i am a bean-bean

Hi, my Chinese nickname literally translates to "bean-bean." I used to post a jumble of everything here, but I guess this blog has been thoroughly taken over by translations now. I don't mind people using/editing my work without asking, just please don't claim credit for any work you didn't do. Contact me at: [email protected]

[snowdust64]

After the explanation Kenmochi gave in his solo stream, and the last ROF-MAO broadcast with all 4 members, I have some feelings about Kenmochi exiting the group but the main one is relief. I'll get to that later.

There is a pretty good summary in English posted on Reddit (look for username Spiritual-Ad-6613.) I will vouch for the accuracy of that translation. Read that. Do not read the speculation/accusations that are floating around with no basis in what the group members have said. I think there are some accurate translations on X too, but I don't have an X account so I can't see them (lol) so please just stick to posts by people you trust to be diligent translators.

The simplest way to explain his decision is: He genuinely enjoyed his time in ROF-MAO, but when thinking about the future, he did not feel he would want to keep doing this for many years to come. Being in an official unit never really fit his personal goals as a VTuber.

To add to what I found already translated by others, Kenmochi specifically told us NOT to blame:

Peanuts-kun for (satirically) asking him to leave the group every year

the other members or any of the Nijisanji staff for treating him poorly. In fact, he felt very supported and loved, and felt comfortable saying "I don't want to do such-and-such" when they planned their activities as a team.

pranks played on him during filming, particularly the last one since he was the most recent prank target

Based on what Fuwa said in the interview portion of the last broadcast, it seems like one of the options they considered was letting Kenmochi take a break from the group and rejoin later. In the end, the other members didn't want to tie him down to something he no longer enjoyed. They told him to just go and be free.

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Now, for why I am relieved more than I am sad... I think this could have easily turned into another Mayuzumi Kai situation. Anyone around long enough to remember him? I didn't translate any of his content, but I watched a lot of it when he was active. He retired in 2022 after choosing not to shift towards more profitable VTuber activities, which the corporate higher-ups were pressuring him to do. Some of the veteran VTubers were so disappointed in how unaccommodating the company was that they openly voiced it on stream. To which even the famously blunt Mayuzumi was like, "Are you sure it's okay for you to say that out loud?"

So I am relieved that Kenmochi is not completely disappearing because of some corporate dispute. I wonder if leadership has changed a little? Or maybe Kenmochi is just too much of a powerhouse for them to lose. Either way, I'm happy that he is doing what he thinks is right for him.

[snowdust64]

"Storm" – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: Tanabe Shunichi Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. Translation notes at the end. There are a few recurring lines in English that I did not type out every time.

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seijaku ni unasare mezameta yoake ame no oto ga mune no oku hibiite ita mado no soto shingō ga ao ni somaru tachidomaru riyū-tachi ga shikai o fusaida        

Awakened at dawn from a nightmare of silence * The sound of rain echoed deep in [my] heart Outside the window, the stoplight turned green Reasons to stop obstructed [my] field of view

_

kono mama ja owarenai yadotta shōdō o uragiru mae ni gyakufū mo mikata ni shite tobidasu yo saigo no tabi e        

It can’t end like this Before [I] betray the impulse that dwells with [me] [I'll] make this headwind an ally And leap out into a final journey **

_

I’m in the storm. fukisusabe shukumei yo shōsō ya kattō no sono saki e Ride on makiokose eikō o an'un o tsukkitte tsukame shin no gunjō o        

I’m in the storm. Let fate rage Beyond impatience and conflict Ride on Unleash brilliance Pierce through the dark clouds Catch hold of the true, deep blue ***

_

aijō ni sare kare-sōna ketsui ame no kehai ni obieta hibi mo attakke ‘kanpeki’ ni kodawaru hitsuyō wa nai no sa kaze no hakobu mama dokomademo yukō         

Turning into sorrow, a withering resolve There was a time when the lurking presence of rain made [me] afraid There's no need to fuss over “perfection” Let's go wherever the wind carries us

_

I’m in the storm. fukiagare netsubō yo dōyō ya rōbai mo kate ni shite Ride on yaki tsukuse meishin o an'ei o kakkitte tsukame shin no sen'yō o          

I’m in the storm. Let the yearning rise up Use turmoil and confusion as fuel Ride on Burn away the uncertainty Pierce through the shadows Catch hold of true radiance

_

negatte sugatta kiseki nara mō hora nobotta gyōkō ni yokotawaru         

As for the miracle that [I] had wished for and clung to, look – [I’m] lying in the dawn light that [I] climbed up on

_

I’m in the storm. fukisusabe shukumei yo shōsō ya kattō no sono saki e Ride on makiokose eikō o an'un o tsukkitte tsukame shin no gunjō o terase shin no hon'nō o          

I’m in the storm. Let fate rage Beyond impatience and conflict Ride on Unleash brilliance Pierce through the dark clouds Catch hold of the true, deep blue Illuminate [your] true instincts

_

I'm in the storm.           

I am the storm.         

= = = = = = translation notes = = = = =

*  In case it’s not clear – the speaker dreamed of silence, and this dream was a nightmare.  

**  The original lyrics are written  最後の人生（たび）へ with the parentheses giving an alternate reading of 人生 – usually read ‘jinsei’ meaning of human life. Reading it as ‘tabi’ turns it into the word ‘journey.’  Therefore:  final journey = final life

***  The shade of blue described by ‘gunjō’ seems to correspond with ultramarine in English. Try searching “ultramarine pigment” for examples.

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Key points from Kaida’s commentary from his stream on 4/15/26:

Reading from his old memos, “No one retaliates against a storm, but the person who takes on that challenge would be cool”  (…)  “Ah, this probably originated from some ROF-MAO thing”

After a big storm passes, like a typhoon, the scenery is nice in its own way. The sky clears up, and the scenery that emerges after enduring the storm has a certain feel to it. Just like in life. After getting through something difficult, there’s a certain good feeling when it’s over.

So, rather than saying “There’s a storm coming, so I don’t want to do ___ anymore,” you should just dive in, give it your all, get soaked and muddy, and come out the other side laughing. That makes you the cooler person.

Message to his younger listeners who are still figuring out life: Yes, you may be covered in mud, and you may look lame and pitiful in the moment, but you can get through it, and that makes you the cool one. So step out and go for it!

[snowdust64]

ROF-MAO announcement video 5/26/26

I happened to see this within the first two hours it was posted and it is pretty big news... The auto-translated captions do a decent job, but still make some significant mistakes, so here is a short summary:

Kenmochi is leaving ROF-MAO after May 28, 2026. It sounds like the commitment as a member of ROF-MAO was limiting what else he could do, and after a long discussion that has been ongoing since last year, everyone agreed that this was for the best.

The group will do one final livestream with all four members on May 28 to send him off. Afterwards, ROF-MAO will take a break. Kagami, Kaida, and Fuwa intend to resume ROF-MAO group activities in the future.

This decision will not affect their individual activities. Kenmochi will still be making content as a Nijisanji Liver, and so will the other three. Please continue to support them all going forward.

[snowdust64]

"Cracks" - romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: JIN Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. I gave up on keeping all the line breaks consistent with the original, as the grammar was not working out at all. Translation notes at the end, labeled by numbers. Jin’s lyrics are heavy on metaphors and so very hard to capture accurately… I hope I did an okay job.

