is a Japanese gunka (composition of military music) During the late stages of the Pacific War, it was sung throughout Japan. It compares cherry blossoms with the destiny of soldiers who graduated from a military academy. The song was composed by . Although Yaso Saijō was thought to have written the original lyrics, he did not write the lyrics directly.

Originally released as in 1939, the third and fourth verses were not added along with the original first, second and fifth verses until around 1944. In the revised version, the story of two kamikaze pilots was established. In the song, although a pilot dies, his bond with another surviving pilot remains strong. Before their mission, kamikaze pilots would sing "Dōki no Sakura" together.

Lyrics +KanjiRōmajiEnglish貴様と俺とは 同期の桜 同じ兵学校の 庭に咲く

咲いた花なら 散るのは覚悟

みごと散りましょ 国のためKisama to ore to wa dōki no sakura Onaji heigakkō no niwa ni saku

Saita hana nara chiru no wa kakugo

Migoto chirimashō kuni no tame You and I are cherry blossoms We bloom in the same military school

We have the destiny to fall

We shall fall for our country貴様と俺とは 同期の桜 同じ兵学校の 庭に咲く

血肉分けたる 仲ではないが

なぜか気が合うて 別れられぬKisama to ore to wa dōki no sakura Onaji heigakkō no niwa ni saku

Chiniku waketaru naka  dewa  nai  ga

Nazeka ki ga ōte wakarerarenuYou and I are cherry blossoms We bloom in the same military school

Though we are not brothers biologically

But we get along that no one could separate us apart貴様と俺とは 同期の桜 同じ航空隊の 庭に咲く

仰いだ夕焼け 南の空に

未だ還らぬ 一番機Kisama to ore to wa dōki no sakura Onaji kokūtai no niwa ni saku

Aoida yūyake minami no sora ni

Imada kaeranu ichibankiYou and I are cherry blossoms We bloom in the same air force group

Looking up into the sunlight of the Southern skies

Waited to the flight leader to be in vain貴様と俺とは 同期の桜 同じ航空隊の 庭に咲く

あれほど誓った その日も待たず

なぜに死んだか 散ったのかKisama to ore to wa dōki no sakura Onaji kokūtai no niwa ni saku

Are hodo chikatta sono hi mo matazu

Nazeni shinda ka chitta nokaYou and I are cherry blossoms We bloom in the same air force group

For our solemn vows, we die together

Therefore, why fall and perish ahead?貴様と俺とは 同期の桜 離れ離れに 散ろうとも

花の都の 靖国神社

春の梢に 咲いて会おうKisama to ore towa dōki no sakura Hanarebanare ni chirō to mo

Hana no miyako no Yasukuni jinja

Haru no kozue ni saite aōYou and I are cherry blossoms We should fall at different places and timing

We should meet at the Yasukuni Shrine, in the capital of glory!

We would meet again on spring on some cherry branch

References