A Popular Song Inspired by the Russo-Japanese War, Bugle Song
July 1966

Nichiro Senso ga Unda Zokuyo, Rappa Bushi
[A Popular Song Inspired by the Russo-Japanese War, Bugle Song]
38.0 x 54.1 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

Lyrics of "Rappa Bushi" Song, Which Began to Become Popular from the End of 1904

Taoreshi senyu o dakiokoshi,
Mimi ni kuchi ate na o yobeba,
Nikko to waroute me ni namida.
"Banzai" tonayu mo kuchi no uchi.
Toko-tottoko-to!

I raised a fellow soldier in my arms, who lay dying,
calling his name with my mouth by his ear.
He smiled with tears in his eyes,
saying in a murmuring voice, "Banzai!'"
Toko-tottoko-to! (Onomatopoeia of the sound of a bugle)

Parody of the Above Lyrics
Taoreshi geisha o dakiokoshi.
mae o hagurite nagamureba,
sangokuichi no Fuji no yama.
Kai de miru yori suru ga yoi.
Toko-tottoko-to!

I raised a geisha in my arms, who was lying,
turning aside the front of her kimono to gaze down at her.
She looked like Japan's most beautiful Mt. Fuji.
But it's better to make love with her than only to smell and/or gaze upon her from afar.
Toko-tottoko-to!

[Translator's Notes: The last verse of the original lyrics "Kai de miru yori suru ga yoi" has other meaning than the above translation. "Kai de miru" also means "look at Mt. Fuji from the side of ?Kai' (Yamanashi Prefecture)" as well as "smell and/or look at her body." "Yori suru ga yoi" means "it's better to look at Mt. Fuji from the side of 'Suruga' (Shizuoka Prefecture) " as well as "it's better to make love with her."]


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15｜16 |

15／16