Her Royal Highness, Empress Michiko (84) of Japan has taken the lyrics to You Raise Me Up and translated them into a lyrical Japanese setting in the foreword to a newly published book of Japanese poems.
The just-published collection from Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun Publishing, features poems by the Empress herself, along with works by major Japanese poets, Nagase Kiyoko (The ‘Great Mother’) of Japanese female poets, Takeuchi Taruyo, Shinkawa Kazue, Mado·Michio, recipient of the Hans Christian Award in pair with English translations by the Empress, who has composed several poems, including in the Waka (和歌, “Japanese poem”) tradition of poetry in classical Japanese literature.
The Empress, who holds a degree in English Literature, has a keen interest in Irish culture is and apparently even speaks passable Irish.
You Raise Me Up in Japan
You Raise Me Up has enjoyed widespread success in Japan for a number of artistes in both English and Japanese.
Japan’s, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medallist, Shizuka Arakawa skated to You Raise Me Up as her Gold Medal Exhibition performance at the 2006, Winter Olympics.
You Raise Me Up was the opening theme song from the Japanese TV Anime series of Romeo and Juliet as well as being the theme song from the Japanese TV series, Byakottai.
Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Yamaha have all used different versions of You Raise Me Up in Japanese TV national advertising campaigns.
You Raise Me Up has also been performed at Jammin’ for Japan, and at the United Nations Charity Event – both major concert events to benefit Japanese Earthquake relief.