Skip links

Kamuichikap kamui yaieyukar – Chiri Yukie – Ainu

‘Shirokanipe ranran pishkan, konkanipe

ranran pishkan.’ arian rekpo chiki kane

petersoro sapash aine, ainukotan enkashike

chikush kor shichorpokun inkarash ko

teeta wenkur tane nishpa ne, teeta nishpa

tane wenkur ne kotom shiran

Atuiteksa ta ainuhekattar akshinotponku

akshinotponai euweshinot korokai.

‘Shirokanipe ranran pishkan,

konkanipe ranran pishkan.’ arian rekpo

chiki kane hekachiutar enkashike

chikush awa, unchorpoke ehoyuppa

ene hawokai: — —

‘Prika chikappo! kamui! chikappo!

Keke hetak, akash wa toan chikappo

kamui chikapoo tukan wa ankur, hoshkiukkur

sonno rametok shino chipapa ne ruwe tapan’

hawokai kane, teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep

poutari, konkani ponku konkani ponai

shichorpok chikushte shienka chikushte,

rapokita, hekachiutar tumukeheta

shine hekachi yayan ponku yayan ponai 

ukoani iyeutanne, chinukar chiki 

wenkur poho ne kotomno imi ka wano

akoeraman. Kipnekorka shiktumorke 

chiuwante ko, nishpasani nekotomno, shinnai-

chikapne iyeutanne. Anihi nakka yayan ponku 

yayan ponai uweunu wa unramante ko, 

teeta wenkur tane nishpanep poutari euminare ene hawokai: – –

‘Achikara ta wenkur hekachi

toan chikappo kamui chikappo aokaiutar 

akor konkaniai ka somouk ko, enepkoran

wenkur hekachi kor yayanai muninchikuniai

toan chikappo kamui chikappo shinoshino 

uk nankor wa.’

hawokai kane wenkur hekachi ukooterke 

ukokikkik. Kipnekorka wenkur hekachi 

senne ponno ekottanu uneyoko.

Shirki chiki ihomakeutum chiyaikore.

‘Shirokanipe ranran pishkan, 

konkanipe ranran pishkan.’ arian rekpo 

chiki kane moiretara kamuinish kashi 

chikoshikarinpa, wenkur hekachi 

oatchikiri otuimaashi oatchikiri ohanke ashi, 

poknapapushi shikoruki yoko wa anaine

unkotushura, tapan ponai ekshirkonna

 tonnatara, shirki chiki chisantekehe

Lchiturpa wa nean ponai chieshikari

shikachikachiash rapash humi 

chiekisarshut maukururu.

Ikichiash awa, nerok hekattar uhoyuppare 

wenotaupun shiokotpakor unuwetushmak. 

Toitoi kata hachirash koiramno hoshkinopo

wenkur hekachi unkoshirepa uneshikari. 

Shirki chiki, teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep

poutari iyoshino hoyuppa wa arki, 

tuwan wenitak rewan wenitak shuipa kane

wenkur hekachi ukooputuipa ukokikkik.

‘Shirun hekachi wenkur hekachi 

hoshki tashi aki kushnep eiyetushmak.’ 

hawokai ko, wenkur hekachi unkashike 

kamu kamu unhonkokishma.

Hushkotoi wano iki aine ainuutur wa 

soikosanu orowano hoyupu humi taknatara.

Teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep poutari

shuma ari nihum ari yapkir korka 

wenkur hekachi senne pono ekottanu 

wenotaupun shiokote hoyupu aine shine ponchise 

chisesoikehe akoshirepa. Pon hekachi 

rorunpurai kari unahunke kurkashike 

itakomare, tapne tapne nekatuhu eisoitak.

Chiseupshor wa onneumurek

tekkakipo rikunruke raunruke arki wa 

inkarash ko, shino wenkur ikikorkaiki 

nishpa ipor katkemat ipor ukoturpa, 

unnukar awa, ikkeu noshki komkosampa.

Poroshikupkur yaikokutkor yupu kane

unkoonkami.

‘Kamuichikap kamui pase kamui 

wenash shiri chiwenchisehe

koshirepa shiri iyairaikere.

Teeta anak nishpa otta yayukopishkip

chine akorka tane anakne tan korachi

shirun wenkur ne okayash wa, kotankor kamui

pase kamui chireushire ka

aeoripak kiwaneyakka tanto anak

tane shirkunne kushu tanukuran pase kamui

areushire wa nisatta anak ouse inau aripoka

pase kamui aomante kushne.’ ari okaipe

ye kor tuwan onkami rewan onkami ukakushte.

Poroshikupmat rorunpurai chorpoketa

okitarunpe soho kar wa otta unante.

Taporowa opittano hotkei nani etoro hawe

meshrototke.

Chinetopake ashurpe ututta rokash kane

okayash aine shiannoshki turpaketa

chirikipuniash.

