About this work
A Japanese poem uses an English refrain to reflect humorously on possessions, memory and the journey beyond life. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.
Parallel reading
日本語と英語で読む
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日本語原文 Japanese original
ある日、俺は考えた、
自分の所有物なんて何もないんじゃないかと。
そう思えたら、なんて気が楽なんだろう
だって三途の川を渡るとき、まさか
シルバーのポルシェ、持ってけねえじゃねえか。
人はいつかは死ぬるもの。誰だって死ぬる。
悲しいけど、生き物だから、しゃあないね。
Man is mortal. 人はもれなく死ぬる物
そう考えたらポルシェなんかおいてけぼりさ。
欲はよくも悪くも
ほどほどでいい。
この世には身體がただ一つ。
沢山のメモリーを持て余しても
いつかその日が来たら、俺は
幸せで、あたたかい記憶だけを腰紐にぶらさげて
黄泉めざして、ぎっちら、ぎっちら…
櫂を漕ぐさ、ニッポン人だからな、俺も。
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
One day, I thought,
Maybe I own nothing at all.
How easy it would be,
If I could cross the river of death,
And somehow not have to take my silver Porsche with me.
People are mortal. Everyone dies.
Sad, but since we are living beings, there's nothing we can do about it.
Man is Mortal. People are things that must die.
If I think that way, then the Porsche is left behind.
Desire is both good and bad,
But just enough is fine.
This world has only one body.
No matter how many memories you carry,
One day, when that day comes, I will
Hang only warm, happy memories around my waist,
And head toward the underworld, heave, heave...
Paddle, Japanese, so I am too.
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.