Volume Poems

[spacecat]

I figured we need a thread for this so if you find any new ones post them here along with who translated them and I will add to this front post. All the older ones are in the second post.

Volume 35 Mayuri cover (translated by spacecat):

If you even fail to be born, it's only natural to die.

Volume 34 Neliel cover (translated by Melody Mix):


If you give me wings
I will soar for you

Even if this whole land
Sinks down to the water

If you give me a sword
I will fight for you

Even if this whole sky
Shoots through with your light


Volume 33 Nnoitra cover (translated by pocketmofo):

俺達は虫
We are insects...

不揮発性の
悪意の下で
這い回るぜん虫
(We are) Worms crawling underneath *nonvolatile* spite

*literally "nonvolatile" but unrelenting or unmoving might work as well

首をもたげる
月より高く
I lift my head up, higher even than the moon…

憐れなお前等が
見えなくなるまで
…until I can’t see you merciful *bastards* anymore.


*added for effect

Volume 32 Pantera Grimmjow cover:

王は駆ける

影を振り切り
鎧を鳴らし
骨を蹴散らし
血肉を啜り
軋みを上げる
心を潰し

独り踏み入る
遥かか彼方へ

Volume 31 Szayel Aporro cover (translated by spacecat):


世界一嫌いだと言ってくれ
Tell me you hate me the most in the world.


Volume 30 Kaien cover (translated by spacecat):

その疵深し
The deep wounds
海淵の如し
Resembling the deep ocean (Kaien’s name)
その罪赤し
The crimson sin
死して色無し
Leaving no colours like death

Latest 2 translated by Pocketmofo here at BA ~thanks!

Volume 29 Cirucci cover:

Quick translation of the volume poem (just to give you all an idea of how creepy it is):

ただ執拗に飾り立てる
I just fix it up relentlessly.

切り落とされると知りながら
Though I know it will be chopped off (someday)

ただ執拗に磨き上げる
I just wash it* relentlessly. (*make it shine)

切り落とされると知りながら
Though I know it will be chopped off (someday)

恐ろしいのだ恐ろしいのだ
But it frightens me. Oh how it frightens me.

切り落とされるその時が
Because when it is chopped off…

切り落とされたその髪は
That chopped-off hair

死んだあなたに似てしまう
Will resemble the dead you.

髪も爪も みな宝物のように
Why is it that even though I/we/you fix up my hair and nails beautifully...

美しく飾り立てるのに
...as though they were treasures...

なぜ自らの体から切り離されただけで
...just by cutting them away from me/us/you...

汚く不気味なものとなってしまうのだろう
...they become something dirty and disgusting?

答えは簡単
The answer is simple

それらは全て
They are all...

自らの死した姿に ほかならないからだ
...nothing less than the figure of my/our/your own death.

Volume 28 Dordonie cover:

主よ、我々は
Master we regard you with

孔雀を見るような目つきで
the same look that we would give a peacock

あなたを見る
This look is

それは期待と、渇仰と
edged with something that resembles expectation, adoration

恐怖に似た底知れぬものに
and terror

縁取られているのだ
that knows no end/bottom

[DawnFire]

Here are volumes 1-27 plus the SOULS and VIBES poems. These were all translated by Chirachira (http://chirachira.livejournal.com/103520.html) on livejournal, I put them behind a spoiler cut b/c it's long! (don't know if you all wanted her notes too, but they're there)

01: THE DEATH AND THE STRAWBERRY
cover: Kurosaki Ichigo

我らは　姿無きが故に
warera wa sugatanaki ga yue ni We fear
それを畏れ
sore o osore what doesn't exist.

NOTES: This was reworded a lot. I took a liberty in translating it closest to the English proverb, but literally it's probably "We fear what has no form". Still, thanks to both seoinage and oceanizer for being patient about my amaterusih Japanese!

02: GOODBYE PARAKEET, GOODNITE MY SISTA
cover: Kuchiki Rukia



人が希望を持ちえるのは
hito ga kibou o mochieru no wa People can possess hope
死が目に見えぬものであるからだ
shi ga me ni mienu mono de aru kara da because our eyes are unable to see death.


NOTES: VIZ translated it along the lines of it meaning "we can't see death hovering over our shoulder" (not a direct quote). I'm not sure if I'm missing a cultural implication, as the poem doesn't have that phrasing, but make of it what you will.


03: memories in the rain
cover: Inoue Orihime


もし わたしが雨だったなら
moshi watashi ga ame datta nara If I were the rain

それが永遠に交わることのない
sore ga eien ni majiwaru koto no nai could I connect with someone's heart
空と大地を繋ぎ留めるように
sora to daichi o tsunagitomeru you ni just as it can unite
誰かの心を繋ぎ留めることができただろうか
dareka no kokoro o tsunagi tomeru koto ga dekita darou ka the eternally seperated earth and sky?


