is a Japanese song whose lyrics are based on a chà Âka poem by à Âtomo no Yakamochi in the Man'yà Âshà « (poem 4094), an eighth century anthology of Japanese poetry, set to music by Kiyoshi Nobutoki.
The poem is part of à Âtomo 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 à Âtomo 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 World War II, and was sung frequently by kamikaze pilots before takeoffs. 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 NobutokiâÂÂs composition, the poem had been set to music in the trio section of the Gunkan kà Âshinkyoku.
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Umi yukaba / Mizuku kabane /<br /> Yama yukaba / Kusa musu kabane/<br /> Ookimi no / he ni koso shiname /<br /> Kaerimi wa seji
At sea be my body water-soaked,<br /> On land be it with grass overgrown.<br /> Let me die by the side of my Sovereign!<br /> Never will I look back.
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