Takeda Bushi/ 武田節; Japanese Min'yo [i.e. Folk Song]

Here is my Norwegian friend [Kusano Sōze] and myself "performing" a VERY amateurish rendition of a well-known Japanese Min'yo [folk song] about the Samurai warrior Takeda Bushi [武田節]. The traditional Japanese folk song is about Takeda clan of Kai province [now modern day Yamanashi Prefecture] and describes the clan's military exploits, their bravery in battle, and loyalty to the Lord. Furinkazan [風林火山], was the Takeda clan warrior motto; Composed of four characters [Fu/風 Wind; Rin/林 Forest; Ka/火 Fire & Zan/山 Mountain. Together, the warrior's phrase can be translated as, "Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as the mountain." In addition to my study of Karate & Okinawan Kobudo at the time, I was also consumed by/with the learning and practice of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū swordsmanship/天真正伝香取神道流 剣術 directly under Grandmaster Sugino Yoshio (1904-1998) at the so-honbu dojo, in Kawasaki, Japan. In Japan, socializing is a cultural pastime, and nowhere is this more popular than after work with colleagues, and/or [Budo] training with fellow classmates, seniors and instructors. Gathering at informal food & beverage places in the evening provided the perfect opportunity to unwind, and connect with others [outside of the work, dojo and/or family environment] with food, drink and song. At the very midst of this was/is Karaoke. For those of us involved with Samurai arts, such as swordsmanship, traditional folk songs like Takeda Bushi and Kuroda Bushi hold a special appeal, as they embody the spirit of warrior culture and honour that are highly valued in Japanese society. Takeda Bushi is particularly challenging, because of its poetic lyrics, and one that appealed to the both of us. Accepting the challenge of learning it, this "rendition" [choke, cough ... ] was our first attempt at performing it at the dojo. I am happy to say, "We ultimately did get better at it, however, concluded that it was probably better not to give up our daytime jobs :-) For those who would like to listen to a proper version of this song with the English translation included see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZIdOifHYgQ * Takeda Bushi was written in 1961 by Mihashi Michiya [三橋美智也, 1930-1996]