[REQUEST] 凋叶棕 – ―巳の三つ―「疵とマントと〇〇心」

picture by hekoningyou (waraningyou)

【Requested by B016】

凋叶棕 – ―巳の三つ―「疵とマントと〇〇心」

あんたはなんにもしらない
なんにもなんにもしらない

anta wa nannimo shiranai
nannimo nannimo shiranai

You don’t know anything
You know nothing, nothing I say

世界をどれほど知っているのか考えてみても

sekai o dore hodo shitteiru no ka kangaete mite mo

Even if you try to think about how much you know about this world

けして及びもつかない
てんでおはなしにもならない

keshite oyobi mo tsukanai
ten de ohanashi ni mo naranai

It’s something you’ll never grasp
There’s not a chance in heavens you will

人に混じって生きるモノの数多ささえも

hito ni majitte ikiru mono no kazuoosa sae mo

And neither those multitudes living among humans will

それでも誰かと
ともに生きることなどない
孤高にして孤独
それが誇らしき在り方

soredemo dareka to
tomo ni ikiru koto nado nai
kokou ni shite kodoku
sore ga hokorashiki arikata

Yet still you haven’t lived
Together with someone else at all
By your proudly indipendent loneliness
That’s such a haughty way to be

だのに
どいつもこいつも全部目障りなのよ　すごく！
そんな眼をしながらこっちを見ないでよ

da no ni
doitsu mo koitsu mo zenbu mezawari na no yo sugoku!
sonna me o shinagara kocchi o minaide yo

Yet still
Everybody is just an eyesore, for real!
Don’t just stare this way with that kind of look

痺れるような視線を浴びるたび
ああ！この疵の痛み『体中』を

shibireru you na shisen o abiru tabi
aa! kono kizu no itami kubi kara shita o

Each time I’m soaked in this seemingly trembling gaze
Ahh! I can feel the pain of this wound all the way down my neck

ぐるぐるぐるぐるまわっていく。

guruguruguruguru mawatteiku.

Spinning round and round and round in circles.

どいつもこいつもだらしない
とにかくみんなふがいない

doitsu mo koitsu mo dara shinai
tonikaku minna fugainai

Everyone’s too careless
In any case, everyone’s worthless

お祭りごとに現を抜かす愚昧愚民どもは

omatsuri goto ni utsutsu o nukasu gumai gumin domo wa

All these absurdly ignorant people straying away from reality on each occasion

大きなものがみえてない
大事なことをわかってない

ookina mono ga mietenai
daiji na koto o wakatte nai

Aren’t looking at the big things
And can’t understand what’s important

あんたたちの隣人をこそ恐れるべきだと

antatachi no rinjin o koso osoreru beki da to

You all should be afraid of those next to you as they told you

外套に隠してる
この恐怖の全て
知って恐れをなせと
睨みを利かせているのに

manto ni kakushiteru
kono kyoufu no subete
shitte osore o nase to
nirami o kikaseteiru no ni

All this fear
I’m hiding beneath my mantle –
I know, I’m afraid it’s there
Even though I’m displaying my glare

だのに
どいつもこいつも全部鈍感なのよ　すごく！
そんな眼の色で遠巻きに見ているだけ

da no ni
doitsu mo koitsu mo zenbu donkan na no yo sugoku!
sonna me no iro de toomaki ni miteiru dake

Yet still
Everybody is just so dull, for real!
They’re just staring at me from a distance with their colored eyes

それでもなぜかその眼を意識するたび
ああ！何かを期待させるような予感

soredemo naze ka sono me o ishikisuru tabi
aa! nanika o kitai saseru you na yokan

And yet, for some reason, each time I become aware of those eyes
Aah! I feel like a premonition of expectation for something…

うずうずうずうずうずいていく。

uzuuzuuzuuzuuzuiteiku.

Growing impatient more and more and more and more.

柳の下で　独り佇むの
増長するものども　群衆の中で

yanagi no shita de hitori tatazumu no
zouchou suru mono domo gunshuu no naka de

I’m standing still, alone under the willows
In the midst of crowds of arrogants

外套の下に　隠されたものが
なんなのか誰も　知ろうとしないまま

manto no shita ni kakusareta mono ga
nanna no ka daremo shirou to shinai mama

And still, no one is trying to figure out
Nothing that’s hidden beneath my mantle

きっとどこかしらで
求めているのか
大胆さと踏み込む契機
ひっかかりながらもこの場所でずっと

kitto doko kashira de
motometeiru no ka
daitansa to fumi komu keiki
hikkakari nagara mo kono basho de zutto

I’m sure that somewhere
I’m seeking for it
For a chance to step into it, audaciously,
In this place, all the way, while making connections

だ・の・に！
どいつもこいつも全部意気地なしなのよ　すごく！
この私にもうここまでさせておいて

da・no・ni!
doitsu mo koitsu mo zenbu ikuji nashi na no yo sugoku!
kono watashi ni mou koko made sasete oite

And ・ Yet ・ Still!
Everybody is just so spineless, for real!
They just made me the way I’ve become to this point

外套の下の疵の疼きが止められないまま
恐怖と自尊心の狭間で
ぐらぐらぐらぐらぐらぐらぐらぐら揺れている

manto no shita no kizu no uzuki ga tomerarenai mama
kyoufu to puraido no hazama de
guraguraguraguraguraguraguragura yureteiru

As the ache from the wound under my mantle won’t stop,
In the threshold between fear and pride
Everything sways, shaking and shaking, so unsteady

～

Notes:

– Seventh stanza: 体中 (karadajuu, “the whole body”) is read as “kubi kara shita” (首から下), meaning “down from my neck”. The meaning is the same, I guess.
– 外套 “gantou” (“mantle”) is read as “manto” (マント “mantle”) each time it appears on this song.
– Last stanza: not sure about 自尊心 (“jisonshin”) reading, but I think it says “puraido” (プライド, “pride” in english), which is also close to the japanese word.

