Tokyo's first planetarium, installed at the Tō Nichi Planetarium in Tō Nichi Kaikan (building of Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun, predecessor of The Mainichi Newspapers) in Yurakuchō, was a sensation from its opening in November 1938 (Showa 13). To spread its fame further, about a month after opening—December 9—the company began a prize contest for lyrics titled "Song of Stars and Moon," praising celestial bodies, especially stars and the moon.
A same-day company notice explained: "Abroad, pieces like the evening-star song from Wagner's Tannhäuser are beloved worldwide; many national or folk songs have been born. Yet in our country few modern songs on the heavens are widely sung—a curious lack for modern Japanese so sensitive to nature. We hope this project will produce star and moon poetry that captivates the age."
Entries were sought for one popular song and one children's song; prize money was 200 yen each. For the children's song, commemorative gifts would also go to the winner's school or group. In those days anpan and pencils cost 5 sen, soba 10 sen, and 10 kg of rice 2 yen 28 sen—200 yen was substantial.
Some five thousand entries arrived. Judges were Yaso Saijō, Sōnosuke Satō, Hachirō Satō, Masao Kume, and Kōsaku Yamada.
Etsuo Kitazato of Kumamoto won the popular song category; Shimako Mezaki of Daita Elementary, Tokyo, won the children's song. Five honorable mentions were chosen for popular song and two for children's song.
Kitazato's winning popular song has four verses:
１） 幼きころよ「のの様」と
胸にいだかれ仰ぎたる
月の光の美しさ
未だうら若き母上の
月のおもわにほのぼのと
うかびいづるもなつかしや
２） 優しき月は母にして
星は小さきはらからと
語りたまひし母こひし
そのオリオンの三つ星に
つきぬ訓（おし）への真善美
高く今宵もかゞやけり
３）七ツの星はゆるぎなく
北に連なる銀の百合
めぐるみ空の春秋に
光正しく身にうけて
この世の旅をたどれよと
さとし給ひしそのみ声
４）おもひでつきぬ星月に
母の教へを道しるべ
智慧の高根を極めても
なほむらさきの雲のはて
神秘は深き大空に
永久（とわ）のひかりを仰げかし
Kōsaku Yamada composed the music; Aki Futaba sang it. Released in May 1939 (Showa 14) by Columbia Records as "Song of Stars and Moon (Dedicated to a Loving Mother)"＝photo courtesy of Hoshi no Kai, Seiji Ogawa.