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Ever Victorious Skies
常勝之空  | 常勝の空
Josho no Sora

Scroll down or click link below for translations and backgrounds.

1. English Translation/Background

2. Chinese Translation/Background


​Video
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作詞: 山本伸一
作曲: 杉野泰彦

今再びの      陣列に
君と我とは    久遠より
誓いの友と    春の曲
愛する関西    勇み立て

我等の誉れ    錦州城
常勝の空      晴ればれと
凱歌の友の    雄叫びは
波濤の如く    天に舞え

あぁ関西の    行進に
諸天の旗も    色冴えて
護りに護らん  我が友を
いざや前進    恐れなく
いざや前進    恐れなく
​
Lyrics : Shin'ichi Yamamoto
Music : Sugino Yasuhiko

Ima futatabi no         Jinretsu ni
Kimi to wareto wa     Kuon yori
Chikai no tomo to      Haru no kyoku
Aisuru Kansai            Isamitate

Warera no homare     Kin no shiro
Josho no sora            Harebare to
Gaika no tomo no      Otakebi wa
Hato no goto ku        Ten ni mae

A a Kansai no            Koshinni
Shoten no hatamo     Iro saete
Mamori ni mamoran  Waga tomoo
Izaya zenshin            Osore naku
Izaya zenshin            Osore naku
​

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English Translation

Lyrics : Shin'ichi Yamamoto
Music : Sugino Yasuhiko

Now, once again in a battle formation
You and me, from time without beginning
Are friends who took a vow,
like the melody of Spring
Stand courageously, beloved Kansai

Our Honourable golden citadel
Ever-victorious skies, bright and cheerful
Friends singing a victory song,
​ their war cry
As if the surging sea,
dancing towards the sky

Ah Ah, in the march of Kansai
Even the banners of the Shoten Zenjin
are brightly coloured
Protecting my friends
Advance Now, Fear Nothing
Advance Now, Fear Nothing

Background

Picture

6-layer tower formed during 1st Kansai Youth Festival for World Peace, 1982

The song “Ever Victorious Skies” was written by President Ikeda on 17th July 1978, a period in which the priesthood began to blatantly exert their authority on Soka Gakkai.
 
President Ikeda suggested writing a “Kansai Song” at the beginning of July. The leaders in Kansai were elated. Their youth responded speedily to compose the lyrics of a song titled “Dancing with Comrades” and was sent to President Ikeda on the morning of 7th August. However, the song was not well received by the Kansai leaders as it neither reflected Kansai’s struggles nor the regretful Osaka Incident.
 
President Ikeda, however, had plans to personally write a song as a gift to his Kansai comrades. On that afternoon, he poured his entire heart out to narrate his thoughts into lyrics for Mrs Ikeda to write down. Right from the beginning “Now, once again in a battle formation…”, the lyrics reflect his spontaneous thought of numerous unnamed Kansai comrades, together with him, creating unprecedented achievement in the annals of kosen-rufu. Kansai is certainly the indomitable fortress to uphold this brilliant and proud tradition.
 
“You and me, from time without beginning, are friends who took a vow, like the melody of Spring” are words sprung from President Ikeda’s heart, depicting that the bond between him and Kansai is never coincidental. This is because Bodhisattvas of the Earth, fulfilling their vow for kosen-rufu, are bound by eternal ties. “Music of Spring” encompasses happiness, joy, advancement and victory.
 
In the evening after further editing the lyrics, President Ikeda called Kansai General Chief. “I’ve written a song for Kansai.” As the lyrics were read, the Chief was overwhelmed with emotions and wholeheartedly thanked him. President Ikeda continued, “If there is any area for improvement, please let me know. This song belongs to Kansai. Everyone must agree to the lyrics wholeheartedly. How is it?”
 
Apologetically, Kansai Chief said, “The first line of the second verse, ‘Our Honourable city of Golden Palace’; is it alright that we change it to ‘Our Honourable city of Jinzhou’?” “Jinzhou” was a city of strategic importance in China and also had unique and special significance to the Kansai members. In February 1956, while leading the Osaka Campaign, President Ikeda expressed his determination to achieve victory in a poem as a gift to his beloved mentor, whose birthday falls on the 11th of the month.
 
"Building Kansai into today’s Jinzhou city
Forever uncollapsible, Forever undefeated by devils"
 
Responding to his beloved disciple in resonance, President Toda replied with another poem.
 
"My disciple, the way of shakubuku, is enough to build
A Jinzhou city, I look forward with joy"
 
Deeply engraving this poem in his heart, President Ikeda achieved monumental victories with Kansai members in the shakubuku campaign. Thus, the General Chief requested “Jinzhou”to be included in the lyrics as it is the pride of Kansai members that this “Jinzhou city of kosen-rufu” was built by the shared vow of mentor and disciple. President Ikeda responded, “ ‘Golden Palace’ is a new idea. But if everyone in Kansai decides to use ‘Jinzhou’ after discussion, I would gladly agree. I want to give Kansai the best eternal song.”
 
