東方紅 (日本語版) - The East Is Red (Japanese Version)

The East Is Red - one of China’s most well-known revolutionary songs - in the Japanese language. Several sets of lyrics exist, but this version seems to be the only historical version discovered so far. It was performed by Mitsuko Ogasawara, a Japanese Maoist singer, and the Japanese Chamber Choir. Something interesting to note is that they pronounce “共産党“ the Chinese way, “gongchandang“ (or an approximation of it), rather than the Japanese way, “kyousantou“. Digitised by me from a record containing “The East Is Red“ and “Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman“ in Japanese. Performer: Mitsuko Ogasawara (小笠原美都子), Japanese Chamber Choir (日本室内合唱団) Year recorded: 1972 Composer: Traditional Year Composed: Early 1930s Lyricist: Toshio Nijō (二条冬詩夫) based on Chinese lyrics by Li Youyuan (李有源) Year Written: 1942 (Chinese version) Source: Vinyl record “東方紅 / 大海を行く船は舵取りに頼る“ Image: Poster for the colour documentary “The Japanese Haguruma Theatre Troupe Visits China“ (日本齿轮座剧团访问中国), 1968. The Haguruma Theatre Troupe (劇団はぐるま座) is a Maoist performing arts group that visited China in 1967, this poster featuring an artistic depiction of the visit. The group still exists today, though it is much smaller than it was at the time of the Cultural Revolution. Chinese text: “全世界人民团结起来，打敗美国侵略者及其一切走狗！全世界人民要有勇气，敢于战斗，不怕困难，前赴后繼，那末，全世界就一定是人民的。一切魔鬼通通都会被消灭。 ——毛泽东 彩色纪录片” (People of the world, unite and defeat the U.S. aggressors and all their running dogs! People of the world, be courageous, and dare to fight, defy difficulties and advance wave upon wave. Then the whole world will belong to the people. Monsters of all kinds shall be destroyed. -Mao Zedong Colour Documentary) Japanese text (on banners): 「日中両国人民の戦斗的友誼万才！」 (Long live the militant friendship of the Japanese and Chinese peoples!) 「毛沢東思想の勝利万才」 (Long live the victory of Mao Zedong Thought) 「プロレタリア文化大革命万才 日本齿轮座」 (Long live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Japanese Haguruma Troupe)