The Fragrance of Early Summer

The Fragrance of Early Summer (初夏の香り Shoka no kaori) is the sixth image song for the character Japan in Hetalia: Axis Powers. It is sung by Hiroki Takahashi in the voice of Japan.

Kanji Lyrics
春すぎて夏来(け)にけらし 青々と若葉煌めく 霧晴れた山野のさきに 風恋しくそよぐ

深い緑萌ゆる 小道ひとり歩めば いつしか密やかに想い馳せ 我が心彩どる遠き記憶

遥かなる詩が聞こえる さやかに木霊が響く 周りは悠久な大自然 澄み渡る杜の香り

しゃらりしゃらりと 鈴の音鳴らし 足任せに山野をあゆむ 古川の音は さらりさらり澄みやかに 我が心和ませる

草原を彩る ワタスゲの白穂は 夏風にさやさや揺すられて ふわり身を放ち我が身を包む

耳を澄ませば聞こえる 葉音が優しく歌う 五感で感じる大湿原 澄み渡る花の香り

「初夏が香るこの時期は、美しく咲き誇る水芭蕉が見所です. イタリア君のお家では、 美味しく実ったトマトの畑が景色一面に広がっているようで…是非一度、行ってみたいですね. 」

木漏れ日 煌めく水面は 緑青色に輝く 白樺の小道から眺めれば 淡い世界に癒される

仰ぎ見る若草の丘 敷き詰める青紫の花 美しき色彩に囲まれて 澄み渡る初夏の香り

Romaji Lyrics
Haru sugite natsu kenikerashi Aoaoto wakaba kirameku Kiri hareta yamano no saki ni Kaze koishiku soyogu

Fukai midori moyuru komichi hitori ayumeba Itsushika hisoyakani omoihase Waga kokoro irodoru tooki kioku

Harukanaru uta ga kikoeru Sayakani kodama ga hibiku Mawari wa yuukyuu na daishizen Sumiwataru mori no kaori

Sharari sharari to suzu no ne narashi Ashimakase ni yamano wo ayumu Furukawa no ne wa sarari sarari sumiyakani Waga kokoro nagomaseru

Kusahara wo irodoru watasuge no shiraho wa Natsukaze ni sayasaya yusurarete Fuwari mi wo hanachi waga mi wo tsutsumu

Mimi wo sumaseba kikoeru Haoto ga yasashiku utau Gokan de kanjiru daishitsugen Sumiwataru hana no kaori

“Shoka ga kaoru kono jiki wa, utsukushiku sakihokoru mizubashou ga midokoro desu. Itaria-kun no ouchi dewa, oishiku minotta tomato no hatake ga keshiki ichimen ni hirogatteiru you de… zehi ichido, ittemitai desu ne.”

Komorebi kirameku minamo wa Ryokushouiro ni kagayaku Shirakaba no komichi kara nagamereba Awai sekai ni iyasareru

Aogimiru wakakusa no oka Shikitsumeru seishi no hana Utsukushiki shikisai ni kakomarete Sumiwataru shoka no kaori

English Lyrics
The spring has passed and the summer come again The new leaves glisten and twinkle in lush green Beyond the fields and hills, where the fog dissipated They rustle in the wind longingly

The sea of deep green burst into sprouts As I walk alone in a small lane Before I realized, my mind silently drifts To remembrance of things past that tinged my heart with joy

I can hear poetry coming from a far distance As the crisp-sounding echoes ring I am surrounded by the everlasting nature And the clear, fresh scent of the deep grove

The sound of bells jingling “ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling” As I wander through the fields and hills The sound of old rivers, gushing and rushing, crisp and clear My heart is soothed and calmed by them

The white plumes of hare’s-tail cottongrass that color the meadow Whispering softly and swaying in the summer breeze They gently take off and drift in the air, surrounding me

If you listen careful, you can hear them The rustling leaves singing a gentle song The vast wetland that I feel with all my five senses And the clear, fresh scent of the flowers

“In this season of fragrant early summer, the mizubashou in beautiful full bloom is an highlight. At Italy-kun’s house, I heard that this is when the fields are completely covered in deliciously ripe tomatoes… I would most definitely want to visit them one day.”

The water surface that glitters under the sunlight shining through the leaves Shines in a vibrant copper green When I gaze upon it from the small lane lined with Japanese white birch My soul is healed by the world of soft colors

I look up towards the hill of fresh grass And the blue-purple flowers that covers it I’m surrounded by all these beautiful vivid colors And the clear, fresh scent of the early summer

Trivia

 * The first line of the song is from the 2nd poem in a collection of poems called Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and is attributed to Empress Jitō.