Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) The scent of wine And Miwa mountain— Pleasant, green, And hidden from Nara’s sight. So many twists Along the paths Of my devotion— I long to see it Again and again. My heart Will never abandon This …
Read MoreI Am With the Autumn Mountains
Nukata no Ookimi (a.k.a. Princess Nukata, 630-690 AD) Winter hides And spring has come. The birds that haven’t chirped Begin to sing And the closed up flowers Begin to bloom. The mountains grow with thicket And I can join, but do not want to; The …
Read MoreA Moonlit Night
Naka no Ooe (aka, Emperor Tenji, 626-672 AD) Clouds spread like a flag Around the sea god, Aiming for the setting sun— I hope it clears For a moonlit night. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中大兄 中大兄 Naka no Ooe 渡津海乃 海神の Watatsumi no 豊旗雲尓 …
Read MoreAll the Way to Inani
Nake no Ohe (emperor, 668-672 AD) When Kagu And Miminari Fought each other, A god came there to watch— All the way to Inani. Note: Kagu and Miminari are mountains; in Japanese legend they fought each other for the love of Unebi Mountain. Inani was …
Read MoreMen Will Fight
Nake no Ohe (emperor, 668-672 AD) Kagu Mountain Loved Unebi Mountain, But Miminari loved her too— They fought. Since the Age of the Gods It has been so, Modern times and ancient too— Men will fight for the one they love. Note: Miminari is also …
Read MoreNot its Pearls
Nake no Ohe As desired, I saw Nojima And its deep port Of Agone— But not its pearls, alas. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Naka no Ohe 吾欲之 我が欲りし Waga horishi 野嶋波見世追 野島は見せつ Noshima ha misetsu 底深伎 底深き Soko fukaki 阿胡根能浦乃 阿胡根の浦の Agone …
Read MoreAway from Home
Ikusa no Oukimi Mist arrives And the long spring sun has set, But I do not understand The pain of this capricious heart. From behind, A thrush cries, Like a beautiful sash That hangs in the wind— A wind that travels From across the mountains …
Read MoreNakatsu Sumera Mikoto’s “Beneath the Young Pine”
My dear, This grass Will not do— Let us sleep beneath The young pine Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto 吾勢子波 我が背子は Waga Seko ha 借廬作良須 仮廬作らす Kariho tsukurasu 草無者 草なくは Kaya naku ha 小松下乃 小松が下の Komatsu ga shita no 草乎苅核 …
Read MoreNakatsu Sumera Mikoto’s “Tying the Roots”
Let’s tie the roots Together At Iwashiro Hill— Your life And my life too Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto 君之齒母 君が代も Kimi ga yo mo 吾代毛所知哉 我が代も知るや Waga yo mo shiru-ya 磐代乃 岩代の Iwashiro no 岡之草根乎 岡の草根を Oka no kusane …
Read MoreYou stood beneath a holy oak [Manyoshu Vol 1, No 9]
Emperor Nukata no Okimi Broken silence Beneath the Big Dipper— My dear, You stood at the roots Of holy oaks. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 額田王 額田王 Nukata no Okimi 莫囂圓隣之 莫囂円隣之 [unknown] 大相七兄爪謁氣 大相七兄爪謁気 [unknown] 吾瀬子之 我が背子が Waga seko ga 射立為兼 い立たせりけむ Itata serikemu …
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