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'Red Flag'Author:Makimoto Kusuro← Back
*Red Flag*
To Proletarian Boys and Girls
O poor children.
This old man finds you all very dear.
This old man wrote this book for you all to read and sing.
Children of the wealthy needn't read it at all.
This old man is poor just like your fathers and mothers.
And has children like you all—lively and dear.
Last year, this old man lost a six-year-old girl named Sumire.
That was because this old man was poor and couldn't care for her like a wealthy child would have been.
But this old man still has two children.
Even if these two were to die, this old man would still not lose heart.
That is because there are so many of you lively ones here.
That is how much this old man thinks of you all as his own children.
This old man had always wanted to create good books for you all.
But in poverty, this old man couldn't even write books.
This time at last, this old man was able to create this book.
But this is merely a beginning—it can hardly be called anything good.
For one thing, the book costs too much.
Moreover, these children's songs might not yet be truly loved by you all.
But unlike those rich children, poets siding with the wealthy, or those who mock the poor alongside them—you won't scorn this old man's songs from the outset or speak ill of them.
Surely you'll read them joyfully and sing them gladly, just like this old man's own children and those dear to him—of that there can be no doubt.
Therefore, my beloved children.
This old man will make a promise with everyone.
This old man's next book will surely be a good one and will be made cheaper.
And this time, this old man wants you all to make him a promise. To make sure this old man keeps his previous promise, you all must read this book thoroughly—whether it's your favorite song in it, a song you dislike, how you felt using a particular song in a certain situation, or wanting this old man to create new songs for specific occasions next time—and steadily send such thoughts to him via letters or postcards.
And by all means, I want you to send me the songs you've created as well.
One more thing.
Don't read this book alone—instead, show it to all your friends whenever possible, have them read it, and lend it out.
And you must all sing together in harmony—energetically, in large numbers.
——I want you all to promise me this by all means.
Now then, everyone—grow up quickly, become brave proletarian fighters, and strike down those tormenting you and your fathers and mothers!
Tokyo-fu, Kichijoji 480
April 1930 Makimoto Kusuro
The Owl, the Swallow, and the Chicken
The owl grows old and decrepit.
Spineless,
Hiding in mountains,
Crying at night:
"In tattered clothes I serve!"
"I won't!"
The swallow sports fashion -
Tailcoat refined.
"I gnaw soil and insects,
Mouth bitter-lined."
Somersaulting madly,
Not through skies,
The chicken from daybreak
Loudly cries,
Brandishing crimson comb,
brandishing
scritch-scratch sharpening spurs
“Give us our rice!”
Candy-Peddling Bourgeoisie
The old candy seller—
Blow a toot-toot,
And look! He swelled up—
Great Octopus Monk?
No—a raccoon-like
Geezer through and through.
This guy—no doubt about it—
Was bad news.
From the bamboo at his rump,
Another toot-toot blown—
Swelling up again,
That massive belly—
Candy-Peddling Bourgeoisie
Gigantic belly
While blowing toot-toot,
My, my! Pop!
Horse
Horse, horse, packhorse
Are you happy?
Blindfolded
Adorned
Heave-ho, heave-ho
The packhorse pulled the cart.
The cart rumbled on.
Sake barrels.
Flutter-flutter small flags
Adorned
Rumble-rumble went the cart
Sake barrels.
Heave-ho, heave-ho
Through the town it went
The first shipment cart's
The cart's colored flags.
The packhorse dripped soddenly.
A drenching sweat.
Parrot
Perch in the tree's shade
Mr. Parrot
Again today since morning,
Gnaw-gnaw
The chains on its legs,
Gnaw-gnaw.
I want to cut I want to cut
These chains
Gnash gnash even as I bite
Still won't break
No matter how long I gnaw,
They still won't break -
These chains hardened through and through,
Solid metal forged true.
Yet I must keep gnawing,
I simply must.
The sky stretched vast.
The sun stood at high noon.
A breeze stirred in the tree shade.
It swayed gently.
Even so, the Parrot—
An impassive face
The chains on its legs
Gnaw-gnaw
Dropped flute
The black kite's mournful
The flute player
He dropped the flute.
He searched.
Somewhere around there,
Any flutes here?
Pietorotoro’s—
Any flutes here?
The flute lay in the rice paddy's
Among the rice stalks
At the scarecrow's sleeve.
A song lingered.
