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Senow Music Sheet (Senô gakufu) No. 222
敷島行進曲
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Shikishima March (Shikishima kôshinkyoku)
Senow Music Sheet (Senô gakufu) No. 222
敷島行進曲
Designer: Artist unknown, Japanese
Lyricist: Ban Masaomi (Japanese, 1855 – 1933)
Composer: Setoguchi Tōkichi (Japanese, 1868 – 1941)
Publisher: Seno'o ongaku shuppansha (Japanese)
Lyricist: Ban Masaomi (Japanese, 1855 – 1933)
Composer: Setoguchi Tōkichi (Japanese, 1868 – 1941)
Publisher: Seno'o ongaku shuppansha (Japanese)
Japanese
Meiji era
1924 (Taishō 12) 6th printing; 1st printing 1911 (Meiji 44), May 25
Medium/Technique
Color lithograph; ink on paper
Dimensions
Height x width: 30 × 44.5 cm (11 13/16 × 17 1/2 in.) (open)
Height x width: 30 × 22.2 cm (11 13/16 × 8 3/4 in.) (closed)
Height x width: 30 × 22.2 cm (11 13/16 × 8 3/4 in.) (closed)
Credit Line
Gift of Mary and Robert Levenson
Accession Number2023.1159
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsMusical scores
DescriptionTranslation of lyrics from Japanese, by Kuniko and Kendall Brown:
“At the end of a tunnel, it appears
The dark green of Yokosuka Harbor,
The castle floating on the seawater
Is the famed battleship Shikishima.
It is the Yamato nation’s pacifier
This thought thrills me;
Enter and stand in the salon
It feels exactly like a palace.
Oh, how admirable is this
Splendid strong iron vessel,
Making it their home on the ocean
Freely they travel these brave men.
Having said that, on a dark
Rainy day, how is it?
Raging storms, cresting waves
How feels night with a dark sky?
Gazing afar, there are no mountains,
Neither sight of birds nor sail on open sea,
Food runs out, water too running short
It would be such a long crossing.
Such dreariness aboard ship
Yet the crew feels no fear,
Is it the faith of an iron will?
Is human power such a fine fabric?
Still more, if war should occur
Their bravery increases a hundredfold,
Shooting cannons and rapid-firing guns
At enemy ships, all are blown to bits.
The hardships in a time of carnage
Seize it in only an instant,
A triumphant shout under the flag
Honorable light beams shine.
Oh, splendid armored ship
Oh, strong battleship Shikishima,
Looking at it, we feel refreshed
Boarding it, we feel uplifted
The ship’s strength, the crew’s
Faith, which is stronger?
The ship’s splendor, the crew’s
Heart, which is stronger?
To the renowned battleship Shikishima’s
Brave men full of Yamato spirit,
We express our deep gratitude for your
Distinguished service defending our country."
“At the end of a tunnel, it appears
The dark green of Yokosuka Harbor,
The castle floating on the seawater
Is the famed battleship Shikishima.
It is the Yamato nation’s pacifier
This thought thrills me;
Enter and stand in the salon
It feels exactly like a palace.
Oh, how admirable is this
Splendid strong iron vessel,
Making it their home on the ocean
Freely they travel these brave men.
Having said that, on a dark
Rainy day, how is it?
Raging storms, cresting waves
How feels night with a dark sky?
Gazing afar, there are no mountains,
Neither sight of birds nor sail on open sea,
Food runs out, water too running short
It would be such a long crossing.
Such dreariness aboard ship
Yet the crew feels no fear,
Is it the faith of an iron will?
Is human power such a fine fabric?
Still more, if war should occur
Their bravery increases a hundredfold,
Shooting cannons and rapid-firing guns
At enemy ships, all are blown to bits.
The hardships in a time of carnage
Seize it in only an instant,
A triumphant shout under the flag
Honorable light beams shine.
Oh, splendid armored ship
Oh, strong battleship Shikishima,
Looking at it, we feel refreshed
Boarding it, we feel uplifted
The ship’s strength, the crew’s
Faith, which is stronger?
The ship’s splendor, the crew’s
Heart, which is stronger?
To the renowned battleship Shikishima’s
Brave men full of Yamato spirit,
We express our deep gratitude for your
Distinguished service defending our country."
ProvenanceBy 2019, Mary and Robert Levenson, Belleair, FL; 2023, gift of Mary and Robert Levenson to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 13, 2023)