On 9th July, while attending the Kanagawa Music Festival, President Ikeda requested Sugino Yasuhiko, a youth who had experience composing Gakkai songs, to help with the melody of “Song of Kansai”. President Ikeda immediately told Sugino of his ideas and even hummed it out. At the end of the day, he listened to Sugino’s composed tune. Though lively and strong, there were areas that needed improvement. From the next day onwards, listening to the youth’s composition, President Ikeda continued to polish it.
 
On 14th July, President Ikeda spent time with Sugino in between his hectic events at Soka University to continue improving the melody. As President Ikeda gave suggestions to the melody, he continued to improve on the lyrics. President Ikeda and the youth exerted their entire beings to compose the best tune for the 4 phrases. After much improvement, the rhythmic and dynamic song was finally completed. “I would consider this song well done, giving it 98%. The remaining 2% comes from the spirit of the Kansai members. When the Kansai members sing it spiritedly, this song would have perfect score.”
 
After receiving the new lyrics, Kansai members proposed to have the new song sung on 17th July’s “Osaka Day” Leaders Commemorative meeting to be attended by President Ikeda. It was on this fateful morning in 1957 when President Ikeda was released from prison due to the Osaka Incident.
 
The Osaka Incident in July 1957 was a false allegation by the authorities against President Ikeda for influencing voters during a local election. This led to the imprisonment of him for a period of 15 days. Following that, the court case dragged on for four and a half years, before his complete exoneration by the court in January 1962.
 
On the morning of 16th July, President Ikeda continued to polish the song. Even before his departing flight to Osaka at 2pm, he continued to discuss the lyrics and melody with the accompanying leaders. “The song of Kansai is good to go. Nothing more needs editing. We can go to Kansai now. Please convey this (latest version) to Kansai.”
                                      
After a solemn gongyo, gift presentation and three cheers of “Banzai”, the “Osaka Day” Leaders Commemorative meeting exploded into mass singing of Gakkai songs. It started with “Kofu no Hashire” and followed by respective division songs. Osaka Chief then took the stage to announce the new "Song of Kansai" and read aloud the lyrics, followed by the unveiling of the lyrics on a banner 20 metre wide for it to be read from every corner of the hall.
 
With renewed vow, comrades from Kansai sang their hearts out. Overwhelmed with emotions, they shed tears of gratitude as they welled forth tremendous courage. Recalling the Osaka Incident, many members gathered outside the prison to sing in the rain. They hoped to send their voices through the songs into prison to encourage the inmates.
 
Ever since the Osaka Incident, the Kansai members vowed never to be defeated again and to emerge “Ever-Victorious”. But on this night, when “Ever-Victorious Skies” was performed at Kansai Leaders meeting, it was said that the impact exceeded the atmosphere generated at the Osaka Incident.


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中文翻译

作词: 山本伸一
作曲: 杉野泰彦

现在也再次    在阵势中
你和我自从久远
如誓愿之友    如春天的曲子
敬爱的关西    勇敢地立起

我们的荣耀    锦州城堡
常胜之空      明亮又欢喜
朋友的凯歌    就犹如雄壮般的呐喊
犹如波涛一般  向天空飞舞

啊关西        继续前进吧
诸天之旗帜    闪亮又清澈
给予最强大的保护与维护 
我所有的朋友
立即前进吧    无畏惧
立即前进吧    无畏惧
​


背景

Picture

关西,日本 1997年11月
池田大作

池田会长作词的《常胜之空》是在1978年7月17日完成的。当时,正是日莲正宗的僧侣们明目张胆的以暴举显示他们霸权的时期。
 
池田会长在7月初提议创作 “关西之歌” 。关西的干部们满怀喜悦,立即召集青年部开始创作歌曲, 于7月8日早上向池田会长发出命名为《与同志共舞》的一首歌。可是,这首歌既没有反映关西所经历的艰苦,也没有体现充满遗憾﹑ 令人惋惜的大阪事件。因此这首歌没有接受到关西干事们的好评与认可。
 
池田会长当时却想为关西的同志们赠送一首自己创作的歌。就在当天的下午,池田会长掏出自己胸怀中的思绪与想法,口述出直率的歌词,由妻子香峯子夫人笔录。“现在也再次,在阵势中。。。” 一开始,这个词就掏出了当即之思绪,与无数默默无名的关西同志们一起创造前所未有的辉煌广布历史。关西的的确确是一座百折不挠的广布堡垒,拥有着黄金般灿烂且自豪的原点。
 
 “你和我自从久远 如誓言之友如春天的曲子” 此歌词来自于他内心深处,述说了池田会长与关西同志们的深厚纽带,绝非偶然。实现广宣流布誓愿的地涌菩萨们,他们之间都以这久远的使命而紧密连结着。“春天的曲子” 此行包含了幸福、欢喜、跃进与胜利。
 
傍晚左右,池田会长为“关西之歌”做了些修改后,打了通电话给关西综合长。“我创作了 ‘关西之歌’ 。”当池田会长向关西综合长念出歌词,综合长心中涌现无法压抑的沸腾,对池田会长至上由衷的感激。池田会长接着说道:“如果有需要修改之处,请直接告诉我。这首关西之歌是属于大家的,所以大家都要认同此歌词才行。怎么样?”
 
