がんばれ日本!!

= Ganbare Nippon

= Hang in there, Japan!!

It has been 2 weeks since the earthquake hit Japan.

We all have deep pain and sorrow in our hearts worrying about the people in the most affected areas.

Under these circumstances, it is easy to feel fear, sadness, despair, and depression.

But I don’t want to make a lesson based on any of these negative emotions. Instead, I would like to focus on people’s inner power and their kind hearts.

Today I would like to make a lesson to cheer us up!

First take a look at the picture above.

「がんばれ日本！」

= Ganbare Nippon!

= Hang in there, Japan!

Note : 日本 can be read “Nihon” or “Nippon”.

But when we cheer, we tend to use “Nippon”.

Now let’s focus on the verb:

頑張る = がんばる = ganbaru = to do one’s best, to try hard

We say this to encourage someone (or even yourself!).

がんばって(下さい)。

= Ganbatte (kudasai)!

= Hang in there! / Good luck!/ Keep it up!

(with 下さい= kudasai is more polite.)

:u:

がんばってね！(casual/female speech)

= Ganbattene!

I often tell you,

Ex. 日本語がんばってね！

= Nihongo ganbatte ne!

= Good luck with your Japanese!

•がんばれ！(casual / male speech but women use it to cheer up someone)

= Ganbare!

If you encourage yourself, you say

•がんばろう！

=Ganbarou!

=We (or I) should hang in there.

When you say がんばって(下さい）！= Ganbatte (kudasai)! がんばれ！= Ganbare! it often implies the feeling of wishing “Good luck!” showing your support.

But since they also mean to try harder, someone was answering an interview about the earthquake on TV and said

被災地の人達にがんばってなんて言えない。がんばるのは僕たちだから。もっと私達に甘えて下さい。

= Hisaichi no hitotachi ni ganbatte nante ienai. Ganbaru nowa bokuara dakara. Motto watashitachi ni amaete kudasai.

= I can’t say “Hang in there” in the afflicted areas. It is we who have to work hard. Please let us do what we can.

It is so true. All the victims of Tsunami and earthquake have been がんばっている(=ganbatteiru), putting up with everything.

We, all the Japanese people are the one who have to がんばる(= ganbaru)to support them and Japan from now on.

And we hear all the encouragements from everywhere now.

★がんばろう日本

= Ganbarou Nipon!

= We should hang in there, Japan!

★一つになってこの壁を乗り越えよう。

= Hitotsu ni natte kono kabe wo norikoeyou.

= Become one and overcome this wall.

etc.

!to right! (Sorry Many of the videos are no longer available so I will just leave the quotes from the CM)

From an encouraging CM By SMAP

あなたはどんな時でも一人じゃない

= Anata wa donna toki mo hitori ja nai

= You are not alone — ever

ぼくらが、みんながついています。

= Bokura ga, Minna ga tsuite imasu

= We and everyone is with you.

互いに譲り合い助け合いながら

= Tagai ni yuzuriai tasuke ai nagara

= We give and help each other

強く強く未来を信じて

= Tsuyoku Tsuyoku mirai wo shinjite

= We strongly believe in our future

今、ひとつになる時

= Ima hitotsu ni naru toki

= It is time to be together

日本の力を信じてる

= Nihon no chikara wo shinjiteru

= We believe in the strength of Japan

日本は強い国

= Nihon wa tsuyoi kuni

= Japan is a strong country

長い道のりになるかもしれないけれども

= Nagai michinori ni naru kamo shirenai keredomo

（Note : He said しれんけど=shiren kedo)

= It may be a long journey but

みんなで頑張れば絶対に乗り越えられる

= Minna de ganbareba zettai ni norikoerareru

= We can overcome if we all try hard

そう思う

= Sou omou

= I think so

日本の力を信じてる

= Nihon no chikara wo shinjiteru

= We believe in the strength of Japan

Athletes have organized “Team Japan” to support Japan.

An AC commercial with soccer players.

小さい頃、阪神大震災を経験しました。

= Chiisai koro Hanshin daishinsai wo keiken shimashita.

= I experienced the Great Hanshin Earthquake when I was little.

日本の強さは団結力です

= Nihon no tsuyosa wa danketsuryoku desu.

= The strength of Japan is its bond of solidarity (=team work).

