Commentaries

Ashura-chō 阿修羅帖 弌 [第一卷]

(The Ashura Notebook, Volume 1), 1920

Japanese Transcriptions and English Translations of Translated Commentaries for the Annotated Volume 1

Transcriptions of Translated Commentaries, Volume 1

Translation and transcription of Hirata Tōsuke's commentary on Sketch 1: Outbreak of War Between Austria and Serbia

Dragon and tiger fight fiercely [A fierce clash between two powerful forces]

Which is the male and female fruit? [Which side will win?]

— Seigai

龍驤虎搏 Ryū jō ko haku
雌雄果孰 Shiyū ka shuku
— 西涯 Seigai

Translation and transcription of Shiga Shigetaka's commentary on Sketch 2: All of Europe Becomes a Scene of Ashura-Like Carnage

An aura of demonic fury descends upon humanity.

— Shiga Shigetaka

鬼氣迫人

— 志賀重昂

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on Sketch 3: Imperial Japan Sends Ultimatum to Germany

Hurry up and hand it over to me (us).

Well then, go ahead and try to take it.

— Chūta

きりきりこっちへ引き渡せ

ならば手がらに取て見ろ

— 忠太

Kirikiri kocchira he hikiwatase

Naraba tegara ni totte miro

— Chūta

Translation and transcription of Miyake Tatsuko's commentary on Sketch 5: Severance of Diplomatic Relations Between Japan and Germany

Facing the foe I claimed as mine alone,

I raise my sword—

how sorrowful it is

— Shinko

ひとりしめたるあたにむかひて

ふりあけその太刀かせやからかなし

— 龍子

Hitorijimetaru ada ni mukaite

furiage sono tachi kase yakara kanashi

— Tatsuko 

Translation and transcription of Tsukamoto Yasushi's commentary on Sketch 6: Germany Surrounded on All Sides

Cut down from the top and cut away from the bottom

Full of wiles and tricks

— ketsudai

[followed by seal of Tsukamoto Yasushi] 

一上一下

靈々實々

— 結題

［続いて塚本靖の印］ 

Translation and transcription of Hibino Hiroshi's commentary on Sketch 8: Russia and Germany Race for Advantage

Will it be Russia or Germany?—don't lose!
Russia, run swiftly!
Raise your battle cry
In the streets of Berlin.
— Hibino Hiroshi

露か獨か負けるな

露西亞疾く走れ

喊聲揚げよ

伯林の街

— 日比野寬

Translation and transcription of Okuda Takematsu's commentary on Sketch 10: German Military Offensive

In the present World War, there has been no battle more critical to the entire course of the war than the Battle of the Marne. Had the French forces been defeated there, Germany would likely have proceeded according to its long-standing strategic plan: first crushing France, and then slowly turning its grand army eastward to destroy Russia. In that case, the war might have ended within three to five months in complete German victory.

However, Germany’s attempt to break through the center of the French front—a move in which it had placed absolute confidence—was met with fierce resistance in a three-day-and-night battle. The offensive was ultimately repelled. In short, Germany's strategy of capitalizing on the enemy’s unpreparedness to deliver a lightning strike and annihilate the French field army ended in total failure at this point.

From that moment on, the war shifted into a war of attrition, and for over four years since, the world has been engulfed in the clouds of war. The current global situation has arisen directly as a consequence. The true turning point in the fortunes of both armies lay in this very battle.

October 5, Taishō 8 (1919)
— Okuda Takematsu

此次の世界大戰に於てマルヌの會戰はど全戰局に對し重大なる関係を有する戰闘はない佛軍若し之に敗れたらんには獨逸は年來の作戰計畫たる先づ佛國を撃破したる後徐ろに大旆を囘らして東の方露西亞を粉碎するの舉に出たるべく戰争は三五ヶ月を出ずして獨逸の全勝を以て終結したであらう然るに獨逸が必成を期した佛國戰線の中央突破は三晝夜に渉る激戰に於て頑強なる佛國の抵抗に遭ひ途に撃退せられたのである即ち敵の備の完からざるに乗じて疾風迅雷的に佛國野戰軍を粉碎せんとしたる獨逸の策戰は茲に全く失敗に歸したのであるこれより以後戰争は持久戰に移りて爾來四年有餘の間世界を戰雲に包みf遂󠄂に現今の状勢を誘致したもので兩軍勝負の分岐點は實に此會職にあったのである