NOTES: There could be a connection with Kaien's sword command: "uncoil the sea and sky!" ("suiten sakamake!"; 水天　逆巻け！) in the second "Memories of the Rain" arc. The poem, in relation to Orihime, probably mostly refers to her little scene where she contemplates how she can "understand a little bit" (in reference to Ichigo) when she walks home in the rain.



04: QUINCY ARCHER HATES YOU
cover: Ishida Uryuu



ぼくたちは　ひかれあう
boku-tachi wa hikare au We attract each other
水滴のように　惑星のように
suiteki no you ni, wakusei no you ni like a drop of water, like planets.
ぼくたちは　反発しあう
boku-tachi wa hanpatsu shiau We repel each other
磁石のように　肌の色のように
jishaku no you ni, hada no iro no you ni like magnets, like the colors of our skin.


NOTES: None.



05: RIGHTARM OF THE GIANT
cover: Sado Yasutora



剣を握らなければ　おまえを守れない
ken o nigirana kereba omae o mamorenai If I don't wield the sword, I can't protect you.
剣を握ったままでは　おまえを抱き締められない
ken o nigitta mama de wa omae o dakishimerarenai If I keep wielding the sword, I can't embrace you.


NOTES: None.



06: THE DEATH TRILOGY OVERTURE
cover: Urahara Kisuke



そう、　我々に運命などない
sou, ware-ware ni unmei nado nai True, we don't have anything such as "fate."
無知と恐怖にのまれ
muchi to kyoufu ni nomare It's only those who drink in ignorance and fear
足を踏み外したものたちだけが
ashi o fumihazushita mono-tachi dake ga and stumble over their own feet
運命と呼ばれる濁流の中へと
unmei to yobareru dakuryuu no naka he to that fall and disappear within the muddy river
堕ちてゆくのだ
ochite yuku no da known as "fate."


NOTES: None.



07: THE BROKEN CODA
cover: Kuchiki Byakuya



我々は涙を流すべきではない
ware-ware wa namida o nagasu bekidewa nai We should not shed tears
それは心に対する肉体の敗北であり
sore wa kokoro ni taisuru nikutai no haiboku de ari for that will serve as a defeat of our bodies to our hearts.
我々が心というものを
ware-ware ga kokoro to iu mono o It is then nothing more than proof
持て余す存在であるということの
moteamasu sonzai de aru to iu koto no for it to be said that our hearts are things
証明にほかならないからだ
shoumei ni hokanaranai kara da beyond our ability to control.


NOTES: None.



08: THE BLADE AND ME
cover: Zangetsu



錆びつけば　二度と突き立てられず
sabitsukeba nido to tsukitaterarezu When rusted, I can't cut again.
摑み損なえば　我が身を裂く
tsukami sokonaeba wagami o saku When you lose your grip, I will be torn apart.
そう　誇りとは
sou, hokori to wa Yes, it's with that pride that
刃に似ている
yaiba ni niteiru has me resemble a blade.


NOTES: "Grip" ("tsukami") is uusally written as 掴み, although KT has used the characters 摑み, which is a more complex kanji of the same meaning. rokoroshon has informed me that in Chinese (because the latter kanji I can't find in any of the databases I use) it means "to slap someone violently", and "tsukami sokonaeba" (摑み損なえば) vaguely means the exact same thing--so it may be written the way it is for emphasis. As it is, I took a few benefits with translating this one since the poem was virtually written with no pronouns, so I hope I did okay with it.



09: FOURTEEN DAYS FOR CONSPIRACY
cover: Shiba Kuukaku



ああ　おれたちは皆
aa, ore-tachi wa mina Ah, even though our eyes are opened
眼をあけたまま
me o aketa mama we are dreaming of
空を飛ぶ夢を見てるんだ
sora o tobu yume o miterun'da flying through the sky.


NOTES: the verb "akeru" didn't have any kanji, so it could've been any of the following: "to open" (開ける), "to empty" (空ける), and "to dawn (become daylight)" (明ける). I personally went with "open" as it went along with the context, but note that "to empty" has the same kanji as "sky" (the same kanji tattoo on her arm and in her name), and that there's a rather poetic pun to "to dawn".



10: TATTOO ON THE SKY
cover: Shiba Ganju



俺達は　手を伸ばす
ore-tachi wa te o nobasu We reach out our hand
雲を払い　空を貫き
kumo o harai sora o tsuranuki to brush away the clouds and pierce the sky,
月と火星は摑めても
tsuki to kasei wa tsukamete mo but even if we seize the moon and Mars
真実には　まだ届かない
shinjitsu ni wa mada todokanai we still can't reach the truth.


NOTES: "Tattoo on the Sky" refers to his sister Kuukaku's tattoo on her arm, which is the kanji for "sky." The two verbs for "to reach" this poem uses ("nobasu" (伸ばす), and "todoku" (届く)) are synonyms. The difference is "nobasu" has the connotation of exapnding to reach something, while "todoku" has a connotation of reaching out to deliver something. There are several puns with "Mars" ("kasei"; 火星), one of them is "force of flames" (火勢), noteworthy as Mars is associated with fire (both words share the kanji for "fire" (火)) thus making a neat sun/moon parallel in that way. Other puns with "kasei" include: "growth" (化生), "family honor" (家声), "false (symptoms)" (仮性), "clearing of river water" (河清), and "tyranny" (苛政).



