My Translation


By Prince Motoyoshi


Dwelling on the bay and channel posts,

I’m grieving for our scene,

But now it’s all the same

If I cannot meet you again,

Despite the ruin, body and name.


Original Japanese


元良親王


わびぬれば

今はた同じ

難波なる

身をつくしても

逢はむとぞ思ふ


Japanese Pronunciation


Motoyoshi Shinno


Wabi nureba

Ima hata onaji

Naniwa naru

Mi o tsukushite mo

Awan to zo omou


Literal & Notes


[to be worried/grieved/pining for/beauty in similicity/apology/excuse] [drama’s love scene / to get wet]

Now [field/close/near/end/tip/point] same

Naniwa become

Body [all sorts of / all kinds of]

Meeting not think


“mi wo tsukushite” can means destroy oneself or sacrifice oneself while “mio tsukushi” means “channel marker”

“Na” is Naniwa is the same pronunciation as “name”

“Naniwa” is old Osaka and literally means “difficult/impossible waves”

Prince Motoyoshi was known have a lot of affairs and had one with Fujiwara no Hoshi, wife of retired Emperor Uda. As the story came out, it caused a scandal.

Year: 
2011