ぼくも精一杯協力します。

= Boku mo seiippai doryoku shimasu.

= I will do my best.

ひとりじゃないみんながいる

= Hitorijanai minna ga iru.

= You are not alone. Everybody is with you.

世界中の人たちが日本を応援しています。

= Sekaijuu no hitotachi ga nihon wo ouen shite imasu.

= People around the world are supporting Japan.

みんなが笑顔になれますように

= Minna ga egao ni naremasu you ni.

= May everybody smile.

ひとりひとりができることをやりましょう

= Hitori hitori ga dekiru koto wo yarimashou.

= Let’s do what we can do individually.

日本が一つのチームなんです

= Nihon ga hitotsu no chiim nan desu.

= Japan is one team.

みんなでやれば大きな力に

= Minna de yareba ookina chikarani

= If we work together, it will be powerful.

People have been passing around a quote of a folksong singer 松山千春 (= Matsuyama Chiharu) on Twitter.

知恵があるやつは知恵を出そう

= Chie ga aru yatsu wa chie wo dasou

= The one who has knowledge, give knowledge

力があるやつは力を出そう

= Chikara ga aru yatsu wa chikara wo dasou

= The one who has power, give power,

 

金があるやつは金を出そう

=Kane ga aru yatsu wa kane wo dasou

= The one who has money, give money,

 

自分は何も出せないよ

= Jibun wa nani mo dasenai yo

 

というやつは元気を出せ

=to iu yatsu wa genki wo dase

= The one who says “I can’t give anything” give good energy

The 全国高校野球選手権= Zenkoku koukou yakyuu senshuken = The National High School Championship at 甲子園球場 = koushien kyuujou= Koshien Baseball Satdium has just opened.

And here is a speech of the opening ceremony.

私たちは１６年前阪神淡路大震災の年に生まれました。

= Watashitachi wa juurokunen mae Hanshin Awaji Daishinsai no toshi ni umaremashita.

= We were born 16 years ago in the year of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake

今、東日本大震災で多くの貴い命が奪われ

= Ima Higashi nihon daishinsai de ooku no toutoi inochi ga ubaware

= Having deprived many people of their precious lives

私たちの心は悲しみでいっぱいです。

= Watashitachi no kokoro wa kanashimi de ippai desu.

= Our hearts are full of sorrow

被災地ではすべての方が一丸となり

= Hisaichi dewa subete no kataga ichigan to nari

= All the people in the devastated areas have become one and

仲間とともにがんばっておられます。

= Nakama to tomo ni ganbatte oraremasu.

= they are working hard with one another

人は仲間に支えられることで大きな困難を

= Hito wa nakama ni sasaerareru koto de ookina konnan wo

乗り越えることができると信じています。

= Norikoeru koto ga dekiru to shinjite imasu.

= With the support of friends, I believe people can overcome these formidable difficulties

私たちに今できること

= Watashitachi ni ima dekiru koto

= What we can do now is

 

それはこの大会を精いっぱい

= Sore wa kono taikai wo seiippai

 

元気を出して戦うことです

= Genki wo dashite tatakau koto desu

= to play in this tournament and do our very best

 

がんばろう日本

= Ganbarou nippon

= Hang in there, Japan

 

生かされている命に感謝し

= Ikasarete iru inochi ni kansha shi

= Being appreciative of our given lives

 

全身全霊で正々堂々と

= Zenshin zenrei de seisei doudou to

 

プレーすることを誓います。

= Purei suru koto wo chikaimasu.

 

= We pledge to play with all our strength and with all our hearts

We have seen on the news how resilient the Tohoku area people are, lining up for emergency food without complaining and keeping orderly and not panicking.

Those people have lost everything, but they teach us how strong people can be in the face of disaster.

Now I’d like to tell you about this graduation ceremony speech at

階上中学校

= Hashikami Chuugakkou

= Hashikami junior highschool

in 気仙沼(= kesennuma), area stricken by disaster

When it was broadcast, I am sure the speech of the 15 years old student moved all the people who saw it to tears

 

「防災教育といえば、わたしたちの階上中といわれるくらい、

= Bousai kyouiku to ieba, watashitachi no Hashikami chuu to iwareru kurai

= When it comes to disaster prevention, there was no school like Hashikami Junior High School.