= = = = = = = = = =

tatoeru nara bokutachi wa garasu de dekite ite mabushī  sekai no taion de warete shimattanda         

To offer a metaphor, we were created from glass And, by the heat of this dazzling world, shattered

iwanai kyozetsu mo kōkai mo yuganda senbō mo sono shōtai wa tōei de kuenai anata no mono        

The unspoken rejections and regrets and distorted envy Their identity is a projection Those unpalatable things that are yours  (1) _

subarashī sekai da, hontō yume ni uenai hibi mo damarikonde tatte kitto tadashiku mawaru kyō mo         

It's a magnificent world, truly Even in the days [we] don’t hunger for dreams If [we] stand still and silent, surely It will righteously keep spinning today too _

utagatte kuzure dasu anata to dattara ‘yogoretai’ to omou         

The doubts crumble away If it’s with you, [I] think “[I] want to be stained.” _

nigotta mama   sukeru urunda mama moe dashite iru haru yori mo gōru yori mo yuganda kyō o hoshigatte          

Murky, yet transparent  (2) Soaking wet, yet bursting into flame More than the spring, more than the finish line,  (3) Yearning for this distorted today _

kumotta mama   hareru yume o miru oroka-sa dake ga kizu o utsu darō   tsutanai jinsei ni haeru kunshō o         

Clouded over, yet sunny Only the foolishness of dreaming Will cause [you] hurt Here’s a medal to shine on this humble life _

sō da

That's right _

kitto boku wa senmei na kage o oikakete itanda kon'na yonimo heibon de baka na ikikata o eranda         

Surely I was chasing after a vivid shadow Choosing, in a world like this, an ordinary and foolish way of life. _

zutto mae ni   jōdan janai tte tsuppaneta kinō o tadashiku machigaeta koto o kabai aou         

For the yesterday that [we] refused all this time, saying it’s not a joke For the things [we] rightly did wrong [Let’s] cover for each other _

utsukushiku waratta kimi o itoshiku mirenai boku o kudaranai mayoi o isshō hikizuri aruku hibi o         

To you, who smiled so beautifully To me, who can’t see [that] with affection  (4) To the days [I] walk on, forever carrying meaningless doubt _

noroi ni natte iku   kokyū ga uta ni dekinai hibi ga hiete iku   kono kodoku ni hitsuyōna ki ga shitanda          

It's turning into a curse [My] breaths, on the days they cannot make song, are turning cold [I] felt as though there was a necessity to this loneliness _

ushinatte yure madou anata no maenara ‘kawaritai’ to omou         

Lost and wavering in confusion Yet in front of you, [I] think, “[I] want to change.” _

fukanzen ni somaru fushizen ni hibiwarete iku aisu yori mo tadasu yori mo atarashiku kowashiatte          

Stained imperfectly, Unnaturally cracking and breaking apart More than loving, more than making correct, [We] smash each another anew _

nigotta mama   sukeru urunda mama moe dashite iru haru yori mo gōru yori mo chigau iro o hoshigatte          

Murky, yet transparent Soaking wet, yet bursting into flame More than the spring, more than the finish line, Yearning for a different color _

kumotta mama   hareru yume o mita oroka-sa dake ga terashi dasu darō kizu o utta mama haeru shinshō o         

Clouded over, yet sunny Only the foolishness of dreaming will illuminate it Even as [we] bear the old scars Seek the brilliant scene in [your] mind’s eye  (5)

= = = = = translation notes = = = = =

(1)  Used literally, ‘kuenai’ means that something can’t be eaten, whether because it is inedible or because something is preventing you from eating it. The word can also describe something that is unmanageably troublesome, or someone who is cunning and untrustworthy.

(2)  Translated ‘nigotta’ as ‘murky’ to distinguish it from ‘kumotta’ or ‘cloudy’ in the next verse. ‘nigotta’ usually refers to cloudy/murky water. ‘kumotta’ specifically refers to cloud cover; overcast skies.

(3)  The season of spring commonly represents a beginning, the opening to something new. Or, it can represent youth and naivety.

(4)  ‘itoshī’ is stronger than the English word ‘affection.’ This is for the people you cherish the most dearly, the people capable of causing you terrible pain if they disappeared from your life.

(5)  Pardon the incoming grammar lecture. The challenge with translating lines that end with を (o) is that this preposition is supposed to be followed by a verb – an action, acting on the noun in front of を. In song lyrics, and other poetic writing forms, the verb is often left out. What action is being done? Sometimes it’s easily inferred, other times it’s extremely vague.  Unfortunately, in English, the verb comes first. Therefore, my rough-draft translation of the last line was  ‘ [verb]  the shining scene in your mind.’ Leaving it blank is the only way to not accidentally add new meaning. But that’s hard to read, so I fill in the gaps as carefully as I can.

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Kaida’s commentary on the song from the stream on 4/15/26 after his album dropped:

Just by living on, people will end up hurting each other – putting cracks in each other. Kaida relates this to a memory of something that someone said to him 7-8 years ago that really stung at the time, but probably played a role in his growth leading up to what he has achieved since then. “I guessed something cracked inside me, at that time.” Also, he doesn’t think the same comment would stick in his mind if it were said to him nowadays.

All the things you gave up on or failed at, the things you don’t like to admit about yourself, they’re all still part of you. Cracked all over, in a mess, with all the parts of yourself that you think are ugly… It’s okay to accept yourself for who you are. We’re all just humans, full of contradictions.

The verse that begins, ‘It's turning into a curse’ – There are times when it gets hard to do the thing you committed to. For Kaida, there have been times when singing was hard to continue, or even felt like suffering, but he kept going with it. It’s not like anyone can endlessly charge forward with positivity alone. The resigned, dispassionate side of him is also important to who he is.

Jump to 43:09 in the archive for some fanboying over the very Jin-san guitar part

References used: Weblio, Kotobank

[snowdust64]

“Akaneiro No Uta” – romaji and English translation

『茜色の歌』 Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

The title means 'song of crimson.' Implied pronouns are in brackets. There are only second-person explicit pronouns throughout the lyrics, so I chose to put the whole thing in second-person as if the song is a direct message to "you."

shukudai o iyaiya katadzuketara  soto wa mō yūgure de jikangire sōda   tōku dekakeyōasatte wa       

By the time [you] begrudgingly finish [your] homework It’s already twilight outside, the time has run out Say, let's go somewhere far away The day after tomorrow  _

konna koto o omotta no wa  kimi ga ikiru no umai kara da umaku yatta hazu nanoni tsuman'na-sō ni shiteru kara da        

The reason [you] thought of this was Because you're so good at living Even though [you've] supposedly done everything right [You] look so bored doing it _

akogareta dareka ni niteru toko kasanete mo  onaji janai tte wakatta dake  yakuwari o oboeta dake        

Though [you] try to mirror the similar traits of someone [you] admired onto [yourself] All [you] realized was that [you're] still not the same [You] only memorized the obligations _

akaku sabitsuita jitensha wa  asobō yotte kubi o kashigeru  `mata kondo ne'  sore itsu darō  yakusoku nante iranai yo       

The rust-reddened bicycle tilts its head, as if asking to play "Maybe next time" And when will that be? There's no need for such things as promises _

kimi ga kimi no mama de iraremasu yōni  kanashī koto mo, machigai ja nainda yo osanai kimi no eien datta akaneiro  hon wa oboete irundeshō oide         

May you remain as you are Even the sad parts were not mistakes The crimson that spoke eternity to your childhood self The books must remember it still Come here _

yoku dekita otona no furi o shite daiji-sō ni ni o hakobu otoshitara kitto taihenda, nakami wa wasuretakedo hashiridasanai riyū bakari fueta akaku sabitsuita no wa dotchida? docchi demonai yūgure o sabishī iro de owaraseru na!       

Playing the role of a put-together adult Carrying [your] load with an air of importance Dropping it would surely cause great trouble, though [you’ve] forgotten what’s inside The reasons to not break into a run keep piling up Who is the one who has rusted red? It’s neither Don’t let the twilight end in a lonely color! _

kaze o hiita tte ureshikatta na attakai sūpu ga oishikatta na        

Catching a cold was a happy thing That warm soup tasted so good _

shukudai o iyaiya katadzuketara  soto wa mō yūgure de jikangire sōda   tōku dekakeyō  itsuka wa kyō sa       

By the time [you] begrudgingly finish [your] homework It’s already twilight outside, the time has run out Say, let's go somewhere far away Today is someday after all _

konna koto o omotta no wa  kimi ga ikiru no umai kara da  mata, hetakuso o shiyō       

The reason [you] thought of this was Because you're so good at living Let's fumble around again _

kimi ga kimi no mama de iraremasu yōni yasashī uta wa, maboroshi ja nainda yo  osanai kimi no eien datta akaneiro  hontō wa oboete irundeshō        

May you remain as you are That gentle song is no illusion The crimson that spoke eternity to your childhood self The truth is [you] still remember it, don't you? _

toshi o totta no?  eraku natta no?  nakama ga dekita no?  hitori ni natta no?  nani demo ī yo kimi wa kimi da yo  issho ni asobō  oide         

Have you grown older? Grown more respectable? Have you gained comrades?  Or ended up alone? It doesn't matter, you are you Let's play together Come here

= = = = = = = = = =

Summary of Kaida’s commentary on the song, from his stream on 4/4/26 starting around the 1-hour mark in the stream archive.

After succeeding in several large projects as a Liver, there came a point when he felt isolated from his closest friends from before he started this career. Somehow there was a difference in social status, even though he didn’t think he really changed as a person.

Giving examples of what he was trying to represent in this song: Within a company like Nijisanji, there’s pressure on the senpai Livers to be role models and act like they know what they’re doing in front of their kouhais, and there’s pressure on the kouhai Livers to not threaten the superiority of their senpais. Can’t act too confident, but need to have some confidence. It’s hard to balance expectations.

