From Yoritsune Matsudaira's Notes

This piano suite was commissioned by Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting in 1969 under the title "Utsukushii Nihon" (Beautiful Japan) for participation in the Arts Festival. Needless to say, this is the "title" of the lecture given by Mr. Yasunari Kawabata when he received the Nobel Prize. However, this piece was not particularly inspired by his literary content. Rather, finding beauty in the natural landscapes of Japan's four seasons seems to be a common traditional sentiment among us Japanese.

This suite consists of:

• Prelude
• Warabe-uta (Children's Song)
• Kusakari-uta (Grass-cutting Song)
• Paraphrase of Heikyoku
• Roei-style Fantasy
• Sokyoku-style Finale

The musical materials for these pieces are seasons and landscapes, and they are indirectly connected to the historical background from which our ancestors were inspired to compose for Japanese instruments (including voice).

Roei-style Fantasy is based on a poem with the theme of Altair and Vega, and is in a somewhat ornate style inspired by the Roei (recitation) style of Heian-period songs. Warabe-uta is based on children's songs from the Nagoya region, singing of a simple connection with nature. ... (Yoritsune Matsudaira)

Poem Excerpt

From 'Wakan Roeishu' by Ono no Yoshifuru: Roei "Two Stars"

First verse: The two stars (Jisei) happen to meet [二星適逢]

Before expressing the lingering sorrow of parting [未叙別緒依々之恨]

Second verse: The fifth watch (Goya) is about to break [五更将明]

Third verse: Frequently startled by the rustling sound of the cool breeze [頻驚涼風颯々之声]

Reference

Junichi Ishizuka: On Yoritsune Matsudaira's 'Utsukushii Nihon'

http://ooipiano.exblog.jp/15304150/