[REQUEST] Minstrel – その影法師、幼さを残して

【Requested by Helly】

I really love Flawless Clothing of the Celestials, it’s one heck of an epic theme.
Sadly, at least to me, this song can’t convey half of the half of the half of the half of the half of its epicness.
[2017 edit: lol what an asshole]

Minstrel – その影法師、幼さを残して

天つ風に揺られて
詠い踊る　思い出に
彩なす花　さ揺らぎ
一片舞い落ちる

amatsu kaze ni yurarete
utai odoru omoide ni
ayanasu hana sa yuragi
hito-kata mai ochiru

Swayed around by a heavenly wind
In my memories singing and dancing
A colorful flower is swinging
Making a petal dance as it falls down

明かり瞬きて　滲み掠れてく
募る緋色の思い　遠く　遥か　彼方
胸を刺す残光は　宵闇に融け
永久の孤独の中で　望む　心　閉じて

akari mabatakite nijimi kasureteku
tsunoru hiiro no omoi tooku haruka kanata
mune o sasu zankou wa yoiyami ni toke
towa no kodoku no naka de nozomu kokoro tojite

A flickering light faintly oozes in
My memories painted in scarlet, distant, far away, your direction
The afterglow which pierced my heart is melting in the dusk
In the midst of the unchanging loneliness, I seal away my wishing heart

深紅の空を見上げ
畳なわる心別つ
薄紅色の頬に
一滴伝う

shinku no sora o miage
tatanawaru kokoro wakatsu
usu-beni’iro no hoho ni
hito-shizuku tsutau

Gazing the deep crimson sky
My firm heart falls to pieces
In my pale red cheeks
A single tear is dripping

天つ風に揺られて
詠い踊る　思い出に
悠久を求めて
滔々と流る

amatsu kaze ni yurarete
utai odoru omoide ni
yuukyuu o motomete
toutou to nagaru

Swayed around by a heavenly wind
My memories are singing and dancing
Longing for the eternity
Flowing without an end

響く静寂の果て　枯れた緋き夢
渇く心の中で　霞む　ひとみ　閉じて

hibiku seijaku no hate kareta akaki yume
kawaku kokoro no naka de kasumu hitomi tojite

To the end of this echoing weakness lies a red withered dream
Inside my dried heart, I close my hazy eyes

影法師を見つめ
地に伏して心に触れる
鴇色の記憶を
一欠片合す

kageboushi o mitsume
chi ni fushita kokoro ni fureru
toki’iro no kioku o
hitokakera awasu

I gaze into a silhouette
Touched by its heart down on the earth
This pink-shaded memory I had
Seem to be the missing piece

天つ風に揺られて
詠い踊る　思い出に
胸に抱く無明を
浅葱に染め往く

amatsu kaze ni yurarete
utai odoru omoide ni
mune ni daku mumyou o
asagi ni some yuku

Swayed around by a heavenly wind
In my memories singing and dancing
The Avidya I’m holding firmly
Is growing radiant in a light yellow

遥か天を仰ぎ
詠え　地を揺らして
往く先に約束を
夢に想い続け

haruka ten o aogi
utae chi o yurashite
yuku saki ni yakusoku o
yume ni omoitsudzuke

Gaze the far away heaven
And sing, make the earth shake!
Before I go, make a promise to me:
Keep remembering me in your dreams

～

Notes:

– I’ve listened to it several times, but I can’t clearly understand how the singer reads 一片 in the first stanza. It’s usually read as “ippen”, but she clearly doesn’t say that. She surely pronounces 一 as “hito” (which is ok), but I can’t understand how she reads “片”, whose only readings I know are compounds such as -hen or -ra and “kata” being its kun’yomi, but I keep hearing something such as “hiraga”… don’t know. Don’t trust my trascription for this word, it’s 100% wrong.
– I had to use several other words instead of their true meaning (such as “tear” for “shizuku”) because the translation I’ve made with the other words kinda sucked.
– lots of sentences are, thus, not the real translation, but more the “translation of what it means”. Because, seriously, some parts where I kept the original terms seemed so stupid I didn’t want them to feature in the translation. I tried my best.
– 無明 (mumyou). “Avidya”. Is that a flower? A tree? I seriously have no idea. (It could imply the idea of “ignorance”, from the sanskrit term avidyā, which implies the real buddhist embodiment of ignorance. In this song, it’s refered to like a flower, sort of).

～

• Title: その影法師、幼さを残して (That silhouette left my childishness behind)
• Circle: Minstrel
• Album: 夜伽話の神隠し (A Spiriting Away in the Night’s Fairy Tales)
• Vocals: LIQU@。
• Lyrics: yuta
• Arrangement: yuta
• Release Event: C80
• Source: 天衣無縫 (Flawless Clothing of the Celestials) – Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, Final pre-battle Theme