11: A STAR AND A STRAY DOG
cover: Abarai Renji



届かぬ牙に　火を灯す
todokanu kiba ni hi o tomosu I will light a fire on an unreachable fang,
あの星を見ずに済むように
ano hoshi o mizu ni sumu you ni so that I won't have to see that star,
この吭を裂いて　しまわぬように
kono nodo o saite shimawanu you ni so that I won't let it tear at my throat.


NOTES: This was said by Renji at the end of episode 32. The "tearing (his) throat" probably indicates to screaming, as per the story he references to with the dog barking at the star in the sky.



12: FLOWER ON THE PRECIPICE
cover: Aizen Sousuke



我々が岩壁の花を美しく思うのは
ware-ware ga ganpeki no hana o utsukushiku omou no wa We think the flower on the precipice is beautiful
我々が岩壁に足を止めてしまうからだ
ware-ware ga ganpeki ni ashi o tometeshimau kara da because our fear make our feet stop at its edge
悚れ無き　その花のように
osore naki sono hana no you ni instead of stepping forward into the sky
空へと踏み出せずにいるからだ
sora he to fumidasezu iru kara da like that flower.


NOTES: None.



13: THE UNDEAD
cover: Zaraki Kenpachi



誇りを一つ捨てるたび
hokori o hitotsu suteru tabi Any one time we throw away pride
我らは獣に一歩近付く
warera wa kemono ni ippo chikazuku we take a step closer to becoming beasts.
心を一つ殺すたび
kokoro o hitotsu korosu tabi Any one time we kill a heart
我らは獣から一歩遠退く
warera wa kemono kara ippo toonoku we take a step back from becoming beasts.


NOTES: None.



14: WHITE TOWER ROCKS
cover: Yamada Hanatarou



軋む軋む　浄罪の塔
kishimu kishimu, jouzai no tou It creaks, it creaks; the tower of cleansed sins,
光のごとくに　世界を貫く
hikari no gotoku ni sekai o tsuranuku like the light, it will pass through this world.
揺れる揺れる　背骨の塔
yureru yureru, sebone no tou It shakes, it shakes; the tower in our spine,
堕ちてゆくのは　ぼくらか　空か
ochite yuku no wa, bokura ka, sora ka the one that will fall will be... us? Or the sky?


NOTES: None.



15: BEGINNING OF THE DEATH OF TOMORROW
cover: Kira Izuru



ぼくは　ただ　きみに
boku wa tada kimi ni I am merely practicing
さよならを言う練習をする
sayonara o iu renshuu o suru saying goodbye to you.


NOTES: While the cover is featuring Izuru, I'm suspicious to think the poem was in the perspective of Gin. They both speak with 'boku,' but it makes contextual sense if it were Gin with the events of the Soul Society arc. Not to mention the hands in the poem image are characteristically recognizable as Gin. Interpret as you will.



16: NIGHT OF WIJNRUIT
cover: Hitsugaya Toushirou



降り頻る太陽の鬣が
furishikiru taiyou no tategami ga

薄氷に残る足跡を消してゆく
hakuhyou ni nokoru ashiato o keshite yuku The constant shower of the sun's mane

will erase the remaining footprints on the thin ice.
. .
欺かれるを恐れるな
azamukareru o osoreruna

世界は既に欺きの上にある
sekai wa sude ni azamuki no ue ni aru Don't be afraid to be deceived

for the world is already full of deception.


NOTES: "Furi" (降り) meaning "shower" can imply a heavy rainfall or snowfall. So if you prefer the snow theme (i.e. relating to Hitsugaya better), you can translate the line as "The continuous snowfall of the sun's mane will erase the footprints on the thin ice". "Hakuhyou" (薄氷), "thin ice", is a literal equivalent to the English expression of "walking on thin ice"--meaning "dangerous". Thank you so much seoinage for helping me on this one.



17: ROSA RUBICUNDIOR, LILIO CANDIDIOR
cover: Shihouin Yoruichi



血のように赤く
chi no you ni akaku Red like blood
骨のように白く
hone no you ni shiroku White like bone
孤独のように赤く
kodoku no you ni akaku Red like solitude
沈黙のように白く
chinmoku no you ni shiroku White like silence
獣の神経のように赤く
kemono no shinkei no you ni akaku Red like the beastly instinct
神の心臓のように白く
kami no shinzou no you ni shiroku White like a god's heart
溶け出す憎悪のように赤く
tokedasu zouo no you ni akaku Red like thawing hatred
凍てつく傷歎のように白く
itetsuku shoutan no you ni shiroku White like a frozen, pained cry
夜を食む影のように赤く
yoru o hamu kage no you ni akaku Red like the night's hungry shadows
月を射抜く吐息のように
tsuki o inuku toiki no you ni White shines and red scatters
白く輝き　赤く散る
shiroku kagayaki, akaku chiru like sighs that shoot through the moon


