証 証 証城寺
(Shojoji no Tanuki)
Masae wrote, "I think you need an explanation about this song. In Japan, we believe (especially when we are small) that the raccoon dog plays the belly drum with its front legs while standing on its hind legs. Shoujou-ji Temple is famous for the tradition of the raccoon dog belly drum.
However, this song is not a traditional one. The full name of the song is 'Shojoji no tanuki bayashi' (Raccoon Dogs Dancing at Shojoji Temple). The lyrics were written by Noguchi Ujo (1882 – 1945)."
Below is the newer version of this song...
証 証 証城寺
(Shojoji no Tanuki)
Raccoon Dog Drumming at Shojoji Temple
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Japanese)
(English)
証 証 証城寺
証城寺の庭は
ツ ツ 月夜だ
みんな出て 来い来い来い
おいらの友達ァ
ぽんぽこ ぽんの ぽん
負けるな 負けるな
おしょうさんに 負けるな
来い 来い 来い
来い 来い 来い
みんな出て 来い来い来い
証 証 証城寺
証城寺のはぎは
ツ ツ 月夜に 花盛り
おいらは浮かれて
ぽんぽこ ぽんの ぽん
At Sho-jo-ji Temple
The garden is bright
On the moonlit night.
Let's come and together,
We are raccoon dog friends,
Pon poko pon no pon!
Keep up with
The Priest*,
Let's come
Come and beat
On the belly drum together.
At Sho-jo-ji Temple,
The bush clover** is in
Full bloom on the moonlit night.
How merry and playful!
Pon poko pon no pon!
 - Japanese Children's Songs - Japan - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
"Pin It")
Notes
*of Sho-jo-ji Temple
**Japanese bush clover
Transliteration
Sho(u) Sho(u) Shoujou-ji (we pronounce it like "Sho-jo-ji")
Shoujou-ji no niwa wa
Tsu(n) Tsu(n) Tsukiyo da
Min-na dete koi koi koi
Oira no tomodacha
Pon poko pon no pon
Makeruna makeruna
O(t)-sho san ni makeruna
koi koi koi
koi koi koi
Min-na dete koi koi koi
Sho(u) Sho(u) Sho(u)jo(u)-ji
Sho(u)jo(u)-ji no hagi wa
Tsu(n) tsu(n) tsuki-yo ni hana zakari
Oiraha ukarette
Pon poko pon no pon
Comments
"Thank you for posting this song. I remember it and many others from my 1950's childhood in Japan. Tanuki is not a raccoon (although it is often called a raccoon-dog) and is related somewhat to dogs. I had a pet tanuki for a short time but as they are nocturnal – and wild – it was set free. They are gentle creatures as far as I know. The "belly drum" and other 'enhancements' are well known in Japanese culture. After so many years outside Japan, I still love this song, as well as Sakura and the Kimigayo..." -Carl Fields
*****
If you'd like to read more about Shojo-ji, click the link to go to a post about it on Mama Lisa's World Blog.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Thanks to Masae Morishima for contributing and helping to translate this song and for the transliteration! Thanks to Laura Manzano for help with the transliteration. Thanks to Yoko Collier-Sanuki for proofing this song for us. Thanks to Sadao Mazuka for helping with the song and for the midi.
Photo of Raccoon Dog: Wikipedia, cc.
Photo of Temple: Wikitravel
Arigato gozaimasu! 