[REQUEST] ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY – Mellow

【Requested by Tiyanaryuh】

First of all, thanks to Tiyanaryuh for sending me EVERY single ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY‘s booklet out there.
I owe you one.
Second, this is a half-request. It’s true that he suggested me to translate this song, but I’d probably would have done anyway.
Because this song is absolutely (seewhatIdidtherehuehuehuhe) outstanding.
When ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY sticks to a more eastern-style of music, it’s a guaranteed masterpiece, as we heard before on other songs such as 慟哭の杜, とおりゃんせ or 待宵姫 (click ’em and read ’em).
What can I say about this song? Nothing, actually. It speaks for itself. It’s stunning. One of the best song I’ve ever translated, seriously.
Everytime I listen to some ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY’s tracks, I want to cry because of how unpopular they are compared to several other more successful doujin circle they’re not worth being.
Reality is kinda harsh.
But that’s why I keep posting them now and then. The world must know!
About the song, for some reason some stanzas are entirely wrote in katakana (I traced out every single word in the romaji, so don’t worry).
I didn’t get why this choice.
Sometimes katakana is used to mark words, but, strangely, in this song it looks like as if it’s the opposite.
The words in katakana seem to be far away from the rest of the lyrics, as the kanjis in some full-katakana sentences made me realize.
Why is that? I don’t know, but I don’t feel it to be so strange.
Maybe is just a matter of style, but it works, oddly enough.
Also, I kept the title as “Mellow” instead of メロウ in katakana because it’s the same thing.

ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY – Mellow

気高き魂の行く末は風の中
何を望み　何を見て　何を悟る
希望はおぼろげにちらついて追いつけはしない
渇いた鼓動が水を求める

ketakaki tamashii no yukusue wa kaze no naka
nani o nozomi nani o mite nani o satoru
kibou wa oboroge ni chiratsuite oitsuke wa shinai
kawaita kodou ga mizu o motomeru

The fate of a noble soul dwells inside the wind
What does it wish for? What can it see? What can realize?
Hope is flickering faintly, it can’t catch up
The dried heartbeat longs for water

イトシイ　ユルサレナイ　ムネガイタイ
イトシクオモウホド
コワイ　マジワラナイ　ソレデモイイ
イタミサエイトシイ

itoshii yurusarenai mune ga itai
itoshiku omou hodo
kowai maji waranai sore demo ii
itami sae itoshii

My dear, I can’t forgive you, my heart aches
No matter how my memory is dear to me
It’s scary, I can’t get apart from it, but it’s alright;
Even this pain is dear to me

一人　宵闇紛れて歩いた
みずたまり　冷たさが足に触れた

hitori yoiyami magirete aruita
mizutamari tsumetasa ga ashi ni fureta

I walked into the twilight, confused, alone
My feet felt the coldness of a puddle

どれだけおもっていても　許されない感情もあるわ
理解してる　慣れているの　心を抑えること

doredake omotteite mo yurusarenai kanjou mo aru wa
rikaishiteru nareteiru no kokoro o osaeru koto

No matter how much I think about it, there are even unforgivable feelings
Understand it, get used to it… to the fact that the heart can be sealed

気高き魂があるのなら見せてほしい
何を感じ　何を知り　何をすれば
希望の煙は消えないで照らしてくれるの
涙も痛みも　超えたいのに

ketakaki tamashii ga aru no nara misete hoshii
nani o kanji nani o shiri nani o sureba
kibou no tomoshibi wa kienai de terashite kureru no
namida mo itami mo koetai no ni

If there’s a noble soul out there, then please let me see it
What do I feel? What do I know? What should I do?
The light of hope won’t fade away, it will light upon me
Even though I’d want to overcome even those tears, this pain…

トケテク　マザッテイク　ニジムシカイ
セカイハカワラズ

toketeku mazatte iku nijimu shikai
sekai wa kawarazu

Melting and mixing on my blurry vision field
The world isn’t changing

二人　夕焼け　重なるシルエット
一番に望んでたその結末

futari yuuyake kasanaru shiruetto
ichiban ni nozondeta sono ketsumatsu

Our silhouettes becoming one in the sunset…
That’s the conclusion I wished for the most

何よりかけがえのないあなただから”幸せになれ”と
これでいいの　これがいいの　ずっと願っていたの

nani yori kakegae no nai anata dakara “shiawase ni nare” to
kore de ii no kore ga ii no zutto negatteita no

And because you’re my irreplaceable one, I said to you “be happy”
And it’s okay this way, it’s fine as it is… that’s what I always prayed for…

いつしか無意識に溜め込んだ痛みの雫は
間もなく溢れてしまうのかしら

itsu shika muishiki ni tamekonda itami no shizuku wa
ma mo naku afurete shimau no kashira

The unnoticed drops of pain accumulated in my unconscious
Will probably end up overflowing in a blink of an eye

今だけ許してほしい　明日には戻るわ
ダレニモ　イエナイ　オモイヲ
アメニナガシテ
あなたがすき
サヨナラ　サヨナラ
イトシイ貴女　サヨナラ

ima dake yurushite hoshii asu ni wa modoru wa
dare ni mo ienai omoi o
ame ni nagashite
anata ga suki
sayonara sayonara
itoshii anata sayonara

I just want to be forgiven now, tomorrow I’ll be back
I’ll let flow along with the rain
Those thoughts I can’t say to anyone
“I love you”
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, my beloved one…