～

• Title: 疵とマントと〇〇心 (Wound, Cloak and 〇〇-hearted)
• Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
• Album: 随 (manima) (Compliance)
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: Reitaisai 14
• Source: 柳の下のデュラハン (Dullahan Under the Willows) Double Dealing Character, Sekibanki’s Theme

[REQUEST] 凋叶棕 – 童遊

picture by ini (inunabe00)

【Requested by Walpurgisnacht】

凋叶棕 – 童遊

華咲。
望み望まれてここに。
めでたきものはこれにあり。

hanasaku.
nozomi nozomarete koko ni.
medetaki mono wa kore ni ari.

Flowers blossom.
All the wishes are gathered in here.
Here where everyone is joyous.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷に、遊ぶがいい。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi no kuni ni, asobu ga ii.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Come have fun in the Land of Illusions.

空を征くものがいる。
怪異を祓うものがいる。

sora o yuku mono ga iru.
kaii o harau mono ga iru.

There’s someone soaring the sky.
There’s someone exorcising aberrations.

それらを望む子らがいる。

sorera o nozomu kora ga iru.

And there’s someone wishing to be them.

御伽噺を耳にして。
思い巡らす其れ以上に。

otogi banashi o mimi ni shite.
omoi megurasu sore ijou ni.

Listen to this fairy tale.
And let your wishes flow, more and more.

生きる幻想が其処に居る。

ikiru gensou ga soko ni iru.

The living illusion is right there.

いつの世も
めでたきものは
往来の

itsu no yo mo
medetaki mono wa
ourai no

In every world
Joyful people
Are coming and going

童遊の
なかにこそあれ

warabe asobi no
naka ni koso are

And such things
Are part of a Kid’s play too

華咲。
まこと優雅、舞うたれば。
華の都は、これにあり。

hanasaku.
makoto yuuga, mau tareba.
hana no miyako wa, kore ni ari.

Flowers bloom.
True elegance, floating, dancing.
The capital city of flowers is right here.

夢と現と交えては。
今日も変わりなく町角に。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
kyou mo kawari naku machikado ni.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Nothing changes between today’s street corners.

華散。
口伝伝承を祀れば。
めでたきものはこれにあり。

hanachiru.
mukashi banashi o matsureba.
Medetaki mono wa kore ni ari.

Flowers fall.
Worship such folktale.
For those joyful beings reside in it.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷に遊ぶがいい。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi no kuni ni, asobu ga ii.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Come have fun in the Land of Illusions.

空で踊るものがいる。
怪異を使役うものがいる。

sora de odoru mono ga iru.
kaii o tsukau mono ga iru.

There’s someone dancing in the skies.
There’s someone dealing with aberrations.

それらを真似る子らがいる。

sorera o maneru kora ga iru.

And there are kids mimicking them.

拙いものと思えども。
その手に握る其れこそが。

tsutanai mono to omoe domo.
sono te ni nigiru sore koso ga.

Even if you’d recollect your unlucky past.
That too, hold it in your hands.

いつか幻想を生んでいく。

itsuka gensou o unde iku.

For one day it may give birth to an illusion.

さあ詠え
舞い踊りては
華やかに

saa utae
mai odorite wa
hanayaka ni

Come on, let’s sing
And dance to it
So gorgeously

己が描く
命名決闘を

onore ga egaku
warabe asobi o

To this kid’s play
I’ve drawn for ourselves

彩風。
まこと優雅、舞うたれば。
風の神も、めでたからむ。

sayakaze.
makoto yuuga, mau tareba.
kaze no kami mo, medetakaramu.

Fresh wind.
True elegance, floating, dancing.
It will surely please the God of Wind himself too.

夢と現と交えては。
明日の来る事を疑わず。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
asu no kuru koto o utagawazu.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Don’t question tomorrow’s arrival.

微風。
名をそこに、込め入れば。
道往く者も、めでたからむ。

soyokaze.
yume o soko ni, komeireba.
michi yuku mono mo, medeta karamu.

Gentle breeze.
Place your dreams inside it.
So even those walking the streets will rejoice.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷に遊ぶがいい。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi no kuni ni asobu ga ii.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Come have fun in the Land of Illusions.

伝説の夢の国に生きて、生きて、生きて。
明日行く町角は片隅、そこかしこに。
耳を澄ませば、その息遣いを聞く。

densetsu no yume no kuni ni ikite, ikite, ikite.
asu yuku machikado wa katasumi, soko kashiko ni.
mimi o sumaseba, sono ikidzukai o kiku.

Live in the Land of legendary dreams, live, live.
The street corners leading to tomorrow are everywhere.
And if you clear your ears, you can hear them breathing.

空も、地の底も、星の水際も全てに。
うつろいゆく季節の、その狭間でさえも。
望み望まれてそこにあり。

sora mo, chi no soko mo, hoshi no migiwa mo subete ni.
utsuroi yuku kisetsu no, sono hazama de sae mo.
nozomi nozomarete soko ni ari.

Even in the sky, even in the depths of earth, even among the stars’ coastlines, everywhere.
And even in between the threshold of the changing seasons.
All the wishes are gathered in there.

