● 山河 Born in the Mountain and River
　　　　　　　作詞−小椋　佳、作曲―堀内孝雄
　　　　　Words−OGURA Kei, Music−HORIUCHI Takao

人は皆　山河に生まれ、抱かれ、挑み、
Born in the mountain and river, or Nature,
you all have been nestled in His bosom.
　You all have sometimes bidden defiance to Him,

人は皆　山河を信じ、
but you all have always believed in Him.

和（なご）み、愛す、
You all have been relaxed in His love,

そこに　生命（いのち）をつなぎ
trusted your life to Him,

命（いのち）を刻む
and supported your life in Him.

そして　終（つ）いには
Then finally

山河に還（かえ）る。
you all will return to Him.

顧（かえり）みて、恥じることない
足跡（あしあと）を山に　残したろうか
Recollect the course you have followed so far.
On the mountain, have you planted your footprints
that are right in the sight of God and man?

永遠の　水面の光　増す夢を
河に浮かべたろうか
On the river, have you set afloat
an eternal surface glow
that causes other people's dreams increase?

愛する人の瞳（め）に
愛する人の瞳（め）に
In the sight of your dear one,
in the sight of your dear one,

俺の山河は美しいかと。
美しいかと。
have you finished leaving behind
beautiful mountains and rivers of your own?
Are they as beautiful as your dear one?

歳月は　心に積まれ　山と映り
The passage of years, piled up in heart,
　catches mountains of reminiscences.

歳月は　心に流れ　河を描く
The passage of years, flowing on in heart,
　describes rivers of memories.

そこに　積まれる時と、流れる時と、
The time piled up and flowing on in there

人は誰もが　山河を宿す。
　accommodates anyone
with a shelter of the mountain and river.

ふと想う、悔いひとつなく
Then, the suspicion flashes across your mind,

悦びの山を　築けたろうか
"Have I succeeded, without regret, in building
the mountain full of joy?"

くしゃくしゃに
嬉し泣きするかげりない
河を抱（いだ）けたろうか
"Have I succeeded, through excess of joy, in hugging
　　the river full of happy tears?"

愛する人の瞳（め）に
愛する人の瞳（め）に
In the sight of your dear one,
in the sight of your dear one,

俺の山河は美しいかと。
美しいかと。
have you finished leaving behind
beautiful mountains and rivers of your own?
Are they as beautiful as your dear one?

顧（かえり）みて、恥じることない
足跡（あしあと）を山に　残したろうか
Recollect the course you have followed so far.
In the mountain, have you left your footmarks
that are right in the sight of God and man?

永遠の　水面の光　増す夢を
河に浮かべたろうか
On the river, have you set afloat
an eternal surface glow
that causes people's dreams increase?

愛する人の瞳（め）に
愛する人の瞳（め）に
In the sight of your dear one,
in the sight of your dear one,

俺の山河は美しいかと。
美しいかと。
have you finished leaving behind
beautiful mountains and rivers of your own?
Are they as beautiful as your dear one?　　　（英訳：坂井孝彦）

●　自分の番 　Your Turn

うまれかわり死にかわり
Birth and death are repeated

永遠の過去のいのちを受けついで
　　in succession in an everlasting incarnation from the past,

　いま自分の番を生きている
　　now is your turn to live in this world.

それがあなたのいのちです
　　This is what your life is all about;

それがわたしのいのちです
　　this is also what my life is all about.

　　（詩：相田みつを）　　（英訳：坂井孝彦、英文校閲：Frances Ford）

●　あとがき

・青春の時代から数十年にわたりおつき合いをいただいている金子圭佑さん、本年忘年会の絶唱は「山河」でした。
小椋佳の「山河」、五木ひろしの「山河」もそれぞれにすてきです。

金子さんの練習に練習を重ねられた絶唱も、また「すばらしくすてき」でした。
来し方数十年、その歳月を振り返りつつ、しみじみと傾聴しました。