気高き魂の行く末は風の中
何を望み　本音は　何を見て　逃げ去る　何を悟る
希望はおぼろげにちらついて追いつけはしない
渇いた心が鼓動が叫んで水を求めて

ketakaki tamashii no yukusue wa kaze no naka
nani o nozomi hon’ne wa nani o mite nigesaru nani o satoru
kibou wa oboroge ni chiratsuite oitsuke wa shinai
kawaita kokoro ga kodou ga sakende mizu o motomete

The fate of a noble soul dwells inside the wind
What does it wish for? What is its intention? What can it see and disappear? What does it realize?
Hope is flickering faintly, it can’t catch up
The dried heartbeat longs for water, screaming

あなたの幸せを誰よりも望んでる
打ち寄せては　秘めてた
押し返す　理想の　想い超えて
痛みの最果てに辿りつく答えはあるのか
解らない　掴めない
それでも　いつの日か　超えてみせるわ

anata no shiawase o dare yori mo nozonderu
uchi yosete wa himeteta
oshikaesu risou no omoi koete
itami no saihate ni tadoritsuku kotae wa aru no ka
wakaranai tsukamenai
soredemo itsu no hi ka koete miseru wa

I wish for your happiness more than everyone else’s
Concealed by the water passing by
Overcoming the ideal thoughts I held back
I wonder if there lies an answer in the furthest edge of pain?
I don’t know, I can’t seize it
But still, one of these days, I’ll show you I can overcome this all

絡んだ糸ほどいて
素直なまま　無垢な心のまま
落ちる涙雨に　甘えたまま
少し泣いていい・・・？

karanda ito hodoite
sunao na mama mukuna kokoro no mama
ochiru namida ame ni amaeta mama
sukoshi naite ii…?

I untie the string I had entwined on me
And while I’m being honest, while my heart is so pure
As a rain of tears falling down on me is mocking me…
It’s okay if I cry a little bit…?

～

Notes:

– 鼓動 (kodou) is not necessarily “heartbeat”, it’s simply “beat”. But most of the time it stands for “heartbeat”, and I found it pretty fitting for this stanza.
– 心を抑えること (fourth stanza) I translated this as “the heart can be sealed”, and I hope it doesn’t sound strange. That’s the most literal translation. The meaning I wanted to convey (and the meaning the song implies) is that the heart, in other words feelings, toughts, memory etc. can be “sealed”, so can be ignored, one can look away from them. I really like this stanza. And this song. And everything.
– 煙 (fifth stanza) is usually read as “kemuri” and means “smoke”, but here is read as 灯火 (tomoshibi), meaning “light”, “lamp”.
– The last stanza is probably talking about the aka-ito (赤糸) japanese legend. This whole song is about a person trying to forget another person he/she loves but doesn’t love him/her back.
The legend of akaito states that every soulmates has a red string of fate tied to their pinkies, and eventually they’ll find each other thanks to this bound.
In the last stanza, the person who stills loves the other that doesn’t anymore, is forcedly removing that string of fate from his/her finger, because, in the end, he/she realized how things can’t work out, how, maybe, it was all an sweet illusion to begin with. This hits home so close I want to scream. And, by the way, this is beautiful. Terribly, horribly beautiful.

～

• Title: メロウ (Mellow)
• Circle: ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY
• Album: 金平糖レトロチカ (Confetti Retrotica)
• Vocals: Nakae Mitsuki
• Lyrics: Nakae Mitsuki
• Arrangement: 塚越雄一朗 (Tsukagoshi Yuichiro)
• Release Event: C86
• Source: Original

CLOCKWORKS TRACER – Slave To The Reign

A thing I’ve noticed that often occurs in Touhou doujin music (but in CwT is so clear it’s the best example) is that the vocal track follows the main rhythm of the theme from where it comes from.
Generally, western vocals are not as complicated as CwT’s vocals, and that’s because they use fast-paced themes full of harmonics and scales.
I guess that’s what marks touhou-related music and make it so different from other types of music.
But then again, WheaterH, you’re a goddess. Keep singing like that and you’ll reach the Nirvana soon.
Nothing else to say about it. Except that I keep cracking up when I read the english segments. I don’t know. They’re funny.
Lastly, thanks to Alv for sending me the lyrics from the whole album!

CLOCKWORKS TRACER – Slave To The Reign

From this reign, take me out!!

Under the domination, the hopeless breakaway
Both despair and hope will come to nothing

遥か永く積み上げた誇りを抱いて
全ては只の驕りと知らぬまま
跡形無く崩れ去る想い足掻いて
何もかもを攫いゆく瞳の中へ

haruka nagaku tsumi ageta hokori o daite
subete wa tada no ogori to shiranu mama
atokata naku kuzuresaru omoi agaite
nanimo kamo o sarai yuku hitomi no naka e

Embracing the pride piled up on the farthest distance
As I don’t realize how everything is just haughtiness
My crumbled desires, leaving no trace, fall down
Inside the eyes where anything and everything is being abducted

No way am I gonna give in, bitch!

