The Spirit of Hiroshima (English)

The Spirit of Hiroshima

Music & Lyr.: Taneaki Futagami (Written and composed in 1994)
Arr.: Yuko Matsumoto
Eng.Lyr.: Matthew Mangham
Vocal: Taneaki Futagami & Yumiko Kono

1.
New leaves drive away despair, hammers ring out like a prayer.
Rising like a song everywhere, sorrows left behind.
A song of comfort for the souls now in our hearts enshrined.
We shall not repeat the evil.
Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima.
A pledge of peace throughout the world, let every voice sing out.

2.
Atomic Bomb Dome has a story to tell.
People of all nations gather, stand now listening.
Hear the ringing of the bells, as the doves take wing.
Tell the story of all the precious lives now ended.
Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima.
A prayer for peace throughout the world, let every tongue cry out.

3.
On this planet, blue and fragile, only home that we know.
Like a bad dream now ended, war is overthrown.
Glory of the human spirit casts a brilliant glow.
By that shining light, we will raise a lasting paradise.
Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima.
A wish for peace throughout the world, let every heart ring out.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
以下は英語歌詞の日本語訳（翻訳者：Yukiko MATSUIKE）

1.
新緑は絶望を払いのけ　槌音は祈りのごとく響き渡り
悲しみを越えて　歌声のごとくここそこで立ち上がる
魂を慰める歌が今　私たちの心に深く刻まれる
私たちは二度と過ち（邪悪）を繰り返しません
ああ　広島の心
世界の平和の誓い　ひとりひとりの歌声で木霊せよ

2.
原爆ドームは語りかける
すべての国の人々は集い　今立ち上がり耳を傾ける
鐘の音を聞き　鳩は翼を広げる
今こそ失われたすべての尊き命の物語は　語り継がれる
ああ　広島の心
世界の平和の祈り　ひとりひとりの言葉で強く語らしめよ

3.
青く壊れやすくとも　ただひとつの私たちのふるさと　この惑星で
悪夢が今や終わりを告げたように　戦争は滅びゆく
人類の魂の栄光は　輝きを放ち
その輝く光によって　私たちは永遠のパラダイスを築き上げる
ああ　広島の心
世界の平和の願い　ひとりひとりの心に響きわたらせよ


At 8:15 in the morning of August 6th, 1945 the Enola Gay, high in the skies over Hiroshima, dropped an atomic bomb. With a deafening noise that shook the ground and an intense burst of light, temperatures at the explosion point reached over 1,000,000 degrees C, and the city of Hiroshima was destroyed in an instant. The Hungarian-British writer Arthur Koestler once said “If I were asked to name the most important date in the history and pre-history of the human race, I would answer without hesitation, August 6, 1945." After moving to Hiroshima over 30 years ago, I often stopped by Peace Memorial Park and walked through the park, pondering the meaning of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Strangely, I still feel as if it happened only yesterday, though soon the 70th anniversary will be observed. I’m neither an a-bomb survivor nor a witness to the devastation of Hiroshima. However, I guess the reason I continue to have such feelings is because this place is a space where the direction of human history was significantly changed, and because this place continuously asks the entire world to regard the deep, solemn meaning of its devastation as the origin of peace. Perhaps people visiting this place will have the same feelings until a lasting world peace has been accomplished. On the day when enduring peace is established throughout the world, Hiroshima’s mission will be complete and the souls enshrined in the cenotaph will be able to gain peace of mind in its truest sense. I hope that time will come as soon as possible, and I would like to pray for it!

The Spirit of Hiroshima Music & Lyr.: Taneaki Futagami (Written and composed in 1994) Arr.: Yuko Matsumoto Eng.Lyr.: Matthew Mangham Vocal: Taneaki Futagami & Yumiko Kono 1. New leaves drive away despair, hammers ring out like a prayer. Rising like a song everywhere, sorrows left behind. A song of comfort for the souls now in our hearts enshrined. We shall not repeat the evil. Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima. A pledge of peace throughout the world, let every voice sing out. 2. Atomic Bomb Dome has a story to tell. People of all nations gather, stand now listening. Hear the ringing of the bells, as the doves take wing. Tell the story of all the precious lives now ended. Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima. A prayer for peace throughout the world, let every tongue cry out. 3. On this planet, blue and fragile, only home that we know. Like a bad dream now ended, war is overthrown. Glory of the human spirit casts a brilliant glow. By that shining light, we will raise a lasting paradise. Ah, the spirit of Hiroshima. A wish for peace throughout the world, let every heart ring out. ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・以下は英語歌詞の日本語訳（翻訳者：Yukiko MATSUIKE） 1. 新緑は絶望を払いのけ　槌音は祈りのごとく響き渡り悲しみを越えて　歌声のごとくここそこで立ち上がる魂を慰める歌が今　私たちの心に深く刻まれる私たちは二度と過ち（邪悪）を繰り返しませんああ　広島の心世界の平和の誓い　ひとりひとりの歌声で木霊せよ 2. 原爆ドームは語りかけるすべての国の人々は集い　今立ち上がり耳を傾ける鐘の音を聞き　鳩は翼を広げる今こそ失われたすべての尊き命の物語は　語り継がれるああ　広島の心世界の平和の祈り　ひとりひとりの言葉で強く語らしめよ 3. 青く壊れやすくとも　ただひとつの私たちのふるさと　この惑星で悪夢が今や終わりを告げたように　戦争は滅びゆく人類の魂の栄光は　輝きを放ちその輝く光によって　私たちは永遠のパラダイスを築き上げるああ　広島の心世界の平和の願い　ひとりひとりの心に響きわたらせよ Free download score For average voice (pdf 376kb) >> For high voice (pdf 321kb) >> For chorus (pdf 374kb) >>
<< Real Intention of the Message on the Cenotaph >> The line “We shall not repeat the evil” in the first chorus was partly cited from the message “Let all the souls here rest in peace; For we shall not repeat the evil.” carved on the a-bomb memorial cenotaph. Some people say that this message is inappropriate because it was the U.S. that dropped the atomic bomb, and Japanese need not apologize to the victims. However, this short message is a confession, oath, and long-cherished wish for all of mankind, and I think the message indicates the providence for lasting world peace. I have an acquaintance named Hiroshi Onishi. I will cite his meaningful notes below, with his permission, so that many people will better understand the real intention of the message. Mr. Onishi lost his mother to the atomic bomb, and he is also a survivor. He expressed the devastation caused by the atomic bomb through writing notes and drawing pictures.

The message carved on the atomic bomb memorial cenotaph in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was created by my teacher, Professor Tadayoshi Saika in 1952, because he was asked by Shinzo Hamai, the mayor at that time. After the war Dr. Randhabinod Pal, an Indian judge for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, criticized the message, saying “Japan is the victim because the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. So, hadn't it better say ‘We shall not let the U.S. repeat the evil?'” In response to this criticism, Professor Saika at Hiroshima University, who created this message and whose handwriting is carved on the cenotaph, came to our class and said “I’d like you all to understand my real intention in this message and hand it down to future generations. We need to do our best to realize lasting world peace and protect all mankind from the devastation caused by atomic weapons. If we remain concerned with determining who was guilty, how can mankind ever realize a lasting peace? This message, which I wrote, can embody the spirit to move forward to lasting world peace so that humanity can overcome the desire for revenge. Otherwise, how can we make this world peaceful?” ……… Even now, I can clearly remember Professor Saika saying this seriously with tears in this class. I wish all the souls here can rest in peace.

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