Similar thoughts on parents and teachers: They were just recently kids themselves, but now that they look after kids of their own, they suddenly feel the need to act mature and knowledgeable.

Kaida doesn’t feel like he has any great wisdom about how to properly be a Liver, or do his creative work, or be a respectable senpai. He’s still figuring it out bit by bit like anyone else. And probably everyone is like that. So, don't stress so much over playing your role perfectly.

1:13:34 – “After all, that essential core part of you hasn’t changed, so it’s fine. Just do the thing you love to do.”

[snowdust64]

“Muteki No Osama” – romaji and English translation

『むてきのおうさま』 Artist: VΔLZ Music: Genzuki Tojiro Lyrics: Kaida Haru

Translation by Snowdust64

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The title means ‘invincible king(s)’ and is written with no kanji, which is how children would first learn to read it.

Implied pronouns are in brackets. There was a lot of leeway for interpretation, so replace them as you please. Additional numbered translation notes are at the bottom, plus Kaida's commentary on the lyrics.

= = = = = = = = = =

“shojiki mono wa baka o shire” rakugaki shi ni ikō   bude o mote “nayamu nara saki mawashi” poketto no naka no hō ga daiji

“The honest ones know when they’re fools” (1) Let’s go do some graffiti, grab [your] brush “If [you’re] worrying, put it off” What’s in [your] pocket is important

gokko asobi shite   hashiri dashite kenka mo shite   tsukarete nete muteki no kizzu koso ga ō-sama

Playing make-believe, running around Getting into fights too, then going to sleep exhausted [We] invincible kids are the kings

ike! susume! koe o ageru! hi ga kureru mae ni dorodarake no fuku wa   sekai de kimi shika motte nai ōkan namida misero! iji o hare! sore ga boku daro ashi no hippariai mo go aikyō   waratte yarisugose

Go! Advance! Raise [your] voice! Before the day closes Those clothes covered in dirt are a crown belonging to no one in the world but you Show [your] tears! Stand [your] ground! That’s us, isn’t it Tripping each other up also as a charming gesture, laughing all the way through

“ganbare” ni goyōshin   ganbatteru aitsu n’ya yabu ni hebi  (2) yoku dekimashita” no gohōbi o   amai mizu dake agete sodatero (3)

Beware the saying “Do your best” – It’s a spring trap for the one already doing his best The reward of “Well done” can raise [someone] on sweet water alone

sutten korogete   dada o konete kenka mo shite   tsukarete nete ima o ikiru kizzu ga ō-sama

Tripping and falling, throwing a tantrum Getting into fights too, the going to sleep exhausted These kids living in the moment are kings

arekore toka   daresore toka   kīterarenai tobikiri no wagamama wa   sekai o ugokasu tame no ōkan (4) yoku o dase! misetsukeru no da! bokura no michi o mugamuchū wa itsuka doko ka ni   tsunagaru no sa

What’s this and that, who’s so-and-so, [I’m] sick of hearing it [My] greatest selfish whims are a crown that will move the world Be greedy! Show it off! Our path This infatuation will someday, somewhere, connect to something (5)

itsumo otona ni naru hodo   nanika o shiru hodo “dekimasen” ni naru shirazu shirazu   tsukue no oku ni jibun o kakushite

The more [I] grow up, the more [I] find out, It turns into “[I] can’t” Unknowingly, unconsciously, [I] hide [myself] behind a desk

wasurete mo mada nakushite shimatta wake ja nai hokori o kōmuttete mo   kimi no hokori da   jiman no ōkan itsu made mo   itsu ni natte mo   kodomo no mama de dakara shippai mo go aikyō   waratte hibi sugose muteki no kizzu da!

Even if it’s been forgotten, it hasn’t been lost Covered in dust but still, it’s your pride, a crown to boast Forever, no matter what time comes, staying as a child That’s why even the failures are charming – laughing all the way through [We are] invincible kids!

===== translation notes =====

(1)  The opening line is modified from the idiom, ‘shojiki mono wa baka o miru’ which means ‘The honest ones are seen as fools.’ The original idiom is based on the idea that people who are too honest will be mocked or taken advantage of. It is changed in the song to mean that honest people know when they’ve messed up / done something foolish, and can accept it and bounce back. (This is per Kaida’s explanation; scroll down for more details.)

(2)  藪に蛇 (yabu ni hebi) – Literally, ‘snake in a bush.’ To make it a more complete idiom, ‘Putting a snake in the bush,’ meaning you’re doing something unnecessary that will only cause harm later.

(3)  ‘Sweet water’ is often used as a metaphor for praise.

(4) ‘wagamama’ translates to ‘selfishness’ and sometimes ‘whim’ or ‘demand’ but is not necessarily a negative term and Kaida meant it in a positive light.

(5)  I chose ‘infatuation’ for simplicity, but to be more accurate, ‘mugamuchū’ describes being completely absorbed/engrossed in something.

Commentary on the lyrics from Kaida’s stream on 4/4/26:

To come up with a theme, VΔLZ sat down together and talked about the hardest, the most fun, and the most exciting moments in their lives. The topic came up about how kids have a certain feeling of invincibility, and they decided to write a song to celebrate this.

On the opening line of the song. (Credit to Genzuki for coming up with it.) Rather than avoiding failure at all costs, or being crestfallen when it does happen, face it honestly and head-on; take it on as a challenge.

‘If you’re worrying, put it off’ – Kaida admits he’s not the type of person who can do this at will, but Nagao gives him this advice and he finds it relieving. There are things that won’t be solved even if you worry about them now, so might as well not think about them for now. Just live in the moment and focus on what you have.

There’s something nice in the energy of kids living freely – running around, fighting with each other, and then simply falling asleep because they’re tired… doing things on a whim without really thinking it through, wishing they could have done even more before the day ended.

‘Show your tears! Stand your ground!’ – Kids easily cry, or loudly resist what they don’t like. Grown-ups don’t feel free to do either of those things… but, why not? When you feel like crying, go ahead and cry. We’re all still human, aren’t we?

‘Tripping each other up also as a charming gesture’ – Don’t worry too much about inconveniencing your peers. Tease each other, have some fun, laugh through the mistakes.

Verse 4, beginning with ‘Beware the saying “Do your best”’ – For someone already doing their best, hearing “Do your best!” may feel more upsetting than supportive. In English we tend to use the phrase “Good luck!” which does not include any personal effort… while in East Asian languages, phrases of encouragement usually involve telling people to put in more effort. Meanwhile, if you know you truly did your best at something, Kaida would like you to be okay with telling yourself, “Well done.” Regardless of what you actually accomplished. Grow yourself with that sweet water!

‘What’s this and that, who’s so-and-so’ – the nuanced grown-up worries of rules, norms, changing how you act around people who are higher on the social hierarchy than yourself, etc.

‘My greatest selfish whims’ and ‘This infatuation’ for the VΔLZ members turned out to be positive, constructive things. Because they wanted so strongly to make music on a bigger scale, they were able to eventually go on tour and so on. What started as a selfish wish has turned into more than Kaida ever imagined before becoming a Vtuber.

Last verse: Just because you’re grown up now doesn’t mean you no longer can feel that childlike urge to take on a challenge, or live freely. Don’t be restricted by the title of ‘parent’ or ‘senpai’ or ‘teacher’ or so on. Go back to being a kid whenever. Make a commotion over an inconsequential game because it’s fun, the way plenty of 30-something-year-old Livers do. If you experience a failure, don’t let it take away from the fun of your life. That’s what make you an invincible kid.

[snowdust64]

"Kimi no Yume" – romaji and English translation

Artist: Tamanoi Nana Music and lyrics: Genzuki Tōjirō Translation by Snowdust64

==========

The original Japanese title is 『君の夢』 which can be translated as “your dream” or “a dream about you” and based on the lyrics, I think the latter is more accurate… but you can decide for yourself.

There is a clear “I” and “you” named in these lyrics, so I interpreted the song in first-person. However, some lines are still unclear about who is the subject vs object. Additional translation notes at the bottom.