紅染まる視界に映るは夢幻
二度とは戻れない自由なあの日のままで

kurenai somaru shikai ni utsuru wa yume-maboroshi
nido to wa modorenai jiyuu na ano hi no mama de

What is reflected inside my crimson vision field is a dreamy illusion
Of the stillness of those peaceful days I won’t be able to return once more

(I will never cry) この胸に
(Still I’m on the edge) 描かれた
(Set me free again) 理想は儚く散り
(I will never cry) この胸に
(Still I’m on the edge) 抱えてた
(Set me free again) 希望と共に消ゆ

(I will never cry) kono mune ni
(Still I’m on the edge) egakareta
(Set me free again) risou wa hakanaku chiri
(I will never cry) kono mune ni
(Still I’m on the edge) dakaeteta
(Set me free again) kibou to tomo ni kiyu

(I will never cry) The ideal that is draw
(Still I’m on the edge) In this chest of mine
(Set me free again) Dissolves faintly
(I will never cry) And it disappears
(Still I’m on the edge) In this chest of mine
(Set me free again) Along with the hope I held

Now we are reduced to the slaves
Authority never releases us
Break shit!!

遥か永く積み上げた誇りを抱いて
全ては只の驕りと知らぬまま
跡形無く崩れ去る想い足掻いて
何も残りはしない (No one can’t resist)

haruka nagaku tsumi ageta hokori o daite
subete wa tada no ogori to shiranu mama
atokata naku kuzuresaru omoi agaite
nanimo nokori wa shinai (No one can’t resist)

Embracing the pride piled up on the farthest distance
As I don’t realize how everything is just haughtiness
My crumbled desires, leaving no trace, fall down
And nothing else is left (No one can’t resist)

薄れ消えゆく視界に映る泡沫の影
二度とは戻らない昨日に手を伸ばしても

usure kie yuku shikai ni utsuru utakata no kage
nido to wa modoranai kinou ni te o nobashite mo

On my fading and disappearing vision field an ephemeral shadow is reflecting
And even if I outstretch my hand towards the tomorrow I won’t be able to return to…

この胸に描かれた理想は儚く散り
(I will never cry) もう一度
(Still I’m on the edge) その足で
(Set me free again) 立つことも叶わぬ
(I’m the slave to your reign) この支配の下

kono mune ni egakareta risou wa hakanaku chiri
(I will never cry) mou ichido
(Still I’m on the edge) sono ashi de
(Set me free again) tatsu koto mo kanawanu
(I’m the slave to your reign) kono shihai no moto

The ideal that is draw in this chest of mine dissolves faintly
(I will never cry) I’m not allowed
(Still I’m on the edge) To stand one more time
(Set me free again) On my own feet
(I’m the slave to your reign) Under this domination

Now we are reduced to the slaves
Authority never releases us
There’s no way out!!

～

Notes:

– 夢幻 which is usually read as “mugen” in this song is read with the two kun yomi from the same kanji. Thus, “mugen” becomes “yume-maboroshi”. I don’t know why, but it’s kinda cool.

～

• Title: Slave To The Reign
• Circle: CLOCKWORKS TRACER
• Album: Return To Forsetia
• Vocals: WeatherH, Yapan (screams)
• Lyrics: Yapan
• Arrangement: Yapan
• Release Event: Reitaisai 12
• Source: 妖々跋扈 ～ Who done it! (Charming Domination ~ Who done it!) – Perfect Cherry Blossom, Phantasm Stage Theme

[REQUEST] 幽閉サテライト – カナシバリズム

【Requested by Eiki】

First of, the song title is a pun between the words “cannibalism” and “kanashii” (sad). (2017 edit: more likely “kanashibari” = “Paralysis”, but let’s keep this first impression I had anyway…)
I’d like to keep it “kanashibalism” in the translation, but ended up writing “sadbalism” because… I don’t know?
Feel free to change it, if you’re going to upload the lyrics somewhere!
Second… damn. Those lyrics.
I have no words for them, they’re amazing! They were so fluid to translate, and yet the translation didn’t come out weird as they sometimes tend to do.
And its lyrics are so straightforward and sharp one can feel each and every stanza like a needle piercing the skin.

幽閉サテライト – カナシバリズム

君に心を読まれてる
台無しの予感で動けないよ
根拠は些細な積み重ね
妄想の類では無い 信じてよ

kimi ni kokoro o yomareteru
dainashi no yokan de ugokenai yo
konkyo wa sasaina tsumikasane
mousou no rui de wa nai shinjite yo

My heart has been read by you
And it couldn’t move, under a presentiment of ruin
Which basis is a pile of trivial things
And it’s not a type of paranoia, I swear

いくら友人に囲まれても
他人に褒め称えられてもさぁ
そうじゃない コレは要らない…
そんな酷い盲目なのさ

ikura yuujin ni kakomaretemo
tanin ni hometataerarete mo saa
sou ja nai kore wa iranai…
sonna hidoi moumokuna no sa

No matter how many friends I’m surrounded with
Or how many other people praise me,
That’s not what matters, I don’t need all of this,
I don’t need that kind of ruthless blindness…

視界は変わらず、狭し

shikai wa kawarazu, semashi

My vision, unchanging, is narrow

うんざり 偏った価値観
君に認められたかっただけで
こんなトコまで来てしまった
でも今日も言えない
カナシバリズム

unzari katayotta kachikan
kimi ni mitomeraretakatta dake de
konna toko made kiteshimatta
demo kyou mo ienai
kanashibarizumu

