Thursday 1 October 2015

Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" - 44 Sentai- "Imon bukuro" - video

We first presented the "imon bukuro" here. Today we present a short news-reel from the NHK collection featuring 44 Sentai personnel and their Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" bombers receiving small presents from home.
 
 
 
The narrator says:
-Oi, mina atsumare
(Hey, everybody. Gather around.)
Higemusha ga ogoe de soko o kuzushite imasu.
(The bearded warrior with the loud voice smiles)
-Nanda, nanda
(What? What?)
to atsumata no wa okuchi bakugeki de tekigun o sukkari yowarasete iru riku no arawashitachi.
(and the Land Wild Eagles, who completely exhaust the enemy forces in the hinterland, gather around)
-koitsa ii
(Oh, these are good!)
-korya steki da
(How lovely are they!)
to oyorokobi no imonhin o kakonde
(and they joyfully surround the small comfort articles)  
orikara bakugeki kara kaete kita senyu mo isho ni natte naka yoku janken de bunpai desu 
(they were joined by more comrades who have just returned from a mission and they all together share the small gifts by "rock-paper-scissors")  
 
Two things worth explaining in more detail.
First the reference to the "riku no arawashitachi". As you probably know by now "Arawashi" (Wild Eagles) was the nickname given to all pilots. The Navy-Army rivalry is well documented and this came to extend to the nicknames too. So the IJNAF pilots became known as "umi no arawashi" or "umiwashi" (Sea Wild Eagles) while the IJAAF pilots became known as "riku no arawashi" or "rikuwashi" (Land Wild Eagles). Funny enough novice pilots were called "hinawashi" (Wild Eagle Chicks).
 
Second the "jankepoi" (rock-paper-scissors). Check here for the origins of the game. It is still extremely popular in Japan played by children and adults. When you visit Japan don't be surprised if you get invited to a game of "jankepoi" to settle the restaurant bill.

P.S. Note the "Radetzky March" of Johann Strauss Sr. in the background. Check here for a most enjoyable performance of the classic piece.

2 comments:

David Brizzard said...

That was most unusual, and most enjoyable.
Thanks again for these short video finds.
Especially for the English explanations.

D. Chouinard said...

Very interesting! Thank you for the translation and explanation, it goes a long way to understanding what is said and the culture. That and I think "jankepoi" is played just about everywhere!(Here I was thinking it was only American thing!) Very cool!
Thanks again!