華咲。
まこと優雅、舞うたれば。
華の都はこれにあり。

hanasaku.
makoto yuuga, mau tareba.
hana no miyako wa kore ni ari.

Flowers bloom.
True elegance, floating, dancing.
The capital city of flowers is right here.

夢と現と交えては。
人も妖も諸共に。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
hito mo ayakashi mo morotomo ni.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Humans and Youkai are all together.

華散。
そして日も、暮れぬれば。
躍り疲れて家路なり。

hanachiru.
soshite hi mo, kure nureba.
odorii tsukarete ieji nari.

Flowers fall.
And then the Sun sets too.
Tired of dancing, it becomes our way home.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷に遊ぶがいい。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi no kuni ni asobu ga ii.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Come have fun in the Land of Illusions.

華咲。
そしてまたも、町角に。
童遊の変わらずに。

hanasaku.
soshite mata mo, machikado ni.
warabe asobi no kawarazu ni.

Flowers bloom.
And then, again, between the street corners.
The kid’s play stays unchanged.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷はこれにあり。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi wa kore ni ari.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
There will be an illusion inside it.

華咲。
望み望まれてここに。
めでたきものはこれにあり。

hanasaku.
nozomi nozomarete koko ni.
medetaki mono wa kore ni ari.

Flowers bloom.
All the wishes are gathered in here.
Here where everything is joyous.

夢と現と交えては。
幻想郷に、遊ぶがいい。

yume to utsutsu to majiete wa.
maboroshi no kuni ni, asobu ga ii.

Each time dreams and reality collide.
Come have fun in the Land of Illusions.

～

Notes:

– Second stanza: 幻想郷 “Gensokyo” is read as “maboroshi no kuni” (the land of fantasy), which isn’t far from the meaning of the kanjis forming the word “gensoukyou” (幻 “maboroshi” is the “gen”). In the third to last stanza, Gensokyo is read as “maboroshi”.
– Eleventh stanza: 口伝伝承 (“kuden denshou”, literally “oral tradition”) is read as “mukashi banashi” (昔話, “folktale”). Japanese folktales were part of the oral tradition, and started being wrote down only in relatively recent times. Thus the lyrics’ choice.
– Thirteenth stanza: 使役う(read as “tsukau”) is wrote with the kanjis for “shieki” (“to use”) plus the okurigana “u”. The meaning doesn’t change. It chould have been 使う (“tsukau”), but it used this alternate kanji compound for unknown reasons.
– Fourtheenth stanza: 詠う (“utau”) is a verb similar to 歌う(“utau”). While the second one means “to sing”, the first one means“to compose a poem”. I prefered translating it as “sing”, though.
– Fifteenth stanza: 命名決闘 is read like the song’s title, “warabe-asobi”. It’s formed off 命名 (“meimei”, “naming”) and 決闘 (“kettou”, “duel”). I think it’s refering to this other 凋叶棕 song, which has the same kanjis as a part of its title.
– Eighteenth stanza: I’m not sure about the reading of 名 (normally should be “na” or “mei”, and should mean “name”). Being the song full of unrecognized special kanji readings, I can’t simply state I’m sure about everything I’m listening to. I keep on hearing “yume” (“dream”), and I think it’s what Merami is actually singing. So, “yume” is probably the special reading they gave to the 名 kanji.
– Seventh to last stanza: 妖 (ayakashi) is a term similar to “youkai”, which refers to apparitions / ghost / mythical beasts from the folklore. Being very ambiguous, I’ve decided to translate it as “youkai”, which is still a japanese term, but its meaning should be more “understandable”, expecially giving the fact we’re talking about a Touhou arrange.

～

• Title: 童遊 (warabe-asobi) (Kids’ Play)
• Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
• Album: 望 (Nozomi)
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: Reitaisai 11
• Source: 童祭　～ Innocent Treasures (Kid’s Festival　～ Innocent Treasures ), Changeability of Strange Dream, Track #1

凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong) – 空に近い場所

picture by kawashina (momen silicon)

C90 just passed by and here I am posting a song that will probably cause the third world war.
Diao Ye Zong is a great circle, and there are lots of person which love it more than I do, but by the time I’ve listened to this song… no, by the time I’ve read to this songs’ lyrics I wanted to translate them.
I’ve already translated some songs by this circle, and between them there are hidden gems that I’m glad I could add to my collection.
This one too is a song that I want to add to my website. I won’t translate other songs from utsutsu if not requested.
I hope other translators / users won’t thus be offended by this post, giving that I feel kind of “pressured” by what I post and I don’t post.
After all we can’t claim nothing over music.
This song doesn’t belong to me nor to anyone else.
It happened lots of times that I’ve translated songs that were already translated by someone else, but it also happened that songs that I’ve translated before anybody else could were translated anew again by someone else.
Why should I feel criticized for the first reason?
And why should I get angry for the second?
It’s pretty damn meaningless to me. I’m not saying this all to someone in particular, I’m just saying this because I’m posting “hot stuff” which probably caught the attention of lots of people / translators. Don’t worry if you find out about this, you can translate it anew (it’s not like my translations are gold, I don’t think this translation is flawless and I’ll gladly read other translation).
…And yeah, I won’t even lie about the fact that I’m trying to posting it ASAP, but that’s no contraddiction to what I’ve stated before.
So… friends like always, right?
[2017 edit: I remember having trouble with bullshit like that on some previous posts, just that. I’ll keep all of this because it’s still actual.]

凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong) – 空に近い場所

「ねぇごめんね。こんなことになって」と
その両目を潤ませ
あなたの手がそっとその震えを伝えて

“nee gomen ne. konna koto ni natte” to
sono ryoume o urumase
anata no te ga sotto sono furue o tsutaete

“Hey… I’m sorry it turned out this way” –
You said, as your eyes got wet;
Your hand transmitted your delicate trembling to me

触れ合う手で何かが伝わるの
何もかも押し付けて
それでもなおきっと伝えきれないことを

fureau te de nani ka ga tsutawaru no
nani mo kamo oshitsukete
soredemo nao kitto tsutaekirenai koto o

Can something be conveyed by our hands joined together?
We’ve press onto each other everything and anything
However I’m sure there are still things we couldn’t completely express

もう
いいともいやとさえも言えずにただ押し黙っては
感じる熱量だけ
もっともっともっともっと……高く。

mou
ii to mo iya to sae mo iezu ni tada oshidamatte wa
kanjiru netsuryou dake
motto motto motto motto… takaku.

But now
Even if you don’t say if it’s okay or not, even if you keep silent
I can just feel your warmth
Increasing more and more, higher and higher…

飛べない
私達には空を知る手立て無く

tobenai
watashitachi ni wa sora o shiru tedate naku

We can’t fly
There’s no way we could know the sky by any means

それでも
あなたはこうして私を求め続け

soredemo
anata wa koushite watashi o motome tsudzuke

And yet
You still kept on seeking for me this way

こうしていれば
まるで空を飛べるかというようにーーー。

koushite ireba
maru de sora o toberu ka to iu you ni…—.

If things will stay as they are
It’ll feel just as if we can actually soar the sky…

擦れあうのは互いの何処なのだろう
その口から零れる
小さな泡沫が意識の飛沫となって

sureau no wa tagai no doko na no darou
sono kuchi kara koboreru
chiisana utakata ga ishiki no himatsu to natte

Where should “quarreling” place between us, I wonder?
That little transience leaking from your lips
Became a splash of your consciousness

返す視線があなたをどうさせるだろう
全て無駄だと知っても
せめてほんのわずか甘く棘を挿すように

kaesu shisen ga anata o dou saseru darou
subete muda da to shittemo
semete honno wazuka amaku toge o sasu you ni

I wonder how can the looks I’m giving you back pierce through you?
Even though I know every bit of it is pointless
At least let me just pierce you with my sweet thorns

結局は
意味など無く永遠に至ることもない
内なる幻想だけ
もっともっともっともっと……深く。

kekkyoku wa
imi nado naku eien ni itaru koto mo nai
uchi naru gensou dake
motto motto motto motto… fukaku.

But in the end
There’s no such thing as making one’s way towards something for the whole eternity with no meaning whatsoever;
There’s just one’s own inner illusion
Which lies deeper and deeper, more and more….

飛べない
夜の何処かを独り独り彷徨うばかり

tobenai
yoru no dokoka o futari samayou bakari

We can’t fly
We’re merely wandering together, somewhere in this night

それでも
わたしはどうしてこの身掻き抱かれて

soredemo
watashi wa doushite kono mi kaki dakarete

But still
I don’t know why my body is being scraped in an embrace

夢と現の
境目にいながらにして戸惑うーーー。

yume to utsutsu no
sakaime ni inagara ni shite tomadou—.

As I lurk in the boundary
Between dreams and reality, I stay bewildered—

内なる願望
求めるものもわからずに
でも願うなら次に会うときにはいつも通りに

uchinaru ganbou
motomeru mono mo wakarazu ni
demo negau nara tsugi ni au toki ni wa itsumo doori ni

My inner wishes…
I don’t even know what I want to strive for
But if I can make a wish, I want the next time we meet to be like always…

飛べない
「貴女」とではどこにも辿りつけない

tobenai
“anata” to de wa doko ni mo tadori tsukenai

We can’t fly
Because if I’m with you, I can’t reach any place

優しく
そっと視線だけあなたを拒むように

yasashiku
sotto shisen dake anata o kobamu you ni

Gently
You were just refusing to cross my glance

それでも
心のどこかあなたを受け容れるのは

soredemo
kokoro no doko ka anata o ukeireru no wa

And yet
The reason for why I want to accept you from somewhere deep down my heart

飛びたい
そう思うこときっと似ているのだろう

tobitai
sou omou koto kitto niteiru no darou

Is because I want to fly
It’s surely something that’s similar to what I’m wishing

こうしていれば
きっと少しだけ空の近くへーー。

kou shite ireba
kitto sukoshi dake sora no chikaku e—.

If we’ll stay like this…
I’m sure we could get a bit closer to the sky…

～

Notes:

– Not quite sure about this, but where it says “独り独り” (hitori hitori, alone alone) I clearly hear a single “futari” (together, 2 people). There’s nothing confirming so in the booklet, so… I’ll leave it “futari” because I can hear it clearly enough.
– “utakata” can both mean “bubbles” or “transitory”. “Bubbles coming out your mouth” isn’t really… poetic. “ephemeral” / “transient” makes it better and more poetic, doesn’t it? I hope it’s right this way, really. The meaning of that stanza I’ve translated? (at least my version?) “The things you’ve said in certain moments (thus ephemeral) are what made me know about the deepest part of your will”, in other words, “I got to know you through what you’ve said”.

