woah

A Japanese studies student. My teacher encouraged me to keep a blog/diary of when I translate songs. I'm still very new but, if you want to try something, you should! Mostly, I like angsty idol songs, 80's new wave and all kinds of pop music. The blog name and title are taken from Kogarete Planet by HAMIDASYSTEM.

[kogareteplanet]

HAMIDASYSTEM - down

It felt futile to post this since it's a straightforward song and there are already two translations of it, but I was in a mood.

English

Even if i’m loved, just like yesterday I coveted dreams in our room of love

Falling slowly into you, down, down There was never a real me You’re a fool, falling down, down How good it feels, how utterly meaningless

Feel all of me with your filthy body All we need to do is want it You say things like “that’s love”, but That’s not enough for me

I wanted to be loved, not with words I wanted a kiss that tastes of blood I can’t like just “like” anymore We knew that all we shared were lies

Falling slowly into a dream, down, down There was never really anyone here Look at you, falling down, down How good it feels, how simple

Throw your clothes off, use your ugly body And just hold me I can say things like “I love you” easily, but They’re not enough

Tomorrow, everything will vanish, and turn to nothing All I want is to stay here People say things like “You should live in the moment”, but I don’t know about that yet

Feel all of me with your filthy body All we need to do is want it You say things like “That’s love”, but That’s not enough

Japanese

愛されても昨日と同じ　恋の部屋で夢を貪った

だんだん落ちてく君の中　本当の僕はいなかった down downオチてる君は馬鹿　ぜんぜん意味ないキモチイじゃ

ぜんぶ感じてよ汚い軀で　ただ求め合えばいい 愛だなんだとか君は言うけれど　マダタリナイ

愛されたい言葉じゃなくて　血の味するキスが欲しかった 好きだけでは好きになれない　分かってたよ二人だけの嘘

だんだん落ちてく夢の中　本当は誰もいなかった down downオチてる君なんか　ぜんぜん訳ないキモチイじゃ

ぜんぶ脱ぎ捨てて醜い軀で　ただ抱きしめてくれよ 君が好きだとか簡単に言うけれど　モノタリナイ

ぜんぶ明日には消えてなくなるよ　ただここにいたいのさ 今を生きろとか人は言うけれど　マダシラナイ

ぜんぶ感じてよ汚い軀で　ただ求め合えばいい 愛だなんだとか君は言うけれど　マダタリナイ

Notes

The bridge rhymes "down, down" with "dandan" in Japanese, but the repetition doesn't work in English, so I just added in a second "down" for the dandan lines. Because they're about falling and if you're falling, you're falling down, down.

[kogareteplanet]

Hirai Ken - Ooki na Furudokei

I had to do this for university so might as well post it here too.

English

That big, tall, grand old clock My grandfather's clock For 100 years, it was always moving A prideful clock On the morning that my grandfather was born That's when they bought the clock Now, that clock - it doesn't move anymore

Restlessly for 100 years Tick, tock, tick, tock Together, with my grandfather Tick, tock, tick, tock Now, that clock - it doesn't move anymore

It knows it all, that grand old clock My grandfather's clock When a beautiful bride arrived It moved on that day too Happy things and sad things too It knows it all, that clock Now, that clock - it doesn't move anymore The bell rang in the dead of night My grandfather’s clock Informed us that It was time to say goodbye My grandfather, ascending to heaven As the clock parted ways too Now, that clock - it doesn't move anymore

Restlessly for 100 years Tick, tock, tick, tock Together, with my grandfather Tick, tock, tick, tock Now, that clock - it doesn't move anymore Now, that clock It doesn't move anymore

Japanese

おおきなのっぽの古時計 おじいさんの時計 百年いつも動いていた ご自慢の時計さ おじいさんの生まれた朝に 買ってきた時計さ いまはもう動かないその時計

百年休まずに チク　タク　チク　タク おじいさんといっしょに チク　タク　チク　タク いまはもう動かないその時計

何でも知ってる古時計 おじいさんの時計 きれいな花嫁やってきた その日も動いてた うれしいことも悲しいことも みな知ってる時計さ いまはもう動かないその時計

うれしいことも悲しいことも みな知ってる時計さ いまはもう動かないその時計

真夜中にベルがなった おじいさんの時計 お別れのときがきたのを みなに教えたのさ 天国へのぼるおじいさん 時計ともお別れ いまはもう動かないその時計

百年休まずに チク　タク　チク　タク おじいさんといっしょに チク　タク　チク　タク いまはもう動かないその時計 いまはもう動かないその時計

[kogareteplanet]

Sakanaction - Sayonara wa Emotion

That sayonara really wa emotion.

