
life is brief<br /> fall in love, maidens<br /> before the boat drifts away<br /> on the waves<br /> before the hand resting on your shoulder<br /> becomes frail<br /> for there is no reach here<br /> for the sight of others<br />
life is brief<br /> fall in love, maidens<br /> before the raven tresses<br /> begin to fade<br /> before the flames in your hearts<br /> flicker and die<br /> for today, once passed,<br /> is never to come again<br /> <br />
The music is written in three quarter time as a melancholy waltz in a major key played to a slow meter. Its structure is written to accompany four poetic stanzas where the first two verses of each stanza serve as a refrain throughout the entire song.
It was used as a theme song in Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film Ikiru. The terminally ill protagonist, played by Takashi Shimura, initially sings this romantic ballad as an expression of loss, and at the end with great contentment. His final performance of the song has been described as "iconic."
The song is also referenced in the Japanese manga titled '.
This music is also used in a Japanese drama titled Haikei, Chichiue-sama.
The song is sung in Clemens Klopfenstein's film Macao (1988).
The song was also used in the Japanese TV show titled Otomen.
The line "fall in love maidens" (Koi seyo otome) is used as the subtitle of the video game Sakura Wars 4.
From the song, the phrase "Life is short, fall in love, maidens..." (Inochi mijikashi, koi seyo otome...) gained some popularity during the 1990s in Japan. Especially the phrase "Koi Seyo Otome" has been used as the title for several songs and a Japanese television drama.
In the anime series ', Episode 42, King Dedede sings a version of the famous phrase "Life is short, fall in love, maidens..." (Inochi mijikashi, koi seyo otome...) but replaces "otome" with his own name, "Dedede". He sings this song on a swing set he built similar to the one in the film. However, this was only in the original version and was not translated into English.
The lyrics of the song were used in the novel Boogiepop and Others, as the leitmotif of Kamikishiro Naoko, one of the characters.
In the anime Kitsutsuki Tanteidokoro (Woodpecker Detective's Office), the song was recreated by the group "Now On Air" with mostly similar lyrics.
In the game Bungà  to Alchemist (Bungo and Alchemist), character Yoshii Isamu (based on the real-life poet who wrote the lyrics of the song) recites the famous phrase, "Life is short, fall in love, maidens..." (Inochi mijikashi, koi seyo otome...) as one of the log in lines that plays when a player logs into the game.