kissakai Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 We have seen many examples of old samurai 'death' poems Where there any examples from the Japanese soldiers of the first and second world wars? Most of us have seen the good luck flags from their friends and family Quote
Ontario_Archaeology Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 There are a list of final letters from kamekaze here https://www.japanpowered.com/history/final-letters-of-kamikaze-pilots#:~:text=Please don't worry about,will have achieved my ambition.&text=Last Letters of Kamikaze Pilots. And a better source with more material and death poems here: http://www.kamikazeimages.net/writings/ Quote
robinalexander Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 Hello Grev, Along similar lines of Matt H. not peoms, but in my research I have read quite a number of 'final' letters from IJN and IJA officers and NCO's convicted of war crimes at Rabaul, New Britain immeadiately after WW2. Most written on the eve of their execution. Moving. They provide an insight into certain aspects Japanese culture (particularly) at that time. If you, or anyone, was interested I could dig up the link. Rob Quote
kissakai Posted October 25, 2020 Author Report Posted October 25, 2020 Some great resources - thanks I was thinking more along the lines of: Ota Dokan 1432-1486 Had I not known that I was dead already I would have mourned my loss of life. 1 Quote
Gakusee Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 Grev UK, perhaps the WW2 soldiers were not lyrically or romantically predisposed as their Zen-instilled forebears? I suggest instead reading something like Legends of the Samurai by SATO for a lot of poems by famous personages. Quote
kissakai Posted October 25, 2020 Author Report Posted October 25, 2020 I do have a book on death poems - just wondered if the tradition died out (sorry about the pun) Quote
Grey Doffin Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 Years ago I bought and sold a kamikaze dirk. Wood burned onto the saya was a poem that a Japanese friend read for me as, Shi Sho Ge Hana Buki (or at least that is how I remember it). He said it translates to, After death, like flower petals blowing in the wind. I don't have a picture; sorry, just my memory. Grey Quote
george trotter Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 Just deleted...was off topic. Regards, 1 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 On 10/25/2020 at 1:49 PM, Grey Doffin said: Years ago I bought and sold a kamikaze dirk. Wood burned onto the saya was a poem that a Japanese friend read for me as, Shi Sho Ge Hana Buki (or at least that is how I remember it). He said it translates to, After death, like flower petals blowing in the wind. I don't have a picture; sorry, just my memory. Grey Expand There is a phrase in Chinese 落花隨風而逝-Falling flowers gone/die with the wind. Kind of similar meaning as the poem on the wood saya of your digger. 1 Quote
vajo Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 You find some poems in that book. The nobility of failure by Ivan Morris The longest chapter is about WW2 Kamikaze with a lot ouf background that many never had heard. 3 Quote
IJASWORDS Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 My Kato Jumyo special order Gendai-To, has a poem of resolve engraved on it. Apparently a verse from the philosopher Rai San'Yo.... Translates to (I think)....... "Even in the deepest swamp, you are obliged to your country". Maybe some of our Japanese speakers could confirm this translation. 4 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted October 25, 2020 Report Posted October 25, 2020 On 10/25/2020 at 8:59 PM, IJASWORDS said: My Kato Jumyo special order Gendai-To, has a poem of resolve engraved on it. Apparently a verse from the philosopher Rai San'Yo.... Translates to (I think)....... "Even in the deepest swamp, you are obliged to your country". Maybe some of our Japanese speakers could confirm this translation. Expand Niel That is a cool Gunto! I think 深泥亦國恩 could be translated to Even the swamp is bestow from Motherland，meaning your country provide you everything, you should appreciate it. The translate you post"Even in the deepest swamp, you are obliged to your country", more go with 縱陷深泥亦報國恩. I like to hear the opinion from other members , Thomas, George, etc. 1 Quote
george trotter Posted October 26, 2020 Report Posted October 26, 2020 Nice sword, nice patriotic phrase...sorry I can't add to the translation...that is definitely Morita san/Moriyama san task. I do have two swords with sayings on them...not death poems though, more 'optimistic' in tone...might be of interest. 1. Gendaito by unknown smith Seisui of Tokyo dated 12th Jan 1944. In Rinji mounts. LH column in sosho script says " Ippo susumrte tsuki, ippo susumite tatsu" (one step forward thrust, one step forward slash). Might be a kata from a sword fighting school. 2. Privately ordered Gendaito by RJT smith Okishiba Yoshisada of Osaka. Slogan is "Jin Chu Ho Koku" (loyalty, patriotism). A fairly common saying...I have seen it on Meiji era tangs/flags etc. 4 Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted October 26, 2020 Report Posted October 26, 2020 The Yushukan Museum at Yasukuni has a database of last will letters, of which, it publishes one every month. The back numbers go back to 2018 https://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/about/will.html 1 Quote
kissakai Posted October 26, 2020 Author Report Posted October 26, 2020 I suppose it was a naïve question The samurai had been preparing for death for so many years but those involved in the 1st and 2nd wars were soldiers with the bushido spirit but not samurai When my mentor passed away just pre Covid I added this to his service sheet The joy of dewdrops Moto no mizu ni in the grass as they kaeru zo ureshi turn back to vapor kusa no tsuju I was asked to read it out but emotionally I couldn't but is was well received by friends and family 4 Quote
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