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Umi Yukaba
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Wikipedia article
is a Japanese song whose lyrics are based on a chka poem by tomo no Yakamochi in the 'Man'ysh' (poem 4094), an eighth century anthology of Japanese poetry, set to music by Kiyoshi Nobutoki.
History
The poem is part of tomo no Yakamochi's famous long poem celebrating the imperial edict on the discovery of gold in Michinoku province (modern Tohoku) in 749. The distant ancestors of the tomo clan were known as masters of the royal Kume guard.
The poem reflects their pledge to serve their sovereign.
"Umi Yukaba" later became popular among the military, especially with the Imperial Japanese Navy. As set to music in 1937 by it became popular during and also after World War II. After Japan surrendered in 1945, "Umi Yukaba" and other 'gunka' were banned by the Allied occupation forces. With the ending of the occupation, the song has now been widely played across military circles in Japan, including performances by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Prior to Nobutokis composition, the poem had been set to music in the trio section of the Gunkan kshinkyoku.
Lyrics
In popular culture
* 'Umi Yukaba' is also the name of a 1983 Japanese film.
* "Umi Yukaba" is featured in the 1970 film, 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'.
See also
* 'Man'ysh'
* "Kimigayo"
References
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