八年十月初五

— 奧田竹松

Translation and transcription of Katagami Noburu's commentary on Sketch 11: Russian Army Fights Bravely

This [sketch] can be seen as a prophecy of the European situation about four years after this date, namely in the autumn of Taishō 7 (1918). The bearded man in the center is likely a follower of Lenin or Trotsky, and the revolutionary forces centered around them eventually sparked revolutions first in Germany and Austria.

It would be a mistake to think of this picture as merely a dream from the Romanov imperial era.

— Katagami Noburu

これはこの日附から約四年の後、即ち大正七年の秋のヨーロッパの形勢を豫言したものと見にます。中央の髭男はリェーニンかトロッキーの徒で、彼等を中心とする第二革命の除勢は、遂にドイツとオーストリヤとにx先きに革命をひき起こしました。この畫面を以てロマノフ帝政時代の夢だなどと思っては、間違ひます。

— 片上伸

Translation and transcription of Ubukata Toshirō's commentary on Sketch 14: Extraordinary Session of the Japanese Imperial Diet

The Frog and the Tobacco

A frog came to a picture shop and looked at a Bonchi-brand tobacco advertisement.
It saw that pictures of frogs like itself were drawn on it, with a note beside them referring to a member of the Diet from Hibiya.
From that day on, the frog started putting on the airs of a Diet member.

First, it put on Western clothes.
Then it drove an automobile.
So as not to be outdone by the Hibiya Diet member, it even set up a mistress’s residence.
It gave and received bribes.
It used passes to go on trips.

Up to that point, the frog had been happy.
But one day, it picked up a discarded cigarette by the roadside.
Thinking that if it just walked around chewing on it, it would finally be a fully authentic Diet member, it joyfully sucked on the butt.

Then, coughing violently, it died.

— Ubukata Toshirō

蛙と煙草

蛙が絵草紙屋の前へ来て、ボンチ輸を見るさ、

自分達の絵が描いてあって、日比谷の代議士さ傍

へ註が付いてゐた。

其日から、蛙に大に代議士氣取でゐた。

それから、まづ洋服を着た。自働車を飛ばせた。

そして日比谷の代議士に耻ぢわ様に、妾宅を構へ

た。賄賂を遣り取りした。パッスを利用して旅行

した。

蛙は、それ迄に幸福であったが、或日、道傍に

捨てゝある烟草を拾った。之を咬へて歩きさへす

れば、最早本物の完全な代議士になれるこ思って

悦んで糞を吸った。

そして、脇を吐いて死んでしまった。

—生方敏郞

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 16: Britain, Russia, and France Agree on Peace Terms

1. Once the three of us have firmly agreed to start drinking, we promise not to show weakness partway through by saying things like, “I can’t drink anymore—let’s eat instead.”

2. We promise not to secretly order rice balls from the maid, leaving the other two out.

— Sojinkan

一、三人で断っして飲み始めた上からは途中で『もう飲めないから飯にしやう』など、弱音を吐かぬ事を約束す

二、三人の中二人をさし措いて一人だけこつそりと女中に頼んで握飯を取り寄せたりなんかせぬ事を約束す

— 楚人冠

Translation and transcription of Shimazaki Tōson's commentary on Sketch 18: French Government Moves to Bordeaux

If one could understand from the beginning that they would have to weep when looking at the caricature they themselves had drawn, then no matter how much they prided themselves on their strength, they might well have thought twice about it.

— Shimazaki Tōson

自分で描いたカリカチュウル(戯畫)を見て自分で哭かなければ成らないやうなことが最初から解つて居れば、いかに強いが自慢な人でも考へ直したらうものを。

— 島崎藤村

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 20: Flood Attack on Azuchi Castle

There is a school of swordsmanship in Kii [Kishu] Province called the Odaka-ryū. It specializes in sweeping the opponent’s legs. If, however, one enters a fight fully prepared from the outset to have one's legs swept, and rushes in swiftly to strike, then even if one’s own legs are indeed cut down, one may, at that same moment, succeed in taking off the enemy’s head.