NOTES: It can't really be seen, but every two lines have parallel character numbers--except for the last line. For example: "chi no you ni akaku" and "hone no you ni shiroku" both have 7 characters. The pattern goes like so: 7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 11, 11, 8. Although, notice in the last line it's divided in half, so it's really just a pair of 4 syllable mirrors in the same line. "Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior" means "redder than the rose, whiter than the lilly". It's a verse from "Carmina Burana" (O Fortuna) composed by Carl Orff (lyrics found here). More information here Thanks to oceanizer for the correction and information. It's the title of ch144--i.e. where Renji gets defeated by Byakuya. Should also note that "white" is in Byakuya's name and "red" is in Hisana's name. In the last line: "scattered red" uses "chiru" (散る) for "scatter", which is the same shikai command verb of Byakuya's sword. This poem also makes A LOT MORE SENSE now that we know of Sodeno Shirayuki (Rukia's sword), and can be seen representing Renji and Rukia more (red and white respectively).



18: THE DEATHBERRY RETURNS
cover: Soi Fong



あなたの影は　密やかに
anata no kage wa hisoyaka ni Your shadow stealthily
行くあての無い　毒針のように
yuku ate no nai dokubari no you ni leaves nothing of where you go, like a poisoned needle
私の歩みを縫いつける
watashi no ayumi o neitsukeru that sews together my footsteps.
. .
あなたの光は　しなやかに
anata no hikari wa shinayaka ni Your light pliantly
給水搭を打つ　落雷のように
sayuusuitou o utsu rakurai no you ni strikes the water tower, like a lightning bolt
私の命の源を断つ
watashi no inochi no minamoto o tatsu that severs the source of my life.


NOTES: "footsteps" (歩み) can either mean "walking" or "advancement/progress". I went with footsteps because it flowed better (I think of Peter Pan and sewing the shadow onto his feet ♥) and it indicates a forward progression.



19: THE BLACK MOON RISING
cover: Kurosaki Ichigo



そう、何ものも　わたしの世界を変えられはしない
sou, nanimono mo watashi no sekai o kaerare wa shinai That's right, nothing else can change my world.


NOTES: for some reason, this poem written without any furigana. This probably has significance (maybe it emphasizes it?). The speaker is most likely Zangetsu, since the pronoun is "watashi" while Ichigo uses "ore."



20: end of hypnosis
cover: Ichimaru Gin



美しきを愛に譬ふのは
utsukushiki o ai ni tatofu no wa One who paints the beauty in love
愛の姿を知らぬ者
ai no sugata o shiranu mono is one who pretends to not know love's form.
. .
醜きを愛に譬ふのは　
minikuki o ai ni tatofu no wa One who paints the ugliness in love
愛を知ったと驕る者
ai o shitta to ogoru mono is one who understood it well.


NOTES: The verb "tatofu" (譬ふ) is actually the verb "tatoeru", meaning "to compare" or "to illustrate." I went with the second definition.



21: BE MY FAMILY OR NOT
cover: Hirako Shinji



この世のすべては
kono yo no subete wa This entire world
あなたを追いつめる為にある
anata o oitsumeru tameni aru exists for the sake of cornering you.


NOTES: Pretty straight forward. It's practically a direct translation, but noting that 'oitsumeru' (追いつめる), meaning 'to corner', has the connotation of being chased into a dead end.



22: CONQUISTADORES
cover: Ulquiorra



我等の世界に意味など無く
warera no sekai ni imi nado naku There is no meaning in our world,
そこに生きる我等にも意味など無い
soko ni ikiru warera ni mo imi nado naku neither is there any meaning in us, the ones who live in it.
無意味な我等は世界を想
muimina warera wa sekai o sou It is then meaningless
そこに意味は無いと知ることにすら
soko ni imi wa nai to shiru koto ni sura for us, who are equally meaningless, to conceive the world in our thoughts
意味など無いというのに
imi nado nai to iu no ni despite knowing there is no meaning to be found.


NOTES: poem was written without any furigana, like volume 19.



23: MALA SUERTE!
cover: Madarame Ikkaku



俺たちは滝の前の魚
ore-tachi wa taki no mae no uo We are the fish before the waterfall
俺たちは籠の中の虫
ore-tachi wa kago no naka no mushi We are the insects inside the cage
. .
俺たちは波濤の残骸
ore-tachi wa hatou no zangai We are the wreckage of the angry sea
髑髏の錫杖
dokuro no shakujou The skull upon the staff
力の奔流　それを飲む鯨
chikara no honryuu sore o nomu kujira The torrent of power, all of which the whale swallows
. .
俺たちは五本角の雄牛
ore-tachi wa gohontsuno no oushi We are the bull with five horns
俺たちは火を吹く怪物
ore-tachi wa hi o fuku kaibutsu We are the monster that breathes fire
泣き叫ぶ子供
naki sakebu kodomo The child who screams
. .
ああ　俺たちは
aa, ore-tachi wa Ah, we are
月光に毒されている
getsukou ni dokusareteiru being poisoned by the moonlight


NOTES: Ikkaku's name (一角) means "narwhal," which may have something to do with the whale metaphor.