Ah, that's a bell cricket
Chirr-chirr
Or perhaps a katydid?
Katydid?
Oh, a lost item!
Omawari-san
Pietorotoro's
Any flutes here?
Omawari's whistle and the calling whistle's
Silver flute
Hung on a hook
He shouted
Sparrow Chase
A gaunt sparrow peeped weakly.
It fluttered down onto the rice ears.
"I'll never let you eat!"
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
It fled only to return—peeping feebly.
A gaunt sparrow clasped its hands.
"Oh how you crave it—you too must create!"
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
Even when fleeing, it returned—peeping feebly.
Its stomach peeped weakly and pleaded.
"To those who do not create—show them nothing."
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
They chased and chased—peeping feebly.
Its stomach peeped feebly and begged.
"Cry all you want—I won't give you anything!"
“Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!”
Village school
The classroom of the village school,
Take a little peek inside
Teacher and Students' Big Fight
The teacher pulled ears and slapped.
He snatched books and made them stand.
When they still wouldn't listen, he struck again.
When one peered into the neighboring classroom,
Three were made to stand at the back.
They cried until the period was over.
And then, the next classroom over
In the principal's moral education class,
He was teaching "Loyalty and Public Service."
The flag-waving old man
The railroad crossing guard's flag-waving old man
Staggering out, he stood stiffly.
Again today, from morning, he waved his flags.
Flags—ah, red and white.
Though he held a red flag,
What he waved was still the white flag.
The steam train came chugging.
Shaking its back and bouncing lightly
The express train—first and second class—
The railroad crossing guard's flag-waving old man
After letting it pass, he muttered "Damn them," and—
Without thinking, he waved the red flag.
May Day Play
One, rally!
Two, rally!
All, rally!
The tenement children
Everyone, come out!
I'm starving.
Link hands!
Town center
Let's march through
It's May Day Play!
Formation complete
Fear not
Do not break ranks
Advance!
Chindon Candy Seller
Clang-clang, boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
There came the candy seller, there he came!
It was the old man.
Receiving one sen,
Tsu-ta-ta
Tsu-ta-ta
Clang-clang, boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
The candy seller's old man
He waved flags.
The flags were but an accompaniment.
Clang-boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
Leaf coins
The wild fox from Konkon Hill
Transformed and popped up in town
Bought sake with leaf coins
Paid with leaf coins and took possession
This one won't get away unscathed!
Shall they fashion him into the Hare of Inaba?
Stone Jizo
The Stone Jizo statue at the shrine in the fields
Surely you weren't sleeping?
In a red kimono with a drool bib
You should be stone through and through.
"Don't play dumb and get moving already!"
I'm freezing and snot's running.
Issun-Boshi
From the hole in the tabi socks
A finger poked out.
Issun-Boshi's
Dirty face
Hehenono・Moheno・To
Write it down!
Roly-Poly Doll
Who do you think you're glaring at, Roly-Poly doll?
Dressed in a red kimono,
No hands or feet to speak of.
Rolling over and over, Roly-Poly doll.
What happened to your limbs, Roly-Poly doll?
Who took your hands? Who took your feet?
Driven out, tumbling over and over,
Shaking its body, it heaved itself upright.
With no hands or feet—the Roly-Poly doll.
Thrown out, it heaved itself upright,
"What’s this?" It glared at them and the enforcers.
The red-kimono-clad Roly-Poly doll.
Tongue-Cut Sparrow
Cheep-cheep, peck-peck.
Cheep-peck-peck
Hungry.
Licking paste.
Its tongue was cut off.
The little sparrow
It could not even speak.
Cheep-peck-peck
It sobbed quietly alone.
Cheep-peck-peck.
Searching for shelter,
Cheep-peck-peck.
Walked and walked,
There was no shelter.
Gentle flurries of snow
Began to fall.
At the house in the fields too,
The light came on.
Monkey and Crab
The persimmon seed received from the monkey
The crab, unaware it had been deceived,
applied fertilizer with a tightly tied headband.
Sprouted two leaves, buds emerged, flowers bloomed.
When the fruit appeared—where did it come from?
Popped up—the mountain monkey’s red face.
He lavished praise: “Splendid! Splendid!”
Shinnied up the trunk—mountain monkey wretch!
Munch-munch—the mountain monkey stuffed its cheeks with red persimmons.
The good-natured crab was deceived.
Looked up from below and waited—
Green persimmons split open on the shell.