If the German forces from the start were resigned to getting wet, what could a flood attack ultimately hope to achieve?

— Sojinkan

劒道に紀州の尾高流といふがあり。敵の脚を拂ふを得意とす。人若し初より脚を拂はるゝことを覺悟して、逸早く敵に斬り込み行かんには、たとひ、わが脚は斬り捨てられんずとも、同時に敵の首 [かうべ] は打ち落しつべし。初より濡るゝを承知の獨軍に取りて、水攻竟に何かは成し得んや。

— 楚人冠

Translation and transcription of Okuda Takematsu's commentary on Sketch 21: Japanese Nationals in Germany Detained

Turning pale as the shooting star lights up,

wondering if it was a human soul.

— Takematsu

人魂かと流星に青くなり (Hitodama ka to nagareboshi ni aoku nari) 

— 竹松

Translation and transcription of Watanabe Tchifuyu's commentary on Sketch 22: French Offensive

A wrestler picked a quarrel with a jujutsu master. With a single move, he lifted the master into the air on his outstretched arms. The master said to the wrestler: 'Would you dare throw me to the ground? Before you even have time, I will kill you with a kick.' Seized with fright, the wrestler, still holding his opponent in his arms, began to run in all directions, shouting: 'Murder! Murder!' This is a true story.

Remembering this wrestler, I cannot help but laugh when I think of the German army which, from the very first days of September 1914, began to retreat along the entire front.

— Tchifuyu Watanabé

Un lutteur s'est pris de querelle avec un maître de ju-jutsu. D'un seul coup il enlève le maître en l'air sur ses bras tendus. Celui-ci dit au lutteur: "Oserais-tu me jeter à terre? Sans t'en laisser le temps, je te tuerai d'un coup de pied." Saisi de frayeur, le lutteur tenant toujours son adversaire dans les bras, se mit à courir en tous sens, en criant: "Au meurtre, au meurtre!" Ceci est une histoire.

Au souvenir de ce lutteur, je ne puis m'empêcher de rire en pensant à l'armée al-lemande qui, dès les premiers jours de Septembre 1914, a commencé à battre en retraite sur toute la ligne.

— Tchifuyu Watanabé

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 23: Kaiser’s Dream in the Camp

When one general fails to succeed, brave bones wither.

— So  

一将功成らず勇骨枯る (Isshō kō narazu, yūkotsu karu). 

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Narisawa Kinbei's [Reisen] commentary on Sketch 25: The Nations of the World Watch the European Inferno

Fire! Fire! 1914

Fire! Fire! 1915

Fire! Fire! 1916

Fire! Fire! 1917

Fire! Fire! 1918

—  Reisen

火事だ! 一九一四

火事だ! 一九一五

火事だ! 一九一六

火事だ! 一九一七

火事だ! 一九一八

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 27: Austria, Russia, Germany, and France Chase One Another, Then Are Attacked from Behind

Austria

It’s not that I’m showing my back to the enemy.
It’s just that there’s no enemy left willing to face me head-on.
Believe it or not, I’m the one who smashed Serbia.

— So

澳 『敵に後を見せるのではない。前か ら見て呉れる敵が居ない迄だ。お れは斯う見えてもセルビアを叩き つけてゐるんだぞ。』 

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 29: Belgium Rejects Germany's Sweet Talk

Well, this is outrageous.
In the Treaty of 1839, it was stipulated under the guarantee of the powers that I (Belgium) would remain neutral and that no one would violate that. Included among those “powers” was, indeed, “the Government of His Majesty the King of Prussia,” was it not? And now, you come and tell me to disregard that—what is the meaning of this?

I don’t know what strategic reasons you may have, but there is no logic that can justify breaking a nation’s honor on such grounds. I do not believe that I must abandon my honor in order to maintain my independence. If you insist on enforcing your will by brute force, then so be it—I am prepared.

If necessary, I shall respond with force of arms.

