-English
“A… rondo? I am not accustomed to those… however, I am also a Japanese man… I will do what I must!”
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
It’s the spinning world rondo
Though I have an unskillful gait,
“May I have this dance?”
The cherry blossoms are fluttering,
While we toast with sake
In the ever changing seasons
“Hello, I am Japan.”
Ah, I wish to eat
The thin shirataki from nikujaga[1]
Ah, It’s splendid
With white rice and miso soup!
“This has a real nostalgic taste!”[2]
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
Make a circle rondo
Let’s sing together with the beauties of nature[3]
Spin, world! It’s our
Hetalia!
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
It’s the spinning world rondo
In the floral city of Kyoto,
“Will you dance with me?”
The fireworks go “bang bang!”
Oh how I love festivals
In these ever-changing seasons,
“Hello, I am Japan.”
Ah, I inquire
About teacakes, behavior, and cultural exchange
Ah, let’s deliver these
To everyone in the world
“How would you like to drink some tea after the curtain closes on this song?”[4]
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
Make a circle rondo
Let’s cross over Fuji[5] and the sea and sing
Spin, world! It’s our
Hetalia!
Come, let’s go
With the soul of a warrior, close in on the enemy[6]
Let’s strike down the gate that leads to a new world!
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
It’s the spinning world rondo
Together with the falling white snow,
“Let’s dance!”[7]
With the magic of happiness,
I’ll give you a “w… win… k….”
In these ever-changing seasons,
“Hello, I am Japan.”
Ahh, how fun
“Please allow me to welcome you” to this dazzling world
Ahh, let me show you
The heart of Japanese hospitality
“Ahh… everyone, the cherry blossoms have begun to bloom!”
Spinning, spinning, hand-in-hand
Make a circle rondo
Let’s sing together with everyone
Spin, world! It’s our
Hetalia!
1)↑ "Shirataki" = noodles that are often used in Nikujaga
2)↑ T/N: proofing needed (see source for explanation)
3)↑ Japan says “Hana ya tori ya kaze ya tsuki to utaimashou,” which would literally mean “let’s sing together with the flowers, the birds, the wind, and the moon"—however, these four kanji together make the Japanese saying ”Kachou Fuugetsu“ (lit. Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon) which means "Experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so learn about yourself” (source), so the line is translated to incorporate the saying that he was alluding to.
4)↑ T/N: proofing needed
5)↑ Mount Fuji
6)↑ T/N: I had to stare at this line for a bit and do a bit of research because I was pretty sure Japan wasn’t saying to go into the bosom of a samurai’s soul… XD;;; But “futokoro” is actually also a Kendo term which means “the space in front of the enemy” (source), so between that and the “bushi no tamashii” bit (“bushi” can mean “warrior” or “samurai,” btw, but I went with the former because “samurai” is a Japanese word on its own so replacing one Japanese word with another feels a bit awkward XD;), along with the next line, I figured that was the translation I should go with.
7)↑ T/N: I tried to convey it as best as I could, but in case it wasn’t clear, Japan gradually got less and less formal when asking to dance throughout the song until he’s practically outright taking your hand and tugging you out to dance in a sense
-Japanese
"Rondo… desu ka? Shoushou funareta arimasuga, watashi mo nihondanji… yarutoki ga yarimasu yo!"
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Mawaru chikyuu rondo
Tsutanai ashidori desuga
"Issho ni odorimasen ka?"
Sakura ga hirahira
Nihonshu de kanpai
Meguru meguru kisetsu ni
"Konnichiwa, Nihon desu."
Aa, itadakitai
Hosome no shirataki no nikujaga wo
Aa, appare desu
Hakumai to misoshiru de
"Kore ga ofukuro no aji desu!"
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Wa ni natte rondo
Hana ya tori ya kaze ya tsuki to utaimashou
Mawashimashou chikyuu watashitachi no
Hetalia!
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Mawaru chikyuu rondo
Hana no miyako Kyouto de
"Issho ni odorimasen?"
Hanabi ga dondon!
Suki desu omatsuri
Meguru meguru kisetsu ni
"Konnichiwa, Nihon desu."
Aa, ukagaimasu
Ochagashi furumai bunka kouryuu
Aa, todokemashou
Sekaijuu no minasama ni
"Utadashi no odan nomi ocha wo ikaga desu ka?"
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Wa ni natte rondo
Fuji wo koete umi mo koete utaimashou
Mawashimashou chikyuu watashitachi no
Hetalia!
Saa, mairimashou
Bushi no tamashii wo futokoro ni
Atarashiki sekai e no mon wo tatakimashou
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Mawaru chikyuu rondo
Ochiyuku shiroi yuki to
"Issho ni odorimashou!"
Shiawase no mahou
Anata e no “u… uin… ku….”
Meguru meguru kisetsu ni
"Konnichiwa, Nihon desu."
Sore tanoshii desu
Kirabiyaka na sekai e “Youkoso oidekudasaimashita.”
Saa, kokoro kara
Omotenashi itashimasu
"Aa… minasan, sakura no tsubomi ga tsukimashita yo."
Mawaru mawaru te wo tori
Wa ni natte rondo
Minasama to issho ni utaimashou
Mawashimashou chikyuu watashitachi no
Hetalia!