Kimi ga yo mo waga yo mo shiru ya iwashiro no oka no kusane o iza musubite na

君が代も我が代も知るや岩代の
岡の草根をいざ結びてな

Roma-ji: Kimi ga yo mo waga yo mo shiru ya iwashiro no oka no kusane o iza musubite na
English Translation: Your span of life, and
my span of life, it governs—
at Iwashiro
the grasses upon the hill,
come, let us bind them fast.
Meaning: The grasses on the hill of Iwashiro hold sway over your life and mine alike—come, let us tie them together and pray for our safe return.
Commentary: Book One Miscellaneous Poems 10

Headnote: "A poem by Nakatsu-sumeramikoto on her way to the hot springs of Ki"
Traveling toward the hot springs of Kii, the poet calls on her companion to tie the grasses on the hill of Iwashiro and pray for the safety and long life of them both. Knotting grass or branches was an ancient ritual for a safe journey and a long life. Iwashiro is also where Prince Arima tied pine branches to pray for his safety, and together with poem 141 of Book Two, this poem preserves the belief in binding at this place. The left note records that the Ruiju Karin calls it the Sovereign's own poem.
Nakatsu-sumeramikoto is a title whose bearer has never been settled. The leading view identifies her as Princess Hashihito, daughter of Emperor Jomei and consort of Emperor Kōtoku; another names Yamatohime, consort of Emperor Tenji. The title is understood to mean a noble woman who mediates between sovereign and gods, or an interim sovereign.

In the first line, "your span of life too," yo means life or lifespan. "You" is the noble companion on the journey, whom some identify as Prince Naka no Ōe.
The second line continues "my span of life too" and adds shiru, "to govern," with the exclamatory ya, praising the god of Iwashiro who holds both lives in his keeping. Setting "your life" beside "my life" in parallel makes both equally the object of the prayer.
The third line names Iwashiro in Kii Province, around present-day Minabe in Hidaka District, Wakayama. The character for "rock" evokes permanence, making the place name fitting for a prayer for long life.
The fourth line, "the grasses upon the hill," uses ne as a suffix meaning simply "grass." These are the grasses to be tied.
The last line, iza musubite na, joins the inviting iza with the exhortative na: "come, let us tie them." Calling her companion to perform the binding rite together, the poem closes with a prayer for a safe journey.
Author: Nakatsu-sumeramikoto
Source: Manyoshu
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