— From the Belgian Foreign Minister’s reply to the German Ambassador to Belgium, August 3, 1914

まア呆れた。千八百三十九年の條約には、列國保障の下に私を一本立にして誰にも指をさゝせめ事になつてゐます。その「列國」といふ中には、貴方の方の「普魯西王陛下の政府」もちゃんと入つてゐるではありませんか。それが今になって貴方のいふ事を聞けとは何事です。どんな戦略上の都合があるかは知りませんが、そんな事で人の操を破っても宜いといふ理窟は立ちますまい。私は操を棄てなければ一本立が出来ないとは思いません。貴方が強つて腕づくで我意を徹[とま]さうと仰 [おっしゃ]るなら、宜しい、私にも覺悟がある。叶はめ迄も腕づくでお相手になりませう。

千九百十四年八月三日自國外相より

駐白獨逸公使に送れる回答の意識

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 32: Germany Requests Arbitration from the United States

“Hey boss, if the fish is willing, the water is too — can’t you lend us a hand?” “Hmph, I think I’ll have to beg off for the time being.”

— Reisen

「ナー親方魚心あれば水心だ一肌ぬいで吳れますめえか」 「フ、そいつあ當分御免を蒙りやせう」

— 玲川 

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 34: German Cruiser Königsberg Attacks British Ship Under Repair in South Africa

The German warship is named Ōdate Shichirōzaemon.

The British warship is named Ukita Tamijirō.

But there is no Japanese warship named Sano Shikajūrō.

— So (楚)

獨艦の名は大館七郎左衛門

英艦の名は浮田民次郎

日本の軍艦佐野鹿十郎在らず

— So (楚)

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on Sketch 35: It’s Not Yet Your Turn to Appear

"It’s not your turn to appear yet"

— Chūta

まだ御前の出る幕じゃない

— 忠太 

Translation and transcription of Ishikawa Chiyomatsuō's commentary on Sketch 37: German Submarine Sinks Three British Ships in the North Sea

This is truly the water-imp's fart!
No! No! Hee!

— Ishikawa Chiyomatsu

Kore koso hontoni Kappa no He!

Не! Не! Hee!

— Ishikawa Chiyomatsu

Translation and transcription of Horiuchi Bunjirō's commentary on Sketch 42: All-Out Attack by Troops Encircling Jiaozhou Bay 

The white-haired prime minister is driven into a corner by Prussian strongmen.

— Horiuchi Shinsui

白頭宰相普撰猛士に突きこまれ

— 堀内信水

Translation and transcription of Ōmachi Yoshie's commentary on Sketch 43: Imperial Army Captures the Line at Wushan and Gushan

The Land of the Rising Sun still has men of valor.

— Keigetsu

日出の國男子あり

— 桂月

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 47: Both Armies Exhausted

Sparse shadows slanting

— So

疎影横斜

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Shimomura Hiroshi's commentary on Sketch 49: Belgium Moves Its Capital to Ostend 

Even Antwerp, long hailed as an impregnable fortress, fell swiftly before the force of modern arms.
Such is the power of time.

In the early stages of the war, the days that the German army spent besieging Liège and Antwerp were such that, even with several years to come, they could never make up for the losses they suffered.
This too is the power of time.

To the sound of war drums in Ostend—like the roar of the sea—
Did the young king smile?
In the Kurhaus, cannon fire rang like music to the ear.
On that godless October night, I remember King Albert [King Albert I of Belgium].

— Shimomura Hiroshi

難攻不落の名城と謳はれたるアンヴヱルスも新銳の武力の前には幾もなくして陷落を見るに至れり是れ時の力なり

戰機爆發の當初に於て獨軍がリヱージ、アンヴェルスの爲めに費したる日子は後の數ヶ年を以てするも其損失を償ふに足らざるべし是れ又時の力なり

オスタンド鼙鼓の音を潮騒と

若き王者は笑み玉ひしか

クルハウスに砲火の音を楽と聞く

神無月夜のアルベール王憶ふ

—しもむらひろし

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 51: German Tethered Balloon at Qingdao Drifts Away

Balloons recognize no borders;

If only human thoughts

Could drift as freely.

