Commentaries

Ashura-chō 阿修羅帖 弍 [第二卷]

(The Ashura Notebook, Volume 2), 1920

Japanese and Non-English Transcripts and English Translations of Translated Commentaries for the Annotated Volume 2

Transcriptions of Translated Commentaries, Volume 2

Translation and transcription of Terao Tōru's commentary on Sketch 103: Japan-China Negotiations, Part I

Hurrying to
Force through a final agreement
Only to be mocked.

A picture of the Sino-Japanese negotiations of Taishō 4 (1915)
with a playful inscription by Kien

切名を
急かんとして
馬鹿にされ

大正四年日支交渉之畫
其園漫題

Translation and transcription of Nagase Hōsuke's commentary on Sketch 104: Dardanelles Forts Destroyed

The weak are meat for the strong.

— Hōchōyō

弱肉 (jakuniku)

強食 (kyōshoku)

— 鳳朝陽 

Translation and transcription of Adachi Kenzō's commentary on Sketch 106: General Election for the House of Representatives

The remnants of a fleeting dream

Shining white moon, and the wind lies still

— Kanjōsei

一場之夢の跡

月白く風静や

— 漢城生

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on Sketch 108: German Submarine Assassinates (Sinks) British Ship Lusitania

Soft, plump breasts, the fleshy limbs stretching from shoulders to arms, disheveled black hair, eyebrows, eyes, lips....... A man who can thrust a blade into the lustrous skin of such a beautiful woman must be either an old-fashioned hero or a modern-day "debakame" (pervert).

War is a type of sexual perversion.

—  Toki Zenmaro

Yawarakana hukuyokana Tibusa, Kata kara Ude e kaketeno muttirisita Nikuduki, husaltusa-sita Kurokami, Mayu, Me, Kutibiru,...... Konna utukusii Onna no tuyatuyasita Hadae ni Yalba wo sasu koto no dekiru Otoko wa, kyūsikina Eiyū ka, denakereba kindaitokina "Debakame" de nakereba naranai.

Sensō wa Hentai-seiyoku no issyu de aru.

— Toki Zenmaro.

Translation and transcription of Arturo Ferrarin's commentary on Sketch 110: Italy Rises

We waited and died,

for progress and liberty we lived,

(the) barbarous oppressor...

— Arturo Ferrarin

Fumm’attendemmo, morimmo,
per il progresso e la libertà vivemmo.
Il barbaro oppressore.

— Arturo Ferrarin

Translation and transcription of Toki Zenmaro's commentary on Sketch 113: Tachiyama's Undefeated Record

How extraordinary

A single man's strength

Maintaining dominance, 

How fascinating it is!

Living for others' sake,

Such sadness.

— Ai

異常なる 

力ひとり遊持

つこともおも

しろきかな
人のせに

生きて
— 哀 

Translation and transcription of Okakura Yoshisaburō's commentary on Sketch 114: So-Called Fierce Battle Between Two Armies

Crossed arms in combat — Kuregishi (Okakura Yoshisaburō)

Right:

Claiming to be a polar bear,
he raises his threatening hand
with a “Hold-up!”
Bang!—goes the arm.

Left:
The arrogant Kaiser,
before long will lose—
"Shall we surrender?"
Boom!—goes the arm.

かひな合　呉岸

左

おごるカイゼル 程なく負けて

降参せうやと

コン　かいな

右

北極くまだと

おどしの御手をホウルド　アップで

ドン　かいな 

Translation and transcription of Hayashi Kiroku's commentary on Sketch 116: Germany-U.S. Negotiations

The Lusitania incident was the most shocking of all Germany’s unlawful naval outrages and shook public opinion throughout the world. Yet the protest issued by the United States was manipulated and deflected by Germany. Despite numerous exchanges of diplomatic notes, no resolution was reached, and similar outrages continued to occur repeatedly thereafter.
This sketch presents a vivid portrayal of the U.S.–German negotiations at that time. One sees only a hint of alarm on the American side and a cloud of frustration drifting about, leaving us to regret the absence of any clear resolution.

