Japanese War Song 軍歌: Nihonkai Kaisen 日本海海戦 #11

"Nihonkai Kaisen" (日本海海戦) is a Japanese war song based on the Battle of Tsushima.

Playlist with other versions of Nihonkai Kaisen 日本海海戦:    • Nihonkai Kaisen 日本海海戦  


Lyrics:

一、
海路一万五千余浬
万苦を忍び東洋に
最後の勝敗決せんと
寄せ来し敵こそ健気なれ

二、
時維（こ）れ三十八年の
狭霧（さぎり）も深き五月末（さつきすえ）
敵艦見ゆとの警報に
勇み立ちたる我が艦隊

三、
早くも根拠地後にして
旌旗（せいき）堂々荒波を
蹴立てて進む日本海
頃しも午後の一時半

四、
霧の絶間（たえま）を見渡せば
敵艦合せて約四十（しじゅう）
二列の縦陣作りつつ
対馬の沖にさしかかる

五、
戦機今やと待つ程に
旗艦に揚がれる信号は
「皇国（みくに）の興廃この一挙
各員奮励努力せよ」

六、
千載不朽（せんざいふきゅう）の命令に
全軍深く感激し
一死奉公この時と
士気旺盛に天を衝（つ）く

七、
第一第二戦隊は
敵の行手を押さえつつ
その他の戦隊後より
敵陣近く追い迫る

八、
敵の先頭「スウォーロフ（スワロフ）」の
第一弾を初めとし
彼我の打ち出す砲声に
天地も崩るる斗（ばか）りなり

九、 水柱白く立ちのぼり
爆煙黒くみなぎりて
戦（たたかい）愈々（いよいよ）たけなわに
両軍死傷数知れず

十、
されど鍛えに鍛えたる
吾が艦隊の鋭鋒に
敵の数艦は沈没し
陣形乱れて四分五裂（しぶごれつ）

十一、
いつしか日は暮れ水雷の
激しき攻撃絶間なく
またも数多（あまた）の敵艦は
底の藻屑と消えうせぬ

十二、
明くる晨（あした）の晴天に
敵を索（もと）めて行き行けば
鬱陵島（うつりょうとう）のほとりにて
白旗掲げし艦（ふね）四隻

十三、
副将ここに降を乞い
主将は我に捕らわれて
古今の歴史に例（ためし）なき
大戦功を収めけり

十四、
昔は元軍（げんぐん）十余万
筑紫の海に沈めたる
祖先に勝る忠勇を
示すも君の大御陵威（おおみいつ）

十五、
国の光を加えたる
我が海軍の誉れこそ
千代に八千代に曇（くもり）なき
朝日と共に輝かめ


Lyrics (English Translation):

1.
Sea route of around 150 000 ri,
with much suffering, to the Far East,
the last confrontation, the decisive battle,
the brave enemy comes.

2.
The year is 38,
from the thick fog in the end of may,
with the alarm of enemy ship spotted,
our fleet with rising bravery.

3.
Leaving the main base fast,
with our flag in the rough waves,
advancing in the Sea of Japan,
the time is 1.5pm.

4.
When we survey the intermittent mist,
The enemy's ships, numbering about forty,
Form two columns in a line formation,
approaching the waters near Tsushima.

5.
Just as we await the signal,
raised on the flagship, it reads,
"The faith of the Imperial country depends on this outcome,
Let everyone do their upmost best."

6.
Touched deeply by the order,
that will remain eternally revered,
With the spirit of offering one's life at this moment,
our morale soars, reaching the heavens.

7.
The 1st and 2nd Squadrons,
Hold the enemy's course in check,
While the other squadrons, from behind,
Press closer to the enemy's formation.

8.
The initial volley from the enemy's lead ship, "Suvarov,"
Marks the beginning of the battle,
With both sides unleashing their cannons,
Causing the heavens and earth to shake.

9.
White pillars of water rise,
black smoke billows forth,
The battle comes to its climax,
With casualties on both sides incalculable.

10.
However, through the sharpened skill,
of our fleet's vanguard,
Many of the enemy's ships sink,
their formation disrupted and in disarray.

11.
Before we know it, the day ends,
amidst a continuous and furious barrage of torpedoes,
Yet still, many of the enemy's ships,
vanish beneath the waves without a trace.

12.
In the clear dawn of the next day,
we search for the enemy and find them,
near the shores of Ulsan Island,
where four enemy ships have raised white flags.

13.
The Vice Admiral here requests surrender,
While the Admiral is taken captive by us,
Achieving an unprecedented feat in the annals of history,
a great victory for our Imperial Majesty.,

14.
In the past, our ancestors sank,
More than ten thousand of the enemy's ships,
In the sea off Chikuzen,
Demonstrating a loyalty and valor surpassing them.

15.
Indeed, the honor of our navy,
enhanced by the radiance of the nation,
shines alongside the cloudless,
rising sun for countless generations.