No. 17 Ariwara no Narihira ( he was said to be a very cool guy.)

How beautiful Tatsuta River is! It’s covered with many beautiful red colored leaves. I’ve never heard of such a fantastic scene since the ancient period when many strange incidents happened.

ちはやぶる　神代も聞かず　竜田川　からくれないに　水くくるとは

No.16 Tyunagon Yukihira

I’m going to Inaba, present Tottori, departing from you, my love. Good-bye! However if you want me to come back, I could run to you as soon as possible.

立ち別れ　いなばの山の　みねにおふる　まつとし聞かば　今帰り来む

No.15 Emperor Koukou

It’s snowing now and my sleeves of Kimono are getting wet.　However I’m
plucking some greens in the cold field for you, my love.

きみがため　春の野にいでて　若菜つむ　わがころも手に　雪は降りつつ

No.14 Minister Kawara no Sadaijin

Now my heart is really disturbed. Why am I so worried? For whom do I have a painful experience now? It’s for you. I can’t help feeling sad when I’m thinking about you.

みちのくの　しのぶもぢずり　たれゆえに　乱れそめにし　われならなくに

No. 13 Previous Emperor Youzeiin

I love you deeply from my heart. The water from Mt. Tsukuba gathers into a big river. My love seems to be the same as that river. They are really deep and clear.

筑波嶺の　みねより落つる　みなの川　恋ぞつもりて　ふちとなりぬる

No. 12 The priest Soujyou Henjyou

I want to see the beautiful dancers for a while. They look like celestial nymphs dancing among clouds. I wish the wind would blow hard and make them remain.

あまつ風　雲のかよひ路　吹きとぢよ　をとめの姿　しばしとどめむ

No. 11 Sangi Takamura

I was ordered to study in China. 　No way !　　I didn’t want to go to such a far country. Of course I refused. Then I am exiled to Oki in present Shimane. 　Dear fishermen working on the ocean, please tell my friends that I’m going to the lonely island on the small boat.

わたの原(はら)　八十島(やそしま)かけて　こぎ出(い)でぬと　人(ひと)には告(つ)げよ　あまのつり舟(ぶね)　

No. 10 Semimaru

This is the famous barrier where we have to say good bye and we can see each other again. I wonder if I could see them again here.

これやこの　行くも帰るも　別れては　し知るもし知らぬも　逢坂のせき関　

No.8 The priest Kisen houshi

Now I’m living in the southeast of the capital at peace. I know it is rumored that I live here, in the country, because I lost my love. I don’t mind such a rumor.

わが庵は　都のたつみ　しかぞす住む　世をうぢ山と　人はいふなり

No. 6 Tyunagon Yakamochi

Now there is a heavy frost on the bridge of the Palace. It looks really white and I see it’s already midnight.

かささぎの　渡(わた)せる橋(はし)に　おく霜(しも)の　白(しろ)きを見(み)れば　夜(よ)ぞ更(ふ)けにける

No. 5 The priest Sarumary Dayu

I really feel lonely when I hear the deer’s cry in autumn. He is looking for his wife crying on a lot of colored fallen leaves in the mountain.

奥山(おくやま)に　紅葉(もみじ)ふみわけ　鳴(な)く鹿(しか)の　声聞(こゑき)くときぞ　秋(あき)はかなしき　

No. 57 Murasaki Shikibu (the famous woman writer in the Heian period)

I could meet you at long last. However you left me as soon as I recognized your face. It is just like the moon which we can see through the clouds.

めぐりあひて　見(み)しやそれとも　わかぬ間(ま)に 雲(くも)がくれにし　夜半(よは)の月(つき)かな

No. 2 Emperor Jitou

Spring seems to be over and summer has come. We can see the white clothes among the Mt. Kaguyama where they have a custom to air white clothes during summer.

春(はる)すぎて　夏来(なつき)にけらし　白妙(しろたへ)の 衣(ころも)ほすてふ 天(あま)の香具山(かぐやま)