"You—awful mountain monkey wretch!"
"I won't let this bastard escape!"
The stone mortar ally, the bee, the chestnut—
A great many allies gathered—
Finally—the mountain monkey's red face.
With a chop—lopped it off—a pallid face.
A Litany of Taking
Let us begin with this litany of taking.
Bear and Kintaro try to dwell,
The Lump-Removing Old Man removes lumps,
The monkey deceives and takes persimmons.
Rice ball · Persimmon seed
The Crab's vengeance—we take together
Yes, we take them all together!
Let us begin with this litany of taking.
Landlords swaggered and took tribute rice.
The rich idled about and collected interest.
Taxes were taken whether you had them or not.
Bourgeoisie: clenched fists.
Before long, we would take that back!
Yes, we would take that!
Mr. Monster.
Round and rolling—this creature was—
What was this thing?
Strike it and it swelled.
The neck emerged.
Squirming, sprouting—hands emerged.
Legs emerged.
The enormous belly—
Beer barrel.
What had this thing been eating?
What had he been sweetening?
The Bunbuku teakettle?
Mr. Monster.
Carelessly on the side—
Unapproachable.
Dangerous, dangerous
"What’s that? —‘The rich’—"
Nodding doll.
Poke it or pull it,
Nodding doll.
Perched compactly,
Staring fixedly,
Large head
Click-clack.
The nodding doll was pitiful.
After all, it's just a toy—
Nodding doll
Without uttering a sound,
Click-clack·Clack
If only its neck—
Left and right.
The nodding doll is pitiful.
Pussy willow
Pussy willow
Without eating anything, parent and child
Gnawing on green wood—the pussy willow
All together, rumps raised high
Eat and eat though they may, the pussy willows
They wait for spring to arrive.
Red Flag
Rise up
Rise up
Gather, children
Our flag
We will protect it ourselves.
Flutter
Snap
Red Flag
Advance!
Advance!
Link arms, children
Our path
We will forge our path.
Surge
Billow
Red Flag
Field return
Out came the moon, out it came above the forest
Above the forest
A moon blue as a cucumber
Blue moon
Frogs provided accompaniment in the paddy fields.
They provided accompaniment.
Croak-croak, croak-croak-croak.
Croak-croak-croak.
Fireflies on the country path became aerial fireworks.
Aerial fireworks.
Lovely fireworks sparkled and shone.
Glitter-glitter
When we returned home, there was a single lamp.
A single lamp.
At the yellow lamp, two moths.
Two moths.
When we've eaten three, let's stop.
Let's stop.
The rice may be black, but it's warm.
Warm.
Loofah
The carefree fellow's loofah parent and child
Today again since morning - groan groan groan.
Looking ready to tumble down any moment,
The loofah droops limply in slumber.
Dozing figures—the carefree parent and child.
Rot away from the very crown.
Red beans
Podded beans
Burst open.
Red beans.
Roll, roll
Become one
Become one
Good friends
Koyoshi
The original pod
Don't forget
Goat
A wee goatee
Mr. Goat
Eat and eat,
The scrawny wretch's
Your backside's
Those bones of yours
A bowl of rice
Let me treat you.
Or perhaps yakitori
Do partake.
If it's beef rice,
Even better
Kicking pebbles, kick-kick
Kicking pebbles, kick-kick
If you walk the country path
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Here they come, here they come—the damn dogs!
The chubby pigs and—
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
The pigs too, the damn dogs too—
Proud whiskers
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
At the tips of their whiskers
Camellia lanterns
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Enough—right here!
They flicked the pebble
Clatter-clang! Clatter-clang!
In a flash—saw! Saw!
Woof-woof! Vroom-vroom!
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Tap-tap, hop and leap
Tap-tap hopscotch, who's that there?
It's Tonkichi from next door with the limp.
Tonkichi tap-tap, what's he up to?
Tap-tap, he flies off next door.
The child next door is also Tonkichi.
Straw sandals and wooden clogs clatter-clop
The one tap-tap flying is Mr. Disabled Soldier.
The scarecrow in the rice fields clatter-clops too.
Comrades with one leg gathered,
Clatter-clop, clatter-clop—it's hopscotch time!
Tap-tap hopscotch—they won’t tumble.
Everyone supports and leans on each other
Leaning on each other
Alarm Bell
Listen! It rings—the bell!
It's the alarm bell!
