Isao Hayashi -- Kougen no Yado（高原の宿）

 

Recently, there have been YouTube channels such as Pokke ASMR featuring cute anime cats providing tender loving ASMR care to those other cute animals who have gone through the wringer at work. Who doesn't need a massage and/or head spa after a hard day? I have to say that the sound effects are rather scrumptious.

I heard this one on a recent episode of "Shin BS Nihon no Uta"（新BS日本の歌）. "Kougen no Yado" (Highland Inn) was an April 1955 single released by Isao Hayashi（林伊佐緒）with the singer taking care of the melody while Kikutaro Takahashi（高橋菊太郎）took care of the lyrics. It's a soothing kayo kyoku about heading up to that titular highland inn away from the city for some well-needed rest and recreation. The slow languid rhythm along with the bird-sounding flute help with the aural therapy. 

To be honest, I was initially surprised about the existence of such a hedonistic song in the midst of a very tough postwar period of economic regrowth. However, I figured that even back then, workers simply needed some sort of R&R although I don't know whether they could afford something like a highland inn. Perhaps just a car ride into the countryside and perhaps a stay at a rustic ryokan would do the trick.