24: IMMANENT GOD BLUES
cover: Grimmjow Jaggerjack




どいつもこいつも、
doitsumo koitsumo, Doesn't matter who it is
ぶっ壊れちまえ
bukkowarechimae I'll fucking break them


NOTES: more literally "doitsumo koitsumo" (どいつもこいつも) means "whether it's this guy or that guy."



25: NO SHAKING THRONE
cover: Hollow Ichigo



我々は皆
ware-ware wa mina We all
生まれながらにして死んでいる
umarenagara ni shite shindeiru die as we are born.
終焉は常に
shuuen wa tsune ni We always find the end
始まりの前から　そこに在るのだ
hajimari no mae kara soko ni aru no da before the beginning.
. .
生きることが
ikiru koto ga If to live
何かを知り続けることならば
nanika o shiri tsudzukeru koto naraba means to continually search for wisdom,
我々が最後に知るものこそが終焉であり
ware-ware ga saigo ni shiru mono koso ga shuuen de ari we'll find the end waiting after our last lesson.
終焉をついに見出し
shuuen o tsuini miidashi To finally see the subtlety of the end
完全に知ることこそが
kanzen ni shiru koto koso ga and understand it completely
即ち死なのだ
sunawachi shi na no da is what it means to die.
. .
我々は何かを知ろうとしてはならない
ware-ware wa nanika o shirou toshite wa naranai We cannot help ourselves from growing wiser.
死を超越できぬ者は
shi o chouetsu dekinu mono wa Those who are helpless to their search for knowledge
何ものも知ろうとしてはならないのだ
nanimono mo shirou toshite wa naranai no da are those who cannot transcend death.


NOTES: This was very difficult to word into coherent English. To note, "the end" ("shuuen" (終焉)) is literally "demise."



26: THE MASCARON DRIVE
cover: Luppi



私の胸に深く突き刺さるその声は
watashi no mune ni fukaku tsukisasaru sono koe wa That voice that pierces my chest so deeply
鳴り止まぬ歓声に似ている
nariyamanu kansei ni niteiru resembles a never-ending cry of ecstacy.


NOTES: it's actually more like a "cheer" or "joyful shout" rather than an ecstatic cry, but I call poetic license.



27: goodbye halcyon days.
cover: Inoue Orihime



私達
watashi-tachi We
一つとして
hitotsu toshite As one:
混じりあうものはない
majiriau mono wa nai are not intertwined
二つとして
futatsu toshite As two:
同じ貌をしていない
onaji katachi o shitei nai do not share the same form
三つ目の
mitsutsu me no Of the third:
瞳を持たぬばかりに
hitomi o motanu bakari ni we simply don't have eyes
四つ目の
yottsu me no Of the fourth:
方角に希望はない
hougaku ni kibou wa nai we have no hope in that direction
五つ目は
itsutsu me wa At the fifth
心臓の場所にある
shinzou no basho ni aru therein lies the heart


NOTES: "hitomi" (瞳) literally is "pupil," but it also means eye.



SOULs: the rain drags black sun down,
cover: Kurosaki Ichigo



天を鎖す太陽
ten o tozasu taiyou The sun that locks Heaven.


NOTES: None.



VIBEs: but the rain dried by white moon.
cover: Kuchiki Rukia



夜を削る月
yoru o hazuru tsuki The moon that eclipses the night.

NOTES: verb actually means 'to erase' but you know, poems and liberties.

[spacecat]

Cool yeah it's fine like that and since it's second post I might just add new ones to the first. Thanks again :love

[NightMare]

The best poem was in 24 volume!

[Rain]

Yeah, 24 was by far the best.

Thanks Spacecat and DawnFire

[phantomfork]

How very thoughtful of kubo to write poems about his manga. They're really quite nice. Thanks for posting them along with translations!

[mori]

lol just read the v28 poem xD

who looks at a peacock edged with terror o-o

my favourite is v6 anyway xD

[spacecat]

lol just read the v28 poem xD

who looks at a peacock edged with terror o-o

my favourite is v6 anyway xD
Someone said it could also be phoenix but yeah i think it's peacock. There is a god with the same name as the peacock and it makes sense if you read about them but if you don't it's just kinda...:headscratch

[yanniv]

鵬 = phoenix

孔雀 = peacock

The one in the poem is a peacock. >.>

[spacecat]

Yeah but someone said in japan that the spoken word is also used for phoenix, that is the only reason i mentioned it. I guess you would need to be japanese to know why they would do that.

[Saffire]

It's from a post I linked, you can look it over and judge for yourself. I certainly can't tell if it's accurate or not. :p (Anyone got a way to contact pocketmofo? I bet he'd know.) Anyways, http://community.livejournal.com/soul_society/834601.html

[spacecat]

Ah so thats where i read it but yeah i asked a friend and she agreed with the statement. Pocket will show up sooner or later :) I hope....lol

[debbiechan]

I think there's something inherently terrifying about a peacock--it's supposed to look like a monster with all those eyes.