English

Shortly after, shortly after, Shortly after I stopped by The corner store

I want to forget, I want to forget, I, who wants to forget, bought canned coffee I threw away the receipt The receipt…

Threw it away Threw it away Threw it away…

Goodbye is an emotion I’ll go Always fighting back tears, fighting back…

A forgotten emotion I’ll go Always going forth through that deep mist, deep mist…

Shortly after, shortly after Shortly after I put both hands on the floor I did a handstand

Shortly after, shortly after Shortly after I remembered our old room And you, too

Goodbye is an emotion I’ll go Always fighting back tears, fighting back…

A forgotten emotion I’ll go Always going forth through that deep mist, deep mist…

Goodbye I manoeuvre the night Fighting back tears

What i’ve forgotten One day, i’ll find it Always slipping through that deep mist

Ah, I’ll look Slipping through the night I’ll learn about tomorrow Slipping through the light, the light…

I’ll look Slipping through the night I’ll learn about tomorrow Slipping through the light, the light…

Japanese

そのまま そのまま そのまま 深夜のコンビニエンスストア 寄り道して

忘れたい 忘れたい 忘れたい自分に缶コーヒーを買った レシートは レシートは捨てた

捨てた 捨てた 捨てた

さよならはエモーション 僕は行く ずっと涙こらえ　こらえ

忘れてたエモーション 僕は行く ずっと深い霧の　霧の向こうへ

そのまま そのまま そのまま 両手を床について 僕は逆立ちした

そのまま そのまま そのまま 昔の部屋を思い出した 君の事も

さよならはエモーション 僕は行く ずっと涙こらえ　こらえ

忘れてたエモーション 僕は行く ずっと深い霧の　霧の向こうへ

さよなら 僕は夜を乗りこなす ずっと涙こらえ

忘れてたこと いつか見つけ出す ずっと深い霧を抜け

AH ミル ヨルヲヌケ アスヲシル ヒカリヲヒカリヲヌケ

ミル ヨルヲヌケ アスヲシル ヒカリヲヒカリヲヌケ

Notes

I changed the structure of the ずっと深い霧の　霧の向こうへ part's translation a little so the repetition is emphasized clearer but it basically means the same thing

[kogareteplanet]

RILISREVERSE - Yoru no Yamai

Whoever wrote this was ready to die for their crush at one point and you know what same sis.

English

The symptoms were slowly progressing In a 6-mat hospital room, I couldn’t see the sky from the window How long has it been now? The pain is so great I can't sleep But my murder is tender, with a soft knife

Your look or that gaze or those words I don't accept them Even if I puke, I’ll swallow the pain and cast it aside My body got a little heavier

Unwittingly, unconsciously, the pain i’d been carrying Had ah, immobilised me

On a night when i'm sick I bow to you, who had at last held my heart That deep night, a disease spread by liars

Soley, that song will be what rescues me from that night

Deep in my chest was the medicine i’d taken to dissolve it Their droplets insoluble while cold

I’m used to it not working As when one takes too much “Dreams” are also a side effect To you, oh night when i’m sick I began to understand you

Your look or that gaze or those words It’s fine if I can’t force myself to accept them And it’s fine if you don’t love me completely My heart became a little lighter

Truly, don’t I have to admit The sickness was Ah, it was “me” all along

In the dead of night, laughing with you Slowly, the world is being changed And the lowly me is too So I’ll go on living with my whole heart

So let’s say, even if if i’m frail, barely holding on It is “I” who will keep on living

The cause was unknown The name of that pain was given to me Yes, after all, that pain’s name too Was the only thing that saved me…

On a night… On a night when i’m sick You’d truly given to me a gentle darkness And now I With my whole heart, can keep on living

So let’s say, if i’m frail, barely holding on “Living” will be beautiful

We’ll step out into the newly risen dawn Let’s take that “night” with us too.

