Read by Rie Miyazawa
雨ニモマケズ
STRONG IN THE RAIN
Translated by Roger Pulvers
雨ニモマケズ
Strong in the rain
風ニモマケズ
Strong in the wind
雪ニモ夏ノ暑サニモマケヌ
Strong against the summer heat and snow
丈夫ナカラダヲモチ
He is healthy and robust
Free from desire
決シテ瞋ラズ
He never loses his temper
Nor the quiet smile on his lips
一日ニ玄米四合ト
He eats four go of unpolished rice
Miso and a few vegetables a day
アラユルコトヲ
He does not consider himself
In whatever occurs...his understanding
ヨクミキキシワカリ
Comes from observation and experience
And he never loses sight of things
He lives in a little thatched-root hut
In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove
東ニ病気ノコドモアレバ
If there's a sick child in the east
He goes there to nurse the child
If there's a tired mother in the west
He goes to her and carries her sheaves
If someone is near death in the south
He goes and says, 'Don't be afraid'
If there are strife and lawsuits in the north
He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness
He weeps at the time of drought
He plods about at a loss during the cold summer
Everyone calls him 'Blockhead'
No one sings his praises
Or takes him to heart...
That is the kind of person
I want to be
