[RARE] Imperial Japanese Song - The March of a Nation (国民進軍歌) JPN/ENG SUB

This is a song written in 1940 to unite the Japanese people with the goal of promoting national support for the Japanese invasion of China. This version was sung by the Philharmonic Chorus of Tokyo (東京混声合唱団). For some reason, this song is not very well-known even within gunka circles, with no existing English translations available until now.

This version is a truncated version of the full song, which has four verses instead of the three in this video. The full lyrics and translation are provided below:

この陽この空この光
This sun, this sky, this light
アジアは明ける厳かに
Solemnly herald the dawn of Asia
燃える希望の一億が
The burning hope of 100 million
傷痍の勇士背に負うて
Is borne on the backs of our disabled veterans
いま踏みしめる第一歩
Now we must take the first step
使命にこぞる進軍だ
On the advance toward our mission

その血その肉その命
That blood, that flesh, those lives
国にささげた忠魂に
Are the loyal souls dedicated to our nation
尽きぬ感謝の一億が
The endless gratitude of 100 million
誉れの遺族もり立てて
Is shown to the honorable families of the deceased
いま足音も高々と
Now the sound of our footsteps is loud
理想つらぬく進軍だ
On the persistent advance toward our ideals

あの子あの父あの夫
The son, the father, the husband
皇国の楯と征きに征く
Are the shield of the empire and its conquerors
揮う銃後の一億が
And the home front of 100 million
強者の家扶けつつ
Will look after the families of the strong men
いま前線に呼応して
Now, echoing across the front lines
声も轟く進軍だ
Is the roaring sound of our advance

わが身わが意気わが力
My body, my will, my strength
心ひとつに協せつつ
Are in complete accord
強い覚悟の一億が
The unbreaking determination of 100 million
帰還の勇士先立てて
Is led by the returning heroes
いま大陸に大洋に
Now, from the continent to the ocean
国をあげての進軍だ
Comes the march of an entire nation!

Disclaimer: I do not endorse or support Imperial Japan in any way; this video is purely for educational/historical purposes.