Prejudice values I’m bored of
Existed just to let me be recognized by you
And made me come all the way here
But today, I won’t say them
Sadnibalism

君に世界を奪われて
囚われの自由を過ごしてるよ
未来は優しく光り無き
生ぬるい孤独だからなぁ
分かってる…

kimi ni sekai o ubawarete
toraware no jiyuu o sugoshiteru yo
mirai wa yasashiku hikarinaki
nama nurui kodoku dakara naa
wakatteru…

My world has been stolen by you
As I’m spending my trapped freedom
The future, gently, holds no light
Because it’s just a lukewarm loneliness
I know that…

いくら健やかな生活でも
助けてくれるアテがいてもさぁ
そうじゃない、死んでるみたい
君だけが生きがいだからな

ikura sukoyakana seikatsu demo
tasukete kureru ate ga itemo saa
sou ja nai, shinderu mitai
kimi dake ga iki ga idakara na

No matter how my life will be healthy,
Or how many people ready to save me are there
It’s not just that, it’s as if I’m dying
Because only you are my reason to be alive

声も出せずに俯く

koe mo dasezu ni utsumuku

I bend down, without saying anything

私も心が読めるんだ
君にやられっぱなしは嫌だから
でもつまり結果は見えてる
傷付くの怖いし カナシバリズム

watashi mo kokoro ga yomerunda
kimi ni yarareppanashi wa iya dakara
demo tsumari kekka wa mieteru
kizutsuku no kowai shi kanashibarizumu

I can read my feelings too
Because I grew reclutant of being read by you
But in the end, I can see the outcome
I’m afraid of hurting myself, Sadnibalism

うんざり 偏った価値観
君に認められたかっただけで
こんな自分を作り上げ
結末を恐れる カナシバリズム

unzari katayotta kachikan
kimi ni mitomeraretakatta dake de
konna jibun o tsukuri age
ketsumatsu o osoreru kanashibarizumu

Prejudice values I’m bored of
Existed just to let me be recognized by you
You build up this person, myself
But I’m fearing the demise, Sadnibalism

～

Notes:

– 心 (kokoro) means “heart”, but also “mind”, “feeling”. So, to “read a heart” also means “to read one’s mind”. It’s a Satori arrange, after all.

～

• Title: カナシバリズム (kanashibarizumu)
• Circle: 幽閉サテライト (Yuuhei Satellite)
• Album: コノ葉隠レ
• Vocals: senya
• Lyrics: かませ虎 (kamase-tora)
• Arrangement: Autobahn
• Release Event: Reitaisai 12
• Source: 少女さとり　～ 3rd Eye (Satori Maiden ~ Third Eye) – Subterranean Animism, Satori’s Theme

[REQUEST] ロクプラス – 唄葬

【Requested by Vital】

Looks like the whole album from where this track comes from is a complete carillon/lullaby-like set of touhou themes, which don’t work half bad, I must say.
To be clear, that’s not the type of music I’d enjoy listening to.
But careful, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like it.
The voice in this one is really outstanding, but it’s so simple and lullabyish (?) that I wouldn’t sit and listen to this on my spare time.
Come to think about it, since when I started translating this type of doujin songs (4 years ago, I believe?) I was more oriented on touhou arranges than I’m now.
My music taste is still pretty much the same, but I kind of grew apart from doujin music by now.
And that translates into “I moved away listening almost solely to doujin music and started listening everything else too”.
…Anyway.
That’s why I apreciate translating your requests (now and then, hehe).
They’re all kind of nostalgic and remind me of the peak of the touhou music era I used to live in long time ago.
But I’m still running this wordpress, so I’ll never be so far away from it.
Just… a safety distance. To gaze at it more carefully.

ロクプラス – 唄葬

果てなく焔が燃ゆる獄
呷く風さえ灰と化す
この地で彷徨う幼子の魂を
抱き寄せる唄は

hatenaku honoo ga moyuru hitoya
fumuku kaze sae hai to kasu
kono chi de samayou ko no tamashii o
daki yoseru uta wa

The prison burning in everlasting flames
Blends together with the ashes in the wind;
This is the song that will embrace
The soul of the child wandering this land…

かつてひとりの
少女であった
赫い贖罪の旋律
すべてを知る黒猫は
目を眇めて
無情に鳴く

katsute hitori no
shoujo deatta
akai shokuzai no senritsu
subete o shiru neko wa
me o sugamete
mujou ni naku

A girl, once alone
Meet the melody
Of her crimson atonement
And the black cat who knew everything
Inspects her with its eyes
Crying ruthlessly

生まれた理由も罪の重さも
錆びた凶器は語らない
もう二度と仰ぐことは
できない　青い空も

umareta wake mo tsumi no omosa mo
sabita kyouki wa kataranai
mou ni do to aogu koto wa
dekinai aoi sora mo

The rusty weapon can’t talk
Not even of my sins, not even of my newborn reason
Not even of the blue sky
I can’t gaze at anymore

小さな片手で年を数え
石積みもままならぬ幼子よ
安寧揺り篭など此処には
ありはしないけど

chiisana katate de toshi o kazoe
ishitsumi mo mama naranu ko yo
an’nei yuri kago nado koko ni wa
ari wa shinai kedo

The child, that can’t get through the barrier of stone,
Counts the years with her little hand;
But something such peace or a cradle
Is something that, here, doesn’t even exist.