They fly off cloaked in straw raincoats and hats
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Are you prepared—have you all come out?
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Gongs, drums, conch shell horns!
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Here they come, here they come—from the village across too!
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Don’t scatter, don’t clamor, don’t panic
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Don’t lag, don’t split, don’t stray apart
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Woof woof
The damned dog—
Sniff sniff
The dog comes out from the shed.
The dog barks with a woof.
The dog barks with a woof.
If it barks, crawl over here
Woof woof
Here now!
To where the signal sounds—
Crawl over here
Circle over here
Circle three times and bow.
Woof woof
Forgot.
Forgot the original path.
This way, that way
Stumble here, stumble there
It lifts one leg and pisses.
Horse clip-clop
Horse clip-clop
Hy-dood
The horse is Marx
Engels
Liebknecht too
Crawling on all fours
Riding the red-haired
Little Jean
Horse clip-clop
Hy-dood!
Onward, horse!
Hy-dood!
Old Man Marx
Engels
Liebknecht too
Crawl and spread
Horseplay
Hy-dood!
The red-haired child
Thump thump
The horses are three
In great haste.
With a scrambling dash,
Crawl and spread.
I'm the nursemaid
One - in Hitachi's mountain wilds
In mountain wilds
I’m the nursemaid who came out starving,
Two—both parents cast me aside,
cast me aside—
As expected, even here they won't let me eat.
Three—everyone consoles me,
They console—
Our time will come soon!
Four—the dreams I see every night are,
the dreams I see are,
On my back, the crimson infant grows horns.
Five—when I must cry against my will,
When I cry—
Hushabye, rock-a-bye, hush now sleep tight.
Six—a fire burns in my chest,
The fire burns.
From morning till night, nothing but unreasonable demands.
Seven—I want to learn everything,
I want to learn.
I want to write a letter home too.
Eight, a stray dog with no home
Stray dog.
You must be cold too—snow falls.
Nine, if I come out here and look,
If I come out here and look,
The factory whistle, there it sounds.
Ten, finally I bid farewell.
Farewell.
When my indentured years end, my body is free, my body is free.
Gear Dance
Fall in line, fall in line
The gear teeth lock tight
Gear Dance:
They march in lockstep
Form a ring, spread out!
Spin round and round!
Clattering gears
Gear Dance
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
From morning till night
In a corner of the factory
The oil's run dry
Our bellies growl empty.
Gnash and grind
Gear teeth gnashing
We gears
Our resentment runs deep
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
We want to grab and devour
The swollen necks of earth-lords
We want to rip and shred
Their trailing silken hems
Yet instead we grind
Dust-choked and parched
We gears
Our hatred runs marrow-deep
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Today again from morning
We've eaten nothing
Our bellies growl empty
Gnash our teeth
At least don't break.
Gear teeth, gear teeth,
Brightness draws near,
The sun's eye we see.
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Jump Rope Song
One leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
From village to hamlet
The Red Flag leapt
Two leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Over the Red Flag
Tepomaru leapt.
Three leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
To the red roofs
The sickle and hammer leapt.
Four leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Crimson sparks
They leapt to heaven.
Five leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Things that stand in the way
Everything—look!—leapt.
Handball Song
One-ee, Two-oo, Three-ee, Four-oo
Ears were plugged, mouths were sewn shut.
Handcuffs, leg irons, made into formless lumps.
Bound with thread, cinched up tight.
Tap-tap, tumbled round - behold the handball!
The more you struck it, the higher it sprang.
Spring up, handball! Tap-tap and dance!
Tomorrow, the handball too will ***.
A pale-faced, trembling soul—
Move aside, move aside—the handball comes!
Is the meddlesome child Mr. X?
If not, then Mr. XX.
Enemies and allies stand clearly divided now.
Now fully divided.
――Handover
Flurry flurry, light snow
Oh child, oh child, listen well.
When Father was little,
Even when starving, there was no rice.
Flurry flurry, on nights when light snow fell,
Alone he watched snow blanket the fields.
Flurry flurry, if this snow were rice,
How freely we'd feast without care!
Oh child, oh child, listen well.
When Mother was little
Even when cold, she had but one set of clothes.
Flurry flurry, on an evening when light snow fell
She watched the snow alone on the roof.
Flurry flurry, if this light snow were cotton,
How snugly one could bundle up
To Proletarian Boys and Girls
O poor children.
This old man finds you all very dear.
This old man wrote this book for you all to read and sing.
