Cherry Blossoms and Rising Sun-A Systematic and Objective Analysis of Gunka (Japanese War Song) in Five Historical Periods (1968-1945)

This is a Master's Thesis that was done in 1972, and it's quite an in-depth examination of the topic. The only part I will reference here is that dealing to songs that were around during the second World War. I will also only be noting a few of the many songs he included in his fascinating paper.

The author talks about the belief the Japanese had that 'it was possible to repel the Allied war tanks on the strength of bamboo spears--and a determined Yamato spirit.' The songs would be an expression of that spirit. The approach, of course, did not work in the long run.

The author says the term 'gunka' is from Chinese words, and translates as military song. He uses a slightly more inclusive definition, and notes that the need for such things grew as the war went on and the situation became worse for the Japanese.

The author also believes that the war songs helped people release some of their pent-up feelings, pent-up due to the incredibly rigid control of the media and of people in general that the Japanese military government had at the time.

The first section relating to the war is the Manchuria Incident, 1928-1938. One of the songs he cites is March.

March

Warriors of the country of the Rising Sun
Are about to go into the battlefield
Flags wave in the wind and the blood dances,
As cheering voices and bugles are heard.

If the battle is not won,
We shall not return alive
To the country of our parents.

Note that this song already is expressing the idea that the soldiers must win at all costs. It's sort of a groundwork for the concept during the war of death before surrender, which helped make the Japanese such fanatical fighters.

It also caused them to lose one heck of a lot of soldiers that shouldn't have been lost, and could have been used later.

Another song that I thought was interesting was 'Song of Bivouac.'

Gallantly I left the country,
Pledging to win a victory,
So how can I die without distinguishing myself?
Every time I hear the bugle
I can visualize the waves of flags.

The earth, grass and trees are ablaze,
Marching on the endless plain
Are the Rising Sun and helmets
Patting the mane of the horse,
No one knows our life tomorrow.

Bullets, tanks and bayonets
Are pillows for a nap at bivouac
Appearing in a dream,
Father encourages me to come home dead,
I wake up and flare at enemy skies.

To think of it, in today's battle,
Lying in a pool of blood,
My war comrade smiled and said
'Long live the Emperor' before he died
How can I forget his voice?

I have been prepared to face death
Once I go into the battlefield,
So don't you cry for me, grasshoppers
If for the sake of peace in the Orient
Why should I hold my life dear?

Notice that this song has several important themes. First is the Emperor worship which dominated Japan at the time. Another theme is, if your buddy dies for the struggle, then why shouldn't you? A third theme is the one that the war was being fought to protect and free the Orient from the white oppressors.

Pacific War Period, 1941-1945

The first song I'll note is 'The Great Battle of Hawaii.'

Two suns do not shine in the sky,
How can the Stars and Stripes outshine?
Acting on the Imperial mandate
Dashing toward this battle like the wind
Ten thousand ri away in the Pacific
With the destination as Hawaii's Pearl Harbor.

Who could have thought
Of the dream-interrupting bombing at dawn?
Lo, breaking through the clouds,
With roaring thunder
The Sea Eagles launch the attack
Submarines draw nearer.

This obviously glorifies the attack on Pearl Harbor. The song does sort of end rather suddenly, though, and the last line seems out of place.

Another song is the 'Great East Asia Navy War Song'.

Look up at the memorable Z-flag
Flying up on the mast
The time has come
And the mandate has been received,
On the morning of December 8
The Stars and Stripes was broken first
Giant vessels were damaged and sunken.

The December 8 date is not a mistake; because of the International Dateline, for Japan it was December 8 when they attacked Pearl Harbor; for the U.S., it was still December 7.



Main Index
Japan main page
Japanese-American Internment Camps index page
Japan and World War II index page