综合长充满歉意的说道:“第二段的第一行 ‘我们的荣耀  金之城’ 此尊贵的称号,可否把 ‘金之城’ 改为 ‘锦州城’ ?”“锦州”是在中国一个以战略部署极为重要的城池。同时,“锦州” 也对关西同志们的心里代表着特殊的想法与意义。在1956年2月,为大阪奋战做指挥的池田会长,为托付大胜利的决意写出的此诗,并将它做为户田恩师当月11日的生日礼物。
 
“将关西打造成今日的锦州城
永不崩溃 不被魔军抑制”
 
户田会长即刻以另一首诗对此诗而做出回应。
 
“我的弟子啊 折伏之道 足以建设
锦州城 喜悦地仰望着”
 
池田会长把此诗刻印在心里,与关西的同志们共奋战取得大胜利。因此,关西综合长希望能注入 “锦州城” 这歌词的恳求。因为,关西是以创价师弟共誓而建设的广布之锦州城,是共戰的荣耀。聆听了综合部长的要求,池田会长说道:“ ‘金之城’ 是崭新的想法,不过如果关西的大家讨论后要采用 ‘锦州城’ 我也同意。我想赠给予关西的后续一首永恒的、最好的歌。”
 
7月9日,池田会长出席神奈川音乐节时,邀请了杉野泰彦,一位对于创作学会歌赋有经验的青年,为 “关西之歌” 谱曲。池田会长当场把自己对曲子的想法哼了出来。音乐节完毕后,池田会长听了做完了的曲。虽然是开朗及强而有力的曲子,不过还是有进步的空间。池田会长从第二天开始,听这青年制作的曲子,自己也继续修改曲子。
 
7月14日,在出席创价大学各种活动之间的空余时间,反复地给予负责写曲的泰彦建议。池田会长一边对泰彦给予作曲的建议,一边修改歌词。作曲方面,池田会长与泰彦绞尽脑汁为四行的曲子编出最好的旋律。经过了深思,终于完成了充满了律动且洋溢着强烈节奏的歌曲。“我觉得这歌曲非常好,得98分。剩下的2分就是关西同志们的精神了。当关西的同志们投入精神去唱这首歌的时候就满分了。”
 
接着向关西会员们会报了改进了的歌词。关西表示想要在7月17日池田会长锁定出席的 “大阪之日” 纪念干部会上发表歌曲。也就是在1957年的这天早晨,池田会长因为被诬蔑于大阪事件而从监狱被释放出来。
 
大阪事件发生于1957年7月。当时的池田会长受到当局的不实指控,被诬告对本地竞选进行不合法的拉票举动。这导致池田会长被监禁了15天。接下来,法案一拖再拖,延续了长达4年半的时间。过后在1962年1月才获得法院彻底免除。
 
7月16日,池田会长从早上开始,重复的为这首歌曲做出改进。当日下午2时要飞往大阪,出发之前还与通行的干部们讨论歌词与旋律,继续修改。“关西之歌节奏很好,没有什么需要修改的地方了。我们可以过去了。大家可帮我跟关西传达(歌词新版本)。”
 
“大阪之日” 的纪念干部会以池田会长严肃地领导勤行、赠给支部干事纪念品与三声万岁后,激昂地成为了高唱学会歌曲的聚会。首先是《奔向广布》的大合唱。其次是各部各自的学会歌。接着,大阪支部长登上了台,宣布了崭新的 “关西之歌” 并且宣读了歌词。话一完,台上歌词的大布条降了下来。大约5米长,20米宽的布条,20行的句子,全场看得到的大歌词。
 
重新立下誓愿的关西同志们,大家怀着热血沸腾的心高唱着歌曲。大家满怀思绪,热泪盈眶,心里涌现出强大的勇气。回顾起大阪事件的当时,许多会员们都聚集在雨中的监狱外高唱着歌。大家都期盼着能将歌声传达至关在监狱里的同志们,给予他们鼓励、支持。
 
自从大阪事件,关西会员们誓言永不言败,永远以 “常胜” 的姿态体现自己。在演绎着《常胜之空》的关西纪念干部会里,这首歌所带来的高昂气势远远超越了大阪事件那时候所带来的冲击。


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