The glistening weekend is really nothing more than being tired
今夜ぐらいは電話も眠らせて
konya gurai ha denwa mo nemurasete
Around tonight, I've let even the phone sleep
いつかの少年が尋ねた Where are you?
itsuka no shounen ga tazuneta Where are you?
A boy from sometime asked 'Where are you?'
大丈夫 まだ夢は僕にも見える
daijoubu mada yume ha boku ni mo mieru
Don't worry, I'm still dreaming, too
何度も見た映画はまだ
nando mo mieta eiga ha mada
The movies I've seen countlessly
今でも 何かをくれる
ima demo nani ka wo kureru
Still, even now, give me something
今日だけは このまま 今日だけは
kyou dake ha kono mama kyou dake ha
Just for today, like this, just for today
何も持たぬ心のまま
nani mo motanu kokoro no mama
My heart remains empty
眠りたい サイレントムービーのような
nemuritai sairentomuubii no you na
I want to sleep, like in a silent movie
ふと懐かしい 夢に 抱かれながら
futo natsukashii yume ni dakare nagara
As I'm suddenly embraced by a nostalgic dream
このまま 今日だけは このまま
kono mama kyou dake ha kono mama
Like this, just for today, like this
傾くグラスに身をまかせ
katamuku gurasu ni mi wo makase
I'm going with the tide, on a tilting glass
眠ろう 月と太陽の狭間
nemurou tsuki to taiyou no hazama
I'll sleep, in the gap between the moon and sun
ちょっとほろ苦い 夢を 抱きしめながら
chotto horonigai yume wo dakishime nagara
While I cling to this bittersweet dream
this song, albeit charming, is about lethargy and inertia. there are also a few references to alcohol (and it is no secret that Souma-san drinks a lot). sleepy and surreal, the speaker may even be in a drunken state as the song takes place. the lyrics do take a more negative stance on the speaker's mindset, though; they don't want to go out, and even though they've finally made it to the weekend, all they can do is repose, exhausted. i think we all have days like this .. where, for better or worse, we're not getting anything done today!
finished [a long time ago ..], minor edits + above para done 26.06.26
hi!! i know its been a while since you've updated here but i wanted to ask if you'd be willing to do a tl of standalone ... i've been looking for one Everywhere and i just can't find any ! ☹️ i love your tls so it would be awesome ... tysm for the work u do 🤍
OH SURE!!! i've actually done one! it was maybe the .. first or second song i translated?! i'll have to proofread it because i was much less experienced then, but i'll post it soon!! thank you for asking ^_^
[1] these lines both contain homophones; if ‘yande’ was written as 止んで, it would mean ‘the rain has stopped’, and if ‘naida’ as ないだ, it would mean ‘there is no meaning’
[2] the よ (‘yo’) here shows the singer is addressing the afterimage itself, similar to the obsolete ‘O ___’ in English.
Souma-san ends Nuance with a soft, deeply reflective track. It feels like a warm embrace. It looks at life in a way that all of us can interpret in our own ways, and what’s wonderful is that it’s neither positive nor negative, but beautiful.
This song is very abstract, some parts of it so much so that I can’t imagine what he’s singing about, but the image created is undoubtedly one leaving a strong impression! Thank you, Souma-san!
dare mo ga tan ni, toshi wo kasanete iku toshite mo
Everyone simply, as we get older,
こんなふうに、いやらしい大人になるとはね
konna fuu ni, iyarashii otona ni naru to ha ne
Just like that, we become dirty adults, right?
名前や論理をどれだけ覚えたとこで
namae ya ronri wo dore dake oboeta toko de
How much of names and logic do you remember?
模範回答だけじゃ届かない
mohan kaitou dake ja todokanai
You can’t get anywhere with a model answer
大事にしていたあの宝箱はとっくに
daiji ni shiteita ano takarabako ha tokku ni
The treasure box you cherished has long since
ゴミの山になっている
gomi no yama ni natteiru
Become a mountain of garbage
いつか信じたあの呪文も
itsuka shinjita ano jumon mo
The magic spell I once believed, and
来るはずだった終末も
kuru hazu datta shuumatsu mo
The weekend that was supposed to come, too
気づけば通りすぎていった笑い話で
kizukeba toori sugiteitta warai banashi de
Before I noticed, they passed, in some short comedy
石ころを蹴って歩いた
ishi koro wo kette aruita
I kicked a pebble and walked
祈りを込め空を見上げた
inori wo kome sora wo miageta
With a prayer, I looked up at the sky
あの気持ちはなんだったっけ
ano kimochi ha nandattakke
What was that feeling, again?
