"There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value — not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English." —Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

Monday, April 2, 2012

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 (2012)
Lyrics for the "Song of the Cosmo Pilots"!

『宇宙戦艦ヤマト2199』の挿入歌「宇宙船乗りの歌『銀河航路』」!


"Everybody, all together now: Today's a good day to die!"

Near the conclusion of the first half of the first episode of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199, the crew of the Yukikaze sing as they fly into the jaws of death to allow Admiral Okita safe passage to Earth. This is a new composition from Akira Miyagawa (son of the original Yamato composer, Hiroshi Miyagawa), while melodically drawing from old IJN marches, its lyrics are that of old seafarers, and inspired by "We're Space Pilots," the Kan Ishii's anthem from Ishiro Honda's GORATH (1962).

This is probably not just a mere coincidence, since YAMATO: 2199's director, Yutaka Izubuchi, and other members of the staff, are hardcore fans of the old skool Toho Visual Effects Films. Below, I've translated the lyrics to "Galactic Passage: Song of the Cosmo Pilots" (composed and arranged by Akira Miyagawa), penned by director Izubuchi himself:





•「宇宙船乗りの歌『銀河航路』」
作詞 - 出渕裕 / 作曲・編曲 - 宮川彬良

銀河氷平波間を超えて、目指す恒星ケンタウリ
星の瞬き遥を超えて、宙に輝く星の船
抜錨!船出だ、いかりを上げろ
進路そのまま、ヨーソロー(ヨーソロー)
星に向かって舵を切れ
俺たちゃ宙の
俺たちゃ宙の艦乗りだ

空間航跡たなびく果てに、目指す地平が見えてくる
青い地球を今あとにして、カイパーベルトをひとっ飛び
抜錨!船出だ、いかりを上げろ
進路そのまま、ヨーソロー(ヨーソロー)
船行き先く星の海
俺たちゃ宙の
俺たちゃ宙の艦乗りだ

O’er the gelid waves of galactic streams, 
Set course for the fixed star of Centuri
Our glorious cosmoship crosses o’er the void far, 
Beyond those twinkling stars
Set Sail! We’re casting off, anchors aweigh
Stand on your bearing, steady as she goes
(Steady as she goes)
Weather your helm towards the stars
We are Pilots
We are Pilots of the Cosmos

Oh, now as we sail o’er the Kuiper Belt, 
we’ve left the blue Earth behind us
Far beyond the trails of cosmic wakes, 
We can see the event horizon, our heading
Set Sail! We’re casting off, anchors aweigh
Stand on your bearing, steady as she goes
(Steady as she goes)
The sea of stars is this ship’s destination
We are Pilots
We are Pilots of the Cosmos

While another translation of "Pilot" is "Sailor" or "Bluecoat", the latter of which I almost went with (as everyone is wearing a blue coat), I wanted to keep this translation closer, more or less, to the spirit of song from GORATH — and I'd like to ask Mr. Izubuchi and Mr. Miyagawa if they had Honda's film in mind when this song was penned. Speaking of which, just for contrast, here's the "We're Space Pilots" song from GORATH:


•「俺ら宇宙のパイロット」

狭い地球にや未練は無いさ
未知の世界に夢がある、夢がある

広い宇宙は俺のもの、俺のもの

はばたきい行こ宙の果て

でっかい希望だ、憧れだ

俺ら宇宙の、俺ら宇宙の

俺ら宇宙のパイロット



雲らぬ空は我らが心

今日も希望を乗せて行く、乗せて行く

広い宇宙は俺のもの、俺のもの

男度胸の見せ所
開け自由の、新天地

俺ら宇宙の、俺ら宇宙の

俺ら宇宙のパイロット

Leaving no regrets behind on this little planet
There is a dream in unknown, there is a dream
This vast universe will be mine, all mine
To soar across the limitless void
Is our greatest hope, our greatest longing
We are Space, we are Space
We are Space Pilots

Our hearts are as open as cloudless skies
We ride on the hopes of tomorrow, we ride
This vast universe will be mine, all mine
Where a man can show his courage
In the freedom of a boundless new world
We are Space, we are Space
We are Space Pilots

Stay tuned to this blog and the official Star Blazers website for more news and information on SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: 2199 as they develop — and soon, we'll be off to outer space, singing like it's 2199!

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