JapanNewbie

Kabuki Diplomacy

Posted on 27. May, 2010 @ 11:42 am by harvey in Art, Culture, Language, Media Views: 2,928

This is pretty cool! American diplomat in Fukuoka participating in Kabuki.

I tried to catch the lines here, but this is tough as it’s old Japanese. Someone give me a hand and help fix my mistakes! This is way over my head.

Attempted transcription and translation:

生まれ故郷を後にして
umare kokyou wo ato ni shite
Leaving the country I was born.

太平洋の波濤（を）越え
taihei you no hatoko e
Over the big waves of the Pacific Ocean
(Thanks to Yuko for the translation help!)

奴島田のなりふりも
yakkoshimada no narifurimo
Wearing my hair in a yakkoshimada

板についたる艶姿
ita ni tsuitaru adesugata
I’m quite at home with this beautiful figure.
(Thanks to @yami_translator for the translation help!)

領事館の大鏡
ryoujikan no ookagami
The large mirror in the Consulate…

映せば今は大和なでしこ
utsuseba ima ha yamato nadeshiko
If I’m reflected in it, now I’m a Japanese Beauty (Yamato Nadeshiko)

立てば芍薬
tateba syakuyaku
Standing as lovely as a Chinese peony
(This is a reference to a famous line, 立てば芍薬、すわれば牡丹、歩く姿はユリの花。)

歩けば小百合
arukeba sayuri
I’m as beautiful as a lily when walking
(Thanks to @yami_translator for the translation help!)

花も恥じろ、メリカンおまる。
hanamo hajiro, merikan omaru
Making even the flowers ashamed, “American Omaru”
(The 花も恥じろ is another famous line that is a description of a young and beautiful lady.)

Links:
Post with good information on Diplopundit.
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo “Z-Blog”
Bio of the star herself on the Consulate website.