～

• Title: 空に近い場所 (sora ni chikai basho) (Somewhere close to the Sky)
• Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
• Album: 夢 (utsutsu)
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: C90
• Source: ジャパニーズサーガ (Japanese Saga), 東方求聞史紀　～ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense, track #1

[REQUEST] 凋叶棕 (Diao ye Zong) – 心強きもの

picture by pisoshi

【Requested by B-016】

The fact I like about Diao Ye Zong‘s songs is that you can always recognize them just by listening to them. It’s one of the few circles that cares the most about the instrument section, being always flawless. 流石ＲＤさん！
About this song, there are lots of parts which are in classical / not-so-modern japanese, I’ve studied it a bit so I hope I didn’t screw them up that much.
But man, this song was long. It may be the longest post on foreground noises by far. [2017 edit: probably not even in the top 10]
I found the lyrics for this song good but… kinda silly? I mean, it’s great it’s all about Unzan and Ichirin, but it’s like… not the type of lyrics I like the most. But I find it really clever, to have a song which tells the characters’ background story. Yeah, this song is basically “how Ichirin met Unzan and how they become a pair”. There you go!

凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong) – 心強きもの

その身の丈山のごとく
雲さえ貫くほどの大男として聞こえた

sono mi no take yama no gotoku
kumo sae tsuranuku hodo no oootoko to shite kikoeta

His body height is the same as a mountain
It’s said he’s the giant man who can even pierce through clouds!

それは心の弱きものには
けして見つめることさえも適わない化妖

sore wa kokoro no yowaki mono ni wa
keshite mitsumeru koto sae mo kanawanai ayakashi

He’s the shapeshifting being that can’t be rivaled
And can’t be seen by those with a weak spirit!

恐るべき時代親父！

osorubeki jidai oyaji!

He’s the terrifying traditional old man!

その噂の確かならばと
幾度も現れては一人また一人と違え

sono uwasa no tashika naraba to
ikutabi mo arawarete wa hitori mata hitori to tagae

And if that rumor turns out to be true,
He’ll appear more and more often, changing his shape one by one

そんな姿にさえ怯えるもの
幾ら居たとて強きものとは呼べることなく

sonna sugata ni sae obieru mono
ikura ita to te tsuyoki mono to wa yoberu koto naku

And those who were terrified by his figure
No matter if they met him, they’ll never be called brave-hearted

居るならば強き者―心に雲ひとつ翳らぬもの 　　
―それか剛胆豪放剛にして怯えぬもの

iru naraba tsuyoki mono – kokoro ni kumo hitotsu kageranu mono
-sore ka goutan gouhou gou ni shite obienu mono

If there’s someone strong – someone who hasn’t a single cloud drifing in his heart…
– Or which can make courage and honesty his strenght and show no fear…

されど―未だ影も見ず

saredo – imada kage mo mizu

Even so – he’ll may still not see that shade

幾度も軟弱者を屠っても
時代親父は満たされず

ikutabi mo nanjakumono o hofutte mo
jidai oyaji wa mitasarezu

No matter how many weak-willed people he’ll defeat,
The traditional old man won’t be satisfied!

いつしか思い描く姿
強者やはいつ来る

itsu shika omoi egaku sugata
tsuwamono ya wa itsu kuru

A figure that, before one knows,
Imagines strong men to come face it one day

意味なき殺生を重ねては
失意に暮れる日々

imi naki sesshou o kasanete wa
shitsui ni kureru hibi

Living his days in disappointment
Piling up countless pointless killings…

我真に強き者を
求めては風任せ

ware ma ni tsuyoki mono o
motomete wa kaze makase

I’ll entrust this true longing
For someone strong to the wind

その行方は明日往く雲の先

sono yukue wa asu yuku kumo no saki

Those wereabouts are just before the clouds heading towards tomorrow

そしてまた暮れ往く空の下
空ろに影を揺らして佇む入道のあれば

soshite mata kureyuku sora no shita
utsuro ni kage o yurashite tatazumu ayakashi no areba

And then again under the setting sky, if that being
Will be standing there, making a shadow sway into the void…

ここに足を鳴らしてその影を
我が道より除けとばかりに踏むものが来る

koko ni ashi o narashite sono kage o
wa ga michi yori doke to bakari ni fumu mono ga kuru

And if that shadow’s steps will resound here,
I’ll move away from this road so someone who dare to step it will come

見るにハイカラな少女！

miru ni haikarana shoujo!

What I see is a stylish girl!

その噂に名高ければ
その姿を一目見ては逃げ帰らぬもののなく

sono uwasa ni nadakakereba
sono sugata o hitome mite wa nigekaeranu mono no naku

No one who took that rumor for real
Could go back home after looking just once at that figure

しかるにその幼さの残る顔に
不敵な笑みさえ湛え歩み留めることなし

shikaru ni sono osanasa no nokoru kao ni
futeki na emi sae tatae ayumi tomeru koto nashi

Scolding over that face which still show glimpses of immaturity
While she shows an intrepid smile she kept walking without stopping

その瞳凛として―何にも屈さぬ不撓不屈さ
　　―己が強さを疑わず生きるその目の彩

sono hitomi rin to shite – nannimo kussanu futoufukutsu sa
– ono ga tsuyosa o utagawazu ikiru sono me no iro

With cold eyes – with an absolutely unbending indomitableness
– I won’t doubt that strenght living in your eyes’ color!

まるで―恐れを知らぬ者

maru de – osore o shiranu mono

She’s really – someone who doesn’t know fear

それはけして偽りでなく
斯様な強きもののあること
それを遠く探していたと
その姿凛として

sore wa keshite itsuwari de naku
kayou na tsuyoki mono no aru koto
sore o tooku sagashiteita to
sono sugata rin to shite

There’s no way it is a lie
The fact that such a strong being exist;
He searched for that cold figure
For a long time and far away

“見越したり！”

“mikoshitari!”

