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Introductory Remarks - Why this Page?

Sylwadau rhagarweiniol - Pam y dudalen hon?

Hello and Welcome! 

I have started this page for two main reasons:

1. I live in Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu, Japan and have lived here for 24 years, and in Japan since April 1, 1988. (On my Japanese Rugby Page my pen name is The Laird of Kitakyushu!) The Welsh Rugby squad will be based in our city for most of the Rugby World Cup 2019. I believe we should do all we can to welcome them. 

2. I feel a little embarrassed as a competent language learner with English as my mother tongue and a good command of Japanese, French and German, that I have never seriously attempted to learn Welsh - an important language in the U.K. context, and one full of history and culture.  

For now I shall make the page bilingual relying on Google Translate, so please excuse (and/or correct!)  any errors you see.                                                                                  

Helo a Chroeso!

Rwyf wedi cychwyn y dudalen hon am ddau brif reswm:

1. Rwy'n byw yn Ninas Kitakyushu yn Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan ac rydw i wedi byw yma ers 24 mlynedd, ac yn Japan ers Ebrill 1, 1988. (Ar fy Nghystadleuaeth Rygbi Siapan, fy enw pennaf yw The Laird of Kitakyushu!) Rygbi Cymru Bydd y garfan yn ein dinas ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o Gwpan Rygbi'r Byd 2019. Rwy'n credu y dylem wneud popeth a allwn i'w croesawu.

2. Rwy'n teimlo ychydig embaras fel dysgwr iaith gymwys gyda Saesneg fel fy mamiaith a gorchymyn da o iaith Siapaneaidd, Ffrangeg ac Almaeneg, nad wyf erioed wedi ceisio dysgu Cymraeg yn fawr - iaith bwysig yng nghyd-destun y DU, ac un yn llawn o hanes a diwylliant.

Am nawr, dwi'n gwneud y dudalen yn ddwyieithog yn dibynnu ar Google Translate, felly gwnewch esgus (a / neu gywir!) Unrhyw wallau a welwch.

 Ian Ruxton, Kitakyushu

June 1, 2018

Geographic distribution  (%) of Welsh speakers per 2011 census (Wikipedia) 

Dosbarthiad daearyddol (%) o siaradwyr Cymraeg fesul cyfrifiad 2011 (Wikipedia)

Welsh Songs - These are some of the most powerful icons of Welsh culture. Wales is a land (the land, some would say!) of poetry and song!

Caneuon Cymreig - Dyma rai o eiconau mwyaf pwerus diwylliant Cymru. Mae Cymru yn dir (y tir, rhai yn ei ddweud!) O farddoniaeth a chân!

National Anthem (with Welsh and English lyrics)

Cwm Rhondda (in English only - an old friend from my schooldays)

Calon Lan (Welsh & English - my favourite! ;-) is also sung by many male voice choirs

Men of Harlech is explained here. See also the film Zulu  

though in fact sadly there were no Welsh units at Rorke's Drift!!

(It's just movie myth-making.)

Trystan Ilyr Griffiths is a fine singer -

Gwahoddiad (Invitation) (Thanks to Judith Rowbotham for this one!)

A Nation Sings - Gymanfa Ganu - 1963 (mix)

Best of the Great Male Voice Choirs - Wales is a land like no other for male voice choirs!

Deugain sain - 40 Mlynedd, Amrywiol (40 songs, various artists)

Big in Japan - Shane Williams and Andy Powell on tour! ;-) This has been widely acclaimed - by at least one of my friends - as hilarious! 

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