Japanese

症状は徐々に進行していた。 6畳の病室、窓は空を見せない いつからだろうか？ 眠れない程の痛みが 静かに柔らかな刃物で僕を殺すんだ

あの表情や視線や言葉を 受け入れられず、吐いても 痛みは飲み込んで仕舞うよ 体は少し重くなった

知らず知らずに持たされた荷物が Ah　動けなくするんだ

ヨルノヤマイ 君をさらい、最後に心を持ってった 夜は深い、嘘つきが撒いた病

あの音楽だけがこの夜から救ってくれる

胸の奥、溶かすように薬飲んだ 粒子状のソレは冷めた温度には溶けない

効かない事に慣れて 摂り過ぎりゃ 「夢」も副作用 拝啓、ヨルノヤマイ キミがわかってきたんだ

あの表情や視線や言葉は 無理に受け入れなくていい 全部愛せなくてもいい 心は少し軽くなった

きっと認めなくちゃいけないんだ この病は Ah　「自分自身」だって事

夜の中、君と笑う 世界は少しずつ変わっていく 弱い自分も この心ごと生きていく

たとえ、脆くて、からがらでも 「僕」を生きていく

原因不明だった この痛みに病名をくれた この痛みにも名前があるんだって それだけで心は救われて…

夜の… ヨルノヤマイ キミはきっと優しい暗闇をくれたんだ 今の自分と その心ごと生きていていいんだよ

たとえ、脆くて、からがらでも 「生きる事」が美しい

明け出した空、踏み出すよ この「夜」も連れていこう。

Notes

6畳の病室 is literally a hospital room with 6 tatami mats, which we don't really have in English speaking cultures, so I thought about just saying "hospital room." But hey you just learned an interesting fact so maybe it was worth not doing that.

[kogareteplanet]

MIGMA SHELTER - Brave

Since they announced that the group would be on hiatus and all of the current members would be ceasing activities, it felt like now or never to post this.

I translated this for somebody who never got to hear it, but I like to think that she still can, wherever she is.

English

Flower petals scattered in the rain A bolt of lightning, disturbed the peace Surging through my arm, a jolt of pain As soon as you inhale, it’s all gone bad! Dancing with our uncertain karma In a florilegium where we can do as we please My foolish return, an alarm already ringing in my brains

Nana nana Impetuous or brave? Nana nana

Grasping ahold of the uncertain You see just how heart-pounding this is? It was desire that sparked me In those days where I was lost in emptiness The munchkins celebrating tragedy so messy Yes, it opens your heart up a little, doesn’t it?

A sweet ringing dances in my ears Tonight We’re giddy For the future Yeah, let’s go! Tonight We’re giddy For the future

Flower petals scattered in the rain A bolt of lightning, it disturbed the peace It ran through my arm, the pain Towards the end of what we wished for Dancing with our uncertain karma In a florilegium where we can do as we please My foolish return, i’m over it

The point you’ve set your sights on That’s your world It was entrusted to those petals That’s your world

Wouldn’t it be nice to understand That dream, lingering around without purpose. My desire. The munchkins celebrating tragedy so messy Yes, it opens your heart up a little, doesn’t it? Now dance.

A sweet sound dances in my ears Tonight We’re giddy For the future Yeah, let’s go! Tonight We’re giddy For the future

Japanese

花弁を散らす Rain 刺す雷鳴この安寧揺らいだ 手のひらに泳ぐPain 吸い込んでもう早々にバッド ! 不確定なカルマに踊る お好きにしなさい Florilegium 愚は再来 もう脳内にアラーム

Nananana Impetuous or brave? Nananana

曖昧を掴み取る どれだけ胸躍ることか解る ? 虚しさの中でまごつく日々を 突き動かすのは あのDesire 災いを祝う小人のふしだらに そう 、心開かれていくんでしょう ?

甘い耳鳴りのダン ス 今宵 目眩 未来 さあ混ざれ 今宵 目眩 未来

花弁を散らす Rain 刺す雷鳴この安寧揺らいだ 手のひらに泳ぐPain 望み通りの結末へ 不確定なカルマに踊る お好きにしなさい Florilegium 愚の再来は懲り懲りよ

狙い定めた先には あなたの世界がある 花弁に委ねていた あなたの世界がある

伝えきれないままに彷徨く夢は 砕けてしまえばいいね Desire 災いを祝う小人のふしだらに そう 、心開かれていくんでしょう ? だから踊れ

今宵 目眩 未来 さあ混ざれ 今宵 目眩 未来

Notes

愚 is both like "foolhardy" but also an extremely archaic, humble first-person pronoun - I think this song is supposed to be from the perspective of Dorothy, so it felt right to represent her uncertainty.

手のひらに泳ぐPain - The line was describing the pain swimming up your arm but we say running in English. Localisation discourse!

Also it's not really a translation note but until it came to edit this, I thought 小人 was meant to be a pejorative like yes GET those small (minded) people celebrating tragedy. But no turns out that's just what they call the munchkins in Japanese.