— Reisen

氣球に國境なし
これが「思想」なら
さうも参らず

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 52: Allied Forces Lack Unity

Command

March!
March!
March!

Marching

Out of step
Out of step

— Reisen

號令

マーチ !

マーチ !

マーチ !

步調

まち〱

まち〱

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary and notes on sketch 53: Failure to Show One's Colors

Romania: "The one who has stepped forward before you is the Latin Hohenzollern."

Italy: "I don't know if it's going to rain or shine, but I think I'll just put on my boots and see what happens."

Turkey: “And indeed, what a notion it was of mine to choose the crescent as my banner. Beneath the hazy spring new moon, it cuts a most vague and indistinct figure.”

— So

ルーマニア 「まかり出でたる者はラテンのホーヘンツｦ　ルレルンにて候ふ。」 

イタリー 「雨ともつかず、晴ともつかず、兎も角も、先づ長靴だけ穿いておいて様子を見ばやと、存じ候ふ。」

トルコ 「さてもそれがしが旗印を半月とはいじくも思ひつきけるよ。乁 春朧ろなる新月の〱ぼんやりとしたる風情かな。」

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary and notes on sketch 54: Fall of Azuchi Castle

England: “There it goes!”
France: “There it goes!”
Chorus: “There it goes—there it goes—”

 —So

英「アレヨ」

佛「アレヨ」

合唱 『アレヨ〱』

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Tanaka Kiichi's commentary and notes on Sketch 55: Death of the King of Romania

To stand for both sides is to stand for none.
Ah, how difficult it is to be the monarch of a small and weak nation.

 — Kiichi

「両方立てれば身が立たぬ」
あ弱小国の君主たるも亦難ソかな。

— 喜一

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on Sketch 61: Removing the Mask for a Brief Rest

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

— by Toki Ai[ka]

性相近也

習相遠也

— 土岐筆

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on sketch 64: British Ships Sink Four German Vessels off the Dutch Coast

“...‘Come now, let us sink this wretch into the sea and chill the livers of the likes of Shigemitsu!’ so he declared, taking up a great arrow and knocking it to his bow. With a twist of his sturdy elbow, he drew it back and let it fly with a he-ra-futsu [whooshing sound], striking just five inches above the waterline.

The shaft pierced clean through the belly of the great ship, water gushing in through both entry and exit wounds. In an instant, the vessel was overwhelmed.

Led by Tadashige, over three hundred soldiers sank to the ocean floor, entombed in the bellies of great sea creatures...”

(From Chūsetsu Yumihari-zuki [Strange Tales of the Crescent Moon])

— Reisen

「･･････いでや這奴を海に沈めて、茂光

等に肝を冷さしてんと宣ひて、大鏑を

取てうち番ひ、小肘の廻るほど、引切

て、漂弗[へらふつ]と發給へば、水際五寸ばかり

置て、大船󠄂の腹を、あなたへ衝と射徹

し、兩方の矢目より水入りて、船󠄂は立

地に卷込まれ、忠重をはじめとして、

三百餘人の軍兵ども水底に沈淪して、

大魚の腹に葬らる。･･････」

(椿説弓張月より)

—  玲

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 65: German Ships Escape Jiaozhou Bay

A thief

never enters

through the front gate. 

— Sojinkan [seal]

泥坊は

正門より

出入せず

— 素人閑［印］ 

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 66: Imperial Navy Cruiser Takachiho Sinks

Damn it! (Shimatta!)

Was it a planted mine?
A drifting mine?
Rumors and hearsay
Spread without end.

— Reisen

シマッタ!

布設水雷か?

浮流水雷か?

浮說流言

しきりに

行はる

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Tsuboya Zenshirō's commentary on Sketch 67: Occupation of the Mariana and Caroline Islands

Lightning—
At the head of waves
Crossing the equator.

— Suisai

稻妻や

赤道越ゆる

浪の先

— 水哉

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on sketch 69: German Cruiser Emden Roams the Seas

You ride the surging waves—
Eastward? Westward?
🎵 Surely you won’t have gone far,
You were on this course…
But even in pursuit,
It’s over the sea—
How sorrowful.