Children of the wealthy needn't read it at all.
This old man is poor just like your fathers and mothers.
And has children like you all—lively and dear.
Last year, this old man lost a six-year-old girl named Sumire.
That was because this old man was poor and couldn't care for her like a wealthy child would have been.
But this old man still has two children.
Even if these two were to die, this old man would still not lose heart.
That is because there are so many of you lively ones here.
That is how much this old man thinks of you all as his own children.
This old man had always wanted to create good books for you all.
But in poverty, this old man couldn't even write books.
This time at last, this old man was able to create this book.
But this is merely a beginning—it can hardly be called anything good.
For one thing, the book costs too much.
Moreover, these children's songs might not yet be truly loved by you all.
But unlike those rich children, poets siding with the wealthy, or those who mock the poor alongside them—you won't scorn this old man's songs from the outset or speak ill of them.
Surely you'll read them joyfully and sing them gladly, just like this old man's own children and those dear to him—of that there can be no doubt.
Therefore, my beloved children.
This old man will make a promise with everyone.
This old man's next book will surely be a good one and will be made cheaper.
And this time, this old man wants you all to make him a promise. To make sure this old man keeps his previous promise, you all must read this book thoroughly—whether it's your favorite song in it, a song you dislike, how you felt using a particular song in a certain situation, or wanting this old man to create new songs for specific occasions next time—and steadily send such thoughts to him via letters or postcards.
And by all means, I want you to send me the songs you've created as well.
One more thing.
Don't read this book alone—instead, show it to all your friends whenever possible, have them read it, and lend it out.
And you must all sing together in harmony—energetically, in large numbers.
——I want you all to promise me this by all means.
Now then, everyone—grow up quickly, become brave proletarian fighters, and strike down those tormenting you and your fathers and mothers!
Tokyo-fu, Kichijoji 480
April 1930 Makimoto Kusuro
The Owl, the Swallow, and the Chicken
The owl grows old and decrepit.
Spineless,
Hiding in mountains,
Crying at night:
"In tattered clothes I serve!"
"I won't!"
The swallow sports fashion -
Tailcoat refined.
"I gnaw soil and insects,
Mouth bitter-lined."
Somersaulting madly,
Not through skies,
The chicken from daybreak
Loudly cries,
Brandishing crimson comb,
brandishing
scritch-scratch sharpening spurs
“Give us our rice!”
Candy-Peddling Bourgeoisie
The old candy seller—
Blow a toot-toot,
And look! He swelled up—
Great Octopus Monk?
No—a raccoon-like
Geezer through and through.
This guy—no doubt about it—
Was bad news.
From the bamboo at his rump,
Another toot-toot blown—
Swelling up again,
That massive belly—
Candy-Peddling Bourgeoisie
Gigantic belly
While blowing toot-toot,
My, my! Pop!
Horse
Horse, horse, packhorse
Are you happy?
Blindfolded
Adorned
Heave-ho, heave-ho
The packhorse pulled the cart.
The cart rumbled on.
Sake barrels.
Flutter-flutter small flags
Adorned
Rumble-rumble went the cart
Sake barrels.
Heave-ho, heave-ho
Through the town it went
The first shipment cart's
The cart's colored flags.
The packhorse dripped soddenly.
A drenching sweat.
Parrot
Perch in the tree's shade
Mr. Parrot
Again today since morning,
Gnaw-gnaw
The chains on its legs,
Gnaw-gnaw.
I want to cut I want to cut
These chains
Gnash gnash even as I bite
Still won't break
No matter how long I gnaw,
They still won't break -
These chains hardened through and through,
Solid metal forged true.
Yet I must keep gnawing,
I simply must.
The sky stretched vast.
The sun stood at high noon.
A breeze stirred in the tree shade.
It swayed gently.
Even so, the Parrot—
An impassive face
The chains on its legs
Gnaw-gnaw
Dropped flute
The black kite's mournful
The flute player
He dropped the flute.
He searched.
Somewhere around there,
Any flutes here?
Pietorotoro’s—
Any flutes here?
The flute lay in the rice paddy's
Among the rice stalks
At the scarecrow's sleeve.
A song lingered.
Ah, that's a bell cricket
Chirr-chirr
Or perhaps a katydid?
Katydid?
Oh, a lost item!
Omawari-san
Pietorotoro's
Any flutes here?