[kogareteplanet]

Yapoos / TOGAWAKAIDAN - Virus

She came on this bitch mad as hell (I prefer the Togawakaidan version)

English

The times when people Force their rejection and hatred on me I sense it to a phenomenal degree It was an energy That I absorbed and multiplied (puke) I should loathe all of you The virus dwelling within me

Next, like a clinical trialI noted that Those infected, in the midst of their situation Should act, to increase their abhorrence

When hated, wanting to puke (should follow) And to all people present, I say to you “You disgust me”

Don’t hate me, oh don’t hate me (puke) The virus matures

A particular doctor noticed Kindness itself is an antibiotic Yes, the vaccine of love and kindness For a virus that prefers subservience

Japanese

拒否感や嫌悪を ひとが私にいだいたとき 驚異的な感度で察知し それをエネルギーに 吸収して　増殖する　(ゲー) 人忌み嫌うべき　 私に巣喰うヴィールス

臨床例として次に 感染者は　その大気中に さらなる嫌悪感を増す行動をとると記す

嫌われてやる　嘔吐感　(を伴わせー) 居合わせた人々皆ことごとく　 不快　訴える　あー

嫌わないで　嫌わないで　(ゲー) ヴィールスが　成長する

ある医師は気付いた 好意こそが抗生物質と 愛情と好意のワクチンを　 卑屈好むヴィールスへ

Notes

べき is more like an obligation to do something than just simply "should do it" so I phrased 人忌み嫌うべき as "I should loathe all of you" (the song being addressed to the people she's talking about) to make it reminicient of when children are taught manners, like "One should always be polite," so it's a specific sort of "should."

[kogareteplanet]

Togawa Jun - Teinen Pushiganga

Allegedly the title comes from a phrase for sitting in a cirlce and drinking. So we're making merry over resigning yourself from personhood. Translation notes at the end and personal commentary too because fuck it, a blog's a blog.

English

Far beyond the sky float the clouds Oh, in the name of my love

Such acts of atrocity No more can I resign to forgiveness

You may kill me Like a cow Or like a pig It’s alright I am merely a piece of flesh

Lala lala la Lala lala lai I am merely a piece of flesh

Into the sky fades the midday canon Oh, for my love has ended

Both love and hatred Are no more, poured into nothing

In a single moment of disgust I begin to rot I am merely a piece of flesh

Lala lala la Lala lala lai I am merely a piece of flesh

Far beyond the sky float the clouds Oh, in the name of my love

Such acts of atrocity No more can I resign to forgiveness

You may kill me Like a cow Or like a pig It’s alright I am merely a piece of flesh

Lala lala la Lala lala lai I am merely a piece of flesh

Japanese

空の彼方に 浮かぶは雲 嗚々 我が恋愛の名において

その暴虐の 仕打ちさえ もはやただ 甘んじて許す

牛のように 豚のように 殺してもいい いいのよ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

空に消えゆく お昼のドン 嗚々 我が恋愛は終止せり

あの泥流の 恩讐が もはやただ あとかたもなしや

愕然とする間もなく 腐敗し始める 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

空の彼方に 浮かぶは雲 嗚々 我が恋愛の名において

その暴虐の 仕打ちさえ もはやただ 甘んじて許す

牛のように 豚のように 殺してもいい いいのよ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

ライラ ライラ ラ ライラ ライラ ライ 我 一塊の肉塊なり

Translation Notes

泥流 is the flow of lahar/volcanic mud when a volcano erupts and 跡形もなしや (written in hiragana as あとかたもなしや) is like "without leaving a trace", I thought saying literally saying left without a trace was too basic for such a powerful song, so I went with "poured into nothing" to maintain the original imagery and meaning.

Personal Commentary Nobody Asked For

Many lifetimes ago I ran the Jun Togawa Forever fansite with my friend Pat, he translated all of the songs and I did the website... stuff. Because of it, Pat got to meet Jun's manager and it was basically the thing that set me off onto wanting to study Japanese to begin with. The sadness I was experiencing at the time couldn't be expressed in my own language because I was barely fresh off being a teenager, and I was treated poorly by almost everyone around me. Real "nobody understands me" type shit. So, i'd listen to this song on repeat a lot and read my friend's translation, because it felt like somebody understood me.

The reason I stopped running the website, posting throwbacks and setlist updates etc was because I actually hated most of the English fans. Pat was working very hard at a critical time to translate information and whenever I had a question, I would ask. But people kept jumping to assumptions about what Jun's art was trying to convey. It sounds almost cliche, but the perspective of dudes with no knowlege of Japanese language or culture was dominating the discussion about a Japanese woman's work, stripping it of time, place and it's author. One person's self expression through art became a talking point for being anti-pop culture - because it was antithetical to the norm, that's all it could be, or that became the main focus. I hated how our work was just being consumed by people who's reaction was just "cool" or "thanks", and the voice behind the lyrics was stifled for the sake of making hamfisted commentary about pop culture, from a society and culture that the authors themselves had sparse knowlege of.

It is extremely petty. This was also before Suki Suki Daisuki blew up on Tiktok too. But, the phrase "anti idol" just screamed fake deep to me lol. Once I actually started speaking Japanese and explaining the perspective of non-Japanese people about things to Japanese people, they were mostly confused. BiS' producer also called it "fucking stupid." I think about deleting all of the translations sometimes out of spite.