‘Shirokanipe ranran pishkan,

konkanipe ranran pishkan.’

arian rekpo haukenopo chiki kane,

tapan ponchise eharkiso un eshiso un

terkeash humi tununitara.

Shirappaash ko unpishkan ta

pirkaikor kamuiikor tuihumkonna

tununitara.

Irukai neko tan ponchise pirkaikor

kamuiikor chieshikte.

‘Shirokanipe ranran pishkan, 

konkanipe ranran pishkan.’

arian rekpo chiki kane tapan ponchise

irukai neko kani chise poro chise ne

chikar okere, chiseupshoro kamuiimoma

chiekarkar, kamuikosonte pirkaike

chitunashkarkar chiseupshoro chietomte.

Nishpa horari ruwe okkashita tan porochise

upshoroho chitomtekarkar, chiokere ko

hushko anpe chishikopayar chihayokpehe

ashurpeututa rokash kane okayash.

chisekorutar chiwentarapka.

Ainunishpa maukowen wa wenkur ne wa,

teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep utarorke wa

chierampoken kushu, pashtakamui

chine ruwe ka shomone korka, ainuchise

chiko reushi chipirkare ruwe ne katuhu

chieramante.

Taporowa ponno okayash shirpeker awa

chisekor utar shine ikinne uhopunpare.

Shik noyanoya inkanrokpe opittano

amso kata oahuntaipa. Poroshikupmat

tuchish wenpe yayekote, poroshikupkur

tu pekernupe re pekernupe yaikorapte,

okai rokine, poroshikupkur chirikipuni

unotta arki tuwan onkami rewan onkami

ukakushte kurkashike itakomare:

“Tarap hetapne mokor hetapne chiki kuni

chiramu awa iyosserkere ikaran ruwe,

wenash shiri otuiash shiri chiwenchisehe

koshirepa patek neyakka chieyairaikep,

chierampoken unekarkar, 

chikashnukar nakka shipase ike aunekarkar 

kiruweokai.’ ari okaipe chishturano 

eonkami.

Taporowa poroshikupkur inauni tuye 

pirka inau tomtekar wa unetomte. 

Poroshikupmat yaikokutkor yupu kane 

pon hekachi shikashuire usa nina 

usa wakkata sakeshuye etokooiki, irukai neko

iwan shintoko rororaipa.

Orowano apehuchi kamuihuchi tura

usaokai kamuiorushpe chieuweneusar. 

Tutko pakno shiran ko, kamuierushuipe 

nepnekushu chiseupshoro sakehura 

epararse.

Tata otta nea hekachi okamkino

hushko amip amire wa kotanepitta okai The interview continues by 

teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep utarorkehe 

ashke aukte kushu asange wakushu 

oshiinkarash ko ponhekachi chisepishno 

ahun wa sonkoye ko,

teeta wenkur tane nishpa nep utarorkehe 

euminare:

Usainetapshui wenkurutar koohanepo 

nekonaan sake kar wa nekonaan 

marapto an wa eunahunke hawe ta an, 

payean wa nekona shirki ya inkarash wa 

aemina ro. ari

hawokai kane inne topa ne uweutanne 

arki aine toop tuimano ouse chise nukar wa 

ehomatpa yashtoma wa nani hoshippap ka okai, 

chisesoi pakno arki wa oahuntaipap ka okai, 

Shirki chiki chisekor katkemat soine wa 

ainuopitta ashkehe uk wa ahupte ko, 

opitta no shinu kane reye kane ahup wa 

hepunpa ruwe oararisham.

Shiranchiki chisekon nishpa chirikipuni 

ki charanke kakkokhau ne ouseturse 

ene ene ne katuhu eisoitak:

‘Tapne tapne wenkur ane wa raukisamno 

ukopayekai ka aeaikap ruwe ne a korka 

pase kamui unerampokiwen, nep wenpuri 

chikon ruwe ka somone a kushu tankorachi 

aunkashnukar ki ruwene kushu, 

tan tewano kotanepitta shine utar 

ane ruwene kushu uwekatairotkean 

ukopayekaian ki kunine nishpa utar 

akoramkor shiri tapan.’ ari okaipe 

echaranke awa nishpa utar 

otusanashke oresanashke ukaenoipa 

chisekor nishpa koyayapapu, tewano anak 

uwekatairotke kuni eukoitak.

Chiokai nakka aunkoonkami.

Taporowa ainuopitta ramuriten wa 

shisak tonoto ukoante.

Chiokai anak Kamui Huchi Chisekor Kamui 

Nusakor (16) Huchi tura uweneusarash kor 

ainupitoutar tapkar shiri rimse shiri 

chinukar wa chieyaikiror ante kane, 

tutko rerko shiran ko ikuoka an, 

ainupitoutar uwekatairotke shiri 

chinukar wa chieramushinne, 

Kamui Huchi Chisekor Kamui 

Nusakor Huchi chietutkopak.

