The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
みかさ山ふりにし代よりあめのしたたなびきてまつるけふにぞありける
mikasayama
furinishi yo yori
ame no shita
tanabikite matsuru
kyō ni zo arikeru | Upon Mount Mikasa
Since ancient days of old
Beneath the heavens
Have folk trailed in celebration
As we do, indeed, today! |
Daishin
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
けふまつるしるしにとてやそのかみはみかさとともにあまくだりけむ
kyō matsuru
shirushi ni tote ya
sono kami wa
mikasa to tomo ni
ama kudariken | Today in celebration
What shall be the sign?
The god shall
With the palanquins
Descend from heaven! |
Higo
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
こまなめてみかさの山へ行人はあめのしたいのるつかひなりけり
koma namete
mikasa no yama e
yuku hito wa
ame no shita inoru
tsukai narikeri | Steeds in line,
Heading to Mount Mikasa,
The folk journeying
To pray beneath the heavens
Are messengers… |
Kanemasa
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
まつらるる神の御前の乙女子も花もひもとくかすがやまかな
matsuraruru
kami no mimae no
otomego mo
hana mo himo mo toku
kasugayama kana | Worshipping
Before the gods
The maidens
Blossom and belts both undo
Upon Mount Kasuga! |
Tadafusa
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
二月のはつさるなれや春日山みねよどむまでいただきまつる
kisaragi no
hatsusaru nare ya
kasugayama
mine yodomu made
itadakimatsuru | The second month’s
First monkey – so be it!
On Kasuga Mountain
Until the very peak does sway
Shall we celebrate! |
Toshiyori
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
あめのしたたえずぞ君はさかゆべき御笠の山の神をまつれば
ame no shita
taezu zo kimi wa
sakayubeki
mikasa no yama no
kami o matsureba | Beneath the heavens
Endlessly, my Lord
Shall you flourish!
Upon Mount Mikasa
Celebrating the gods… |
Nakazane
The Kasuga Festival (春日祭)
はるごとにけふいのられて春日山松のさかえもいやまさりなり
harugoto ni
kyō inorarete
kasugayama
matsu no sakae mo
iya masarinari | With each and every spring
On this day are prayers made;
At Mount Kasuga
The flourishing of the pines is
Truly fine! |
Akinaka
'Simply moving and elegant'