Composed by Rentaro Taki to lyrics by Bansui Doi (1871-1952) in Meiji 34 (1901), it was a prize-winning entry for a junior high school song competition. Bansui Doi, the lyricist, was a prominent poet at the time, active alongside Toson Shimazaki. It has also been selected for "100 Japanese Songs" (a collection of 101 lyrical and beloved songs, including children's songs, school songs, and popular songs, chosen by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National Federation of PTAs of Japan, intended to be sung and passed down by parents and children for generations). With lyrics that express the impermanence of all things and a melancholic melody, there are said to be multiple "ruined castles" across the country that served as its model.