何にも見えぬ双眸を開けたまま
叫びもとうに枯れた幼子よ
穢れぬよう無垢な白に還り
お眠りなさい

nani mo mienu me o aketa mama
sakebi mo tou ni kareta ko yo
kegarenu you mukuna shiro ni kaeri
onemurinasai

As I open my eyes that can’t see anything,
The screams already belonged to a passed away child
So, she changes into a pure, uncorrupted white:
Sleep well

巡る命の唄

meguru inochi no uta

A song for a rotating life

廻る命の声

meguru inochi no koe

The voice of a rotating life

～

Notes:

– Almost every word in this song is read with specific readings that differ from the way they should sound. I kept their meaning halfway between their real and “fake” reading. Here’s the list:
– 焔 (first stanza) is read as “honoo” meaning “blaze”. Its true reading is “homura”, meaning “flame”.
– 獄 (first stanza) is the kanji which is used to indicate both “prison” and “hell”, in the word 地獄 (jigoku, hell). Here, is read as “hitoya”, like in 人屋, which means “prison”.
– 幼子 (first stanza) is read as “ko” instead of “osanago”. “ko” is a normal way to say “child”, while “osanago” means “infant”, implying a very young one. It is repeated more times in this song.
– 黒猫 (second stanza) is read as “neko”, meaning cat, instead of “kuroneko”, meaning “black cat”. I kept black cat in the translation.
– 理由 (third stanza) is read as “wake” instead of “riyuu”. They both mean the same thing, by the way.
– 双眸 (fifth stanza) is read as “me” instead of “soubou”. While “me” simply means “eye”, “eyes”, “soubou” means “pair of eyes”. The meaning is the same, after all.
– The last two stanzas repeats the verb “meguru”, but with two different kanjis (both of them are regularly read as “meguru”). This gives to the overal sense of this word a better shade, as if the two forms of “meguru” are spinning together, mixing and blending and becoming one.

～

• Title: 唄葬 (Funeral Song)
• Circle: Roch Plus (ロクプラス)
• Album: TOHO MUSIC BOX IV
• Vocals: 紫飴
• Lyrics: 城籠雅
• Arrangement: あかゐ
• Release Event: C82
• Source: 廃獄ララバイ (Lullaby of Deserted Hell) – Subterranean Animism, Stage 5 Theme

回路-KAIRO- – 君と私と穏やかな旅

回路-KAIRO- – 君と私と穏やかな旅

いつか見た夢の話 遠い遠い国の事
仕舞い忘れた 私たちの旅

itsuka mita yume no hanashi tooi tooi kuni no koto
shimai wasureta watashitachi no tabi

The tale of a dream I once had, something from a distant country
Something we end up forgetting, our journey

忘れ物 置いてきた
網棚の 上にあった
まだ時間が かかるみたい
寝てていいよ
ほら肩にもたれて

wasuremono oite kita
amidana no ue ni atta
mada jikan ga kakaru mitai
neteteii yo
hora kata ni motarete

We left what was lost behind us,
They were on the luggage rack;
It seems there’s still some time left
You can sleep if you want,
Here, lean on my shoulder

深い深い 眠りに落ちると聞こえるの
ほら懐かしい声 君の声

fukai fukai nemuri ni ochiru to kikoeru no
hora natsukashii koe kimi no koe

As I fall into a deep, deep sleep, I suddenly hear it
Here, that nostalgic voice, your voice…

「二人ならどこまででも 行けると信じている」
と笑う君を 嗚呼 愛しいと思う
流れてく景色 揺れる列車と
この想いが紡ぐんだ
君に今は身を任せよう

“futari nara dokomade demo ikeru to shinjiteiru”
to warau kimi o aa itoshii to omou
nagareteku keshiki yureru ressha to
kono omoi ga tsumugunda
kimi ni ima wa mi o makaseyou

“If we’re together, I believe we can go anywhere”
You said as you laughed, Aah, I think it’s lovely
The landscape passing by, the swaying train and
Those feelings are entwined
Now, I’m entrusting myself to you

「二人で歩けないなら そこに意味は無いんだ」
と泣いた君は 嗚呼 美しいと思う
境界を越えて届け
あの日の記憶の欠片
いつか思い出すよ この旅路を

“futari de arukenai nara soko ni imi wa nainda”
to naita kimi wa aa utsukushii to omou
kyoukai o koete todoke
ano hi no kioku no kakera
itsuka omoidasu yo kono tabi o

“If we can’t walk together, than there’s no meaning in being there”
You said as you cried, Aah, I think that’s beautiful
Go past the limits, reach me
You’ll eventually be able to remember
The fragments of those days, this journey…

～

Notes:

– 仕舞い (shimai), first stanza. It’s a strange word. It’s used for Noh plays, but it also is read the same as “shimai” meaning “ending”, or “shimai” used with a verb to indicate that the verb’s direction is opposite to the person who is linked to. aka “ending up doing something”.

