191 Men, Be Strong!

“Men, Be Strong!”

A nation faces danger if its men grow weak.

Ever since Japan lost World War II,
Peace above all else has become the nation’s central principle.
The country’s own defense is left to others.
War and strife elsewhere are of no concern.
Really now, can this be the right stance?

Japanese worked like mad after the war.
The nation recovered; the economy prospered.
But the people’s sense of well-being did not fly high.
If that is the case today, then we have taken the wrong path.

The zeal and fire of young samurai from the Meiji Restoration
Stirs the hearts of many men.

They were the lions who changed the Japan nation,
With grit to forsake themselves for the good of the nation.
They fought to protect their families, their nation,
Their future generations.
We are reborn on the ashes of those young samurai.

Men, be men! Be strong!
Regain the Japanese spirit—the samurai spirit.
Have the spirit that is willing to die for his family or his country.