防災には力を入れてきました。

= Bousai ni wa chikara wo irete kimashita.

= Our school has been working on disaster prevention.

それでも、自然の力は大きく、災害の前に、わたしたちは無力で、

= Soredemo shizen no chikarawa ookiku saigai no mae ni watashitachi wa muryokude

= However, the power of Mother nature is awesome and we were powerless in the face of this disaster

 

大切なものが容赦なく奪われていきました。

= Taisetsu na mono gayousha naku ubawarete kimashita.

= It took many important things without mercy

悔しくて、辛くて、たまりません。」

= Kuyashikute tsurakute tamarimasen.

= It is mortifying and painful

「それでも、私たちは天を恨まず、

= Soredemo watashitachi wa ten wo uramazu

助け合って生きていこうと思います。

= Tasukeatte ikkite ikou to omoimasu.

= Even so, we would like to live without holding a grudge (against) nature (of God)

Note : 天 = ten refers to Heaven, sky or God

 

それが私たちの使命だからです。」

= Sorega watashitachi no shimei dakara desu.

= Because that is our mission. (destiny)

***********************

I would like to now tell you about a message from a 99 years old poet, 柴田トヨ = Shibata Toyo. She is the most well known female poet in Japan right now.

She started to write poetry when she was 92 years old. Ever since she posted her heartwarming message in the newspaper, she has became very popular. Her words penetrate our heart like a raindrops in the desert.

Her first book, くじけないで= kujikenaide = “Don’t be too frustrated” (or Don’t lose heart) has become a best seller.

Note : くじける = kujikeru means to give way, to lose heart

くじけないで = kujikenaide is a negative form and it means,

“Don’t be too frustrated” ( “Don’t lose your heart.”) “Hold up one’s head!”

While がんばって (= ganbatte) is strong encouragement like “Cheer up!””Hang in there!” , くじけないで (= kujikenaide) is used to address people who are about to collapse and it sounds gentle while at the same time healing people’s wounded hearts.

 

「くじけないで」

= Kujikenaide

= Don’t be too frustrated / Don’t lose heart.

ねえ、不幸だなんて 溜め息をつかないで

= Nee fukou da nante tameiki wo tsukanai de

= Say, please don’t sigh thinking you are unhappy

陽射しやそよ風はえこひいきしない

= Hizashi ya soyokaze wa ekohiiki shinai

= The sunlight and breeze don’t favor (→You can get sunlight and breeze equally/They are fair)

Note : えこひいきする = ekohiiki suru = to treat people unfairly

夢は平等に見られるのよ

= Yume wa byoudou ni mirareru noyo.

= You all can dream equally

私　辛いことがあったけれど

= Watashi tsurai koto ga atta kedo

= I have had hardships but

生きていてよかった

= Ikite ite yokatta

= I am happy that I have had lived

あなたもくじけずに

= Anata mo kujikezuni

= Don’t lose heart

And here’s her message towards people in the afflicted areas.

被災者の皆様に

= Hisaisha no minasama ni

= To people who have suffered in the disaster

Note : 被災者 = hisaisha = victims

=あぁ　なんということでしょう

= Aa nanto iu kotodeshou.

= Oh dear…

Note ： We say なんということだ。= Natou iu kotoda. →(more polite) なんということでしょう = Natou iukoto deshou

when we are surprised.

テレビを見ながら　唯（ただ）　手をあわすばかりです

= Terebi wo minagara tada te wo awasu bakari desu.

= I can’t do anything but watch TV and pray

Note : 手をあわす= te wo awasu = to put both hands together = to pray for something

 

皆様の心の中は

= Minasama no kokoro no naka wa

= In your heart,

今も余震がきて

= Ima mo yoshin ga kite

= aftershocks still follow and

 

傷痕（きずあと）がさらに深くなっていると思います

= Kizuato ga sarani fukaku natte iruto omoimasu.

= the mark of wounds has become even deeper I believe.

 

Note : 傷痕 or 傷跡 = kizuato = a mark of wound, scar

その傷痕に薬を塗ってあげたい

= Sono kizuato ni kusuri wo nutte agetai

= I would like to apply medicine to that scar

人間誰しもの気持ちです

= Ningen dareshimo no kimochi desu.