Omawari's whistle and the calling whistle's
Silver flute
Hung on a hook
He shouted
Sparrow Chase
A gaunt sparrow peeped weakly.
It fluttered down onto the rice ears.
"I'll never let you eat!"
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
It fled only to return—peeping feebly.
A gaunt sparrow clasped its hands.
"Oh how you crave it—you too must create!"
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
Even when fleeing, it returned—peeping feebly.
Its stomach peeped weakly and pleaded.
"To those who do not create—show them nothing."
"Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!"
They chased and chased—peeping feebly.
Its stomach peeped feebly and begged.
"Cry all you want—I won't give you anything!"
“Hoy-hoy! There, it fled!”
Village school
The classroom of the village school,
Take a little peek inside
Teacher and Students' Big Fight
The teacher pulled ears and slapped.
He snatched books and made them stand.
When they still wouldn't listen, he struck again.
When one peered into the neighboring classroom,
Three were made to stand at the back.
They cried until the period was over.
And then, the next classroom over
In the principal's moral education class,
He was teaching "Loyalty and Public Service."
The flag-waving old man
The railroad crossing guard's flag-waving old man
Staggering out, he stood stiffly.
Again today, from morning, he waved his flags.
Flags—ah, red and white.
Though he held a red flag,
What he waved was still the white flag.
The steam train came chugging.
Shaking its back and bouncing lightly
The express train—first and second class—
The railroad crossing guard's flag-waving old man
After letting it pass, he muttered "Damn them," and—
Without thinking, he waved the red flag.
May Day Play
One, rally!
Two, rally!
All, rally!
The tenement children
Everyone, come out!
I'm starving.
Link hands!
Town center
Let's march through
It's May Day Play!
Formation complete
Fear not
Do not break ranks
Advance!
Chindon Candy Seller
Clang-clang, boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
There came the candy seller, there he came!
It was the old man.
Receiving one sen,
Tsu-ta-ta
Tsu-ta-ta
Clang-clang, boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
The candy seller's old man
He waved flags.
The flags were but an accompaniment.
Clang-boom-boom
Clang-boom-boom
Leaf coins
The wild fox from Konkon Hill
Transformed and popped up in town
Bought sake with leaf coins
Paid with leaf coins and took possession
This one won't get away unscathed!
Shall they fashion him into the Hare of Inaba?
Stone Jizo
The Stone Jizo statue at the shrine in the fields
Surely you weren't sleeping?
In a red kimono with a drool bib
You should be stone through and through.
"Don't play dumb and get moving already!"
I'm freezing and snot's running.
Issun-Boshi
From the hole in the tabi socks
A finger poked out.
Issun-Boshi's
Dirty face
Hehenono・Moheno・To
Write it down!
Roly-Poly Doll
Who do you think you're glaring at, Roly-Poly doll?
Dressed in a red kimono,
No hands or feet to speak of.
Rolling over and over, Roly-Poly doll.
What happened to your limbs, Roly-Poly doll?
Who took your hands? Who took your feet?
Driven out, tumbling over and over,
Shaking its body, it heaved itself upright.
With no hands or feet—the Roly-Poly doll.
Thrown out, it heaved itself upright,
"What’s this?" It glared at them and the enforcers.
The red-kimono-clad Roly-Poly doll.
Tongue-Cut Sparrow
Cheep-cheep, peck-peck.
Cheep-peck-peck
Hungry.
Licking paste.
Its tongue was cut off.
The little sparrow
It could not even speak.
Cheep-peck-peck
It sobbed quietly alone.
Cheep-peck-peck.
Searching for shelter,
Cheep-peck-peck.
Walked and walked,
There was no shelter.
Gentle flurries of snow
Began to fall.
At the house in the fields too,
The light came on.
Monkey and Crab
The persimmon seed received from the monkey
The crab, unaware it had been deceived,
applied fertilizer with a tightly tied headband.
Sprouted two leaves, buds emerged, flowers bloomed.
When the fruit appeared—where did it come from?
Popped up—the mountain monkey’s red face.
He lavished praise: “Splendid! Splendid!”
Shinnied up the trunk—mountain monkey wretch!
Munch-munch—the mountain monkey stuffed its cheeks with red persimmons.
The good-natured crab was deceived.
Looked up from below and waited—
Green persimmons split open on the shell.
"You—awful mountain monkey wretch!"
"I won't let this bastard escape!"
