Wakai Chikara

From Sega Retro


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Wakai Chikara (若い力, lit. "Youhful Power") is the official corporate anthem of Sega. Since 1991, new employees of Sega of Japan have been given a CD-ROM containing the theme. The theme was not invented by Sega, but the lyrics, written by Sega employee Eiichi Takahashi[1], were adapted to better suit the company.

While virtually unknown to the outside world, the theme has made it into the public consciousness in Segagaga and as the outro music to the anime Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls.

History

I had come back from Sega [of Japan] with a bunch of assets on CD, and one of the tracks of the CD was the Sega corporate anthem. Now we don't have that necessarily in the US, but in Japan, they still had corporate anthems for every company. and people would sing this at the beginning of their work day.


They would come on the intercom, like in elementary school, and you'd sing along to the corporate anthem on the intercom. So months later, someone in the head office at Sega of America said, “Oh, we would love for you audio guys to put together a mixtape for the hold system on the Sega phone system. So when we put people on hold, they could hear game music instead of muzak.” I say, “Great.” You know, I'll put some of the best stuff we had on CD. And then I had the crazy idea. I think, I'll put the Sega corporate anthem on too. Just for gags, you know?


Well, it turned out some of the higher-ups from Sega of Japan called into Sega of America and they happen to catch it on rotation and they heard the Sega corporate thing and they're going, “Oh, that's really unusual.” So they talked to the execs at Sega of America. And Sega of America execs… They were, in a way, almost anti-Japanese. They wanted Sega to be an American company. They wanted Sega to be its own thing. They immediately bristled, “Get that shit off our call systems!”

David Javelosa[2]


Lyrics

Japanese

知的創造 あふれる 英知
共に築こう 豊かな文化
夢と希望は 大空高く
社会に貢献 我らが使命
明日の創造 生命(いのち)にかえる
セガ セガ セガ 若い力

先進技術 絶ゆまぬ 努力
共に目指そう 新たな流れ
夢と希望は 海原広く
時代の先取り 我らが挑戦
未来の創造 生命(いのち)にかえる
セガ セガ セガ 若い力

人社一体 みなぎる闘志
共に進もう 絆も固く
夢と希望は 永遠(とわ)に尽きない
目標追求 我らが誓い
世界の創造 生命(いのち)にかえる
セガ セガ セガ 若い力

Roumanji

Chiteki souzou afureru eichi
Tomo ni kizukou yutaka na bunka
Yume to kibou wa oozora takaku
Shakai ni kouken warera ga shimei
Ashita no souzou inochi ni kaeru
SEGA! SEGA! SEGA! Wakai chikara

Senshin gijutsu tayumanu doryoku
Tomo ni mezasou arata na nagare
Yume to kibou wa unabara hiroku
Jidai no sakidori warera ga chousen
Mirai no souzou inochi ni kaeru
SEGA! SEGA! SEGA! Wakai chikara

Jinsha ittai minagiru toushi
Tomo ni susumou kizuna mo kataku
Yume to kibou wa towa ni tsukinai
Mokuhyou tsuikyuu warera ga chikai
Sekai no souzou inochi ni kaeru
SEGA! SEGA! SEGA! Wakai chikara

English (rough translation)

Intelligent creations, overflowing wisdom
Together let’s build a flourishing culture
Dreams and hopes are as high as space (the blue sky)
It’s our mission to contribute to society
Creating tomorrow, changing lives
Sega! Sega! Sega! Youthful Power

Leading technology, trustworthy effort
Together, let us aim for a new current
Dreams and hopes are as wide as the ocean
Anticipating the times is our challenge
Creating futures, changing lives
Sega! Sega! Sega! Youthful Power

The people and the company are as one, with overflowing fighting spirit
Let’s move forward together and solidify our bonds
Hopes and dreams are never-ending
Pursuing our goals, that’s our vow
Creating worlds, changing lives
Sega! Sega! Sega! Youthful Power

External links

References


Sega, the company
Company profiles | Harmony | History | Jingle | Scream | Logo | Offices | Souzou wa Inochi | Wakai Chikara
Annual reports | Investor relations