Taporowa chiunchisehe chikohekomo.

Unetokta chiunchisehe pirka inau 

pirka sake chieshikte.

Shiran chiki hanke kamui tuima kamui

chikosonkoanpa chitak wa shisak tonoto

chiukoante, ikutuikata kamuiutar 

chikoisoitaka, ainukotan chihotanukar 

eneshirani eneshirkii chiomommomo ko, 

kamuiutar unkopuntek.

Kamuiutar hekompaita pirka inau 

tup chikore rep chikore.

Nea ainukotan orun inkarash ko 

tane anakne ratchitara ainupitoutar 

opittano uwekatairotke nea nishpa 

kotan esapane wa okai,

nea hekachi tane anakne okkai pakno

shikup wa, mat ka kor po ka kor, 

onaha ka, unuhu ka, nunuke kor okai, 

rammaramma sakekarichi ko 

ikiratpa ta usa inau usa sake unenomi, 

chiokai nakka ainuutar sermakaha 

hempara nakka chiehorari,

ainumoshir chiepunkine wa okayash. 

ari kamuichikap kamui isoitak.

The Song the Owl God Himself Sang – Chiri Yukie (Translation by Kyoko Selden)

‘Silver droplets fall fall all around me

golden droplets fall fall all around me.’ So singing

I went down along the river’s flow, above the human village.

As I looked down below

paupers of old have now become rich, while rich men of old have now become paupers, it seems.

By the shore, human children are at play

with little toy bows with little toy arrows.

‘Silver droplets fall fall all around megolden droplets fall fall all around me.’ So singing

as I passed above the children

running beneath me

they said the following:

‘A beautiful bird! A divine bird!

Now, shoot that bird,

the one who shoots it, who takes it first,

is a true valiant, a true hero.’

So saying, children of paupers of old now rich

fixing to little golden bows little golden arrows

shot at me, but I let the little golden arrows

pass beneath me and pass above me.

Amongst them, amongst the children

one child carrying a plain little bow and plain little arrows

is mingling with the rest. As I look

a pauper’s child he seems, from his clothing, too

it is clear. Yet a careful look at his eyes

reveals that he is the offspring of a worthy person,

a bird of a different feather, he mingles with the rest.

To a plain little bow he fixes

a plain little arrow, he, too, aims at me.

Then the children of paupers of old now rich burst into

laughter

and they say

‘Oh, how ridiciulous.

A pauper child.

That bird, the divine bird

doesn’t even take our golden arrows. One like yours,

a pauper child’s plain arrow of rotten wood,

surely, he’ll take it all right.

That bird, the divine bird.’

So saying, they kicked and beat

the pauper child. Minding not a whit,

the pauper child aimed at me.

Seeing how it was, I was touched with pity.

‘Silver droplets fall fall all around me

golden droplets fall fall all around me.’ So singing

slowly in the big sky

I was making a large circle. The pauper child,

one foot far out and the other foot close by,

biting his lower lip, aiming while

letting it go. The little arrow flew

sparkling toward me, so I extended

my hand and took that little arrow.

Circling around

my hand and took that little arrow.

Circling around and around

I whirled down through the whistling wind. 

Then, those children ran toward me.

 Stirring up a blizzard of sand, they raced. 

The moment I fell to the ground, 

the pauper child ran to me first and took me.

Then the children of paupers of old now rich 

came running from behind him. 

They said twenty bad things, thirty bad things 

pushing and beating the pauper child: 

‘A hateful child, a pauper’s child. 

What we tried to do first you did ahead of us!’ 

As they said this, the pauper child covered me 

with his body, firmly holding me under his belly. 

After trying and trying, finally from between people, 

he leaped out, and ran and ran. 

Children of paupers of old now rich 

threw stones and splinters of wood at him, but 

the pauper child, not minding a whit, 

stirring up a blizzard of sand, ran and arrived 

at the front of a little hut. The little child 

placed me in the house through the honored window, 

adding words to tell the story that it was thus and so. 

An old couple from within the house 

came out, each with a hand on his forehead, 

and I saw that they were extremely poor. Yet 

there were signs of a master, signs of a mistress. 

Seeing me they bent themselves at the waist with surprise.

The old man fixed his sash 

and made a ceremonial bow.

‘Owl god, great god,

to the meager household of us paupers, 

thank you for presenting yourself.

One who counted myself amongst the rich in bygone days

now I am reduced to a humble pauper as you see.

I stand in awe of lodging you,

the god of the land, the great gos,

 but today the day has already dusked,

so this evening we will lodge you, the great god,

and tomorrow, with inau, if with nothing else,

we will send you, the great god, on your way.’ So saying

he repeated his ceremonial bows over and over again.