I wanted to come back and translate this song myself because... fuck it, why not. I'm not in the same mindset as when this was the one thing keeping my head above water, but I did have some poor experiences with people at university recently. I thought about this song because it feels like it's fine for terrible things to be said and done to me, but everyone else is seemingly allowed to do whatever they want. Be it emotionally or sexually as a friend or as a coercer. But i've resigned myself from caring because hey, life goes on.

[kogareteplanet]

Shishido Kavka - Love Corrida

I used to listen to this a lot before I could speak any Japanese and then one day it was like now hold awn.....

English

Glittering, oozing down my lips Swaying, rocking pink hips Tonight’s a colourful party night Strange goings on i’m looking forward to

Aiming my brazen stare atcha You look a little like Dave Grohl When you sling a tequila shot over here My feelings are suddenly a rollercoaster

When our eyes meet, they’re locked in so tight No, no thank you to vague advances I raise my hands

Nonono… darling I wanna know more than just your name Your kiss Let’s just do it right here I reject all gentlemanly advances

Little by little, the dizzier I get The more heart-pounding words I use I’d hate to be alone tonight. I wanna throw away all reason

I’ll draw you in with my cheeky smile No, no thank you to vague advances, byebye

Dadida… baby I wanna bounce to this group With our hearts and bodies. Shall we dance?

Nonono… darling I don’t wanna fall in love or anything But if you wanna see how this plays out We can’t do it here. Hey, you get me?

Even girls wanna take risks y'know I don’t care if I get burned The more i’m told i’m a good girl The more I wanna kick out those boring days I wanna feel the thrills I wanna be a bad girl

Dadida… baby To this shaky rhythm Let’s shake it up. Shall we dance?

Nonono… Darling It’s not like I wanna be a tease But my real kiss If you really wanna know what it’s like We can’t do it here You get me?

Isn't it hot? Isn't crazy? It's crazy night

I like you

Japanese

キラキラ 濡れている唇 ゆらゆら 揺らすピンクなヒップ 今宵はカラフルなパーティーナイト 期待しちゃうのハプニング

セキララな視線で狙うわ 少しデイヴグロールに似たあなた テキーラボール 転がしたら 気分は急にジェットコースター

目と目が合ったらきっとぎゅっとロックしちゃうわ 曖昧なふりは ノーノーサンキュー お手上げ

dadida… baby 弾けたい このリズムに 心ごと体ごと 踊りましょう

nonono… darling 名前よりも知りたいのは あなたのキス 此処でしちゃおうよ お人好しは お断りよ

イチイチ 目眩がする程 ドキドキする言葉をかけて 今夜一人は嫌なの 理性も捨ててしまいたいの

不埒な笑顔で 誘惑しちゃうわ 曖昧なふりじゃ ノーノーサンキュー さようなら

dadida… baby 弾けたい このグルーブで 心ごと体ごと 踊りましょう

nonono… darling 恋したい訳じゃないけれど この続き欲しがるのなら 此処じゃ嫌よ ねえ 分かるでしょう?

女の子だって はみ出したいのよ 火傷したって 構わない 「いい子」だって言われれば 言われるほど本当は つまらない毎日に キックアウトしてスリル感じたい 悪い子したい

dadida… baby 不真面目な このリズムに さらわれて掻き乱されて 踊りましょう

nonono… darling 焦らしたい訳じゃないけれど ホントのキス 知りたいのなら 此処じゃ嫌よ 分からないの?

isn't it hot? isn't crazy? it's crazy night

あなたが好き

[kogareteplanet]

TORANOKO RAMMY - OH MY GOD

This was fun, thank you to all baby tigers and Japanese punk bands

English

Let’s say The most important person in your life died What would you do?

Let’s say The most important person in my life died What should I do?

Common sense ain't so common anymore ‘Cus it seems there's a gaping hole in my heart

OH MY GOD, hey, tell me Why do I feel so lonely at night? OH MY GOD, hey, tell me How do I stop these overflowing tears?

That morning my friend took their own life If only there was something I could have done I can’t believe they’re fucking gone, but it’s a foolish thing Cus’ no matter what I think, they’re not coming back

OH MY GOD, hey, tell me Why do I feel so lonely at night? OH MY GOD, hey, tell me How do I stop these overflowing tears?

