Hotaru no hikari

Hotaru no Hikari (蛍の光（読み：ほたるのひかり）) is a Japanese folk song which is sung to the tune of Scottish folk song Auld Lang Syne. It is, along with Aogeba tōtoshi, one of two songs commonly sung at graduation ceremonies in Japan.

History

Lyrics (kana)

;1:ほたるのひかり、まどのゆき、
書（ふみ）よむつき日、かさねつつ、
いつしか年も、すぎのとを、
あけてぞけさは、わかれゆく。;2:とまるもゆくも、かぎりとて、
かたみにおもふ、ちよろづの、
こころのはしを、ひとことに、
さきくとばかり、うたふなり。;3:つくしのきわみ、みちのおく、
うみやまとほく、へだつとも、
そのまごころは、へだてなく、
ひとつにつくせ、くにのため。;4:千島のおくも、おきなわも、
やしまのうちの、まもりなり。
いたらんくにに、いさをしく、
つとめよわがせ、つつがなく。

Lyrics (romaji)

;1:hotaru no hikari, mado no yuki,
fumi yomu tsukibi, kasane tsutsu
itsushika toshi mo, sugi no towo,
aketezo kesa wa, wakare yuku.;2:tomaru mo yuku mo, kagiri tote,
katamini omou, chiyorozu no,
kokoro no hashi wo, hitokoto ni,
sakiku to bakari, utau nari.;3:tsukushi no kiwami, michi no oku,
umi yama tohoku, hedatsu tomo,
sono magokoro wa, hedate naku,
hitotsu ni tsukuse, kuni no tame.;4:chishima no okumo, okinawa mo,
yashima no uchi no, mamori nari.
itaramu kuni ni, isaoshiku,
tsutomeyo wagase, tsutsuganaku.

Translation

;1

:Light of fireflies, snow by the window,
:Many suns and moons spent reading
:Years have gone by without notice
:Day has dawned; this morning, we part.

;2

:Stay or leave, either an end
:Think as mementos; so many
:Corners of my heart, in one word
:Sing for peace

;3

:Far reaches of Kyushu, far along roads
:Though separated by seas and mountains
:Its sincere heart is not.
:Serve single-mindedly for our country.

;4

:From the ends of Chishima to Okinawa,
:All part of Japan.
:Contribute to our great country.
:I'll faithfully devote my life.

References

* [http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks/MJ/graphics/ch6/6.htm image of sheet music for Hotaru no Hikari]
* [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1009448 Page at Everything2]