Obokuri Eemui / Obokuri Eeumi
Hmm…it recently occured to me, that a lot of people have stumbled upon my blog while searching for the song Obokuri Eemui / Obokuri Eeumi. Anyone who has seen the anime TV series, Samurai Champloo, would be familiar with this haunting and beautiful piece which was played in the 14th episode.
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Obokuri Eemui / Obokuri Eeumi roughly translated to Obtain Bearing, is an Okinawan song by Ikue Asazaki. Her haunting voice, coupled with an awesome piano piece, easily make this one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. In fact, I had mentioned this in my very first blog entry…that it’s my dream to play Canon in D minor as well as Obokuri Eemui / Obokuri Eeumi on the piano in front of a live audience. If there were to be a term ‘Hauntingly beautiful’ in the dictionary, then this song certainly deserves a mention there.
Obokuri Eemui / Obokuri Eeumi can be found on Ikue’s 2002 album titled Utabautayun. I however, searched for it immediately after Episode 14 ( 
) and found it on an mp3 rotation site, which is currently offline.
- Ok…I’m interested. Where can I download this song?
Chances are, you’ll find this song on most P2P networks under the name ‘Obokuri Eemui’ or ‘Obokuri Eeumi’ or ‘Obtain Bearing’.
If you don’t have any P2P softwares, then here’s a link I found.
If that link doesn’t work, then there’s another simple way to download it. Go to www.archive.org. On the top search bar, search for ‘Obtain Bearing’ in All Media Types. Then simply follow the first search result, and download the mp3.
- I’ve heard the song and totally loved it! But what does it mean?
Hmm…well…I found a rough translation for the song on the net (since I’m so obsessed with it). And it goes something like this :
In search of new lands, I build a new house
I thatch the house with reed stalks, gathered neatly in bundles
I thatch the house with reed stalks, gathered neatly in bundles
At the stone wall, let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred black kites.
At the stone wall, let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred black kites.
Let us celebrate the golden house, that was built by a hundred black kites.The eighth month is fast approaching, and yet I have nothing to wear
I want to dress gaily, so brother, will you lend me just one sleeve?
I wish to dress my children and loved ones… in the one kimono that I own
As for me, I will wear vines… that I plucked deep in the mountainsThe light of the full moon shines down,
illuminating the world with its divine light
When my lover sneaks in to visit me,
I wish that the clouds would hide that light just a little.
- Where can I find the sheet music for this song?
Thanks a ton to Solaras for finding the sheet music for this song. I’ll just quote the comment he/she left to this post -
“Sup all – i found the sheet music to this awesome and beautiful song.
http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~nal/obokuri_eeumi_v_0_1.pdf
As noted, the glissandos are not noted – These are the exact notes – i listened to the song over and over, comparing it to the sheet music and it matches.
However, you’ll probably have to put the expression into the song yourself, as most of the subtle changes in the song are not noted (volume, slight speed changes etc)
Im guessing anyone interested in playing this already knows the song like the back of their hand, so it should be no problem.
I didn’t make the transcription, you can thank “josh’s anime sheet music master index” for that!”
Once again…thanks a lot Solaras 
! I know lots of people who’ve been searching for this, so hopefully this will help out!
Here’s the link once again :
You can find this file on my server too, here>> My Server Link to Sheet Music
Hope I was able to help you out.
Peace.
Change
Back to the basics
im glad I came across this. this song is amazing, like you I heard it while watching ep 14, so i made a myspace for it. here http://www.myspace.com/obokuri I’m too lazy to html a link in there so copy and paste if your interested..
Dude… you are my hero!
So often I’ve heard songs from anime which are breathtakingly beautifull, but cannot find them anywhere on the net (or take weeks to…).
I’m STILL looking for a particular song (Prayer) from Beautifull Days, among others…
Anyway…thanks for making my life a little easier!
Cheers!
Glad I could be of help
Hey thanks for the link! That is awesome…I also love this song. It’s one of those song you listen to at the end of a long journey.
Thanks a lot, I was so disapointed when I finally got all the Samurai Champloo OSTs and I couldn’t find this song on them. I love it
Smile from Poland
I don’t know what else to say but… I LOVE YOU!
I have all the Champloo OSTs and was pissed to see this was the only great song that wasn’t in the set… What an oversight!
Anyways thanks again, you’ve just made my week!