Japanese

例えば、君の一番大切な人が死んだなら君はどうするだろう 例えば、私の一番大切な人が死んだなら私はどうするだろう

当たり前が当たり前じゃなくなっちゃって 心にポカンと穴が空くだろう

OH MY GOD教えてくれ 1人の夜はどうして寂しいの？ OH MY GOD教えてくれ 流れる涙の止め方を

ある朝私の友達が自ら命を止めました 何か私に出来ることがあったとするなら、 そのかけがえの無い命が救えたのかもしれない

死んでしまったなんてとんだ大馬鹿ものだ なんて考えてもあいつは戻らない

OH MY GOD教えてくれ 1人の夜はどうして寂しいの？ OH MY GOD教えてくれ 流れる涙の止め方を

Notes

There's not much to say since this was pretty straightforward. The only real change is that 友達が自ら命を止めました would literally be "my friend stopped their own life" but we don't say that in English at all. Also どうするだろう being both would and should in the opening lines is just because the way in which that question is asked in English changes slightly depending on if you're asking for yourself or somebody else.

[kogareteplanet]

Migma Shelter - It doesn't matter

For Myrna, in wonderland now.

English

Inside the dark forest Where I was led astray Was an unfriendly track and sign The hand of the girl, who I held on to tightly Was sweating “Go or stay?”

Howling under the twilight Was the dirge of the wildlife A gray that crept up on me

It’s a long walkway A lonely walkway, turning sour With every step that I take Quiet and disquiet cause an uproar  With the flow of the nocturnal breeze Caressing my skin

The silhouette of the rabbit I followed Remains there, still, “Left or right?”  Inside that cunning girl’s heart Hope and fear coexist

“Are you ready?” I finally ask The moon’s smile rises Over the woodland’s flower grove

In the bowels of the forest Lies a mysterious cat Please tell me, which way I ought to go? Acting the fool, the cat said, “That depends on where you want to go”

In the bowels of the forest Lies a mysterious cat Please tell me, which way I ought to go? Acting the fool, the cat said, “That depends on where you want to go”

How strange I can hear the sound of a harmonica That cat always gets me into trouble But for now I’ll go forth

Japanese

迷い込んだ 暗がりの森 不親切な Track and sign 握り込んだ 少女の手には 汗ばんだ Go or stay

夕暮れに 猛り立つ かの鳥獣哀歌 忍び込む Gray

It's long walkway 陰りゆく Lonely walkway 歩むたびに 騒ぎだす静寂と不穏 肌に触る夜風の Flow

追いかけていた 兎の影はもう 面影の Left or right 打算的な 少女の胸に 同居する Hope and fear

Are you ready 常に問う この森林百花 浮かぶ Moon smile

森の奥 不思議な Cat Please tell me, which way I ought to go? おどけたその Cat That depends on where you want to go 森の奥 不思議な Cat I don't much care where I go おどけたその Cat It doesn't matter which way you go

おかしいよね 聴こえる ハーモニカの音 私をずっと 困らせてばかりいる猫 でもとりあえず 先に行こう

Notes

For "おどけたその Cat / It doesn't matter which way you go" I added in the "said" in English because it is literally the Chesire Cat talking and the song is from the perspective of Alice.

追いかけていた 兎の影はもう / 面影の Left or right" This was kind of a small struggle because throwing in random English does not really compute lol. 面影 is like a trace, a reminder of something (vestige if you want to get poetic) and 影 is obviously shadow, but you could use "silhouette" to describe both. The reminder of "left or right" belongs to the White Rabbit and his shadow, so I phrased it in a way that still shows the relationship between everything in the sentance but sort of combines them together for creative reasons

That's it really. The song is mostly straightfoward and I think my writing style has the loose feeling of Alice in Wonderland

[kogareteplanet]

RILISREVERSE - RESETROAD

Believe it or not it’s road on purpose and not “load”, I emailed management asking if they meant it like 道 or if it was a Spotify transcription error and they said yeah it’s road. Intentional double meanings that only work in one language are fun but also as the person that writes them in English I want to die.

English

I understood that everything I believed was a lie I only saw things through a rose tinted lens, foolish!

Ah, if you’re saying that’s what ruined things That sucks, but I don’t care about the past anymore Just focus on right now

Reset to pure white You’ll never see me recall it There’s a future that loves me Now reload to pitch black Overwriting my annoyances, they’re deleted I’m going to be by the side of somebody who loves me Resetroad

I understood that what I had was dust in my hand I only saw things like they were a part of a grand dream, why?