“I can see your moves!”

“その正体見破ったらば何も恐れることはなし！”

“sono shoutai miyabuttaraba nani mo osoreru koto wa nashi!”

“I don’t fear anything since I can see through your thoughts!”

“されば消えよ見越し入道、その悪事これまでよ！”

“sareba kieyo mikoshi nyuudou, sono akuji kore made yo!”

“Go away! Vanish! Oh Nyuudou who sees through anything, your evil deeds will face an end right now!”

笑顔さえ見せながらも
毅然と告げるその声に

egao sae misenagara mo
kizen to tsugeru sono koe ni

Her voice was ringing with resolution
As she was showing off her smile

時代親父も笑顔さえ
浮かべていたことか

jidai oyaji mo egao sae
ukabeteita koto ka

And has a smile appeared bright
On the traditional old man’s face too?

強きもの
心の強きもの
恐れを知らぬもの

tsuyoki mono
kokoro no tsuyoki mono
osore o shiranu mono

A strong one,
One with a strong heart,
One who doesn’t know fear

そしてそれに付き従うが時代親父の本懐

soshite sore ni tsukishitagau ga jidai oyaji no negai

And the choice to follow her was the Traditional Old Man’s wish

守り守られ手を取り合う影二つ
雲居に咲く一輪の花

mamori mamorare te o tori au kage futatsu
kumoi ni saku ichirin no hana

Two shadows holding their hands, protecting each other
Like a single-petaled flower blooming in the sky

～

Notes:

– In the translation: he = Unzan, she = Ichirin
– 化妖 on the second stanza is read as “ayakashi”, which is a term pretty similar to “youkai”. In this song is wrote with the kanji for “transforming” (化) and “being” (妖), so it’s more likely refering to Unzan.
– “weak spirit” in the second stanza could be “weak heart” too. What I wanted it to mean is basically “those without a strong will”.
– 入道 on… which stanza was it? There are way too much. Anyway, 入道 should be read as “nyuudou” (priest), but here it’s read as “ayakashi” again. It’s again a reference to Unzan.
– In this song, Unzan is also refered to the “Traditional Old Man” and Ichirin to the “Stylish Girl”. I’ve left this two terms with this translation, being the “”””official”””” english one.
– I’ve left “nyuudou” instead of “priest” in the translation, because is also the youkai-race of Unzan. Is Ichirin which is saying that, lastly, to him.
– On the second to last stanza, 本懐 (honkai) is read as “negai” (wish).
– On the last stanza there’s an interesting part. “雲居に咲く一輪の花” (a single-petaled flower blossomed in the sky) features “kumoi” (雲居, which could be both another type of writing 雲井, which means “sky” or another way to express 雲間, “kumoma”, in other words the space between the clouds) and “ichirin” (一輪, which is another way to read the kanji for “wa” 輪 that, when speaking about flowers, means “petal”). Those two terms form the kanjis for Ichirin Kumoi’s name. That’s really clever!

～

• Title: 心強きもの (kokoro tsuyoki mono) (those with a strong heart)
• Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
• Album: 屠 -Hohuri-
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: C86
• Source: 時代親父とハイカラ少女 (The Traditional Old Man And The Stylish Girl) Unidentified Fantastic Object, Ichirin Kumoi & Unzan’s Theme

凋叶棕／Diao ye zong – 夜聞

picture by yae (mono110)

“And so, the night’s border is something that fully blooms in loneliness.”
…Ok, it’s a bit weird that this post comes right after another one where I stated that Merami is probably not that much of a singular element.
It’s not true. I love her and you should know it.
And I love her even more when she’s able to sing THIS way.
First of all, thanks to Eiki for sending me this lyrics’ scans booklet, I was really searching for them.
My God, 夜聞 by 凋叶棕／Diao ye zong (which is from the same album as the last post) is one of the best Merami songs I’ve listened in a while.
I don’t even know how I got to listen to this, being that I’ve totally ignored the latest toranoana‘s releases.
I just happened to listen to this song, and I fell in love with it.
This song comes with an incipit on the booklet, where it can be read “Fairy Tale”. Then, it follows this short text (that I’ve translated):
“I cannot be touched by you. Why you ask? Because the you who touches me is not the you that I love. Somewhere, in this night, the atmosphere you’re perceiving, the darkness you’re looking at… I want to overcome this all and feel you. Because during each night I can hear you“.
Isn’t it fascinating?
Think about the beauty of something pure. Will its beauty still be that pure after someone dares to ruin it with their own hands?
I think that’s the main point of the whole song.
Its rhythm is really simple and minimal, that until the main bridge where everything gets more intense.
Merami’s vocals are absolutely outstanding during the whole song, but on that bridge they’re beyond words.
Beautiful, silent, astonishing, yet so eerie and oppressing. I love it.
Well, I’m particularly fond of the Theme of Eastern Story (which appears in each title screen theme of Touhou), so of course I would like a song like that.
It’s composed of really short stanzas (which really fits the mood), so the song seems really long, but it actually isn’t. I wanted to keep a similar structure so I could try to convey that silent feeling the song has, so I hope the translation won’t feel weird because of this choice of mine.

