Tokyo Shoeshine Boy 東京シューシャインボーイ (Cover)

September 23 is Shoeshine Day in Japan. Shoeshine is "Ku-tsu-migaki" in Japanese. "Ku" in "Ku-tsu-migaki" is "9", "Tsu" is "2", and "Migaki" is "3" in Japanese. The song about "shoeshine" is "Tokyo Shoeshine Boy”. Released in May 1951, it was a major hit song by singer Teruko Akatsuki.

The song expresses the story of a war orphan who lost his parents in the war after World War II, and how, against all odds, he earned his daily bread and lived a strong life, working. Life is full of many things, but it is important to have a cheerful spirit to survive. In these days when we seem to forget to smile, let's sing this song to bring back the cheerful spirit.

9月23日は靴磨きの日。この日は｢くつみがき｣の｢く｣を｢9｣、｢つ｣を｢2｣、｢みがき｣を｢3｣とする語呂合わせが起源です。｢靴磨き｣の歌と言えば、｢東京シューシャインボーイ｣。昭和26(1951)年5月に発売された｢東京シューシャインボーイ」は、歌手 暁テル子の代表的ヒット曲です。

第二次世界大戦後、戦争で親を失った戦災孤児が逆境に負けず、靴磨きをしながら、日銭を稼いで、たくましく生きていく姿を表現した歌です。人生いろいろあるけれど、明るく生き抜く気持ちが大事です。笑顔を忘れてしまいそうになる今日この頃、この曲を歌って、明るい気持ちを取り戻したいですね。