= This is how every human would feel

私もできることはないだろうか？　考えます

= Watashi mo dekiru koto wa naidarouka? Kangaemasu.

= Is there anything I can do? I wonder

もうすぐ百歳になる私

= Mousugu hyakusai ni naru watashi

= I will be 100 years old very soon

天国に行く日も近いでしょう

= Tengoku ni iku hi mo chikaideshou.

= The day when I go to Heaven is also very close.

その時は　日射（ひざ）しとなり

= Sono toki wa hizashi to nari

= When the time comes, I will be the sunlight and

そよ風になって

= Soyokaze ni natte

= become the breeze and

皆様を応援します

= Minasama wo ouen shimasu.

= I will support (cheer) you

これから　辛い日々が続くでしょうが

= Korekara tsurai hibi ga tsuzuki deshou ga

= The hard days will continue from now but

 

朝はかならず　やってきます

= Asa wa kanarazu yatte kimasu.

= the morning comes for sure

くじけないで！

= Kujikenai de!

= Don’t get discouraged.

*******

* 応援歌 = ouenka = cheering songs collections!

Music with encouraging lyrics cheer us up! Many of us are craving for songs to cheer us up. I will link to some of the encouraging songs that have been supporting many Japanese people through these hardships.

!CHECKHEART! The theme song of あんぱんマン= Anpanman.

Because of its encouraging lyrics, it has become quite popular in Japan now.

It reminds us of courageous 自衛隊=Jieitai = Japanese Self Defense Army, HyperRescues, firemen, workers of Tokyo Electric Power Company whose lives are endangered right now.

I never expected the day when I would cry to the Anpanman theme would come!

*  私にできること by KOKIA

= Watashi ni dekiru koto by KOKIA

Actually KOKIA made this song after the Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake hit in 2004.

*  上を向いて歩こう by 坂本九

“Ue wo miuite arukou” by Kyu Sakamoto

Well, this is a super famous song known internationally as “Sukiyaki”.

*  上を向いて歩こうよ 涙がこぼれない様に…

= Ue wo muite arukouyo.　Namida ga koborenai you ni…

= Let’s walk looking up in order to not let our tears fall down.

 

(Again, many of the videos are gone. Please buy the music if you are interested in.)

*   君を忘れない by 松山千春

= “Kimi wo Wasurenai” by Matsuyama Chiharu

= “I will not forget about you” By Chiharu Matsuyama

 

*   負けないで by Zard

Makenai de by Zard

!onpu! 負けないでもう少し最後まで走り抜けて

= Makenai de moushikoshi saigo made hashiri nukete

= Don’t give up. You’re almost there. Just a little bit further.

 

*  Tomorrow by 岡本真夜

Tomorrow by Maya Okamoto

!onpu! 涙の数だけ強くなろうよ…..

= Namida no kazu dake tsuyoku narou yo…

= Let’s be as strong as the drops of tears we’ve shed!…

明日は来るよ、君の為に

= Ashita wa kuru yo, kimi no tameni

= Tomorrow will come, for you!

 

*  愛は勝つ by KAN

= Ai wa katsu by KAN

= Love will win by KAN

どんなに困難でくじけそうでも

= Donnani konnan de kujikesou demo

= Even though how hard your situation is and you feel like giving up

信じることを決してやめないで

= Shinjiru kotowo kesshite yamenaide

= Never stop believing!

 

*  ＹＥＬＬ～エール～by コブクロ

Yell by KOBUKURO

boucingheart! 勇気１００％ by Hey Say Jump

Yuuki Hyakupaasento By Hey Say Jump

勇気= yuuki = courage

 

!heart! Jupiter by 平原綾香

= Jupiter by Hirahara Ayaka

マギー先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

日本は復興に向けて長い道のりを歩き始めました。

=Nihon wa fukkou ni mukete nagai michinori wo aruki hajimemashita.

=Japan has started the long walk towards reconstruction.

皆に笑顔が戻ります様に。

= Mina ni egao ga modori masu you ni.

=May everybody smile again.

そして海外から支えてくれている皆さん、改めてありがとう！

= Soshite Kaigai kara sasasete kureteiru minasan, aratamete arigatou!

= And thank you again for all your support from all over the world.

*  Prayers from Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya, for Japan

English version : Check here!

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