～

• Title: 君と私と穏やかな旅 (kimi to watashi to odayakana tabi) (You, me and a gentle journey)
• Circle: 回路-kairo-
• Album: Alone, but never alone
• Vocals: 556t
• Lyrics: 毛
• Arrangement: 毛
• Release Event: C81
• Source: ヒロシゲ36号　～ Neo Super-Express (Hiroshige No. 36 ~ Neo Super-Express)

[REQUEST] 回路-KAIRO- – flower

【Requested by Eiki】

FIRST THING: It’s an arrange for SA stage 3 theme, but I couldn’t fucking find a decent Yuugi pic online. One which doesn’t involve tits ten times the size of her head or manly face / body or brutal an@l rape. I couldn’t. I’ll fix this post if I’ll find one. If you have one, link it to me!
(And I love Parsee, fyi)
[…]
I should probably start counting the times 運命 unmei is read as fucking “sadame”.
It’s been at least 10 posts by now. JUST WHY.

回路-KAIRO- – flower

花が咲き
そう　実を結ぶ

hana ga saki
sou mi o musubu

The flowers bloom
And they’ll bear fruit

熟れた実は
地に堕ち弾け
種は再び芽吹いてく

ureta mi wa
chi ni ochihajike
tane wa futatabi mebuiteku

Let the ripe fruit snap and
Fall down to the ground:
The seeds will sprout once again.

過去未来うつつ
めくるめく時は
いにしえより運命られし
命を紡いでく

kako mirai utsutsu
mekuru meku toki wa
inishie yori sadame rareshi
inochi o tsumuideku

Past, future, reality,
This dazzling time
Makes our lives go round
Entwined in destiny, from ancient times.

花は散り
そう　枯れ果てる

hana wa chiri
sou hare hateru

The flowers fall
And they’ll wither and die

その種も
やがて根を張り
燃える命を咲かすだろう

sono tane mo
yagate ne o hari
moeru inochi o sakasu darou

Even this seed
And even those roots
Will make a burning life bloom, right?

春夏秋冬の
めくるめく風が
影落とし　曇った空に
彩りを与える

shunkashuutou no
mekuru meku kaze ga
kage otoshi kumotta sora ni
irodori o ataeru

The dazzling wind
Of the four seasons
Gives color
To the cloudy sky darkened by shadows

いざゆかん　高く
両の瞳を開く
たとえこの身体が　いつか
土に還ろうとも

izayukan takaku
ryou no me o hiraku
tatoe kono karada ga itsuka
tsuchi ni kaerou to mo

Let’s move forward, higher;
Open both of your eyes;
Even if, one day, I will give back
This body of mine to the ground…

～

• Title: flower
• Circle: 回路-kairo-
• Album: Do not distract the eye in the here and now
• Vocals: 556t
• Lyrics: 556t
• Arrangement: 麿
• Release Event: Reitaisai 10
• Source: 旧地獄街道を行く (Walking the Streets of a Former Hell) – Subterranean Animism, Stage 3 Theme

ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY – 花の咲く場所 -ハナノサクバショ-

How long has it been since the last ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY post?
I told you I’m not leaving them behind.
Music genres are not a limit for this circle.
We already got to listen to their amazing gothic metal track Lost Chapter as well traditional/lyrical songs such as 待宵姫, 慟哭の杜 or とおりゃんせ or pop/rock tracks such as 世界が嫌いなキミへ, and today’s song, 花の咲く場所 -ハナノサクバショ-, is, once again, a completely different genre: Jazz/blues.
I love jazz & blues. Since I play the electric bass it’s one of the first genre I learned its theories and styles, and I grew so attached to it that it still remains, in my opinion, the most amusing genre to play.
Back on track, today’s song is also one of the best japanese jazzy song I ever heard, and that’s not only thanks to the amazing arrange provided by the composers, but mainly because of Nakae Mitsuki‘s vocals.
She tried gothic metal, her voice was perfect for the genre.
She tried traditional japanese folk music, she was perfect for it.
She tried pop / rock music, she was perfect for them.
And now, she’s singing for a jazz/blues song, and guess what? There couldn’t have been a better singer for this.
I love her voice, and that’s part of why I hate the fact that this circle is so unknown between doujin music fans.
They’re so good yet so underrated it makes me go mad.
The only thing I “don’t like” about this song is that voice at the beginning / ending of it.
It would have fit on other songs (mainly japanese styled ones), but not this one. Thank God it can be heard only twice in the whole song.
Also, the instruments are all amazing. The double bass can be heard so clearly it makes me happy. Yeah. Kinda.
Back on the lyrics one second: I couldn’t find a meaning to them, then I read them again. Hint on the last note, but there’s still a question for you.
The title “hana no saku basho”, means “the place where flowers bloom”.
Now, try to read the lyrics and think about them, and try to understand what place is this… [2017/04/23 edit: I have no idea what that means]

ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY – 花の咲く場所　-ハナノサクバショ-

優しいだけでは意味がない
可憐なだけでは芸がない
絵になるだけではつまらない
理想の花は未だ見つからず

yasashii dake de wa imi ga nai
karen’na dake de wa gei ga nai
e ni naru dake de wa tsumaranai
risou no hana wa mi da mitsukarazu