==========

dōshite darou boku ga kimi o suki ni natte hajimete no kanshoku oboetanda        

I wonder why, when I fell in love with you I recalled a certain sensation for the first time

rikutsu de wa mada wakaranai kedo sore dake fuan ni omotteita no ka         

I still don’t know the reason, but Just for that, I felt uneasy

suki de shikatanai no

I love you so I can’t help it

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda boku hitori dake o oite itte sekai no chūshin wa boku ni wa hiro sugitanda nakiwameite mo koe ga todoku koto mo nai sekai no owari ni         

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving me all alone The center of the world is too vast for me Even if I cry and wail, it won’t reach anyone At the end of the world,

sotto kisu o shita kibun datta         

It felt like you softly kissed me *

itsukara darou boku ga kimi o suki ni natte nandome no o wakare mukaeru no mo ikutsu no yoru o koete iketara sore dake demo ī to omoeta noni         

When, I wonder, did I start to like you Though I’m faced with the parting countless times If I could endure that many nights, I thought that would be enough

kanashibari ni atte umaku waraenakute iki mo taedae ni ukabu wa kōkai bakarida itoshikiri naite wasurerareru nara dore dake raku ni nareta darou         

In sleep paralysis, I couldn’t smile properly What floats up on my gasping breaths is nothing but regret If I could cry for a while and forget about it, Wouldn’t that be so much easier?

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda kokoro o karappo ni shite oite shiawase ni natte ne tte oshitsukerunda myakuutsu uchi wa te o nigireru koto mo nai sekai-goto owatte shimae yo         

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving my heart empty I’m pressured to “find happiness” ** So long as mine has a pulse, I can’t even hold your hand Let’s put an end this world

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda boku hitori dake o oite itte sekai no chūshin wa boku ni wa hiro sugitanda nakiwameite mo koe ga todoku koto mo nai sekai no owari ni        

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving me all alone The center of the world is too vast for me Even if I cry and wail, it won’t reach anyone At the end of the world,

sotto kisu o shita kibun datta         

It felt like you softly kissed me

===== translation notes =====

*  This line, which is repeated at the end, does not have an explicit subject or object. I put what flowed most naturally from the previous verse, but you could also choose: - “It felt like I was softly kissed” - “It felt like I had softly kissed you” - “It felt like we softly kissed”

**  (Previously explained in multiple of my translations.) ‘shiawase’ is ‘happiness’, but not the short-lived emotion we use the word ‘happy’ for. It describes an overarching contentedness with life in general, separate from each little up and down you may feel from moment to moment.

[snowdust64]

AGATTA – romaji and English translation

Artist: ROF-MAO Original lyrics: OHTORA Translation by Snowdust64 ==========

About the title and refrain.  一丁上がり (icchō agari) is a common phrase indicating that something has been completed, solved, made better, etc. In the refrain, イッチョ(iccho) AGATTA sounds like the past tense of that. Meanwhile, ‘agari’ by itself literally means to raise something up. In the context of concerts, it’s used in phrases like ‘raise the excitement.’ So, along with the next line, ブチ (buchi) AGATTA, my understanding of the refrain is basically, ‘We did it! We raised it way up!’  And thus I'm leaving the verse without line-by-line translations. There’s not much else to translate.

Formatting: Implied pronouns are in brackets. If the text is in bold, then the words were originally written in English. I didn’t change any of the capitalization.

Scroll to the end for a few more footnotes.

==========

kūzenzetsugo no pātītaimu jiyū honpōna sutōrīrain uchōten-gimi demo mu mondai Maji chō shiagatte ōsawagi

An unprecedented party time A free-spirited storyline Nothing wrong with being ecstatic A really huge commotion to finish it out

itemotattemo iraren burūki tonda sajikagen asu no koto nanka shinpai nē ima no uchi kangae toko īwake

[I] can’t stay still A spoonful loaded with blue energy * No worries about tomorrow [I'll] think up some excuses now

mā, toriaezu tsuite kina kuchi Chuck Chuck ya tsubekobe iinasan’na shinogono kaibutsu-teki kirāchūn de mimi Jack Jack ya sa sureba kokochi ten ni mo noboru

Well, for now, just follow [us], Chuck Chuck ya Don't fuss over the details This monster tune will blow [your] ears, Jack Jack ya For enough of a sensation to float [you] to heaven

chūmoku-do pikaichi   ore-ra taifū no me iron wa mitomen   nomikome   gū no ne kansoku shijō saidai shunkan fūsoku umarete kono kata   shuen-dan yū-shō genki hatsuratsu?!   nan-hekutopasukaru?

Super popular, we're the eye of the storm Won’t acknowledge objections, swallow it, be speechless The highest instantaneous windspeed ever recorded Born to be the greatest lead actor Energetic and lively!? How many hectopascals?

Brah ta tanoshinda mon kachi no Paradise hare nochi hare kaku de Foo genkai kyōkō toppa de Dancing time tobinore jōshō kiryū

Brah ta, really having fun, victory’s Paradise Sunny day after sunny day guaranteed  Foo Break through the limits   Dancing time Leap up and ride the updraft

iccho AGATTA!! AGATTA TA TA buchi AGATTA!! HI GOTCHA!! iccho AGATTA!!

ukanaikao hora saikin dō? erā bakka de chaunara, sakidō! mu kanjō wa o kanjō   kikai seijin-kan toka nantoka bot No no no... son'na koto yori asobō yo

That’s a gloomy face there, how’ve [you] been lately? If it’s all full of errors, restart it! Apathy is a bill**, a human-like robot or some sort of bot No no no... Let's play instead

HI GATCHA! ! ima kono shunkan ni isshō-bun no shiawase o tatakikome HI GATCHA! ! shiroku-ji-chū   jinsei migikata agari   I got it I got it

HI GATCHA!! Right now, this moment, pour in a lifetime's worth of happiness HI GATCHA!! Life is on the uptrend 24 hours a day ***   I got it I got it

karappo ni natte kyōki ranbu netsu ni ukasare o kiraku subete o dōzo sarakedase odori kurue   kanpu naki made ey ey

Becoming empty, dancing wildly Rising into fever, take it easy Go ahead and expose it all Dance like crazy until you're completely spent, ey ey

doko made mo kyūjōshō hatameku tsubasa itadaku marugoto natchau sūpāsutā?

Beating wings that will soar up endlessly Can [I] become a superstar that takes it all?

hashi kara hashi made ikioi buttonderu afuren bakari no enerugī  You know me? abarero   uzumaki   issei fūbi kono kagayaki wa yuiitsu muni genki hatsuratsu?! nan-hekutopasukaru?

Flying with mad momentum from one end to the other, Energy that just overflows,   You know me? [Let’s] go wild, chaos, popular for a whole generation This shine is one like no other Energetic and lively!? How many hectopascals?

Brah ta tanoshinda mon kachi no Paradise hare nochi hare kaku de Foo genkai kyōkō toppa de Dancing time tobinore jōshō kiryū

Brah ta, really having fun, victory’s Paradise Sunny day after sunny day guaranteed  Foo Break through the limits   Dancing time Leap up and ride the updraft

iccho AGATTA!! AGATTA TA TA buchi AGATTA!! HI GOTCHA!! iccho AGATTA!!

taikiken totsunyū de Climax zenbu futtoba se Foo darekare kamawazu   Gotta have fun oikaze norikonase

Climax with atmospheric entry Blow everything away Foo Doesn’t matter who's there   Gotta have fun Ride the tailwind

iccho AGATTA!! AGATTA TA TA buchi AGATTA!! HI GOTCHA!! iccho AGATTA!!

===== translation notes =====

*  Mmm still stumped on this line. I broke down the words, searched Google, searched Weblio, and I still have zero confidence in what I finally wrote. Anyone with insight, please advise!

**  ‘bill’ as in a receipt or invoice; a tally of the cost of something.

***  右肩上がり (migikata agari) means increasing, trending upwards, etc. The words are literally ‘right shoulder going up.’ Where does this come from? On a graph, if the x-axis is time and the right side (or right shoulder) of the graph is going up, then the thing being measured is trending up.

I suppose this song, like a lot of ROF-MAO’s songs, is meant to be fun more than it is meant to have a clear meaning. There is wordplay, alliteration, and probably slang that I didn’t pick out. Any feedback would be appreciated!

[snowdust64]

A few months ago I was checking if anyone had translated "AGATTA" by ROF-MAO and came away with this maddening screenshot:

Excuse me?? Since when have I posted such misinformation?

I tried again today and it did a better job, but–

So now I'm the only linked reference, yet most of the AI Overview is stuff I've never written. I have not translated this song yet. (I do plan to.)

I'm not sure how much the AI result varies by location, so maybe this doesn't show up for everyone. But I just felt like venting a little. Please don't think that I think the ROF-MAO members are Kuzuha, Kanae, Rikka, and Shu Yamino...

[snowdust64]

"Koe No Tabi" – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music, lyrics, arrangement: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

Title approximately means ‘journey of a voice.’ Implied pronouns are in brackets. Translation notes at the end.