If you’re saying i’m only doing this for fun I don’t have time for that kinda thing I’ll leave you behind

Reset to pure white You’ll never see me remember There’s a future that loves me Now reload to pitch black Overwriting my grief, it’s deleted I’m going to be by the side of somebody who loves me Resetroad

Reset, Reload After everything, i’ll be okay If what remains is still within me Still, the road ahead is pitch black But i’ll look towards all that’s good at the end I'm going to be by your side, you who loves me

Japanese

信じていたものが嘘だとわかった 綺麗な角度だけ見えてた 馬鹿だ

ああ、それでぶっ壊したと言っているなら 悪いけどもう過去のことは興味ない 今に見てろ

真っ白にリセットして いつまでも覚えててやらない 僕を愛している未来がある 今 真っ黒にリロードして 苛立ちを上書きで消してく 僕を愛している誰かのもとへ行くよ リセットロード

手にしていたものが塵だとわかった 大きな夢みたく見えてた なんで

遊びでやってるだけと言っているなら そんなこと構ってる時間はないからさ 置いていくよ

真っ白にリセットして いつまでも考えてやらない 僕を愛している未来がある 今 真っ黒にリロードして 悲しみを上書きで消してく 僕を愛している誰かのもとへ行くよ リセットロード

リセットして リロードして それでも残っていたものだけ 僕の中にあればそれでいいよ また真っ暗な道として この先の幸せを見据えて 僕を愛している貴方のもとへ行くよ

Notes

綺麗な角度 is literally “beautiful angle” but that sounds weird in English so I said “rose tinted lens”

I wasn’t really sure what to do with the whole road/load thing in English so I just kept the instances where the full title is used as “Resetroad” and everything else as “load” because of the other computer terms used sometimes. Also readability lol.

“There’s a future that loves me” might sound a little weird in but the future is literally what’s being described there. I wanted to deviate a little with “There’s a future where i’m loved” but if I did that it’d be slightly incorrect and wouldn’t match the other lines (somebody who loves me, you who loves me)

Don’t really have much else to say about this one since it’s pretty straightforward. Absolutely none of this group’s other songs are like this LMFAO

[kogareteplanet]

Nonamera - Nymphaea

I even subtitled this myself. Sorry to Codomomental management and my Japanese teacher who will probably inadvertedly see this because she knows about this blog.

English

Fake it to the party The simulated experience starts Possessed by ME Sometimes you engage in some legal doping Staying throbbing GIVE IT TO ME heterosexually “Yeah?” Mumbles from IPv6, “Meow?” A hole’s all it needs

Gushing dopamine That’s not enough The trap of wanting too much That’s not enough Huh? It’s already over? So stylish boys and girls Let me say it once more: “I met you here again”

You are not at this time Mechanised and mine Masturbate with me Dance of the effervescent days Dependance spit out Not enough to spell doubt I’ll paint over your world Fetish Plastic Girl I realised this is the bonus stage “Continue” painting loneliness

True it to the party Reality and my cells and “oh. Die” Yes, a depression pill. Just why should you satisfy me? Ambiguously breaking - “So?” Child monster Beg for acceptance? GIVE IT TO ME. At last, your God comes down The only reason your perversion is stirring

Nothing is enough This town and its feeling Nothing is enough And you can win dope in the afterlife Huh? You’re falling off Oh so stylish, boys and girls My hopes are delivered “I met you here again”

Tell me Tell me…

You are not at this time Captured, you’re mine Masturbate with me I want to love, I want to go wild Dependence spit out Not enough to spell doubt I’ll paint over your world “Even if i kill my life” This is the new world “Bonus stage” A smoke screen envelops “Continue” in a FLASH.

Japanese

Fake it to the party これから始まる "擬似体験" 取り憑かれ ME たまには君 合法 doping ドクドク staying ヘテロセクシャル的な GIVE IT TO ME. 『は?』 IPv6 むにゃむにゃ 「にゃ?」 口だけ要因

コレだけじゃ モノタリナイ ドバドバドーパミン コレだけじゃ モノタリナイ ないものねだりが trap あれ? また消えた? イカしてる Boys and Girls また言わせてよ 「I met you here again.」

You are not at this time 機械になる mine Masturbate with me 泡沫の日々 dance Dependence spit out たりない spell doubt 君の世界ぬりつぶす フェティッシュ プラスチックガール 気づいた ココ "ボーナスステージ" 『続』孤独 染める

True it to the party リアルと細胞と oh.Die そう鬱錠剤 何で満たす?曖昧 breaking 「が?」 チャイルドモンスター 受け入れ願うか GIVE IT TO ME やっと神降臨 性癖まだ掻き立て要因

何もかも モノタリナイ この街とfeeling 何もかも モノタリナイ 来世もwin dope あれ? 外れてる イカれてる Boys and Girls 願い届いて 「I met you here again.」

Tell me Tell me Tell me…

You are not at this time 虜になる mine Masturbate with me 好きしたい 狂いたい Dependence spit out たりない spell doubt 君の世界ぬりつぶす "「Even if I kill my life.」" New world ココ "ボーナスステージ" 『続』 スモーク つつまれ FLASH

Notes

Pat helped edit this one again.