— Ai

ぬしはしら浪
ひがしか西か
〽遠くはゆくまい
たしかにこの路･････
あとを追ふにも
海の上

—哀

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 72: Faces of the Great Powers

Special Grand Performance
A Masterpiece by Mr. Chūta – A Kokusui-sha Film
European Tragedy – Chain Mail, Part II
A five-reel, 500-scene epic in a serialized, grand-scale motion picture

Starring the fierce actor Kaiser Wilhelm, in a heroic, world-shaking performance
Featuring the famous cross-dressing actress Belgium, in a hair’s-breadth escape from peril

Premieres Today
Gunkoku-kan Theater

— Reisen

特別大興行

チュウタ氏傑作 コクスイ社映畫

欧洲悲劇 鎖かたびら 第裏

全五卷 五百場の長篇 連續的大寫真

猛優カイゼル・ウキルヘルム氏乾坤一擲の大活躍

男装名女優ベルデック壊危機一髪の大冒險

本日封切

軍國館

—玲川

Translation and transcription of Haga Yaichi's commentary on Sketch 75: Turkey's Misjudgment

Smooth talk,
Carried away by Turkey’s good mood,
Such deceitful eyes —
[Now under]
The crescent-moon flag.

— Yaichi

口車
機嫌土耳古に
のせられて
そんなうそ目を
三日月の旗

— やいち

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 76: Fall of Qingdao Draws Near

Paradise Lost

Now, the accursed fruit of the Tree of Knowledge 

— Reisen

パラダイス・ロスト

今はうらめしき

智慧の木の實

—玲川

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 78: German Ship Kaiserin Elisabeth Scuttled in Jiaozhou Bay

Dying here, I will never be able to find rest.

— Reisen

こゝで死んでは

浮ばれまい

—玲川

Translation and transcription of Takashima Daien's commentary on Sketch 79: German and French Forces Writhing in the French Countryside

"Ashura" is a Sanskrit word. In Chinese, it is translated as "non-heaven," "non-kind," or "improper."
I would render it in Japanese as "writhing in agony."
According to Buddhist teaching, the realm of Ashura is one of the Ten Worlds—a brutish realm that constantly wages war with the Thirty-Three Heavens.
If you persist in acts of destruction, slaughter, and mutual devouring, and make a way of life of writhing between the boundaries of hellish realms and the path of the Buddha, then truly, you will never reach the moment of liberation from birth and death.
Hah!

 — Takashima Beihō

阿修羅(Asura)は梵語なりこれを漢語に譯して非天と言ひ非類と言ひ不端正と言ふ僕これを日本語に譯して『のた打ち廻はる』と言はむとすもとこれ佛敎説くところの十界の一常に三十三天と戰ふところの鬼畜の類なり汝若し依然として殘害殺戮迭相吞噬以て惡趣と佛士との境にのた打ち廻はるを事とせむか蓋し永へに生死得脫の期なからむ咄

 — 高島米峰

Translation and transcription of Iwaya  Sueo's commentary on Sketch 82: Fall of Qingdao

Long, long ago, Momotarō conquered Onigashima [Demon Island], subdued the demons, and brought back heaps of treasure. But today's Momotarō, even after seizing the real thing, when glared at by eagles and lions, seems ready to abandon both treasure and island, tucking his tail and retreating with his dog in tow.
And yet, somehow, it’s all deemed a great success.

And so it ends happily.
— An Apocryphal Fairy Tale History

むかし〱の桃太郎は、鬼ヶ島をば征め伏せて、寶物を澤山持つて歸つた。然るに今の桃太郎は、實物を捕った斗りか、その鬼ヶ島を乗取りながら、鷲や獅子に睨まれると、寶も島も置き去りにして、犬と一しよに尾を卷かうとする。さりとてよつぽど

めでたし〱

— お伽外史

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 83: Fall of Qingdao

Taishō 3 (1914)
Oh, you caught it well! Well done! Everyone is overjoyed. Hurry up and bring it up.

