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Oku-no-ma ye
Hanashite mitaru
Hotaru kana!
Pleasant, from the guest-room, to watch the fireflies being set free in the garden!
Yo no fukuru
Hodo ōkinaru
Hotaru kana!
Ever as the night grows [deeper, the light of] the firefly also grows [brighter]!
Kusakari no
Sode yori idzuru
Hotaru kana!
See! a firefly flies out of the sleeve of the grass-cutter!
Koko kashiko,
Hotaru nī aoshi
Yoru no kusa.
Here and there the night-grass appears green, because of the light of the fireflies.
Chōchin no
Kiyete, tōtoki
Hotaru kana.
How precious seems [the light of] the firefly, now that the lantern-light has gone out!
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