Ashihiki no yama no konure no hoyo torite kazashitsuraku wa chitose hoku to zo

あしひきの山の木末のほよ取りて
かざしつらくは千年寿くとぞ

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yama no konure no hoyo torite kazashitsuraku wa chitose hoku to zo
English Translation: From the treetops high
upon the foot-dragging hills,
taking mistletoe,
we wear it in our hair
to bless a thousand years.
Meaning: We have taken mistletoe from the treetops on the mountain and set it in our hair to celebrate a thousand years of life.
Commentary: Book Eighteen 4136

Headnote: "A poem from a banquet on the second day of the first month of the second year of Tenpyō Shōhō, when a feast was given to the district officials at the provincial office."
The poet says that the mistletoe taken from the mountain treetops and set in their hair is a blessing for a thousand years of life. From a New Year's banquet at the provincial office on the second day of the first month of 750, when the district officials were feasted, it celebrates the long life and prosperity of the company by wearing as hair ornaments mistletoe that stays green even in winter.
Ōtomo no Yakamochi was the son of Ōtomo no Tabito, and from 746 he served as governor of Etchū. He is believed to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū, and this book has the character of a poetic diary of his years in Etchū.
The left note reads, "The poem above was composed by the governor, Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi."

First line, "ashihiki no": a pillow word for "mountain."
Second line, "yama no konure no": "konure" means the tips of branches, the treetops.
Third line, "hoyo torite": "hoyo" is mistletoe, which because of its vitality in staying green through winter was used to celebrate long life.
Fourth line, "kazashitsuraku wa": "kazasu" means to wear a sprig or flower in the hair, and "tsuraku" is the nominalized form of the perfective "tsu," "that we have worn it."
Last line, "chitose hoku to zo": "hoku" means to bless, and "zo" is emphatic, declaring it is to celebrate a thousand years. It is a poem of blessing fitting for a New Year's banquet.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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