==========

ima mo kikoeru kai * mahō oboeteiru kai

Can [you] still hear [it]? Do [you] still remember the magic?

daremo ga sugisatta rojiura ni kimi dake ga tatazumu hi ga kuru asahi wa tomurai, soretomo yume dōka omoidashite kono uta o

In the alleys that everyone passes by There comes a day when only you are standing there Is the morning sun a funeral, or perhaps a dream? Please, remember this song

nani mo motazu hate e mukau tabi wa munashikatta ka boku wa sō omowanai

Approaching the end empty-handed Is such a journey a waste? I don’t believe so

boku no koe o hanasazu ni ite kyō no hitori o akiramenaide boku mo kimi mo kore hodo ni yowai dakara soba ni   soba ni aritai

Don't let go of my voice Don’t give up while [you’re] alone today You and I are both so very weak That's why [I] want to stay by [your] side

doko kara o hajimari to yobu no ka nanji made tomoni waraeru no ka shizukanaru toki no ressha ga iku yasuragi ni nita obie o nose

From what point do [we] call the beginning? Until what time can [we] laugh together? The train of time goes on and turns quiet Carrying an apprehension that resembles peace

kokoro ni wa furubita hanataba kimidake ga kikoeru kowakatta ne, itakatta ne, zutto itsumade mo inoriaō sore wa mahō de sore wa omajinai sore wa tada, bokura no uta

In [your] heart is an old flower bouquet Which only you can hear It was scary and painful, wasn’t it? Always  ** Let's pray for each other forever That is the magic That is the charm That is, simply, our song

boku no koe o hanasazu ni ite kyō no hitori o akiramenaide kimi yo   hikari o yamenaide kure boku no koe o namenaide kure!

Don't let go of my voice Don’t give up while [you’re] alone today It’s you   Don’t stop shining Don’t underestimate my voice!

toki o koete   uta ni hisonde soba ni aru yo   mata au hi made

Transcending time, instilled into song [I am] at your side   Until the day we meet again

===== translation notes =====

*  The kanji used for ‘kikoeru’ or ‘hear/listen’ has the connotation of listening attentively, such as what one would do in the audience of a performance.

**  Here, the word ‘always’ (from ‘zutto’) could go with the line it is in, or it could be strung into the next. It is not clearly in past tense or future tense.

==========

Summary of Kaida’s commentary from his listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting from 2:52:07 in the YouTube archive video:

This song was made to be the grand finale, the final episode, etc. As he said earlier in the stream, he created the songs in this album with the intent of performing them in a live concert. With this last song, he wanted to capture that combination of ‘Wow, that was really fun!’ and the slightly lonely sadness of ‘Aw, it’s over.’ That feeling that concertgoers have on the train or bus or car, as they head home after an awesome concert and get ready to go back to work as usual the next day. “But that’s exactly how you know it was a good concert.”

Looking ahead to the live concerts still coming up within this year: “It’s my selfish wish, but […] I hope you’ll enjoy them enough that you feel this way afterward.”

For Kaida, it is similar to the feeling he has toward the release of this self-produced album being the completion of the project. But that makes it the best time to start looking ahead to the next project. The next album. It’s an ending, but it’s also a beginning. So, you can be a little sad after one concert ends, but you can also start feeling excited about the next concert to come.

Theme: magic of voice. “I hope my music, my songs, may be like magic for all of you. […] I hope you will believe that music is magic.”

Comments from Horie Shota (for all the songs he was involved in): “Congratulations on the release of Magic. As an album producer, I took a journey with Kaida-san in writing lyrics, composing and arranging music for a variety of songs. His love, devotion, and fervent hope for music are the real thing, so such a profound album title suits him well. The many thoughts I had were too numerous to write here, and I’ve written them in the album so I hope you may enjoy it along with his sincerity. I was very happy to have worked together on this, thank you!”

3:03:58 – “Really, he helped me out a lot. I don’t think I could have put out an album if the person Horie Shota did not exist. Not even the first step would have gotten done. Our meeting was truly life-changing.”

[snowdust64]

 “Hajimari no Wake o” – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music, lyrics, arrangement: Shirokami Mashiro Translation by Snowdust64

==========

Yes, I did my own translation! I'm replacing the link in my translations directory with this one. It’s been months since I read anyone else's translation of this song, so I think I was able to start with a clean slate.

Not a line-for-line translation. Implied pronouns are in brackets and probably will differ from other people’s interpretations. Notes and song commentary at the end.

==========

kuchibiru o kandara me o tojite sore kara umaku ikanai riyū o kazoeteta mu kandō, rōhi shite iku kon'na hazu janai hibi no kōkai o shirime ni susumu aitsu no sei janai      

As [I] bit my lip And closed [my] eyes [I] started counting the reasons why it wasn’t going well Apathetic, wasting it all Only sparing a sideways glance for the regret that life wasn’t supposed to be like this As [I] continue – Isn’t it that guy’s fault? *

shujinkōzen to shita jishin ya kataru niataisuru sutōrī mottenai kara shikatanai demo akirametakunai toka jichō-gimi ni shika waraenai nanimo kamo īwake mitaide     

The confidence of a main character Or a story worth telling [I] don’t have either, can’t be helped But [I] can only laugh at myself For not wanting to give up and so on Everything sounds like an excuse

kioku ni nokoru yōni kotoba ni imi ga yadoru yōni yume no tō-sa ni me ga kurande omoidasu ano hi no koto ippo susunde wa modotte aikawarazu na hibi no sono, hajimari no koto o     

May [I] remain in memories May [my] words hold meaning When the distance to [my] dreams is dizzying Remember back to that day To how it all began These unchanging days of Taking one step forward and falling one step back

fugainai shōtai o satorarenai yōni kataru jiron mo seiron mo kokkei de kachimake janai toka itte oite are mo kore mo shōhai o kinishiten no ga shōbun da nante sa     

So that [my] pathetic true self Will not be revealed [I] speak opinions and ideologies that are ridiculous Insisting things like “it’s not about winners and losers” But it’s [my] nature after all To worry over winning or losing in everything

dakyō jōho issai shinaide ariamaru sainō o kakezute sore kurai janai to imi nai? demo akiramerarenai yo na `ima ni miteiro, kore kara' dare ni tomo naku koe ni shite     

Don’t make a single compromise or concession Spend [my] abundant talent as [I] go If [I] can’t do even that, isn’t it meaningless? But [I] still don’t want to give up “Just watch [me], from here on out” [I] declare to no one in particular

itsuka no yume ga sukoshi chikadzuku tabi hateshinai koto o shirazu ni irarenai aikawarazu sa kioku ni nokoru yōni kotoba ga todoku yōni tameiki o aiseru yōni     

Every time those dreams of someday Gradually draw closer [I] can’t possibly not know That it’s endless It’s unchanging May [I] remain in memories May [my] words be conveyed May [my] sighs be loved **

anata mo yume o kitto akiramezu iraremasu yōni yume no tō-sa ni me ga kurande furikaeru hi ga atte mo ippo susunde wa modotte aikawarazu na bokura no koto o tagai ni inorō     

May you also go on Without giving up on your dreams When the distance to [your] dreams is dizzying Even if there are days you have to start over Taking one step forward and falling one step back Let us pray for each other That we may remain our unchanging selves

kinō yori susundatte seizei rei-ten ichi pāsento kokoro ga ore-sō nante īzurai kedo tamani wa ī yo kitto ī yo wasure-yō mo nai deshō hajimari no wake o     

[I’ve] moved forward since yesterday But only by 0.1% Though it may be difficult to say [my] spirit is about to crumble Sometimes that’s fine Surely it will be fine After all, there’s no way [I’ll] forget it The reason for beginning

===== translation notes =====

*  Based on the MV, the speaker is blaming his peers for his own lack of success.

**  I kept the implied pronouns consistent and used first-person, but myself, I always end up hearing ‘May even your sighs be loved.’ (And this made me cry the first time I listened to the song.) So, substitute the pronouns as you prefer.

==========

Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting from 2:36:15 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of beginning

Directly opposite to “Oblivion,” this song is about trying with all your might to leave something behind and be remembered. “When I die, I’d like to leave something tangible behind. That’s what I was trying to say.” For Kaida, it’s the reason why he started making music.

Reflecting on his past self: At age 20 he was often blaming his lack of success on other people, and when he had these thoughts he also resented himself for it. There are still times he has thoughts that he feels guilty about, though they come much less frequently than before. But throughout it all, he kept reminding himself of the reason why he started making music in the first place.