— Hayashi Kiroku, reckless commentary 

ルシタニヤ事件は獨逸の無法海戰の暴舉中最も全世界の人心を聳動したるもの、然も之に對する米の抗議は獨の翻弄する所となり、文書幾往復を重ぬるも要領を得ず同種の暴擧は其後も屢繰返されたり。此岡當時の獨米交渉を調し頗る面日し。唯米に驚の色ありで懊惱の曇りの漂ひ無〓を惜む。

— 林毅陸 妄評

Translation and transcription of Nobori Naotaka's commentary on Sketch 118: Warsaw in Danger

The situation in Warsaw is truly going the “wrong way.”

Where is Russia, the supposed ally?

Neither shadow nor shape can be seen.

In Germany’s martial display, the ferocity of human beastliness is most terrifyingly depicted.

— Shomu

ワルシャウの形勢は如何にもワルサウ方へ

助太刀のロシアはどらしたのか影も形も見えない 

ドイツの武者振には人間の野獸性が物凄しくも描かれたる 

— 曙夢 

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 120: Yuan Shikai's Dream

Dreams are lies.

— K. Sugimura

Songes sont mensonges.

— K. Sugimura

Translation and transcription of Ozaki Yukio's commentary on Sketch 122: Ōkuma Cabinet Cursed

At dusk, the ghost comes

— Gakudō

日暮鬼来

— 学堂

Translation and transcription of Takashima Daien's commentary on Sketch 124: Russia Sends Friendly Signals to Japan

“Flirtatious glances! Got her!”

Thinking this must surely be the moment she’s finally come calling,

he lowers the corners of his eyes and lets his upper lip droop in a grin.

But when he looks more closely,

lo and behold!

She’s got a sword at her side and is anything but pleased.

“This isn’t what I expected at all!”

he mutters to himself, hurriedly

yanking out his extended nose hairs,

lifting his drooping eyelids,

and peering more carefully.

Only then does he realize —

it’s not a flirtatious gaze at all,

but a menacing thorny glare!

— Takashima Beihō

秋波！　占めたッ。こいつ、てッきり、お出でなすッたわいと、目尻を下げ、鼻の下を長くして、小當らに當つて見ると、豈圖らむゃ、劒もほろゝの御不機嫌。こンな筈ではなかッたがと、今更、延びた鼻毛を引ッ締め、下ッた目尻を釣ㇼ上げて、よく〱見れば、何のこッたい、藪睨み！

— 高嶋米峰

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on his Sketch 127: Allied Powers Entice Bulgaria

Bulgaria:
“If Serbia would just hand over Macedonia…”

Everyone else:
“Quit your whining—
hurry up and join our side already!”

— Chūta [seal]

勃

「塞るび屋が
マケドニアを
呉れろなら･･････

一同
「愚図〱言いずに
早くちつちの
味方にちれよ

— 忠太 ［印］

Translation and transcription of Fukuchi Nobuyo's commentary on Sketch 130: British Forces Land at Dardanelles Strait

The lord is off at the club,
engaged in a game of go.
The lady is out somewhere nearby,
battling it out with flowers.
The young master is at the seaside,
quarreling over a love affair gone wrong.
The whole family is in disorder.
The student and maid have turned to socialism.

— respectfully inscribed by Fukuchi Nobuyo.

殿様は俱樂部とやらで

烏鷺合戰

奥様は存所そこらで

花いくさ

若様は海水浴で

戀の遺恨のいがみ合

一家治まらず

書生女中は社會主義

— 福地信世 謹讚

Translation and transcription of Kamitsukasa Nobutaka's commentary on Sketch 132: German Forces Advance and Capture Kovno

A storm of sovereign force—

Even the Niemen River

joins the strife.

— Kamitsukasa Shōken

主円あらし

ニイエメン

河も

訌に

— 上司小劍

Translation and transcription of Mori Ritsuko's commentary on Sketch 134: "Here, Is This Still Not Enough?"

The curtain falls,

As one meets their bloody end.

“Yashio!* Strike your final pose!”

So alike we are, entangled in fate.

— Ritsuko

幕切れの身の末しぬ

八汐ほら見得はきれ

相かしくそ相もふ

— 律子

*Yashio references the cruel character, Lady Yashio, from the play Sendai Hagi, who attempts to poison a child and, when that fails, ultimately stabs the child to death—among other horrific acts." 