And they're very aggressive birds. Ever been chased by a free-roaming peacock?

I keep getting this vision of Kubo Tite running away from a vicious peacock in his mother's Japanese garden.

[spacecat]

Well yeah I agree debbie..if one ran at me I would be scared but if I was Aizen or anyone I spose, I doubt i would like to be compared to a poncey bird no matter how terrifying it is :rotflmao

[Velius]

Thanks for all the poems everyone. Always nice to have a quick reference. But I think I have the quickest about 5 feet from my on a shelf. :D

Phoenix, peacock whatever. Avoid the bird of death is the same lesson you com away with from both. XD

[spacecat]

Thanks for all the poems everyone. Always nice to have a quick reference. But I think I have the quickest about 5 feet from my on a shelf. :D

Phoenix, peacock whatever. Avoid the bird of death is the same lesson you com away with from both. XD
I think it is probably peacock someone just mentioned the phoenix thing so i felt i should...ok and its cooler than a peacock so maybe i wanted to :p Yeah birds freak me out, i dunno why, if it was an emu then id be more afraid, those things are deadly.

[Griffith]

My fav is volume 21 ^^

[vaizado]

I love this.

Btw, does anyone have the author's notes that Kubo writes at the beginning of each volume?

[Rain]

vaizado- I have the first 21, but they are VIZ's version (the official english version, not fan-translations)

do you want those

[vaizado]

vaizado- I have the first 21, but they are VIZ's version (the official english version, not fan-translations)

do you want those

Any version is better than none. ;)

I think they should be included in this topic to, and change the title so people can use this topic for both the poems and the author's notes for reference in the future.

[Rain]

Here are the first few, I'll add the rest soon:D

Volume 1
Hello there. You are now holding the very first volume of bleach. I worked very hard writing it. Please treat it kindly. Sincerely, Tite Kubo

Volume 2
i'm gaining weight. Not good. Very not good. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? Let me know if there is a agood diet out there. Preferably something fast and easy... withput a lot of dietary restrictions...and that will make me popular with the ladies.

Volume 3
i tend to get worried about the seasons in Bleach as opposed to the actual seasons in real-life. the series staerted in the summer, but at that time, it was may in the book. that discrepancy has always bothered me. In this volume, the introduction of ichigo, the main character, finally comes to an end. The setting is june. Unexpectedly, this all worked out quite well. If possible, please read this on a rainy night.

Volume 4
I moved. My phone number changed. Its a very good phone number. its easy to remember. its the best phone number. But for some reason, I get worng numbers alot. One I was especially suprised by was "Is this the XX (I cannot reveal the name of county) embassy" and a phone call from a foreiner going off on me speaking really fast in russian (i think). Well its funny so i don't really mind

Volume 5
A little while ago, i don't know what i was thinking, but i bought a suit for the first time in my life. A black suit for all occasions. But even before caring about such occassions, i realized there are no such occasions

[Malaena]

Wow...those little author's notes bring Kubo into perspective. We already knew that he's a bit crazy (eccentric) from all the stuff he has come up with. Now we know about some of his real life eccentricities.

I feel like I have repeated myself...bla.

[Zenon]

Some of these notes are too funny X°DD, they make you know better Kubo himself.

[Rain]

Here are some more

Volume 6
I don't know why but i've been su[per busy lately getting, like, two hours of sleep, not leaving the house even once the whole week. sounds like the life of a manga artist

volume 7
Since I moved here last year the landlord has taken a real liking to me. His wife even cooks for me. The foods great and I'm thankful, but I feel bad because I've never told them that I can't eat onions

Volume 8
The other day I recieved a letter from a reader who said that they named their son Ichigo. The realization that my work had influenced someone I didn't even know was both exciting and terrifying. So I've decided to shape up. I hope this human Ichigo can be proud to be named after my Ichigo when he grows up.

[Syn]

I already read some of them. Thank you for re-sharing, Rain, I always thought it was funny and cute to read XD (the diet one was especially funny XDD If only it was so easy, Kubo... XD).

[yanniv]

Very Enjoyable indeed. Keep them coming Rain.

[Rain]

5 more:D

Volume 9
I have a stereo at home. I bought it with money I earned delivering newspapers- I know its such a cliché. I've used it for over 10 years. recently, it hasn't been working so well. I thought about replacing it, but even if I bought the latest, coolest unit, I'd probably still miss this one. So I can't bring myself to buy a new one. In other words, I'm a wimp

Volume 10
I'd recently learned to tie almost perfect butterfly konts, something I've never been able to do, and had almost given up on.
Life is a daily learning process. So now whenever someone asks me "whats your hobby?" Its my policy to respond, butterfly knots. this is a limited-time offer, so act soon.