2:39:40 – “So, ‘Though it may be difficult to say my spirit is about to crumble,’ and so on… there were lots and lots of moments like that.”

2:40:15 – “The theme was exposing your all. Your bare self. […] Not really forgiving yourself, but setting yourself free.”

Before Kaida became a Liver, there were plenty of things that didn’t go well for him. He did feel like he was counting the reasons why things weren’t going the way he wanted, and gradually his daily life became uninteresting. Every day seemed dull. For him, what changed everything was starting his career as a Liver. But he still thinks about other people who are living in that endless cycle of the same grind every day.

2:42:50 – “You all say a lot about me working really hard, […] how being in two units and doing solo activities is impressive. […] Treating me like some amazing person. Everyone says that. […] Recently I’ve come across some people who are saying, ‘I want to be like Kaida.’ But in the end, I don’t think of myself as that amazing of a person. You know? It’s like this: Maybe that’s how it looks right now, but if you turn back time just a little, it was actually like this. So, I’m the same as all of you. I really wanted to get that across in this song.”

In the days when you’re making tiny progress and taking a step forward and backward over and over, he hopes you will remember your goal, remember what you wanted to do. When you don’t see yourself as some amazing person, why was it again that you wanted so much to do that thing? When you forget your reason for continuing the daily grind, when you’re in a slump and have a low opinion of yourself, may this song lift you up.

Comments from Shirokami Mashiro: “Congratulations on the release of your new album! From the first time I listened to this album, I was moved both as a musician and a listener by the balance between earnest feelings, wishes, and humor, and the overflowing love for music that runs throughout. I am honored to have participated in this work in various ways, from providing an original song to (being involved in) recording. And, it was a rare and precious joy to get to see the MV for ‘Hajimari No Wakewo’ reaching so many people! Together, Kaida-san and I poured our hearts into every note, character, and sound. I believe this album, which is turning out to be a huge project, will show a whole new side of him. May everyone enjoy it.”

Mashiro-san was present for a lot of the recording sessions. He was super helpful. “Really, he’s like a big brother. […] Mashiro-san’s passion for music is incredible. That’s why I felt like I really wanted to make music with this person.”

Kaida has been close with Mashiro-san for a while and finds him really easy to talk to. He has confided in him in rough times, including about challenges VΔLZ was facing as a group.

[snowdust64]

"Winning Game" - romaji and English translation

Music and lyrics: Kaida Haru Arrangement: Genzuki Tōjirō and Natsume Yuki

Since this is a short song, I am separating the romaji and English. Implied pronouns are in brackets, and for this song, I think you could reasonably substitute them with just about any perspective.

= = = = = = = = = =

sakamaku tsuchikemuri ni koboreta ase kawaite kieteiku semishigure to sairen no oto ni kono natsu e omoi o hasete

nando mo yume mite kuzurete koko ni iru shinji tsudzuketa jibun ga

moyase bukkakō demo oresō demo hitomi dake wa sorasenai michisuji no saki ni hikari o mite sā futeki ni warae makeru shiai janai gyakkyō de koso susumu saikō no keshiki o tsukame

= = = = = = = = = =

The sweat spilled into the swirling dust Dries and disappears Sounds of droning cicadas and sirens Bring a rush of thoughts of this summer

So many times over [I] chased dreams and they collapsed, but here [I] am [Myself], who continued to believe

Let it blaze, even if it's clumsy, or seems like it might fall apart [I] won't avert my eyes Look to the light at the end of the path Now, smile fearlessly, this isn't a match [we] can lose Advance in the face of adversity And seize the greatest view

[snowdust64]

heehee I moved the decorations to my bedroom door

The context for this random thing? I, um, posted a violin cover of "Shiny Sunny Step" to my YouTube channel and these paper decorations were in the backdrop.

It was recorded with my phone, the quality is crap... but I'm happy that I actually worked up the courage to do it, so —

cheers to stepping out of my comfort zone  :)

[snowdust64]

“Oblivion” – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music & lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets; I used first- and second-person singular. Notes and commentary at the end.

==========

ai no kansei to wa   sore o wasureru koto boku ga itta ka   anata datta ka yoru no mukō ni   futari de ikenai koto o itsukara ka kidzuiteita no deshō    

Love is complete when it is forgotten Did I say that, or was it you? The two of us cannot go beyond the night together At some point, [you] must have realized that

dakara anata ni mahō o kakeru yo me ga sametara   waratte     

So [I’ll] cast a spell on you When you wake up, smile

anata o omoeba   kinō ga aru anata wa sotto   aruki hajimeru sore o boku no shiawase to shita mune ni itetsuku itami no naka no kodokuna uchū ni anata ga iru sayonara no naka ni anata ga iru son'na himitsu o chikatta      

If [I] think of you, there is a yesterday * You softly begin to walk I made that my happiness Inside the freezing pain in my chest In that lonely universe, you are there In the goodbye, you are there On that secret [I] made a vow **

onaji kimochi to jikan chikadzukeba atataka na hi boku wa mō sugu kiechau kedo anata no shiawase ni narezu tomo kanashimi o hitotsu ubai sareru to shitara sore ga hokorashī   ureshī      

Shared feelings and time, if [you] draw close, they’re a warm fire Though I will disappear soon Even if [I] can’t become your happiness If [I] can take just one sorrow away [I] would be proud and glad for it

anata no mukō ni ashita ga aru soko ni boku mo irareta nara son'na hanashi o umarekawattara anata to shitai      

On the other side of you, there is tomorrow If I could be there If I were reborn, I’d like to talk about that with you

mienaku natte mo furerarenaku natte mo kikoenaku natte mo anata ni mahō o tonaeru yo waratteite    

Even if [you] can no longer see [me] Even if [you] can no longer touch [me] Even if [you] can no longer hear [me] I’ll keep reciting this spell for you Keep smiling

anata o omou kinō ni naru anata no shiranai hajimari ni naru sore o boku no shiawase to shita mune ni itetsuku itami no naka no kodoku na uchū ni anata ga iru sayonara no naka ni anata ga iru boku ga ita    

I think of you, and it becomes yesterday Unknown to you, it becomes a beginning I made that my happiness Inside the freezing pain in my chest In that lonely universe, you are there In the goodbye, you are there And I was there

===== translation notes =====

*  In place of ‘there is a yesterday,’ I considered writing ‘then yesterday existed,’ but it felt too strongly worded for some reason. After all my revisions, the word 'exist' does not appear anywhere in my translation, and this stays faithful to the original lyrics so I am satisfied.

**  As in, ‘I vowed to keep that secret’

==========

Summary of Kaida’s commentary from his listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 2:22:43 in the YouTube archive video:

theme: magic of memory (but also the magic of oblivion, as the title says)

Kaida asked Horie Shota to make this song like telling a story. The speaker is gradually fading away.

2:26:46 – “Well, it is sad, but ‘please forget about me completely and live on in happiness’ is what it’s saying. ‘That would be the happiest thing for me, or so I made it to be.’ Of course it’s bitter, being forgotten and disappearing. […] even so, still wishing for the other person’s happiness, for them to not feel sad over it.”

2:27:32 – In the first chorus, the lines ‘On that secret / I made a vow’ have a long pause in the middle. The flickering instrumentals that fill the space represent restless thoughts, lingering regrets, in the speaker’s mind.

2:25:05 – “Lately, I’ve been feeling more afraid of death… haha, what do you mean, this is too sudden?”  (note: in an earlier stream he talked about how, after turning 30, he suddenly felt like death was a lot nearer.)  “For example, tomorrow, something could suddenly happen and cause you to die. Is that not scary? Suddenly getting struck by lightning, or… suddenly falling from a cliff, etc. Things like that can’t be helped.” In the midst of accumulating more and more precious things – getting to work with fellow creators, growing a listener base, enjoying what he does – “the idea of reaching the end of one’s life is extremely scary.”

Naturally, he would prefer not to outlive the people around him because it’s sad to be the one left behind. On the flip side, if he had to die first, he wouldn’t like to be forgotten, but if being forgotten would allow someone to be happy then maybe it would be better that way. “Rather than forgetting, I would prefer to be forgotten. Maybe that’s the way to put it.”

2:33:03 – “Within people’s memories… Even if you’ve been forgotten, the things that you’ve done will remain somehow. […] Even if it’s intangible, something will remain.”

[snowdust64]

“Saredo Hoshi No Kagayaki Wo Shiru” – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Music & lyrics: H△G Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. Line counts do not match for this one, and while I tried to preserve the original punctuation, it didn’t always work in English. Pardon the differences. Scroll to the end for Kaida’s songwriting commentary.

