Shikishima no Yamato no kuni ni akirakeki na ni ou tomo no o kokoro tsutomeyo

磯城島の大和の国に明らけき
名に負ふ伴の男心つとめよ

Roma-ji: Shikishima no Yamato no kuni ni akirakeki na ni ou tomo no o kokoro tsutomeyo
English Translation: In the land of Yamato,
the isle of Shikishima,
bearing a bright name
that shines clear, men of Ōtomo,
be steadfast and strive in heart
Meaning: Men of the Ōtomo, who bear a name shining bright in the land of Yamato, be vigilant and strive with all your hearts.
Commentary: Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4466

Headnote: "A poem with tanka admonishing my clan."
Men of the Ōtomo who bear a name shining clear in Yamato, be vigilant and strive: the first envoy, admonishing the clan. According to the headnote, it accompanies a long poem (4465 in this book) admonishing his kin. The left note says Yakamochi composed it after Ōtomo no Kojihi, Governor of Izumo, was dismissed through the slander of Ōmi no Mifune, and that this and the five following poems were composed by Yakamochi on the seventeenth day of the sixth month. Preaching the pride of a renowned warrior house, he warns against rash action and calls for the clan's unity.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, son of Ōtomo no Tabito, stood at the head of the Ōtomo clan as its chief. At this time he was Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs.

The first line, "shikishima no," is a pillow word for Yamato.
The second line, "Yamato no kuni ni," "in the land of Yamato," shows how widely the Ōtomo name is known.
The third line, "akirakeki," "bright, unclouded," praises a pure and shining name.
The fourth line, "na ni ou tomo no o," "the men of the clan who bear that name," uses tomo for the Ōtomo.
The closing line, "kokoro tsutomeyo," "strive with all your hearts," admonishes the clan in the imperative.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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