Volume 11
Maybe it's because i've been so busy lately, but I constantly find myself thinking, "I wish I could draw without worring about time". But in reality, when I do get some free time, I'll probably piddle around and do nothing. I guess you always want what you don't have

Volume 12
Every year I participate in [Shonen] Jump's annual Jumpfesta evet. This year, after leaving the stage, I looked around the convention center for the first time. A lot of fans were cheering me on from behind, but it was so embarassing so I didn't look back. I really feel bad about that. but what are you supposed to do in a situation like this? Should I have waved? That doesn't seem right either...

Volume 13
I moved at the end of April. My lanlords threw a farewell party for me. They've been so helpful. Thank you so much.

Because I wrote about here, my landlords wife kindly left the onions out of the salad. But there were turnips in their place. i'm sorry. I can't eat turnips either.

[griffenhawk]

haha, those notes Kubo puts in are so funny and random xD Thanks for posting them up.

[Velius]

Here is the rest.

Volume 14.
Mom, Dad, are you guys watching? I finally did it. The Bleach anime is on TVTokyo, with scenes that move and dialogue that you can hear. I'm so happy, I could cry. Anyway, I'm originally from Horoshima, but TVTokyo doesn't have a local affiliate there.

Mom, Dad, can you see it there?
Volume 15.
I judge any new anime by it's opening sequence. The one for Bleach was better then I expected. I was so happy, I burned a DVD of it so I can watch it over and over. Actually, I watch it every night before I go to bed. For those of you out there who love Bleach and think you're its biggest fan-sorry, but that's probably me!!!
Volume 16.
The new workspace I moved into last year is a bit small, but at dawn, when I open the front door after work, I can see the sunrise. The sky lights up like a fiery rainbow. Lately I've been working until sunrise just to catch the sky. It's not that I have to work all night because I sleep till noon every day. I mean, just look at that sunrise.
Volume 17.
The first ever Bleach game has been released (it's been out for a while) for the world's most anticipated console, the PSP (Playstation Portable)! I don't know what to say except that it's really cutting edge. This game is every boy's dream-a fighting game! Naturally, the first time you play, you've gotta be Ichigo. But on my very go, I got my butt kicked by Orihime! C'mon, Ichigo, you can do better then that.
Volume 18.
Chapter 150 and 151 in this volume were featured on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump and printed in color for two straight weeks. According to the editor in chief, it was the first for the magazine. I'm thankful. Firsts are always nice. I love them.
Volume 19.
FULL Color!!! The hellish full-color section comes to you in its full of hell form! Now! Enjoy a hell of a taste.

My favorite shoe broke. I'm looking for a shoe-repair master.
Volume 20.
Bleach is now a musical. I know it sounds weird, but I saw it and it was really cool. There was Ichigo, looking better than he does in the comic, and Rukia, looking exactly like she does in the comic, singing and dancing and fighting. I want people who aren't into musicals to check it out. I'm convinced it will change their minds.
Why am I being so serious?
Volume 21.
I went to a mid-season production party.

I drank surrounded by men like them. It was pretty intense, but it was fun.
That's all I got. Shame on you Rain for breaking them up to get a couple more post counts. :D

[Rain]

Vel- would I do that?:D thanks for posting the rest.

it took me so long to type each up that i had only planned to do a few at a time, but edit the post each time. but it was easier just to make a new post:p

volume 22 comes out in a few weeks, but hopefully someone can find the later volumes online somewhere:D otherwise we'll have to wait 3-4 months for each:(

[Rain]

bumping this thread because volume 22 is out:p

Volume 22
if anyone asked me which season i liked best, i'd tell them the time between seasons. and if i wasn't allergic to pollen, i think i'd like it at least three times more

[jiang]

XD Kubo is truly adorable. He's like a kid that grew up but never lost those childish outlooks! Maybe it's just the way Japanese is translated but his outlooks and opinions always make me grin.

[Rain]

Heres volume 23, i thought someone else had done it:p

Its been four years since I've worked with my first editor, yet his is still the first name in my adress book. I'm suprised just how little my social life changed in the last four years. My resolution for this year is to make a new friend whose name will come before "Asada".

[debbiechan]

My resolution for this year is to make a new friend whose name will come before "Asada".

Aizen?

Agmaster? :D

Kubo needs a new friend.

[Soranushi]

Heh I never check this place out before:p anyway I was looking though Kubos sidenotes on the last page and this one;

Volume 15.

I judge any new anime by it's opening sequence. The one for Bleach was better then I expected. I was so happy, I burned a DVD of it so I can watch it over and over. Actually, I watch it every night before I go to bed. For those of you out there who love Bleach and think you're its biggest fan-sorry, but that's probably me!!!


Was funny to me since I also judge any new anime by its openings cause most of the time if the op isn't good IMO I most likely wont enjoy it but this pretty much only goes for the first openings:p.