Translation and transcription of Tsukamoto Yasushi's commentary on Sketch 136: Germany Wins Again

THE HATED FLOURISH IN THE WORLD
— Prof. Tsukamoto

NIKUMARE GO YO NI HABIKORU
— Prof. Tsukamoto

Translation and transcription of  Akutagawa Ryūnosuke's commentary on Sketch 138: Italy Declares War on Turkey

Morning breaks,

flowering kudzu vines,

tangled in each other.

— Gaki

花葛の

からみ

合ひたる

夜明かな

— 我鬼

Translation and transcription of Kikuchi Kan's commentary on Sketch 144: Brest-Litovsk Falls

Autumn rain—

a great mushroom

topples over.

— Kikuchi Kan

秋雨に 

はたと崩れし 

大きのこ 

— 菊池寛

Translation and transcription of Tanakadate Aikitsu's commentary on Sketch 145: British Aircraft Sinks German Submarine at Ostend

Is the size of the airplane, as seen in this picture, really that much larger than a submarine?

— Tanakatate Aikitsu

Hikōki no ōkisa wa, kono e de miru yō ni, senkōtei yori zutto ōkiku naru no desu ka?
— Tanakatate Aikitsu

Translation and transcription of Itō Chūta's commentary on his Sketch 147: Falsehoods and Truths

Falsehoods and truths

— [sealed] Chūta

虚虚実実

— 忠太

Translation and transcription of Yamasaki Naomasa's commentary and notes on Sketch 151: German-Russian Front

I have heard that in Yunnan flows the River Lu.
When the pepper blossoms fall, mists of pestilence rise.
The great army wades across water hot as boiling soup—
Before they even pass through, two or three in ten are dead.*

Using Bai Juyi's lines on the retreat of defeated armies

— Tanseki Nao

聞道雲南有瀘水，

椒花落時瘴煙起。

大軍徒涉水如湯，

未過十人二三死。

做成白居易之句節落軍之退却

— 丹石直

*A passage from the poem "Old Man of Xinfeng With a Broken Arm" by the Chinese poet Bai Juyi (772–846).

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 153: Austrian Ambassador to the United States Expelled

Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.*

— Sojinkan [sealed]

*The second of the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows

煩惱無盡誓願斷

— 楚人冠 [有印] 

Translation and transcription of Sakai Toshihiko's commentary on Sketch 157: Turks Massacre Armenians

When a man wants to murder a tiger, he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him, he calls it ferocity.

— Bernard Shaw

人、虎を殺すな、

之を狩猟と云ひ、

處、人を殺すな、

之を兇異と云ふ。

— Bernard Shaw

Translation and transcription of Narusawa Kinbei's commentary on Sketch 159: Bulgaria’s Position Remains Ambiguous

I want to eat fugu,
but I value my life.
The chimaki’s right before me,
yet my teeth won’t bite true.

(Cheer)
Buru, buru, buru…
Self-interest, self-interest, self-interest, self-interest,
Ya! Ya! Ya!
Bu-lu-ga-ri-a!

Hooray! Hooray!
Ra! Ra! Ra!

— Reisen

ふぐは喰ひたし

いのちは惜し、

向はちまき

歯のねは合はず

（エール）

ブル〲〲 

我利々々々々

ヤ　ヤ　ヤ

プ・ル・ガ・リ・ヤ！ 

フレー！フレー！

ラ！ラ！ラ！

— 玲川

Translation and transcription of Ogawa Takuji's commentary on Sketch 166: Kyrgyz Join the Army

Tchirek Song

Under the Dark Mountains,

Where the sky is like a domed yurt,

Stretched down over the Great Steppe.

The sky is gray, gray,

And the steppe wide, wide,

Over grass that the wind has battered low;

Sheep and oxen roam.

— Ogawa Taku

敕勒歌

陰山

下天似穹廬

葢四野天蒼

蒼野茫茫風

吹草底見牛羊

— 小川琢

Translation and transcription of Nishimura Tokihiko's commentary on Sketch 170: Imperial Enthronement Ceremony

Imperial Enthronement Ceremony

As firm as everlasting rock

Unshaken and unassailable

— respectfully inscribed by Tokihiko

御大禮

常磐堅磐

不崩不騫

— 時彥拝題

Translation and transcription of Sugimura Kōtarō's commentary on Sketch 171: Daijōsai (Grand Thanksgiving Ceremony)

“The king ascends the jeweled palace.