The stone mortar ally, the bee, the chestnut—
A great many allies gathered—
Finally—the mountain monkey's red face.
With a chop—lopped it off—a pallid face.
A Litany of Taking
Let us begin with this litany of taking.
Bear and Kintaro try to dwell,
The Lump-Removing Old Man removes lumps,
The monkey deceives and takes persimmons.
Rice ball · Persimmon seed
The Crab's vengeance—we take together
Yes, we take them all together!
Let us begin with this litany of taking.
Landlords swaggered and took tribute rice.
The rich idled about and collected interest.
Taxes were taken whether you had them or not.
Bourgeoisie: clenched fists.
Before long, we would take that back!
Yes, we would take that!
Mr. Monster.
Round and rolling—this creature was—
What was this thing?
Strike it and it swelled.
The neck emerged.
Squirming, sprouting—hands emerged.
Legs emerged.
The enormous belly—
Beer barrel.
What had this thing been eating?
What had he been sweetening?
The Bunbuku teakettle?
Mr. Monster.
Carelessly on the side—
Unapproachable.
Dangerous, dangerous
"What’s that? —‘The rich’—"
Nodding doll.
Poke it or pull it,
Nodding doll.
Perched compactly,
Staring fixedly,
Large head
Click-clack.
The nodding doll was pitiful.
After all, it's just a toy—
Nodding doll
Without uttering a sound,
Click-clack·Clack
If only its neck—
Left and right.
The nodding doll is pitiful.
Pussy willow
Pussy willow
Without eating anything, parent and child
Gnawing on green wood—the pussy willow
All together, rumps raised high
Eat and eat though they may, the pussy willows
They wait for spring to arrive.
Red Flag
Rise up
Rise up
Gather, children
Our flag
We will protect it ourselves.
Flutter
Snap
Red Flag
Advance!
Advance!
Link arms, children
Our path
We will forge our path.
Surge
Billow
Red Flag
Field return
Out came the moon, out it came above the forest
Above the forest
A moon blue as a cucumber
Blue moon
Frogs provided accompaniment in the paddy fields.
They provided accompaniment.
Croak-croak, croak-croak-croak.
Croak-croak-croak.
Fireflies on the country path became aerial fireworks.
Aerial fireworks.
Lovely fireworks sparkled and shone.
Glitter-glitter
When we returned home, there was a single lamp.
A single lamp.
At the yellow lamp, two moths.
Two moths.
When we've eaten three, let's stop.
Let's stop.
The rice may be black, but it's warm.
Warm.
Loofah
The carefree fellow's loofah parent and child
Today again since morning - groan groan groan.
Looking ready to tumble down any moment,
The loofah droops limply in slumber.
Dozing figures—the carefree parent and child.
Rot away from the very crown.
Red beans
Podded beans
Burst open.
Red beans.
Roll, roll
Become one
Become one
Good friends
Koyoshi
The original pod
Don't forget
Goat
A wee goatee
Mr. Goat
Eat and eat,
The scrawny wretch's
Your backside's
Those bones of yours
A bowl of rice
Let me treat you.
Or perhaps yakitori
Do partake.
If it's beef rice,
Even better
Kicking pebbles, kick-kick
Kicking pebbles, kick-kick
If you walk the country path
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Here they come, here they come—the damn dogs!
The chubby pigs and—
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
The pigs too, the damn dogs too—
Proud whiskers
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
At the tips of their whiskers
Camellia lanterns
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Enough—right here!
They flicked the pebble
Clatter-clang! Clatter-clang!
In a flash—saw! Saw!
Woof-woof! Vroom-vroom!
Clatter-clang, clatter-clang
Tap-tap, hop and leap
Tap-tap hopscotch, who's that there?
It's Tonkichi from next door with the limp.
Tonkichi tap-tap, what's he up to?
Tap-tap, he flies off next door.
The child next door is also Tonkichi.
Straw sandals and wooden clogs clatter-clop
The one tap-tap flying is Mr. Disabled Soldier.
The scarecrow in the rice fields clatter-clops too.
Comrades with one leg gathered,
Clatter-clop, clatter-clop—it's hopscotch time!
Tap-tap hopscotch—they won’t tumble.
Everyone supports and leans on each other
Leaning on each other
Alarm Bell
Listen! It rings—the bell!
It's the alarm bell!
They fly off cloaked in straw raincoats and hats
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Are you prepared—have you all come out?
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Gongs, drums, conch shell horns!