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kakurenbo shita machi no koto natsukashimu yōni hanasu boku no shigusa o mite kimi wa, kawaranai ne to waratteita    

Watching me speak nostalgically about the town where we played hid-and-seek, you said ‘You haven’t changed’ with a laugh

makkura de nani mo nai yoru. kirei na yakei mo kirameki mo nai. saredo kawari ni hoshi no kagayaki o shiru.    

The night is pitch black and empty. No pretty nightscape and nothing sparkling. But instead, [we] get to know the brilliance of the stars.

natsu no mahō ga bokura no koto o, isogiashi de otona ni shite mo. surimuita hizakozō wa ima mo, kawarazu ni kizuato o nokoshita mama.    

Even if the magic of summer makes us grow up in a hurry Unchanging, the scars on our scraped kneecaps have remained even now

hoshi uranai bakari kimi wa kinishiteru keredo, kitto mirai ya asu no koto nante, jibun de kiri hiraku mono.   nē, sōdaro?    

You're always paying close attention to your horoscope, but Surely the future and tomorrow are things that [we] have to carve out [ourselves.] Hey, isn’t that right?

“kawarenai” no dewa naku, “kawaranai” to kimeta kono yoru noni to, kore kara mo wasurenai yo.    

It’s not that “[I] can’t change,” [I] decided that “[I] won’t change” this night, And neither will [I] ever forget it from now on.

natsu no mahō ga bokura no koto o, isogiashi de otona ni shite mo. surimuita hizakozō wa ima mo, kasabuta no manma da.    

Even if the magic of summer makes us grow up in a hurry The scrapes on [our] kneecaps are still just scabs.

hoshi no shashin ga umaku torezu, shikametsura o shiteiru kimi ni. toke hajimeta aisukurīmu ga, hora natsu no hajimari tsugeteru yozora no shita de.    

To you, who frowned because you couldn't take a good photo of the stars. Under the night sky, the ice cream starting to melt is signaling the start of summer.

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Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 2:09:47 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of light. Instead of a bright beaming light that purifies everything, it’s a warm and sparkling light that illuminates your surroundings. 2:10:42 - live chat: “Like lumos?”   Kaida:  “… Not quite.”

In Kaida's opinion, the phrases ‘our scraped kneecaps’ and ‘the ice cream starting to melt’ are super nostalgic on their own. The song flows sort of like a conversation.

Keywords for the songwriting process: sparkling, brilliance of youth, feels like we could even fly in the sky, refreshing, hope, facing forward, starry night sky, dazzle, constellations

To the young people who are waiting for some special moment to happen, he would like to say that the moment is right now. Like during summer break, when your friends come over to play and it’s turned into nighttime, and the ice cream you bought on the way home is melting. Or you’re going home after club activities, eating ice cream together, and the ice cream starts to melt. This is the moment!

2:15:39 – “But… I’m already a grown-up. And there are probably many grown-ups among my listeners. Lots of grown-ups for whom that moment has passed. Those people, when they remember back to those times, will think, ‘ah, those were really nice memories.’ […] ‘Those moments were truly like lights shining inside me’ but they’re never going to come back again, those moments! That is how they dazzle.”

“Remembering a bit and chuckling, and thinking ‘Ah, those were fun times. Let’s do our best tomorrow too.’ That feeling.” With your heart warmed by those memories, maybe it will be a little easier to go to work again tomorrow.

2:19:13 – This summer, Kaida would like the grown-ups among his listeners to go out on a veranda and eat ice cream and listen to this song. “Grown-ups who have gotten worn out by society, do this.”  Also, for those who are parents, you can include your kids in this activity. Please take some time to feel nostalgic about your childhood.

To the listeners who are still in their teenage years: Listen to this song again ten years from now and the meaning will probably change for you. “You’ll think, oh, this is what Kaida was talking about.”

Comments from H△G (note: this is a music group, not an individual): “We are very happy to hear that we were personally nominated by the man himself! This original song “Saredo Hoshi no Kagayaki Wo Shiru” was created in Kaida’s image. It’s a song not about being unable to change, but about a night you decide that you will not change. Please give it a listen.”

[snowdust64]

“Blue Mythology” – romaji and English translation

Artist: Kaida Haru Original lyrics: buzzG Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets; I used first- and second-person to fill them in. Translation notes and commentary at the bottom.

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shīkyūshīkyū   ano koro no hoshi mo “sainō ga nai.” to hikutsu na egao mo heichūheichū   nanimokamo norotta boku ga boku o sagasenai yōni    

CQ CQ  The stars back then * And the submissive smile saying, “[I] don’t have the talent.” Hate you, hate you – [I] cursed everything So that I wouldn’t search for myself

son'na ikuji nashi ga tomosu aoi honō ga kimi no te o gyutto nigitteiru    

The blue flame lit by someone so timid is Holding on to your hand tightly

utai tsunaida hi ga  hibi ga ** nibi iro no kōkai ga shinzō o ugokashiteite mahō hitotsu te ima kimi no honogurai sekai-goto kaerareya shinai kedo soba ni iru  nē  sono te o nobashite yo

The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and Dim regrets are causing [my] heart to stir A single spell won’t change the entirety of the dark world you’re in now, but [I’m] at your side, hey, reach out [your] hand

mēdēmēdē   kimi no yobu koe ga hikūtei de tabi ni deru to shiyō

Mayday mayday, your voice calls out Let's go on a journey by airship

kitai-gayoi ni ikanai koto ga kitai-dōri-sugi de waraeru ne seikaiju wa kare  hakujitsu wa kakure  ankoku no saki o susumō ze     

Isn’t it laughable how things not going as expected is exactly what’s expected The world tree has withered, the bright sun is hidden, let's continue on past this darkness

yowasa datte kakusanakute ī yo boku ni sotto misete  sono kagayaki    

[You] don’t have to hide [your] weaknesses Just softly show me [your] radiance

mahō mo nai  kiseki mo nai  risetto botan mo nai kono hoshi ga suki da yo kimi ga kimi o sagashidaseru yōni omajinai o kaketa yo    

There's no magic, no miracles, and no reset button, but [I] love this planet [I've] cast a spell so that you can find yourself

aoi mama no boku de katarō  mikan no shinwa o kono mama saishū-ban made    

Let’s talk while I’m still in my youth,*** all the way to the final episode of this unfinished mythology

utai tsunaida hi ga  hibi ga asagi-iro no tenmei ga  shinzō o ugokashiteite kodō futatsu de hora  kimi no honogurai sekai demo dōshiyō mo naku itoshī yo hibikiau  ekō  itai kurai saewatare    

The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and A light blue destiny are causing [my] heart to stir With two hearts beating together, see? Even your dark world Is so hopelessly dear Resonating together, echoes, so clear and pure that it hurts

osore nagara  kudake nagara  seiza o yubi de nazorō mayoi nagara  tomadoi nagara  bokura dake no shinwa o egaite   

Even as we’re feeling afraid and broken, let’s trace constellations with our fingers Even as we get lost and confused, we’ll paint our own mythology

===== translation notes ====

*  CQ CQ is an abbreviation used in radio signaling. (Look up ‘cqcq ham radio’ for more info.) It is basically a call out to anyone listening, in hopes of getting a reply.

** The original kanji of this line is 歌い繋いだ灯が ヒビが and it is sung here with the same pronunciation as 歌い繋いだ日が 日々が. 日 (hi) refers to a single day and 日々 (hibi) is more like a time period of daily life. These words are replaced with ‘light’ and ‘cracks.’

***  ‘aoi’ literally is blue or a blue-green color, but it is also used to describe youth, or the associated naivety or inexperience. Also in this line, ‘katarō’ does translate to ‘talk’ but it implies more of a free-flowing conversation.

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Commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 1:56:33 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of fire/flame

Music, lyrics, and arrangement by buzzG

“Ever since he provided VΔLZ with ‘Moonwalkers,’ a certain idea took shape in my mind. I want to sing a solo song by buzzG like this! – is what I thought, and straight from that feeling, this song came out.”

2:00:52 – “I initially wanted to convey endurance, willpower, and so on… tough situations as well as opportunities. A down-to-earth, unbreakable spirit. Those were the words I came up with at the beginning. So, in my mind, it was a searing hot flame. You get what I mean? It was a red fire.”  He draws a comparison to the blazing fires of intense anime characters when they make a comeback in a hard battle, for example Endeavor (from My Hero Academia), when everything is flaring up and exploding. “But in buzzG’s mind, it was a flame that was blue and quiet, yet super high temperature.” Kaida thought that was really cool way to conceptualize it, so they went with buzzG’s version.