The old woman, beneath the eastern window

laid a spread and seated me on it.

And then the moment they lay down,

with snores they fell fast asleep.

 Seated between ear and ear of my body I remained, but not too long after that, around midnight,

I rose.

‘Silver droplets fall fall all around me

golden droplets fall fall all around me.’

Thus singing quietly,

to the left seat, to the right seat, within the house I flew

making beautiful sounds.

When I fluttered my wings, around me

beautiful treasures, divine treasures scattered down

making beautiful sounds.

Within a short while, I filled this tiny house

with wonderful treasures, divine treasures.

‘Silver droplets fall fall all around me

golden droplets fall fall all around me.’

 So singing, I changed this tiny house

in a moment into a golden house, a large house.

In the house I made a fine treasure altar,

hastily made fine beautiful garments, and

decorated the interior of the house.

Far more finely than for the residence of the rich,

I decorated the interior of this large house.

That done, I sat, as before,

between ear and ear of my helmet.

I made the people of the house have a dream:

Ainunishpa unluckily became a pauper,

and by paupers of old now rich

was ridiculed and bullied. Which I saw

was ridiculed and bullied. Which I saw

and took pity on, so although I am not a plain god

of meager status, I lodged

at a human’s house and made him rich

This I let them know.

That done, a little while later when it dawned,

the people of the house rose all together.

Rubbing their eyes, they looked around the house

and all fell on the floor, having lost feeling in their legs.

The old woman cried loudly.

The old man shed large teardrops.

But before long, the old man rose,

came to me, ceremoniously bowed

twenty times, thirty times in repetition, and said,

 ‘A mere dream, a mere sleep I thought I had,

but what wonder to see your blessings in reality.

To our humble, humble meager house

 you have come, and for that alone I am thankful.

The kotan god, the great god

pities our misfortune,

 and, behold, the most precious of blessings

you have given us. Thus through tears

he spoke.

Then, the old man cut an inau tree,

beautifully carved a fine inau, and decorated me.

The old woman dressed up.

With the little child’s help, she gathered firewood,

scooped water, prepared to brew wine, and in a little while

 arranged six vats at the seat of honor.

And then, with the old woman of fire, the old female god,

I exchanged stories of various gods.

In two days or so, wine being the gods’ favorite,

inside the house the fragrance

already wafted.

Now, the child, deliberately clad in old clothes

to invite from throughout the village

the paupers of old now rich,

was sent off on an errand.

As I saw him from behind, entering each house,

 the child delivered the message he had been sent,

 at which the paupers of old now rich

burst into laughter:

‘This is strange, those paupers.

What wine they brew.

What feast they invite people for.

Let’s go and see what’s there 

and have a big laugh.’ So saying

to one another, many of them together came,

 and from a long distance, at the mere sight of the house,

some went back startled and embarrassed,

while others fell to the ground upon reaching the house.

Then, as the lady of the house went outside to

take all by the hand and usher them inside,

all crawled and sidled, none raising his head.

Upon this, the master of the house rose and

spoke in a sonorous voice like a cuckoo’s.

Thus and so, he said, was the situation:

‘Like this, being paupers, without reservation,

 to keep company with you was beyond us,

but the great god took pity.

No evil thoughts did we ever entertain,

and so in this manner we have been blessed.

From now on throughout the village we will be a family.

So, let’s be friends

and keep company — to you

I convey this wish.’ Thus

he spoke. Whereupon the people,

time and time again, rubbed their palms together,

apologizing to the master of the house for their wrongs.

From now on they would be friends, they said to one another.

I, too, received ceremonial bows.

That done, their hearts mellowing,

they held a cheerful banquet.

With the god of fire, the god of the house,

and the god of the altar, I spoke, 

while the humans danced and stepped,

 a sight that deeply amused me.

Two days passed, three days passed, and the banquet ended. 

The humans made good friends, 

seeing this, I felt relieved, and 

to the God of fire, the god of the house, 

and the god of the altar I bade farewell.

That done, I returned to my house.

Before I arrived, my house had been 

filled with beautiful inau and beautiful wine.

So, to nearby gods and distant gods, 

I sent a messenger to invite them to a cheerful banquet 

I was holding. At the party, to those gods, 

I spoke in detail of how, when I visited a human village, 

I found its appearances and circumstances.

Upon which the gods praised me highly. 

When the gods were leaving, beautiful inau were my gifts, two of them, three of them.

When I look toward that Ainu village, 

now peaceful, the humans are 

all good friends, that nishipa

being the village head.

His child, now having become

a man, has a wife, has a child,

is filial to his father, to his mother.

Always, always, when he brews wine,

at the start of a banquet, he sends me inau and wine.

I too sit behind the humans

at all times

as I guard the human land.

Thus the owl god told his tale.