[Velius]

Heres volume 23, i thought someone else had done it:p

Its been four years since I've worked with my first editor, yet his is still the first name in my adress book. I'm suprised just how little my social life changed in the last four years. My resolution for this year is to make a new friend whose name will come before "Asada".
Must be hard to be famous and have real friends. I know if I was Kubo's friend, I'd be bugging him about Bleach about 8 times a day. So we probably wouldn't be friends very long. :XD

[Rain]

debbie- agmaster:lmao

soran- i do the same thing, but its mostly just the score

Vel- lol, i would probably give him friendly advice and changes he should make, so i doubt we'd stay friends for long either:D

[Velius]

I doubt most people would be able to resist asking him about the series. I'm sure he has a lot of friends that are in the business, that aren't really fans, so that he doesn't have to worry that.

[MiraofAzureSky]

XD Kubo is truly adorable. He's like a kid that grew up but never lost those childish outlooks! Maybe it's just the way Japanese is translated but his outlooks and opinions always make me grin.
Agreed! The volume 23 excerpt Rain posted just solidified it!

[michgael]

so i bought volume 24 today; the licensed english one.
the poem was changed from:

Doesn't matter who it is
I'll f****** crush anybody

to:

Break down, every single one of you.

lame.
:(
btw are we supposed to use spoiler tags? i dont know how...

[Rain]

Heres kubos comments

Volume 24

Theres a feature in the Bleach PSP that lets you increase the trust between you and your partner character. I decided to build truist with rangiku, but i soon found that i have no idea what shes thinking. its scary how often she gets mad at me when i answer one of her questions. And i created her.

michgael- for option just type anything, i just use a space

quote this post to see :XD

[Tsubaki88]

Heres kubos comments

Volume 24

Theres a feature in the Bleach PSP that lets you increase the trust between you and your partner character. I decided to build truist with rangiku, but i soon found that i have no idea what shes thinking. its scary how often she gets mad at me when i answer one of her questions. And i created her.

michgael- for option just type anything, i just use a space

quote this post to see :XD

hahahahaha!!! I wonder what kind of questions were? XDDD Thanks Rain.

[athensis]

Kubo sounds so adorable! Imagine him thinking about the first volume: "Ok lets be serious here, its my very first volume! Must have poise."

Subsequent volumes: "Ah screw it, i'll just write what comes to mind first!" :XD

[chibihana]

I bet anybody cannot understand Rangiku...:D:D:D
But maybe Gin can!!!:p:p:p

Kubo sound so adorable and funny too. The way he talk about something it fascinating me to read about it.

[savantnicholas]

3, 5, 12 and 19 are my favorites. If I could only give cookies to halcyon_jazz...

[CaptainYoruichi]

血のように赤く
chi no you ni akaku Red like blood
骨のように白く
hone no you ni shiroku White like bone
孤独のように赤く
kodoku no you ni akaku Red like solitude
沈黙のように白く
chinmoku no you ni shiroku White like silence
獣の神経のように赤く
kemono no shinkei no you ni akaku Red like the beastly instinct
神の心臓のように白く
kami no shinzou no you ni shiroku White like a god's heart
溶け出す憎悪のように赤く
tokedasu zouo no you ni akaku Red like thawing hatred
凍てつく傷歎のように白く
itetsuku shoutan no you ni shiroku White like a frozen, pained cry
夜を食む影のように赤く
yoru o hamu kage no you ni akaku Red like the night's hungry shadows
月を射抜く吐息のように
tsuki o inuku toiki no you ni White shines and red scatters
白く輝き　赤く散る
shiroku kagayaki, akaku chiru like sighs that shoot through the moon

I was thinking that this poem was referring to Ichigo's hollow mask.

[thewizardninja]

血のように赤く
chi no you ni akaku Red like blood
骨のように白く
hone no you ni shiroku White like bone
孤独のように赤く
kodoku no you ni akaku Red like solitude
沈黙のように白く
chinmoku no you ni shiroku White like silence
獣の神経のように赤く
kemono no shinkei no you ni akaku Red like the beastly instinct
神の心臓のように白く
kami no shinzou no you ni shiroku White like a god's heart
溶け出す憎悪のように赤く
tokedasu zouo no you ni akaku Red like thawing hatred
凍てつく傷歎のように白く
itetsuku shoutan no you ni shiroku White like a frozen, pained cry
夜を食む影のように赤く
yoru o hamu kage no you ni akaku Red like the night's hungry shadows
月を射抜く吐息のように
tsuki o inuku toiki no you ni White shines and red scatters
白く輝き　赤く散る
shiroku kagayaki, akaku chiru like sighs that shoot through the moon

I was thinking that this poem was referring to Ichigo's hollow mask.

No it's definately related to Renji, who is the red. The white might be Ichigo or Rukia, but I tend to think it relates to Byakuya seeing as the volume with this poem contained their fight. I like the idea that it's somebody else describing the two as they clash, one red as blood they other white as bone. Plus I don't think the hollow mask was important enough at that point to warrant a volume poem describing it. Sorry I stepped on your reading :whoops

[CaptainYoruichi]

Oh, the Byakuya/Renji fight is in that volume as well? I guess it would make sense for that.