凋叶棕／Diao ye zong – 夜聞

そっと耳澄ます
静寂に身を重ねて

sotto mimi sumasu
seijaku ni mi o kasanete

I silently concentrate
Blending my body into quietness

けして聞こえぬもの
今なら聞こえてこよう

keshite kikoenu mono
ima nara kikoete koyou

I can now clearly listen
To what I couldn’t possibly do before

遥か　遠く

haruka tooku

Distant, far away…

そっと空掴む
滑り落ちてゆく闇

sotto sora tsukamu
suberi ochite yuku yami

I gently seize the sky
In a darkness which slips away

いつか遠くに見た
麗しきその姿

itsuka tooku ni mita
uruwashiki sono sugata

I saw it one day, from a distance
That graceful appearance

思い　描く

omoi egaku

Drawing my memories…

ーー今宵
永き夜をして
得体の知れない　モノどもと
あなたはーー

–koyoi
nagaki yoru o shite
etai no shirenai monodomo to
anata wa–

–I’ll turn this evening
Into an everlasting night
Along with each strange occurrence
And you–

聞きたい
あなたの息遣いが

kikitai
anata no ikidzukai ga

I want to listen
To you, breathing

聞きたい
あなたの花開くのが

kikitai
anata no hana hiraku no ga

I want to listen
To your flower while blossoming

聞きたい
あなたの空を踏むのが

kikitai
anata no sora o fumu no ga

I want to listen
To you, stepping in your sky

聞きたい
あなたの纏う幻想が

kikitai
anata no matou gensou ga

I want to listen
To the illusion you’re wearing

そうして、夜のほとりをひとり　舞い踊るものよ。

soushite, yoru no hotori o hitori maiodoru mono yo.

And so, the night’s border was something to dance alone to.

夜が
暴かれきってしまったのなら
きっと照らされてしまうから

yoru ga
abakarekitteshimatta no nara
kitto terasareteshimau kara

If the night
Will end up blazing up in rage
It’ll surely be brighten up

夜の
どこか
あなたの姿がみえない
空を介して

yoru no
dokoka
anata no sugata ga mienai
kuu o kaishite

Somewhere
In the night
There’s your unseen appearance;
The empty sky will mediate us

あなたと
おなじ空気に触れては

anata to
onaji kuuki ni furete wa

Me and you
Touched by the same atmosphere

あなたと
同じ闇に身を重ね

anata to
onaji yami ni mi o kasane

Me and you,
Our bodies blending in the same darkness

あなたと
同じ空を掴み取る

anata to
onaji sora o tsukami toru

Me and you,
Grasping the same sky

あなたの
声をこの夜に聞こうとして

anata no
koe o kono yoru ni kikou to shite

And I’m trying
To listen to your voice in this night

だから

dakara

So…

聞こえる
あなたの息遣いが

kikoeru
anata no ikidzukai ga

I can hear you,
I can hear you breathing

聞こえる
あなたの花開くのが

kikoeru
anata no hana hiraku no ga

I can hear you,
I can hear your flower blooming

聞こえる
あなたの空を踏むのが

kikoeru
anata no sora o fumu no ga

I can hear you,
I can hear I’m stepping in your sky

聞こえる
あなたの纏う幻想が

kikoeru
anata no matou gensou ga

I can hear you,
I can hear the illusion you’re wearing

今　こんなにも

ima konna ni mo

Now, this much…

そうして、夜のほとりにひとり　咲き誇るものよ。

soushite, yoru no hotori ni hitori sakihokoru mono yo.

And so, the night’s border is something that fully blooms in loneliness.

～

Notes:

– I always say that my first problem is english. First stanza, I perfectly know what “mimi o sumasu” means, but I can’t translate it in english without making it sound dumb. “To clear up one’s ears so he/she will be able to listen better” it’s the meaning. I can’t find a pretty way to say that. “Concentrate” it’s pretty fitting though imprecise. Keeping in mind that its meaning is what I just wrote, I’m keeping “concentrate”.
– The main verses which features “kikitai” could be ambiguos, being “kiku” a verb which could both mean “to listen” and “to ask”. Probably it’s more a request than a wish. “Kikoeru” is only “to listen”, so no problem here.
– In the 14th stanza, 空 (sora, sky) is read with its on-yomi “kuu”. I think that’s not only a choice which was decided due lenght, but also because when “sora” is read as “kuu” on compound words, it loses its meaning of “sky” to gain its other meaning, “void”, “emptiness”. I tried to blend those meanings.

～

• Title: 夜聞 (Yogiki)
• Circle: 凋叶棕／Diao ye zong
• Album: 東方幻奏響UROBOROS業～eNDoFtHEuLTIMATEoVERdRIVE～
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: C89
• Source: 永夜抄　～ Eastern Night (Eternal Night Vignette ~ Eastern Night), Imperishable Night, Title Screen Theme

[REQUEST] Feuille-Morte – River

【Requested by B016】

Feuille-Morte – River

紅い日が落ちる　夕暮れ　全て紅く染まって　その中に一人佇む　彼女の名も【紅】
物憂げに　頼りなさげに　揺れる水面の先に　遠くへと行ってしまった彼の姿を想う

akai hi ga ochiru yuugure subete akaku somatte sono naka ni hitori tatazumu kanojo no na mo [Scarlet]
monouge ni tayori nasage ni yureru minamo no saki ni tooku e to itteshimatta hito no sugata o omou

On a twilight where the Sun is setting everything is dyed in crimson; in the midst of it, a girl named “Scarlet” stands still
Before the swaying water surface, with melancholy, thinking about him, the figure of someone who went far away…

ーーー嗚呼。　「紅い日、紅い河」あのとき交わした言葉は。
今もまだ私をここに留めているのに。

—-aa. “akai hi, akai kawa” ano toki kawashita kotoba wa.
ima mo mada watashi o koko ni todometeiru no ni.

