1904 - Finnish song about the Russo-Japanese War [ENG/FIN]

A Finnish “diss track” about the misfortunes of Russians in The Russo-Japanese war and events that happened in 1904. The song is also known as "Banzai".

Historical background of the song: during the Russo-Japanese war, the Russian officials in the Grand Duchy of Finland were removing Finnish autonomy and trying to russify the Finns. Finnish nationalists looked up to Japan and even co-operated with them (see: the Grafton Affair). Bobrikov was the hated General Governor of the Grand Duchy and he was assassinated by Nationalist Activist Eugen Schauman in 1904.

Laulu vuoden 1904 tapahtumista, tunnetaan myös nimellä "Banzai". Laulun esittää Suomen Laululeijonat.

[susannaviljanen]

This is actually a very short summary of the original song. The original song has some 52 (!) verses, including the Dogger Bank incident, the sabotage of the fleet at Libau and the offensive of Nogi at Mukden.

[submarineinthesky]

Japan and Finland have always seemed to have a bit of an odd friendship going.

[FBI-krbx]

Grafton affair overview:
A Japanese spy by the name of Akashi Motojiro purchased a British warship with the goal of transporting weapons to Finland to start a anti-russian revolution. The group, led by Konni Zilliacus and Motojiro, managed to smuggle weapons to the western coast with the ship, named the SS Grafton, before being detected by the Russian navy. The group decided to blow up the steamer and escape. Motojiro was one of the most influential spies of Japan's Russo-Japanese war era and was also involved in multiple assassinations of Russians. After being recognized for his work in Japan after the war, he was given the position of Governor-General of Taiwan.

[bacon_]

This track is so fire it provided the Finns warmth for the whole Winter War

[Paquito]

In gratitude, Finland gave its best treasures to Japan: Moomin and Ievan Polka.

[aliteralwolfstaint]

Ear worms are crazy, man. Just because this song is catchy I have been humming it intermittently the past couple of days, a song about a brief war that happened over a hundred years ago, about two nations with no relation to my own, written by another nation that is just happy one of those nations lost.

It's fascinating to me that, just because of the musicality of it, this completely obscure little piece of culture has made it's way into my life.

[michaelp.deleon]

Being Polish, I am very proud of my people's long, long, long tradition of anti-Russian diss tracks. But I must say Finns have, composed a truly impressive catalog of their own, which i admire for its variety of musical styles, as well as the distinctively Finnish zing of the lyrics: So many very specific & interesting historical references, strung together with that tone of gleeful mockery. Most Polish lyrics I know dish out a more abstract, timeless flavor of trash talk (which i dig immensely too, mind you), whereas their Finnish counterparts are much more inclined to call out individual imperial creeps by name, and then skewer them on very fine needle-tipped spears of vindictive ridicule. Maybe Poland's repertoire evolved in its way, as the product of an almost geological process: so many, many centuries of constant beef with the same, exasperating existential threat, that never changed, but just kept getting bigger. At any rate, both traditions are awesome, as are the peoples and nations that generated them, in their long and awful--but ultimately triumphant--struggles to exist in freedom and peace. Welcome to NATO, you fascinating badasses! Now, let's do all we can to help our Ukrainian brothers and sisters to complete their own long & valiant triumph, and finally join us as our neighbors, blessed with a freedom and peace that Russia will never, ever again dare to defile.

[arikukatoyamasaki]

Despite Japan and Finland not having a significant relationship during the 20th and 19th century. It fascinates me of how and when Japan and Finland started to recognize each other. Including, find similarities in terms of pronunciation, biology, ideologies, and endurance. However, that does not entirely make Japan part of the Ural-Altic group.

[tamapochi]

Thanks from Japan.
I love and respect Finland!

Do you know that

Japan first recognized the statehood of Finland and established diplomatic relations in 1919.( source   Japan-Finland Relations (Overview)    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan )

By the way,
Lyrics in English 

It cut off the Russian onion – and  cabbage road.

I think below,
Russian onion = onion dome = Sankt Petersburg 

Cabbage =   Borsch, borshch, borsht, bortsch =  (origin) Ukraine

Is it right?

[Sekitachi]

While this song isn't necessarily a declaration of "love" from one nation to another, you must understand the nature of why the Finnish drafted a song such as this, which spoke highly of the Japanese. A combination of the Grafton Affair and the Russian occupation of the Finnish land and people during this time only served to increase tensions between the Finnish and the Russians. However, due to several factors, the Finns would not be able to seek their independence, at least not until after the First World War. To the Finns, anyone that would attack the Russians, and get them off the Finns back was seen as "good enough" for them, and enough to warrant admiration from the Finnish people to the Japanese, but mainly only through words, and little else.

If you thought this is an example of the strange dichotomy between the Finnish and the Japanese, I implore others to research the multitude of strange relations that the Scandinavian nations have had with many Asian nations, with the most memorable one being the trade between Sweden and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

[jounisuninen]

At that time Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. However we already had aspirations for independence as we felt oppressed by the Csarist Government. The murder of Russian General Governor Bobrikov in Helsinki was part of the growing Finnish nationalistic activity. The killer was Mr. Eugen Schauman who shot himself after firing his pistol at Bobrikov. So that was the background of this song.

[elisakabiri]

En tiennyt, että on olemassa tällainenkin laulu.... I did not know or heard about this kind of song before even I am from Finland...

[dmitritelvanni]

If i ever found out that all russian admirals didnt have a beard that badass. My heart might break.

[itsve]

though its kinda crazy how russia had declered war on both finland and japan while bordering both

[Berttiz]

aika hyvä kyl, tätä vois alkaa viheltelemään

[guddy]

Long story short: as a direct result of japanese victory at Tsushima; Russian General guvenor of Finland eats lead

[User-hm]

Наверх вы товарищи все по местам
Последний парад наступает
Врагу не сдается наш гордый Варяг
Пощады никто не просит!

Kappale on nimeltään Varyag. Me venäläiset emme anna periksi.

[Alexandros.Mograine]

Finnish teacher: we are going to japan on a field trip
Girls: oh i love anime!

Boys:

[il_gran_signore]

Ural-Altaic Khaganate destroying Principality of the Varangians.

[ristojaaskelainen]

"trying to russify the Finns." It's not easy to russify bear-eating Finns. What if Bobrikov had tried russifying bears first?