Battotai (march)

Battotai
	Organisational anthem of the Japanese Army and Police Force
Lyrics	Masakazu Toyama
Music	Charles Leroux, 1885–86
Published	1912
Audio sample
	1938 Performance by the NHK Symphony Orchestra file; help;

Battotai, also known as the Japanese Army Branch March (抜刀隊, Battō-tai or 陸軍分列行進曲 Rikugun bunretsu kōshinkyoku), is a Japanese march composed by Charles Leroux in 1912 and used by the Imperial Army of Japan and Japan Self-Defense Forces.[1]

Background

During the Battle of Tabaruzaka during the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, the imperial government's forces unexpectedly initiated hand-to-hand combat. The name derives from the Sword-Wielding Troops (or Battotai) units that were used during the engagement.

Lyrics


Japanese (Kana & Kanji)[2]	Japanese (Rōmaji)	English translation[3]
我は官軍我敵は天地容れざる朝敵ぞ敵の大將たる者は古今無雙の英雄で之に從ふ兵は共に慓悍决死の士鬼神に恥ぬ勇あるも天の許さぬ叛逆を起しゝ者は昔より榮えし例あらざるぞ敵の亡ぶる夫迄は進めや進め諸共に玉ちる劔拔き連れて死ぬる覺悟で進むべし皇國の風と武士の其身を護る靈の維新このかた廢れたる日本刀の今更に又世に出づる身の譽敵も身方も諸共に刃の下に死ぬべきぞ大和魂ある者の死ぬべき時は今なるぞ人に後れて恥かくな敵の亡ぶる夫迄は進めや進め諸共に玉ちる劔拔き連れて死ぬる覺悟で進むべし	Ware wa kangun waga teki wa Tenchi irezaru chouteki zo Teki no taishou taru mono wa Kokon musou no eiyuu de Kore ni shitagou tsuwamono wa Tomo ni hyoukan kesshi no shi Kijin ni hajinu yuuaru mo Ten no yurusanu hangyaku wo Okoseshi mono wa mukashi yori Sakaeshi tameshi arazaru zo Teki no horoburu sore made wa Susume ya susume moro tomo ni Tamachiru tsurugi nuki tsurete Shisuru kakugo de susumu beshi Mikuni no fuuto mono no fu wa Sonomi wo mamoru tamashii no Ishiin kono kata sutaretaru Nihontou no ima sara ni Mata yo ni izuru mi no homare Teki mo mikata mo moro tomo ni Yaiba no shita ni shisu beki ni Yamato-damashii aru mono wo Shinubeki toki wa ima naruzo Hito ni okurete haji kakuna Teki no horoburu sore made wa Susume ya susume moro tomo ni Tamachiru tsurugi nuki tsurete Shisuru kaku gode susumu beshi	We are the Imperial Force and whoever disobeys us Are the foes forsaken by the Heaven and the Earth. The head of the enemy, a legendary hero Compared to none throughout history. All the soldiers who follow him Are the fearless warriors prepared to die. Although their courage rivals the fiercest god Whoever rebel against the Imperials. Those the heavens do not tolerate, None of them have prospered through all ages. Until our enemies fall, Go forth, go forth, all together! Unsheathing your swords glistening like a gem, Go forth, resolved to die! The spirits who have defended the custom Of the Imperial Land and the Samurais’ bodies. After the Restoration, all of them remain abolished, But we are still able to brandish our Katanas. We are honored to come back to life, All of our friends and foes. They must fall beneath our blades, For those who possess the true spirit of Japan. Now is the time to die, Do not bring yourself shame with delay. Until our enemies fall, Go forth, go forth, all together! Unsheathing your swords glistening like a gem, Go forth, resolved to die!

Score

References

"陸上自衛隊：サウンド". 陸上自衛隊公式Webサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-13.
"新体詩抄. 初編 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション".
"Japanese Imperial Army Choir – Battotai lyrics + English translation (Version #2)". lyricstranslate.com. Retrieved 2021-02-11.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "陸上自衛隊：サウンド". 陸上自衛隊公式Webサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-13.

[2] "新体詩抄. 初編 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション".

[3] "Japanese Imperial Army Choir – Battotai lyrics + English translation (Version #2)". lyricstranslate.com. Retrieved 2021-02-11.