あるいは単に、誰もが気づいてはいたけど
arui ha tan ni, dare mo ga kizuite ha ita kedo
Or simply, everyone was aware of it, but
優しいあまり、見てみぬふりをしてくれていて
yasashii amari, miteminu furi wo shitekureteite
Being so kind, we turn a blind eye
もしかしたらすべて 何もかもが陰謀？
moshikashitara subete nani mo kamo ga inbou?
What if everything’s a conspiracy?
あれもこれも借り物でいいや
are mo kore mo karimono de ii ya
It’s fine to borrow this and that
ずるくて狭いぼくの宝箱はとっくに
zurukute semai boku no takarabako ha tokku ni
My unfairly narrow treasure box has long since
ガラクタで埋まっている
garakuta de umatteiru
Been buried in junk
あの日鳴ったオリジナルコード
ano hi natta orijinaru koodo
The original chord that rang that day
午前4時の世界の温度
gozen yon ji no sekai no ondo
The world at 4 AM’s temperature
肺を満たす空気のにおい 鉱石の色
hai wo mitasu kuuki no nioi kouseki no iro
The smell of air that fills the lungs, the colour of ore
どこで落としたんだろうな
doko de otoshitan darou na
I wonder where it fell?
自ら手放したような
mizukara tebanashita you na
It’s like I purposely let it go
本当に持ってたんだっけ？
hontou ni mottetan dakke?
Did I really have it in the first place?
いつか信じたあの呪文も
itsuka shinjita ano jumon mo
The magic spell I once believed, and
来るはずだった終末も
kuru hazu datta shuumatsu mo
The weekend that was supposed to come, too
気づけば通りすぎていった笑い話で
kizukeba toori sugiteitta warai banashi de
Before I noticed, they passed, in some short comedy
石ころを蹴って歩いた
ishi koro wo kette aruita
I kicked a pebble and walked
祈るように空を見上げていた
inoru you ni sora wo miageteita
Like praying, I looked up at the sky
この気持ちはなんだったっけ
kono kimochi ha nandattakke
What’s this feeling, again?
ベントラー、
bentoraa,
Ventura,
ベントラー、
bentoraa,
Ventura,
スペースピープル
supeesu piipuru
Space people
[’Ventura, ventura, space people’ is chanted when contacting a UFO.]
Souma-san’s songs are as bewildering and open to interpretation as usual! However, this isn’t the first song in ‘Fictions’ to be about looking back on something (gestures to ‘Hiraeth’), and this song evokes SO MUCH nostalgia. I think it’s to do with looking back on something after it’s been lost, and just remembering that, along with the pains with it (hence the scream that SCARES ME EVERY TIME but works so well). The title and repeated ‘Ventura, ventura, space people’ tie the album off with a surreal, ‘Fictions’ feel. This song is looking back on the small things in life; glancing up at the sky, the cool night air (two of my favourite things)-- back to a simpler time.
For instance, when passing by someone, why is it that
処理落ち 世界の時が止まったり
shori ochi sekai no toki ga tomattari
Unprocessed collapse, and the world’s time stops
どこかでなにかを忘れてきたような
doko ka de nani ka wo wasurete kita you na
As if somewhere, something had been forgotten
予感がふと訪れたら
yokan ga futo otozuretara
After a premonition suddenly visited
あるいは、木の葉が舞い散る季節や[1]
arui ha, hon no ha ga maichiru kisetsu ya
Or, the words of a book scatter, seasons and
風の音 ふとした戯言なんかに
kaze no oto futo shita zaregoto nanka ni
The sound of the wind, and suddenly; nonsensically, even,
どうしようもなくね デジャヴがよぎる
doushiyou mo naku ne dejabu ga yogiru
It’s hopeless. Déjà-vu passes over,
毒が混ざる
doku ga mazaru
Mixed with poison
美しい記憶だわ
utsukushii kioku da wa
What a beautiful memory
なんて身勝手な
nante migatte na
How selfish
ぬるま湯に溺れて痛いな
nuruma yu ni oborete itai na
It hurts to drown in lukewarm water, doesn’t it
ダーザイン ゆらいで
daazain yuraide
Dasein; swaying [2]
空を切るQはA
ku wo kiru Q ha A
Slicing the sky, Q is A
答えを求めているよ
kotae wo motometeiru yo
I need the answer, please!
