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Hyakunin Isshu No. 11 · Sangi Takamura (Ono no Takamura)Wata no Hara Yasoshima Kakete

“Across the Wide Sea” — Sangi Takamura (Ono no Takamura)Source: Kokinshū, Travel · 407
わたの原 八十島かけて 漕ぎ出でぬと
人には告げよ 海人の釣舟
Wata no hara yasoshima kakete kogiidenu to
hito ni wa tsugeyo ama no tsuribune
Across the wide sea, toward its countless islands, I have rowed out —
tell the people so, o fishing boats of the shore.
Hyakunin IsshuKokin WakashūTravelPartingLamentA boat on the open sea, bound for exile in Oki
Wata no Hara Yasoshima Kakete jacket art▶

What the poem says

Tell the people in the capital, O fishing boats, that I have rowed out across the wide sea toward its countless islands.

Music Video

ミュージックビデオ

The Story

歌のものがたり

Historical Background

Ono no Takamura was a scholar and poet of the early Heian period. In Chinese verse and prose he was called "the Bai Juyi of Japan," one of the foremost intellects of his day. In 838 he was appointed vice-envoy to Tang China, but in protest at an unfair allocation of ships with the chief envoy, Fujiwara no Tsunetsugu, he refused to board. He then wrote a poem satirizing the whole affair, which so enraged Retired Emperor Saga that he was exiled to the island of Oki. This poem was composed as the ship carrying him into exile set sail. What is remarkable is that there is not a single tear or word of resentment in it. "Just tell them that I rowed out to sea; only that." A man putting out to sea as a convict entrusted to a fishing boat nothing but a single statement of fact. It is the pride of a man who does not regret the choice he made in carrying his protest through. Takamura was pardoned two years later, returned to the capital, and eventually rose to the rank of Councillor (Sangi). The rebel they called "the wild man" truly did come home with his head held high.

The Poet's Heart

Although this is a poem of setting sail into exile as a convict, it contains not one tear or word of resentment. "Just tell the people of the capital that I rowed out; only that." What he entrusted to the fishing boat was a single statement of fact. It is the pride of a man who does not regret the choice he made in carrying his protest through. Takamura was pardoned two years later, returned to the capital, and eventually rose to the rank of Councillor.

What We Put into the Lyrics

We made the original poem's restraint, entrusting only the facts and leaving what one wants to say unsaid, the core of these lyrics. A morning of leaving a familiar city with a single suitcase. A resignation notice fudged with "for personal reasons," the bravado of "no need to see me off": this is not leaving in defeat, but a departure of one's own choosing. The chorus closes with "that alone is enough to tell you." You do not have to say you were crying; the single phrase "I rowed out" is enough. It is the same sparing pride Takamura entrusted to that fishing boat a thousand years ago. In the Bridge we meet Takamura himself, on the small boat, driven out of the capital. His voice was not tears but pride. And in the Final Chorus the song merges with Takamura's actual history: "I will surely return to that harbor." There really was a man who came home with his head held high. That is why this song is a cheer from a thousand years ago for everyone setting out.

Lyrics

歌詞
Japanese

わたの原 八十島かけて（古今集/参議篁・百人一首11番）Garu JP

Verse 1

スーツケース一つ 抱えて出た

住み慣れた街の 朝もやの中

「都合により」って 濁したけれど

負けて去るわけじゃ ないんだ

Pre-Chorus

見送りは要らない そう言ったのに

プラットホームで 空を見上げた

Chorus

わたの原 八十島かけて

漕ぎ出でぬと 人には告げよ

俺は行くよ 新しい海へ

泣いてたなんて 言わなくていい

ただ「漕ぎ出した」と 伝えてくれ

それだけで 伝わるから

Verse 2

車窓を流れる 知らない山

振り返る癖は 捨てておいた

戻れるかどうか わからないけど

帆を張る風は どこにでも吹く

Pre-Chorus 2

陸の灯りが 遠ざかるほど

空の星は 増えていくんだ

Chorus 2

わたの原 八十島かけて

漕ぎ出でぬと 人には告げよ

選んだ海の 広さも深さも

後悔にする つもりはない

「元気でやってる」と 伝えてくれ

それだけで 伝わるから

Bridge

都を追われた 小舟の上で

同じ言葉を 託した人がいた

釣り舟に告げた その声は

涙じゃなくて 誇りだった

Drop

わたの原 八十島かけて 漕ぎ出でぬと

人には告げよ 海人の釣り舟

Final Chorus

わたの原 八十島かけて

漕ぎ出した日を 忘れないよ

いつか この海の果てから

胸を張って 笑える日まで

風よ みんなに 伝えてくれ

必ず帰る あの港へ

Outro

人には告げよ……

海人の釣り舟

English

Wata no Hara (Kokin Wakashu / Hyakunin Isshu No.11) Garu JP

I left with just one suitcase in my arms

Through the morning mist of my hometown streets

"Due to circumstances," I left it vague

But I'm not leaving in defeat

"No need to see me off," I said

Yet on the platform, I looked up at the sky

Across the wide sea, toward countless islands

Tell them I have rowed out to the open sea

I'm on my way to a new ocean

No need to tell them I was crying

Just tell them "he set sail"

That alone will say it all

Unknown mountains streaming past the train window

I've thrown away my habit of looking back

I don't know if I can ever return

But winds that fill a sail blow everywhere

The farther the lights on shore recede

The more stars fill up the sky

Across the wide sea, toward countless islands

Tell them I have rowed out to the open sea

The width and depth of the sea I chose

I won't let them turn into regret

Just tell them "he's doing fine"

That alone will say it all

On a small boat, banished from the capital

Someone once entrusted these same words

The voice he gave to the fishing boats

Was not tears — it was pride

Across the wide sea, toward countless islands, I have rowed out

Tell the people so, o fishing boats

Across the wide sea, toward countless islands

I'll never forget the day I set sail

Someday, from the far end of this sea

Until the day I can smile with my head held high

O wind, tell them all for me

I will return to that harbor, I promise

Tell the people so...

O fishing boats of the sea

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