The peasant sings in the field.”*

— [sealed] Sojinkan

王登寶殿
野老謳歌

— 楚人冠

*Sugimura's inscription is taken from the "The Four-Fold Summary" by Linji Yixuan (d. 866) founder of the Linji (Rinzai) school of Chan (Zen).

Translation and transcription of Ogasawara Naganari's commentary on Sketch 176: The Imperial Prince Is Born

Auspicious Omen

Descent of a Divine Spirit

— Reverentially written Naganari

嘉瑞
降霊

—長生謹書 

Translation and transcription of Ichimura Sanjirō's commentary on Sketch 179: Yuan Becomes Emperor

Empty rumors, silent scrutiny—yet he dares to style himself Son of Heaven.

But one sees not the rider who, in that very year, was cast from his horse.

— inscribed by Kidō

袁皇帝となる

空聞黙檢為天子

未見當年落馬人

— 器堂題

Translation and transcription of Nagata Hidejirō's commentary on Sketch 187: Prime Minister Ōkuma Targeted in Bomb Attack

Police Chief:
"Watch out! The lofty ideals* are shining once again!"

Prime Minister:
"What! Lofty ideals shine in the heavens.
What shines at one’s feet is no lofty ideal at all, but merely vulgar, base ideas."

— by unknown

警視総監

「驚破! 高遠の理想

が光りまーた

首相

「何!高遠の理想は

天上で光る、足許

で光るのは卑近の理

想であるんである、

— 逸名

*"Lofty ideals" (高遠の理想) had become a trademark of Prime Minister Ōkuma's through his writing and speeches. Here, Nagata has the Prime Minister inject some reality into his rhetoric.

Translation and transcription of Inaba Iwakichi's commentary on Sketch 191: Sale of Official Posts in China Begins

The sale of titles and offices has held a traditional place in Chinese political history; in no age, however flourishing, was there ever an instance of it being wholly suspended, and there were always reasons that seemed to justify it. Of course, the sale of offices was irregular; yet in Chinese society, where the system of appointment had long been secured through examinations, such irregularity may not have seemed such a great disadvantage. However, calling the minor skills of “eight-legged essays” and poetic composition the "proper path," and expecting to obtain talented personnel through these means was inherently difficult to achieve. Rather, by recognizing irregular methods and seeking means outside the usual bounds, this corrupt system managed to preserve its vitality.

It is not known how much income Yuan Shikai (Yuan Xiangcheng) was able to gain from selling official posts, but unlike previous dynasties that began this practice due to insufficient state treasury funds, his case was different— he did it not so much out of financial necessity, but rather his own restless ambition and his drive for imperial power.

Those who criticized him made this the basis of their accusations. Still, buying and selling presupposes agreement on both sides. Yuan himself reportedly said: “There would be no supply if there were no demand.” In other words, since there were willing buyers, he simply supplied what was wanted. In present-day China, where even public gambling is placed under the protection of the government, to denounce the sale of offices may, after all, be misplaced criticism.

— Inaba Kunzan

鬻爵賣宮は、支那政治史上に於て傳統的地位を占め、いかな盛代でも、それの休止したといふ例め しは無く、またそこには相應理由があった。賣官官は勿論變則である、試驗萬能の官束登用法で固めて来た文那社会としては、之れ程の不都合はあるまいけれども、八段や詩賦の小技を正途といひ、之によりて人材を獲んことは固より期し難く、寧ろ變則を承認して、逸足を埓外に求めんとするところに、この惡政の命脈は維持されてあった。 袁項城が賣官で何程の収入を羸ち得たかは知られてないが歴代のそれが國帑不如意によりて開始したとは撰を殊にし、彼れはたゞその野心＝帝業＝に焦慮してのことであつた。彼を追責する者の論據はそこにある。然とも、賣買は双方の合意でなくてはならぬ筈、需要者があるから、供給したまでとは彼れの言葉である。公設賭博を護法政府の下に置かれた昨今の支那として、賣官追責は、見當違ひかも知れない。 

— 稻葉君山

Translation and transcription of Soeda Jūichi's commentary on Sketch 200: Regions of China Declare Independence

Far more than the question of independence itself, what truly matters is how the four hundred million are to be guided. In this harsh struggle for survival, to think otherwise, I fear, is shallow.

獨立問題ヨリハ四億ヲ弄ラん

生是ノ如何ガ大切ト

辛存状淺思恐