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Here they come, here they come—from the village across too!
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Don’t scatter, don’t clamor, don’t panic
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Listen! It rings—the bell!
Alarm bell!
Don’t lag, don’t split, don’t stray apart
Running
Quick steps
Essassa
Woof woof
The damned dog—
Sniff sniff
The dog comes out from the shed.
The dog barks with a woof.
The dog barks with a woof.
If it barks, crawl over here
Woof woof
Here now!
To where the signal sounds—
Crawl over here
Circle over here
Circle three times and bow.
Woof woof
Forgot.
Forgot the original path.
This way, that way
Stumble here, stumble there
It lifts one leg and pisses.
Horse clip-clop
Horse clip-clop
Hy-dood
The horse is Marx
Engels
Liebknecht too
Crawling on all fours
Riding the red-haired
Little Jean
Horse clip-clop
Hy-dood!
Onward, horse!
Hy-dood!
Old Man Marx
Engels
Liebknecht too
Crawl and spread
Horseplay
Hy-dood!
The red-haired child
Thump thump
The horses are three
In great haste.
With a scrambling dash,
Crawl and spread.
I'm the nursemaid
One - in Hitachi's mountain wilds
In mountain wilds
I’m the nursemaid who came out starving,
Two—both parents cast me aside,
cast me aside—
As expected, even here they won't let me eat.
Three—everyone consoles me,
They console—
Our time will come soon!
Four—the dreams I see every night are,
the dreams I see are,
On my back, the crimson infant grows horns.
Five—when I must cry against my will,
When I cry—
Hushabye, rock-a-bye, hush now sleep tight.
Six—a fire burns in my chest,
The fire burns.
From morning till night, nothing but unreasonable demands.
Seven—I want to learn everything,
I want to learn.
I want to write a letter home too.
Eight, a stray dog with no home
Stray dog.
You must be cold too—snow falls.
Nine, if I come out here and look,
If I come out here and look,
The factory whistle, there it sounds.
Ten, finally I bid farewell.
Farewell.
When my indentured years end, my body is free, my body is free.
Gear Dance
Fall in line, fall in line
The gear teeth lock tight
Gear Dance:
They march in lockstep
Form a ring, spread out!
Spin round and round!
Clattering gears
Gear Dance
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
From morning till night
In a corner of the factory
The oil's run dry
Our bellies growl empty.
Gnash and grind
Gear teeth gnashing
We gears
Our resentment runs deep
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
We want to grab and devour
The swollen necks of earth-lords
We want to rip and shred
Their trailing silken hems
Yet instead we grind
Dust-choked and parched
We gears
Our hatred runs marrow-deep
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Today again from morning
We've eaten nothing
Our bellies growl empty
Gnash our teeth
At least don't break.
Gear teeth, gear teeth,
Brightness draws near,
The sun's eye we see.
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Clatter-clang, clatter-clatter
Jump Rope Song
One leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
From village to hamlet
The Red Flag leapt
Two leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Over the Red Flag
Tepomaru leapt.
Three leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
To the red roofs
The sickle and hammer leapt.
Four leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Crimson sparks
They leapt to heaven.
Five leapt
Leapt.
What leapt?
Leapt.
Things that stand in the way
Everything—look!—leapt.
Handball Song
One-ee, Two-oo, Three-ee, Four-oo
Ears were plugged, mouths were sewn shut.
Handcuffs, leg irons, made into formless lumps.
Bound with thread, cinched up tight.
Tap-tap, tumbled round - behold the handball!
The more you struck it, the higher it sprang.
Spring up, handball! Tap-tap and dance!
Tomorrow, the handball too will ***.
A pale-faced, trembling soul—
Move aside, move aside—the handball comes!
Is the meddlesome child Mr. X?
If not, then Mr. XX.
Enemies and allies stand clearly divided now.
Now fully divided.
――Handover
Flurry flurry, light snow
Oh child, oh child, listen well.
When Father was little,
Even when starving, there was no rice.
Flurry flurry, on nights when light snow fell,
Alone he watched snow blanket the fields.
Flurry flurry, if this snow were rice,
How freely we'd feast without care!
Oh child, oh child, listen well.
When Mother was little
Even when cold, she had but one set of clothes.
Flurry flurry, on an evening when light snow fell
She watched the snow alone on the roof.
Flurry flurry, if this light snow were cotton,
How snugly one could bundle up
Pagetop