—Aah, “Oh red days, oh crimson river”, the words we exchanged that day.
And yet I’m still here in the same place where I used to be…

必ず帰って来るからと　どうか待っていて欲しいと　再会の契りはここで　その背中を送った
来る日も　また　来る日も　この橋　渡り来るものを 待ち続けて　今日も　そうして日がまた落ちゆく

kanarazu kaettekuru kara to douka matteite hoshii to saikai no chigiri wa koko de sono senaka o okutta
kuru hi mo mata kuru hi mo kono hashi watarikuru mono o machitsudzukete kyou mo soushite hi ga mata ochiyuku

“I’ll surely be back” and “Please, I want you to wait for me”, with this promise I bid farewell to you, from your back
The day will come, again, the day will come, and I’m still waiting for that person to cross this bridge even today, and even when the Sun will set…

紅い紅い　その河辺に　咲く一輪の花のように　帰りを待つその影は　夕闇に紛れ
紅い紅い　その水面に　映る姿が揺れるたび　けして戻らぬ時間の　流れるのを知る

akai akai sono kawabe ni saku ichirin no hana no you ni kaeri o matsu sono kage wa yuuyami ni magire
akai akai sono minamo ni utsuru sugata ga yureru tabi keshite modoranu jikan no nagareru no o shiru

On that red, red riverside, a shadow waiting for a return blends into the dusk like a single blooming flower;
The swaying shape reflected on that red, red water knows the flowing of the time that won’t ever come back…

何度　星を数えたろう　何度　声を幻聴いたろう　待つことの　苦しさよりも　時が　この身を苛む

nando hoshi o kazoetarou nando koe o kiitarou matsu koto no kurushisa yori mo toki ga kono mi o sainamu

How many times have I counted the stars? How many times I thought I heard your voice? Rather than the pain of waiting for you, it’s time itself that’s torturing my body…

ーーー嗚呼。朽ち行くこの身が　約束を阻むのならば　永遠を欲した
そう、願った。

—aa. kuchiyuku kono mi ga yakusoku o habamu no naraba eien o hoshiita
sou, negatta

—aa, If this rotting body of mine would deter that promise of seeking for the eternity…
That’s what I’ve wished for.

この身が朽ちる前に　この心が移ろう前に
永遠を手にすること　この場所でいつまでも…

kono mi ga kuchiru mae ni kono kokoro ga utsurou mae ni
towa o te ni suru koto kono basho de itsumademo…

Before this body will rot away, before this heart of mine will lose interest,
I have to get my hands on the eternity, forever in this place…

紅い紅い　この河瀬が　人の心を聞くのなら　水底に沈むそれの　願いを聞くのか
こうして　紅い紅い　この河辺に　ひときわ紅い花が咲く　帰りを待つその姿　けして枯れぬ花

akai akai kono kawase ga hito no kokoro o kiku no nara minasoko ni shizumu sore no negai o kiku no ka
koushite akai akai kono kawabe ni hitokiwa akai hana ga saku kaeri o matsu sono sugata keshite karenu hana

If those red, red waterfalls could read one’s mind, would they listen to that wish that sunk down the water’s depths?
Thus, on the red, red riverside a vivid crimson flower has blossomed: it’s the never-perishing flower waiting for that figure to return.

いつしか　紅く紅く咲いたその花　彼を迎えるその日まで 美しき【赤色の花】は紅く紅く咲き誇る
紅く紅く咲いたその花　今も一輪揺れているのは　いつか帰る彼のためと　今も　待ち続けている

itsushika akaku akaku saita sono hana kare o mukaeru sono hi made utsukushiki [SCARLET] wa akaku akaku sakihokoru
akaku akaku saita sono hana ima mo hitowa yureteiru no wa itsuka kaeru kare no tame to ima mo machitsudzuketeiru

That flower blossomed unnoticed in deep crimson, and until the day she could meet him again, Scarlet was in a splendidly full bloom
That flower blossomed in deep crimson is still swaying for his return of someday, it’s still waiting for him

～

Notes:

– There are no special readings wrote on the booklet. I guessed them all by ear, so they COULD be wrong, but I’m somehow positive I got them right. Anyway, I’ll make notes about them.
– The first one is in the first stanza. 【紅】 could be read in lots of way, “kou”, “akai”, “kurenai”, “beni” and such, but I kept hearing “sukare” or something like that. I’m guessing it’s “SCARLET”, being the word in katakana スカーレット (sukaaretto), but it’s pronounced in a non-katakana way. Aka in english. So, I’m positive it’s “scarlet”, but it’s not 100% confirmed by anyone.
– First stanza, 彼 “kare”, which could both mean “he”, “him” or “boyfriend” in certain contexts, is read as “hito”, which means “person”. Its meaning is basically reduced to something less
– Fifth stanza, “genchou” (幻聴) which means “auditory hallucination”, is simply read as “kiku” (聴く, with the same kanji), which means “to listen”. I tried to blend the meanings.
– The second note is repeated on the last stanza. 【赤色の花】(aka-iro no hana) is read, again, as “scarlet”, with english pronunciation.

～

• Title: River
• Circle: Feuille-Morte
• Album: ミソロジア
• Vocals: めらみぽっぷ　(Meramipop)
• Lyrics: RD-Sounds
• Arrangement: RD-Sounds
• Release Event: 秋M3 か-07a
• Source: Original