2:03:52 – “This part, ‘There’s no magic, no miracles, and no reset button, but I love this planet,’ this sentence had a lot of care put into it. […] This being a song about magic and all, saying that there is no magic within a song about magic felt like it had a deeper meaning.”  “No miracles, no reset button. No do-overs. Even so, I love the present moment. So, even if magic does not exist in this world, music is magic. That’s how I felt in regard to this song. This song is magic, in a magic-less world.”

2:05:36 – “I might just be selfishly making presumptions here, but…” The two lines from the song, ‘The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and / A light blue destiny are causing [my] heart to stir’ really, really resonated with him. “I thought, this is… my song! [...] I really superimposed myself onto these two lines.”

Comments from buzzG: “Kaida-san, first, congratulations on your album release. In this project, I was in charge of ‘Blue Mythology.’ I felt that if Kaida-san and I were to create ‘magic,’ it would not be some supernatural phenomenon, nor a miracle that overturned everything in an instant, but like a quiet flame that, in the middle of the day-to-day, someone suddenly notices is softly warming them. May Kaida’s songs, which are spun together like dropping ink into clear water, or like reading a story, gently bring color to someone’s days.”

Final thoughts from Kaida: In the midst of difficult times, as you buckle down and endure it, don’t forget what’s truly important to you. Protect the things you hold dear and continue forward.  “I hope you may live on without extinguishing that flame burning inside you.”

[snowdust64]

“Raimei” – romaji and English translation

「雷命」 Artist: Kaida Haru Original lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

The title approximately translates to ‘thunderous life.’ However, when 命 is read as ‘mei’ it can also mean ‘fate’ or ‘command.’

Implied pronouns in brackets with my best guesses. The repeating phrase, ‘rai rai rai rai’ is just ‘thunder’ x4, and I left it out to save space. Translation notes and commentary at the bottom.

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kiyari-goe   tsuranare tada karidashite uta ni natte bikabika ni mazariau enrō ze     

In kiyari voice, unite * Just rush out and make song Flashing brightly, blend together [Let’s] live it up **

ikiatari battari nayandeiru ka yonabe  kubete   asa ni shikararete sono kodoku ni ibasho wa naku nakedo nakedo   kasure-goe    

Haphazardly feeling worried Eating hotpot at night, getting scolded in the morning Within that loneliness is no place to belong Though [your] hoarse voice cries and cries

saredo itamu no da kitte hatta yōna shin'no zō ga mada itamu no da   ikiteitai kotodama ga pachipachi to kusuguttai uchinaru koe sō da   itai no da omae to onaji doshaburi ni mimi fusai da   sono riyū wa    

Even so, it still hurts As if it was slashed and strained, [my] heart Still hurts   The words "I want to live" Crackle and tickle, an inner voice That’s right, [I] want to be there In the same downpour with you The reason [I] covered my ears was —

inabikare,  tōboe o kasanete kyō,  hitotsu no sakebi to narō aiso waratte koroshita ikari yasashiku akirameta hikari inabikare,  ienai koto tabanete kyō,   todoroku hitotsu ni narō donten ni saku no wa   hajimari sono hitomi ni harema o takushite      

Flash like lightning, overlapping howls *** Today, they become a single cry The anger that was killed by an amicable smile The light that gently gave in Flash like lightning, bind together what cannot be said Today, roaring, [let's] become one Bursting open in the cloudy sky is a beginning Entrusting the piercing sunlight to those eyes †

(same as 1st verse, minus the last line)

koko ni wa nai ze   darekare mo onaji-iro no doro ni magirete koroge asobeba wakaru darō koko ga,   omae ga matsuri dato      

There’s none of that here  Anyone and everyone Blends into the same-colored mud Roll around and play, you’ll understand That in this place, the festival is you

soshite itamu no da kishimi ugoita shin'nozō ga tada itamu noda   `ikite iru' o hokoru yōni pachipachi to tobidashitai uchinaru koe sō da   itai no da kitto ima   deau tame    

And so it hurts Creaking as it moves, [my] heart Just hurts, as if to proudly say “I’m alive” An inner voice, crackling, wanting to leap out That’s right, it hurts Surely, it was all so [we] could meet now

gōgō   sawagasetai kusubutten no wa nō   nō gōgō   sawagasetai hajiratten’no ka nō   nō gōgō   sawagasetai omae ga dare toka nō nō ashita ga dō toka kankeinē kara    

Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus What’s smoldering is – No, no ‡ Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus Feeling embarrassed? No, no § Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus Whoever you might be, no, no Whatever is tomorrow, it doesn’t matter

inabikare,  tōboe o kasanete kyō,  hitotsu no sakebi to narō aiso waratte koroshita ikari yasashiku akirameta hikari inabikare,  ienai koto tabanete kyō,   todoroku hitotsu ni narō donten ni saku no wa   hajimari sono hitomi ni harema o chikatte      

Flash like lightning, overlapping howls Today, they become a single cry The anger that was killed by an amicable smile The light that gently gave in Flash like lightning, bind together what cannot be said Today, roaring, let's become one Bursting open in the cloudy sky is a beginning Promising the piercing sunlight to those eyes

(same as 1st verse, minus the last line)

mata asobō ze   doshaburi de

Let’s play again in the pouring rain

===== translation notes =====

Wow, I had to use Weblio so much. There’s a lot of traditional or archaic vocabulary in these lyrics. Still feel like I might be getting some of the grammar wrong.

*  ‘kiyari’ refers to traditional songs that were sung by laborers as they worked in unison. They are now often associated with festivals and Shinto rituals. The singing style is somewhat higher-pitched and nasal, and involves a lot of long, held notes. You can find lots of examples by searching “木遣り” on YouTube.

**  宴 is read ‘utage’ or ‘en’ and means ‘to have fun by eating, drinking, singing, dancing, etc.’

***  ‘inabika’ is specifically the light from lightning; it doesn’t include the sound of thunder that accompanies it. (Consider how, in English, we say ‘firelight’ to mean the light of the fire, while excluding the cracking, popping, and whooshing noises that fires usually make.)

†   晴れ間 (harema) specifically means when a small patch of clear, sunny sky appears amidst dense clouds or during a rain/snow shower.

‡  ‘kusubutte’ – Smoldering like small fire that doesn’t go out, but also is not growing; stuck in an unimpressive state.

§  The repeating ‘no, no’ is alliteration, but the first two times, the syllable is actually coming from the kanji for ‘brain’ (脳). So, if I were to strictly translate the text: ‘[Your] brain is what’s smoldering’ and ‘Feeling embarrassed, brain?’

心の臓 (shin’no zō) which appears a few times is an older word for ‘heart,’ which nowadays is shortened to 心臓 (shinzō). 

土砂降り (doshaburi) – I want to point out a cool word! The translation is ‘downpour’ (referring to rain) but the kanji actually means ‘reduction of soil and sand’ and does not contain any character related to rain. It comes from the idea that the rain is so heavy, it washes away the soil and sand.

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Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 1:44:55 in the YouTube archive.

Lyrics by Horie Shota, music by Mitusyo who did the opening BGM for VΔLZ’s live concert series last year.

The repeating line ‘rai rai rai rai’ is a mix of Kaida, Horie, and Mitsuyo’s voices.

Keywords: festival, raise the tension, go crazy, run riot, become one, lend your strength and I’ll lend mine

1:51:03 – “Just for today, forget about all the unpleasant things and let’s be crazy. Don’t care what’s happening tomorrow, whether it's work or vacation doesn’t matter. Man or woman, old or young, none of that matters. […] So, with everyone becoming one, let’s fire up this festival of music.”  For people who are attending a live concert for the first time and aren’t sure how to cheer on the performance – “Doesn’t matter! We’ll show you how!”

The feeling of being stronger, like you’re capable of anything, when you’re working in unity with other people is what he wanted to capture in this song. As examples, participating in a club or a tournament. Kaida also relates it to the VΔLZ live concerts, where the team was not just the three members onstage, but everyone involved in making the show happen.

1:53:09 – Comments from Mitsuyo: “This is no time to be saying ‘The rain won’t stop.’ There will be times in life when you have to carry on in spite of the rain beating down on you. With the prompt being music that can give people a push in those times, I started creating this music. The core is a percussive groove of acoustic guitar, and I created the sound with a scene of a growing procession that gradually involves a bigger and bigger crowd. I asked my good friend Horie-kun to write the lyrics. The song is called Raimei. I would be very happy if it could become a part of the lives of the people who listen to it.”