Translation of the song 歩兵の本領 artist Japanese Imperial Army Choir
歩兵の本領
Essence of the Infantry
万朶の桜か襟の色
Our collars look like blooming cherries
花は吉野に嵐吹く
Blossoms fall when a storm hits Yoshino
大和男子と生まれなば
Born as sons of Yamato we are prepared
散兵線の花と散れ
To fall like flowers in a skirmish line
尺余の銃は武器ならず
Rifles a few feet long are not weapons
寸余の剣何かせん
Blades a few inches long are of no use
知らずやここに二千年
Everyone knows that for two millennia
鍛えきたえし大和魂
We have developed the spirit of Yamato
軍旗まもる武士は
Warriors trusted to guard the colors
すべてその数二十万
We amount to two hundred thousand strong
八十余ヶ所に屯して
Garrisoned at more than eighty places
武装は解かじ夢にだも
Never thinking of letting our guard down
敵地に一歩我踏めば
Once making it through the enemy line
軍の主兵はここにあり
We infantrymen fight as the main arm
最後の決は我が任務
It is up to us to give the decisive blow
騎兵砲兵共同せよ
Cavalrymen and artillerymen, support us
アルプス山を踏破せし
There was a man who crossed the Alps
歴史は古く雪白し
A long, long time ago, in white snow
奉天戦の活動は
Our deeds in the Battle of Mukden show
日本歩兵の粋と知れ
The essence of the Japanese infantry
退く戦術はわれ知らず
Retreat is not a tactic we will choose
みよや歩兵の操典を
Learn what our manuals tell us to do
前進前進また前進
Move forward, forward, and forward
肉弾とどく所まで
As far as we human bullets can reach
ああ勇ましの我が兵科
How brave a branch of the Army we are
会心の友よ来たれいざ
Let's get together, dear best friends
ともに祝わん百日祭
To celebrate the 100th day before graduation
酒盃に襟の色写し
With our collars reflected in our cups