There’s no point in just being gentle,
There’s no art in just being lovely,
It’s so boring to only be pretty as a picture;
The ideal flower is unfinished, yet to be found

夕刻見かけた花魁道中
絢爛豪華な彼岸太夫
憂いを含んだ微笑に
高鳴る鼓動　胸を締め付ける

yuukoku mikaketa oiran douchuu
kenran goukana higan tayuu
urei o fukunda hohoemi ni
takanaru kodou mune o shimetsukeru

The procession of courtesans I glimpsed at the evening,
A luxurious and gorgeous nirvana of noble souls,
As I smiled to contain my grief
My fast beating heart pulsation presses hard on my chest

やっと見つけた運命の花
――すぐに逢いに行くから

yatto mitsuketa unmei no hana
— sugu ni ai ni iku kara

The flower of destiny I’ve finally found
— I’m going to meet it soon

一夜一会　こんな近くにいるのに
声を交わす事さえ許されないなんて
夜半の春よ　せめて睡夢の中では
指を重ね形影相　弔わんように

hitoyo hitowa konna chikaku ni iru no ni
koe o kawasu koto sae yurusarenai nante
yowa no haru yo semete suimu no naka de wa
yubi o kasane keieiai toburawan you ni

First night, first encounter; Even if they’re so close to me
I can’t forgive not even the voices blending together;
In the midnight’s spring, at least inside this long dream,
Let me a last keep the memory of the shadows my finger pointed at

二夜二会　こんな近くにいるのに
肌に触れる事さえ叶わないなんて
仲の夏よ　今は忍べというのか
胸を焦がす恋の病に薬なし

futayo futawa konna chikaku ni iru no ni
hada ni fureru koto sae kanawanai nante
naka no natsu yo ima wa shinobe to iu no ka
mune o kogasu koi no yamai ni kusuri nashi

Second night, second encounter; Even if it’s so close to me
I can’t even realize my wish to touch your skin;
Are you concealing yourself right now, in this summer of closeness?
There’s no medicine to help the sickness of a heart burning in love…

【勝ってうれしい　はないちもんめ
負けてくやしい　はないちもんめ】

[katte ureshii hana ichimon me
makete kuyashii hana ichimon me]

“If I win I’d be happy, throw away one futile flower;
If I lose, I’d be sad, throw away one futile flower”

やっと出会えた運命の花
――君に自由を上げる

yatto deaeta unmei no hana
— kimi ni jiyuu o ageru

The flower of destiny I’ve finally got to meet
— I’ll set you free

三夜三会　僕の名前をささめく
憂い声に天にも昇る心地で
暮れの秋に　女心は謎めき
手の舞い足の踏む所を知らず

san’yo sanwa boku no namae o sasameku
urei koe ni ten ni mo noboru kokochi de
kure no aki ni onnagokoro wa nazomeki
te no mai hashi no fumu tokoro o shirazu

Third night, third encounter; whisper my name
As the feeling of your sad voice rises towards the heavens;
In this fall of sunset, the woman’s heart is a mystery
And I don’t know the place where my hands can move, where my feet stay on ground

最後の夜　欠けた小指が疼き出す
金の切れ目が縁の切れ目なのか
冬野原で　君を永久に待ち望む
この世で叶わぬ恋なれば・・・

saigo no yoru kaketa koyubi ga uzuki dasu
kane no kire me ga en no kire me na no ka
fuyu nohara de kimi o touwa ni machi nozomu
kono yo de kanawanu koi nareba…

My cracked little finger is hurting during the last night;
Is the gap filled with gold the gap where we are bound together?
As I wish to wait you eternally in the midst of this winter field
This world could turn into one where love won’t come true…

「――あたしをここに売ったのだぁれ？」

“–atashi o koko ni utta no daare?”

“—Who did I sell in here..?”

～

Notes:

– At the beginning there’s a voice track that it’s not listed in the lyrics, but it’s repeated near the end, in the fourth stanza from the bottom.
– Can’t believe that 運命 (unmei) in the third stanza is read FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HISTORY with its proper reading instead of “sadame”! Let’s throw a party!
– There are lots of parts that I had to translate adding more words in order to keep their meaning. So, this translation (in some parts) is more like a free one than a literal one.
– 暮れの秋に　女心は謎めき (kure no aki ni onnagokoro wa nazomeki) it’s interesting. That’s because it comes from a japanese expression “女心と秋の空”, meaning “a woman’s heart and autumn weather”, which implies how both of those two things are fickle. That’s why it talks out of the blue of a woman heart right after she said “kure no aki”.
– Last stanza (and several other stanzas) talks about money / buying / selling. For what I understood, this song seems to be talking about money and the relationship between money and people’s bounds. And it’s pretty sad but also so true it hurts.

～

• Title: 花の咲く場所　-ハナノサクバショ- (The place where flowers bloom)
• Circle: ABSOLUTE CASTAWAY
• Album: 謎掛閑店 (Nazokake Kanten)
• Vocals: Nakae Mitsuki
• Lyrics: 黒川うみ (Kurokawa Umi)
• Arrangement: Yuuichirou Tsukagoshi
• Release Event: M3-25
• Source: Original