School Song
I figured it was about time to learn my school song. That way I can belt it out alongside my kids at every school ceremony / sporting event that comes around for the rest of my time here. To that end, I asked the music teacher for a copy and spent the last hour or so figuring out the kanji and whatnot. Some of them had funky readings indicated. I had to manually draw a lot of these kanji into the ATOK input system here at school because they’re not commonly used nowadays. I’ve checked this with some 国語 (こくご / kokugo / Formal Japanese) teachers, though, and am pretty sure that it’s right. Below you’ll see the full kanji version. Then I’ll put up a pronunciation guide and a translation. Ha ha. Anyway, I hope you find it interesting. I was surprised at how poetic the lyrics are.
愛媛県立伯方高等学校の校歌
一、
燧の磯にさす潮の
香も豊かなる生を享け
求めし知恵のいぶきせる
平和の鐘を打ち鳴らし
啓蒙に立つ我が学徒二、
旭日露と映ゆるとき
学びの園に集い来て
文あきらかに修めたる
使命を常に讃えつつ
実践励む我が学徒三、
宝股山頂の霧晴れて
空清朗に澄み渡り
色濃き松の雄々しくも
若き心に幸いし
理想果たさん我が学徒
Now, here’s the hiragana and romanized versions for most of us out there. I tried to split the romanized parts into smaller pieces where I felt like it worked (mostly along with the words, but also with the rhythm of the song). I wish I could put up a clip of the song so you could sing along with it.
えひめけんりつはかたこうとうがっこうのこうか
Ehime-kenritsu Hakata Koutougakkou no Kouka
一、
ひうちのいそにさすしおの
かもゆたかなるせいをうけ
もとめしちえのいぶきせる
へいわのかねをうちならし
けいもうにたつわががくとHiuchi no iso ni sasu shio no
Ka mo yutakanaru sei wo uke
Motomeshi chie no ibukiseru
Heiwa no kane wo uchinarashi
Keimou ni tatsu wa ga gakuto二、
きょくじつつゆとはゆるとき
まなぶのそのにつどいきて
ふみあきらかにおさめたる
しめいをとわにたたえつつ
じっせんはげむわががくとKyokujitsu tsuyu to hayuru toki
Manabi no sono ni tsudoikite
Fumi akirakani osametaru
Shimei wo towa ni tataetsutsu
Jissen hagemu wa ga gakuto三、
ほこさんちょうのきりはれて
そらせいろうにすみわたり
いろこきまつのおおしくも
わかきこころにさきわいし
りそうはたさんわががくとHokosan chyou no kiri harete
Sora seirou ni sumiwatari
Irokoki matsu no ooshikumo
Wakaki kokoro ni sakiwaishi
Risou hatasan wa ga gakuto
Lastly, here’s an attempt at a translation for the song. I’m curious to know if anyone else out there has a school song that they’d be willing to post. I always felt bad for not even knowing my alma mater at graduation. But it really isn’t as big of a deal in my American schooling experience. Anybody? Thoughts?
School Song of Hakata Prefectural High School (Ehime)
1.
The tide is ebbing against the signal fire’s shore
And partaking of its fragrance and ample life,
Breathing in the demand for wisdom,
Ringing the bell of peace,
Standing in enlightenment, we are students.2.
When the dew glows in the rising sun
We congregate at the school
To clearly master writings
Our mission extolled eternally
Zealously using what we’ve learned, we are students.3.
The clearing mist surrounding Mt. Hoko’s* summit,
The serenely crystal clear sky,
The gallantry of the richly colored pine trees,
All means happiness to a young heart
Realizing our dreams, we are students.* – Mt. Hoko is the tallest mountain on Hakatajima.
