White Rabbit - Poetry of Saeri Yokohama (Kotobukicho Eleven11 Ver.)

<Song introduction>
This song is the Kotobukicho Eleven 11 version of the original song "White Rabbit - Yokohama Saeri's Poem". Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of Taisho Roman and the female vocals that evoke the port town of Yokohama.

I (Iijima Katsuji), the songwriter and composer, was inspired by the life story of Yokohama Saeri, the proprietress of an izakaya called "eleven11" located at 4-12-4 Ogimachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in Kotobukicho.

Even though we may only be halfway through our lives, we still have a long way to go, and if we trace our upbringing, we will all experience days of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

I have heard that Yokohama Saeri herself has been blessed with many friends since her teenage years, which is where she is today.

This is not simply her own assumption, but even as a third party (Iijima Katsuji), I could sense this personality right away.

I have put into poems the story of a legendary woman who lived in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, who spent a half century that simply cannot be told, including the outlook on life that can be felt from Saeri Yokohama, the love she shared with her precious family, the expressions of her good old friends, the nostalgic stories she shared with them, and the strong trust they trusted. I have also put into poems the expressions of the many customers who visit the izakaya restaurant "eleven11" every day, and the kind consideration and appearance of the owner (herself) who greets them.

In order for you to enjoy this song, in addition to the original version, there are several other versions with different atmospheres, so please be sure to listen to them.

<About the author>
I, Katsuji Iijima, a songwriter and composer, was born in Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo in 1970 and am now 55 years old. I have had experience in dance and DJing since I was young, and perhaps as an extension of that, I began writing songs in earnest in 2024 to realize the joy of creating music.

Through this activity, I sincerely pray for world peace and sincerely hope that it will lead to a world without war (conflict) even a little.

April 11, 2025

Lyricist and composer: Katsuji Iijima