Taishō 8 (1919)
Oh? You're still clinging to it? Afraid of the American dog? What a cowardly cat you are.

— Reisen

大正三年

オヽよくとつた〱みんなが大よろこびよ早くお上りなさい

大正八年

オヤまだ持て餘してるのメリ犬がこわいつて? なんて憶病な猫だらう

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Aijima Kanjirō's commentary on Sketch 87: The Final Moments of the Emden

"If a country does not trust the benevolent and the wise, it will be left empty and hollow."

— Kyokō Sanjin [quoting Mencius]

不信仁賢 則國空虛

— 虛吼山人書

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on Sketch 88: China’s Attitude Toward Japan

"That's a wild boar that came into my field! Hurry up, put it down and get out of here now!"

"Well, maybe I'll have a smoke break first."

— Chūta

「オラが畑サ出た猪だサッサと置て出て行かッシャイ

「マジ一服ャルベーカ

— 忠太

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 92: Humane Treatment of Prisoners of War

This freeloader—he won’t even come out on a four-meal day,

But in exchange, at least he doesn’t sweep a square garden in circles.

— Sō

この居候、四杯日にさへそつとは出さず

その代り四角の庭を丸くは掃かず

— 楚

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on Sketch 93: Winter Cold Presses Down on Northern Europe

Normal Conditions
The sleeves stiffen in the biting wind and snow.
Drawn into play, even the body gets involved—
before you know it, enemies find themselves
not in the midst of deep grudges piling up,
but truly—how novel—a welcome pause.

— Ai

本調子

袖こほるこのさむ風の雪つぶて、遊ぶこゝろに身のいりて、つひ思はずの敵同志、つもる恨みのなかぢやなし、ほんにしんきなえゝひと休み

— 哀

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on Sketch 94: Reasons for the Fall of Qingdao

[German] Reasons for the Fall of Qingdao 

Alas, our Qingdao was surrounded by Japan’s barbarian troops. Though our officers and men were full of loyal courage, they were completely worn down and weakened. There was no way to hold out any longer.

Still, we rallied the troops with all our might, applying the Thirty-Six Stratagems and every secret tactic we could muster, doing our utmost to resist. But even so…

— Chūta

青島陥落の理由 

さても我が青島は日本の蛮軍の為に包囲せられ流石忠勇の将卒共も悉く弱り果て不得共なりよく募を以て衆に当り三十六計秘術を尽して極力防禦に力め不然

— 忠太

Transcript and translation of additional text appearing within the sketch: the banner with a mock letter to the Kaiser.

Even we could not defend it. The Japanese barbarian soldiers knew nothing of the proper conduct of war, and recklessly charged in, heedless of order or form. Under such circumstances, how could we possibly maintain a proper defensive formation even for a moment? We, who have always valued the customs of honorable warfare, now accept the honor of surrender.

November 7, Taishō 3 (1914)
Governor of Qingdao
Meyer-Waldeck
Respectfully, with a hundred prostrations
To His Majesty [Emperor Wilhelm]

防るに日本の蠻兵でも戦の作法を辨へず無二無三に斬り込こ来るに何とて一と溜りも溜り候べき臣等戰の慣例を重んじ伏するの光榮を養得仕候

大正三年十一月七日

青島総督

クルデック

頓首百拜

ウイルヘルム皇帝

陛下

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on Sketch 96: The Kaiser Falls Ill

Lord of Medicine (Imperial Physician): "Your Majesty, if I may humbly suggest, if you would but set aside that sword, then I would not throw away this spoon."

— Toki Yoshimaro

Zii-no-kami: Osorenagara Heika ga sono

Ken wo osute asobasimasureba, watakusi wa kono

Sazi wo nagemasenu.

— Toki Yoshimaro

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 97: Triumphal Return of the Army That Defeated Germany

"The demon's head"

— So

『鬼の首』

— 楚  

Translation and transcription of Baba Katsuya's commentary on Sketch 99: Death of Austrian Emperor

— Katsuya

The demon, grumbling and reluctant, nevertheless leads him forth.

At the close of the year.

— 勝彌

鬼いやいやこはくこそ行く

師走時