ああ 掌からこぼれた
aa tenohira kara koboreta
Ah, it spilled out from the palm of my hand
幾億の祈りの残滓
ikuoku no inori no zanshi
The leftovers of billions of prayers
二度とは開けない 土の深い底
nido to ha akenai tsuchi no fukai soko
It can’t be opened again, the deep abyss of the soil
タイムカプセルは眠らせたまま
taimukapuseru ha nemuraseta mama
The time capsule has been left asleep
懐かしい場所ごと 星に還したら
natsukashii basho goto hoshi ni kaeshitara
If every nostalgic place were to return to the stars
バクテリアが食べてくれる
bakuteria ga tabetekureru
The bacteria would eat it
もどかしくもあるけど
modokashiku mo aru kedo
Although it can be tedious
不思議とどこか
fushigi to doko ka
In some way, it's fascinating
満ち足りたような気もするから
michitarita you na ki mo suru kara
Since there's also a feeling of satisfaction
さよなら もまたね も
sayonara mo mata ne mo
'Goodbye', and 'see you later',
言わずにこのまま
iwazu ni kono mama
Without saying, just like that
砕け散ってしまえばいいよ
kudakechitte shimae ba ii yo
If they end up smashed up, it's fine
ああ あのころに戻れないなら
aa ano koro ni modorenai nara
Ah, because I can't go back to that time
せめてこの身 焼き尽くして
semete kono mi yakitsukushite
Just, burn this body to the ground
整合性など
seigousei nado
Conformity, compliance and the like
捨ておけ だろ?
sute oke daro?
Cast it away, no? [3]
正当性など
seitousei nado
Lawfulness, and validity [4]
ああ
aa
Ah,
灰にきらめく過去を
hai ni kirameku kako wo
The past, glimmering in the ashes
日常が上書きしていく
nichijou ga uwagaki shiteiku
Our everyday was overwritten
きっと
kitto
Surely
もう二度とはない
mou nido to ha nai
It'll never happen again
名前も失くしてしまうよ
namae mo nakushite shimau yo
You'll get rid of your name, too
もう二度とはない
mou nido to ha nai
It'll never happen again
[Hiraeth: A deep grief or longing for something that feels like home.]
[1] 葉 (ha) means ‘leaves’, which would fit more with the ‘seasons’ mentioned in this line, but I opted for ‘words’ because 葉 is also present in 言葉, meaning ‘words’
[2] Dasein: a philosophical term roughly describing how humans uniquely engage with the world (rather than how objects, plants, etc. do). though it’s much more complicated, so do read on it! i love when souma-san teaches us philosophy!!
[3] a combination of the strong imperative おけ and the expression だろ, which usually conveys uncertainty.
[4] decided to provide two definitions for the 3 kanji words here. the line just feels too short otherwise. stylistic choice.
this song cuts deep :(
if nostalgia or longing is the theme of Fictions, then Hiraeth is the central song of the album (it is, by the way). this song is full of bitterness; memories that were created with joy grow into dull reminders of what once was. it only makes the present seem less like a gift. this song recalls the type of memory that feels so distant, so different from how things are now, and how you are now, that it's no longer something you can connect with.. and it just makes your chest hurt. i'm sure we all have one of those.
side note: I tried to not use pronouns because of how abstract and therefore impersonal the song is (which, paradoxically, means it can apply to a wide range of people), but felt like adding a couple for emphasis :P
thank you for another amazing song, Souma-san! he really is a genius T_Tttt
[1] a metaphor, portraying our lives as rivers! very typical water imagery from Souma-san ~
[2] 月並み (tsukinami), translated as ‘overused’, was originally used as an insult towards old-fashioned poets and their dull or generic work, doubling on the label ‘cliché’.
[3] 刺さる (sasaru) has a very specific meaning: to emotionally move someone, but in a way that stabs or pierces them, without going away.
[4] specifically, a feeling to do with the five senses.
[5] the use of が (ga) here targets and focuses on the listener directly, which creates a strong connection between the lyrics and the listener in this part of the song. ie Souma-san really wants to get the message across – to you, specifically you!
This is, by far, Souma-san’s most hopeful and honest song. It feels like a love letter to whoever is listening, comforting and reassuring them, coupled with the image of a pink sky — the sun has not set yet, and even though it will, it looks beautiful. The lyrics and music fit together perfectly. They create an atmosphere of the constant progression, or monotony, of life, but also of the little sparks of hope that flow along with it. I can imagine that this song is even more significant in Japan, where it’s customary to bottle up feelings, which makes this song even more refreshing to listen to. It was such a joy to translate!!
