Translation of the song Shōwa artist Japanese Imperial Army Choir

汨羅の淵に波騒ぎ

Abyss of Miluo(1) river thunders with its waves

巫山の雲は乱れ飛ぶ

Clouds above the Gorge of Wu(2) hastly gather flying

混濁の世に我れ立てば

In the troubleous world to spend our youth we have

義憤に燃えて血潮湧く

Righteous wrath burns inside, blood boils in veins

権門上に傲れども

Tycoons of great power in luxury may live,

国を憂ふる誠なし

Fate of country does not bother them, as if it were another reality

財閥富を誇れども

Plutocracy and wealth are what gives them their pride

社稷を思ふ心なし

Grain and Soil(3) they treat however with no soul or heart

ああ人栄え国亡ぶ

Alas! ones are prospering, but country is diclining

盲たる民世に踊る

Blinded they are dancing above human fates

治乱興亡夢に似て

The rise and fall for people - for them no more than dream

世は一局の碁なりけり

Human life for them is nothing more than a round of Go

昭和維新の春の空

Of the Syouwa restoration under sky of spring

正義に結ぶ丈夫が

For the greater good the heroes are gathered together

胸裡百万兵足りて

With dead set of intentions, that is worth ten million soldiers

散るや万朶の桜花

From ten thousand branches cherry blossoms fall

功名何ぞ夢の跡

Stepping over decaying corpse

消えざるものはただ誠

Like a cloud, light is my heart

人生意気に感じては

In the time, when those concerned of a country will rise

成否を誰かあげつらふ

All is in vain, if there will be no song for a hero

やめよ離騒の一悲曲

Be that wrath of The Heavens, or voices of The Earth(3)

悲歌慷慨の日は去りぬ

Everywhere is heard this strange echoing sound

われらが剣今こそは

From the nationwide eternal dream

廓清の血に躍るかな

Arise, the new dawn of Japan!