As everyone has just stated, your a legend and may you have good karma for life.
Wow…I’m so happy so many people found this post useful
!
Thank you so much. This song is beautiful.
Thanks a lot!! i was looking for this song everywhere but couldn’t find it .. until now ^___^ so thanks, you really made my day.
I have to say thank you as well. I use this page numerous times to find song.
Sup all – i found the sheet music to this awesome and beautiful song.
http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~nal/obokuri_eeumi_v_0_1.pdf
As noted, the glissandos are not noted – These are the exact notes – i listened to the song over and over, comparing it to the sheet music and it matches.
However, you’ll probably have to put the expression into the song yourself, as most of the subtle changes in the song are not noted (volume, slight speed changes etc)
Im guessing anyone interested in playing this already knows the song like the back of their hand, so it should be no problem.
I didn’t make the transcription, you can thank “josh’s anime sheet music master index” for that!
whoops please excuse my grammar errors
Thank you for your generous attitudes on creating and mantaining this blog. It’s an excellent one! Thank you for the opportunity of downloading so good songs. Good luck for you.
thank u so much, when i heard that song for the first time my heart stopped, i wnat that song to be played at my funeral, amazing – u have a big fan in jamaica
wats up im wanted 2 kno if u could mail me the mp3 file for the song “obtain bearing” can u send it 2 inferno_flame2003@yahoo.com
Please, could you post me the song ? It would be really appreciated! I’m about to kill myself out of frustration, because I can’t find it and your links only let me listen to it but not download it. I would like to have it on my computer. Please, when/if you’re not busy, send it to Preyseeker@gmail.com Great blog!
man can you please mail me the samurai champloo song.. its impossible to find.. my address is assad.khan@kcl.ac.uk… thanks
Indeed i came across ur blog while searching for this awesome song! It’s one of a kind song! Thank you very much for your information, i have found it, Take care!
U r a hero to all who love this song. I still dont understand how it couldn’t be on the OST. We from Barbados thank you. Please post song at welcome2dabrickz@hotmail.com or kuchiki.uchiha@gmail.com. I await ur reply…
Hi kwesi
. Sent the song to your gmail account.
Also sent out to more people who had requested the song. Sorry if I sent you for a second time, or if I sent you too late
.
Thannk you thank you sooo much. I have been looking for this song, both to listen to, the lyrics and the sheet music. And you have it all here. Thank you so much!!
Hey, thanks for putting up this gem of a song, but i’m still having trouble finding it online!
If you could email it to me at olurch@gmail.com, i’d be much obliged
Thanks!
And the sheet music is a real help, its brilliant!
You rock, dude! That just made my day!
Many thanks from the man from Lahore!
– Omair
Not that you need another thanks on here… But thanks
I’ve been looking for this for a while. I don’t feel so bad using the archive.org link since I just picked up the entire box set for CS last week. On sale too! 
Who knows. the dvd’s came with really nice packaging and organization but if you turn it over you can see it’s a burnt dvd instead of a stamped one.
Someday… Someday I’ll get it right. Anyway, thanks again. Nice blog.
Thanks a lot! I’m glad that I found this song & all in all – lyrics too, on Your site. Kindly regards from melancholy mind! ;]
K.S. Murdoc
Hi. I’m writing to thank you for all you’ve done to find the mp3 version of this amazing and the most inspirational song I’ve ever heard, as well as the sheet music and lyrics. Thank you! I was looking for it everywhere and you seemed the only one who’s been willing to share it. As I read through the comments on this website I can see that a lot of people appreciate what you’ve done. (I’m one of them)Thanks again and take care. Katie
Thank you everyone for your kind words
. I’m glad that I was able to help you.
thanks so much for doing all that work to figure out the song and where to find it, unfortunately, none of the link worked for me…would you mind emailing the song to me (corvus_luna@hotmail.com)? i would greatly appreciate it…also, thanks for posting the sheet music too, thats so hard to find, so i really appreciate it.
Serafina
Even 2 years after your blog it still is useful for helping people finding that song. Fantastic work.
Thx for all !!!
If anyone is not moved by this song he/she must not have any senses!! Great, I sweare I couldn`t find this song anywhere, thankyou very mucho from Mexico!
Thanks!
OK-I just found this song yesterday and I really cannot stop listening-thanks for the translation-they suite it-
Glad I could help
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