The peasants of the Shimabara Peninsula and Amakusa revolted against their lords in the mid-1630s during the Tokugawa period in Japan because they were tired of being overtaxed and experiencing starvation. They liberated some villages from their lords and occasionally ambushed and besieged Tokugawa settlements and outposts. Hiding in a village, one of the rōnin rebels was posing as a typical farmer. As he gathered some rice, he sang a little song in a soft manner. Even though he was extremely cautious and paranoid of the surroundings, he felt somewhat comfortable as the river meandered beneath the bridge close to the rice field.

"Sakura, Sakura, noyamamo satomo..." He continued gathering rice while quietly singing the song