A Tale Of Osaka Poem by Ahmad Shiddiqi

(dedicated to L'arc en ciel, a great rock band from Japan)

ashita e mirai e
hito kakera no ai wo
dare mo ga minna materu
namida koraete bokura wa aruite yuko u

tashika na ima o kanjiyou
egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hoshikute
choujin yori mo kakushin no hou ga tsuyoku
Oh Osaka! motto ima ijou ni hadaka ni natte

there is a place
where people have
a deep respect
for Mother Earth

set off down roads
that will take you
to places where
rare birds nest and flock

stroll along the wide lanes
of Umeda and Namba
where clothing is adorned
with specially sumptuous weave

je vais revenir sur me pas
pourquoi pleurez-vous ici?
n'ayez pas peur
je ne vous ferai pas

you favor the tranquil
soothing atmosphere
of the Tsuyuten-jinja
where romantic begins

you may set out
to Yodo River
and Osaka Bay
enjoy blessings offered

you have always
longed for holiday
a glimpse into lifestyle
walk along Tenjinbashi

ashita e mirai e
hito kakera no ai wo
dare mo ga minna materu
namida koraete bokura wa aruite yuko u

tashika na ima o kanjiyou
egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hoshikute
choujin yori mo kakushin no hou ga tsuyoku
Oh Osaka! motto ima ijou ni hadaka ni natte

let's enjoy clear night
all the way out to Awaji Island
let's enjoy magnificent view
all the way up to Mount Ikoma

on surface of water at Summer
neon signs of buildings are
glittering and reflecting
let's go to Dotonbori

wake up early morning
let's stare at Tsutenkaku
fragrance breeze calm you
let's hope for a better future

Oh! l'eau est claire!
il parait que c'etait
une fontaine miraculeuse
elle ouvrait les yeux des aveugles

from Edo Era
you see paintings
and woodblock prints
let's visit Kamigata Ukiyoe

Temmangu, Houkoku
let's sense victory
Shitenno-ji, Hozen-ji
let's sense culture

let's discover picturesque
and beautiful Osaka Castle
let's immerse yourselves
into history and nostalgia

ashita e mirai e
hito kakera no ai wo
dare mo ga minna materu
namida koraete bokura wa aruite yuko u

tashika na ima o kanjiyou
egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hoshikute
choujin yori mo kakushin no hou ga tsuyoku
Oh Osaka! motto ima ijou ni hadaka ni natte

to feast your palate on delectable food
dear friends, please do not forget
yakiniku, takoyaki, fugunabe
let's explore Kuidaore

joyous scenic nuances
America Mura, Maishima
Kyocera Dome, Bunraku
let's come back next year

Osaka Maritime, Tempozan Harbor
the sea, the ships, the ports
inseparable from daily life
let's have fun to feel

il y a longtemps
j'entends du bruit
au-dessous de nous
je venais du cote de la mer

into friendly smile
and shining blossom
of Sakura and Palace garden
let's feel happiness of the children

into lovely dance
and sparkling candles
of the ancient folk festivals
let's feel hospitality of the people

into gently touch
and decorating shores
of the shimmering heritage
let's feel dignity of the nation

ashita e mirai e
hito kakera no ai wo
dare mo ga minna materu
namida koraete bokura wa aruite yuko u

tashika na ima o kanjiyou
egao nakigao mo zenbu mite hoshikute
choujin yori mo kakushin no hou ga tsuyoku
Oh Osaka! motto ima ijou ni hadaka ni natte