For “gushing dopamine” I wasn’t sure if I should go with gushing or squirting because um... yeah. But I went with gushing since as horny as this song is it just felt more appropriate. Also squirting kind of a creative liberty

For “ Mechanised and mine” originally I had “the machine will become mine” but because of the mixture of English and Japanese the relationship between the two is kind of up in the air, and this sounds snappier and allows it to pair with the last chorus easier.

For “’Continue’ painting loneliness” we couldn’t tell what the relationship was because of the omitted subject and particles so, since neither of us were sure I just kept it ambiguous in English too

“At last, your God comes down” there’s no pronoun in the original Japanese but I felt like using it because the subejct could be whoever she’s singing about or the listener, and emphasising that “your” adds to the whole “sexual prey animal” feeling this song has going on

性癖 is closer to fetish or sexual disposition but what is a fetish if not a perversion? 

There’d be no real difference between the translations of  イカれてる and  イカしてる so I just added in the “oh” because I wanted it to be different

Originally I wanted  好きしたい  to be “I want to like it” but Pat pointed out it’s not really grammatically correct Japanese as is, so it feels more like she wants to do the action of liking/loving, and we went with “I want to love.”

[kogareteplanet]

EMPiRE - I don’t cry anymore

Translation and romaji (and translator notes!!) for the afformentioned. I prefer the Seiho remix.

All I can think about is What you said back then And today brought another sleepless night It won’t stop, it won’t end

My regrets, punctured and pierced, I don’t worry about them anymore Oh how lonesome, how dull I don’t need any of those kinds of things

It’s really fine, good bye Just forget me, good night

I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore

Please don’t go I can’t stand this

I want to talk, but- Secretly, my feelings withered Melting away, fading away As if they were never really there

I let go of your hand, Never to hold it again But inside my memories There’s a warmth that will never vanish

But that’s alright, good bye Forget about me, good night

I gotta go anymore I gotta go anymore I gotta go anymore

A fantasy Where I can’t even say goodbye

Why do I have to live With these conflicting feelings? That’s how I got all messed up Back at the start

I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore Please don’t go I can’t stand this

romaji

Ki ni shiteru ano toki no Kotoba bakari wo Mata kyou mo nemurenai yoru ga Akenai na kiri nai na

Ki ni shinai anadarake Kokoronokori wa Hidoku samishii tsumaranai yo Konna mono iranai ya

Doudemo ii yo good bye Wasurete ii yo good night

I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore Onegai ikanai de Mou daikirai

Hanashitai omoi wa sou Hisoka ni kuchite Nani mo nakatta ka no youni Toketeiku kieteiku

Hanashita sono te wa mou Nido to furenai Kioku tadori omoidaseba Atatakai kienai yo

Soredemo ii no good bye Wasurete ii no good night

I gotta go anymore I gotta go anymore I gotta go anymore Sayonara mo ienai esoragoto

Doushite Aihansuru kanjou ni ikiteru no Koushite Kongaragatte nda ima mo

I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore I don’t cry anymore Onegai ikanai de Mou daikirai

notes

Pat’s advice was to be less literal in some places if I want to be really creative - if it’s clear that I understand the meaning, I can give it a little flair if the meaning is there (but don’t go too far).

もう大嫌い as “I already hate this” was correct but too literal (I was worried doing something other than already would be a little… wrong but apparently it’s not lol) so we’re going with it being an emphatic particle rather than literal meaning. Maybe “I loathe this” instead but that might be too… like okay these are girls in their early 20’s not Oscar Wilde.

Originally I had 記憶辿り思い出せば あたたかい きえないよ as a “If I walk down memory lane it’s warmth won’t disappear” but I thought it felt too sanitised, so “Inside my memories / There’s a warmth that will never vanish”. Walk down memory lane good way of including 記憶辿り but tone didn’t feel right (was just the first thing that sort of stuck).

絵空事 Pat translated the Japanese dictionary description rather than me looking at the stock phrase on jisho dot org (I didn’t like the dictionary stock phrase so I looked at synonyms that had a similar feeling to the kanji), Japanese dictionary described it as “embellishing something more than it is”  -> went from “I won’t even say goodbye / A passing daydream” to “A fantasy / Where I can’t even say goodbye” since my expression of potential was off.

Writing こうしてこんがらがってんだ 今も as “Even now, still, i’m all messed up” was too literal so changed to a reflective similar phrase “Back at the start.” I don’t actually know which one I prefer and I feel like matter of taste is going to be different for everyone, so… guess i’ll die!

Originally その手 was “That hand” but it’s that hand attached to a person so you can say “[subject]’s hand.” Feels naughty.