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.
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