This is my little hobby page about Japan and its language - in 1991, as a student, I lived there with a Japanese family for almost a year ...

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The Himeji Castle near Kyoto.

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The Iroha-Table いろはにほへと ちりぬるを わかよたれそ つねならむ うゐのおくやま けふこえて あさきゆめみし ゑひもせす

The Iroha-Poem Today 色は匂へど 散りぬるを 我世誰ぞ 常ねならむ 有為の奥山 今日越えて 浅き夢みじ 酔もせず

Translation Oh, these colors and flavors ... they go by so fast! In our world ... bah! Who? Who can forever last?! When I ... this mountain overcome today, the vain dreams and ekstacy, all that fades away.

Original by Master Kukai (774-835 A.D.) - This humble translation by me :)