There seems to be no such thing as 'all or nothing'
Do I have to be iron or the rays？
概数戯画
gaisuu giga
A caricature of approximation
ゆえに問われている
yue ni towarete iru
So it's being questioned
さんざめく闇の中
sanzameku yami no naka
Within the clamouring darkness
夢幻に削がれている
mugen ni sogarete iru
Weakened by visions,
迷い家みたいな
mayoi ga mitai na
Like a stray house; [1]
遺影に追われている
iei ni owarete iru
Being chased by a portrait of the dead,
秘密の足跡を
himitsu no ashiato wo
Those secret footsteps
暴いた
abaita
Were exposed [5]
Such a beautiful and messy confusion
But I don't know how I can feel
No matter how high I fly
The occasion's long gone away
廃しすぎた
haishi sugita
Abandoned for too long
ゆえに壊れている
yue ni kowarete iru
So it's falling apart
さんざめく闇の中
sanzameku yami no naka
Within the clamouring darkness
飢えに囚われる
ue ni torawareru
A slave to hunger,
迷いがあるみたいだ
mayoi ga aru mitai da
Seems like there's an illusion;
冥に嗤われる
mei ni warawareru
Being sneered at in the pall, [6]
歪なくらがりの
ibitsu na kuragari no
In the crooked darkness [7]
あわいだ
awai da
There's a faint gap [8]
[1] PLEASE READ: 'Mayohiga' (pronounced 'mayoiga') can be translated as 'lost/stray house', but it specifically describes a folktale about a lavish, abandoned house found in the wilderness. this sets the scene for a very haunting song. the title is also rendered in katakana, which is probably to give it more emphasis and to blur its meaning (ie later in the song he uses 'mayoiga' to mean 'lost moth' and 'stray house').
[2] rhizome, in philosophy, is based off of a plant or fungus with both roots and shoots; it describes a process or existence that has no point of origin nor end. it also has no limits or boundaries. think of it as a contrast to a tree, which grows from a seed -- one fixed point. hence, you could interpret this line as an infinitely spreading web of excuses, hidden under what used to be the speaker's skin.
[3] this line is referring back to the previous one (it's more natural in Japanese than English).
[4] 'jamais vu' means 'never seen' in French and is the opposite of déjà vu. it describes a feeling of unfamiliarity towards something that one has experienced/seen before, and should recognise, but they don't. although he barely sings the 'vu' sound, I do believe this is what Souma-san is trying to say ....
[5] this line also means [were] 'dug out' or 'opened', specifically of a grave. spooky
[6] I chose 'pall' here because 冥 (mei) can mean 'dark' or 'the spirit world', or anything to do with the next life.
[7] this line could either refer to the previous one (the pall of/in the crooked darkness) or the following one (the gap of/in the darkness)
[8] rendered in hiragana so there are multiple meanings. it could either refer to the darkness being faint or pale, or there being a gap somehow in-between it, perhaps where an illusion is situated. (the former one is less likely because of the grammatical construction here, but I decided to combine both meanings into one).
Souma-san bewitches us by evoking a hazy, phantom-like world in 'Mayohiga'. the title itself describes something concrete, but the song proves to be quite abstract; it could be interpreted literally or figuratively. we don't know whether our protagonist is actually interacting with a haunted, abandoned mansion, or if this is all symbolic. after all, the lyrics say it only seems like a stray house. the perspective of this song wavers like a candle flame, where the deep, rough sound smothers us within the darkness.
this song reminds me of 'Hae no Ou'/'Lord of the Flies' in its composition, but the lyrics .. don't really resemble any of his other songs that I've looked at. so edgy. everyone will have their views about 'Nuance', and mine is that this song. is. amazing. thank you, Souma-san!
(I'm also thinking about translating an interview to get a little insight on this, and other, songs!)
NUANCE IS OUT TODAY!! it was so nice and refreshing to hear Souma-san's voice again, singing new melodies and new lyrics 🥹 this EP felt really authentic, and was such a blessing in general!
my favourite release from him will continue to be Fictions, but Mayohiga is like .. my new favourite song by him. my life feels complete after hearing that thing. but most importantly, the EP left me with a smile on my face after I had finished listening to rain shoes, which just shows the effect of his music,, he's so good at evoking all sorts of emotion, it's crazy
translations coming out as soon as possible 😋😋 and I've already done afterschool! Mayohiga is next ~~
psst.. i've written a lot at the end of this tl, please give it a read 🙏
click here for doc version
afterschool - Soma Saito
ずいぶん長いあいだ
zuibun nagai aida
For quite a long time,
余熱で歩いている
yonetsu de aruite iru
I’m walking in the afterheat [1]
放課後の世界では
houkago no sekai de ha
In the world after school,
誰も彼もあいまいで
dare mo kare mo aimai de
All and everyone gets blurry, and
誤魔化せる気がしたの
gomakaseru ki ga shita no
I got the feeling I could’ve been fooled
光に騙されて
hikari ni damasarete
Deceived by the light,
みだりに藻搔いていた
midari ni mogaite ita
I was blindly writhing [2]
悲哀に染まるだけ
hiai ni somaru dake
Nothing but stained by sorrow
なんて意味ない わかるよ
nante imi nai wakaru yo
How meaningless; I get it
光に眼を焼かれ
hikari ni me wo yakare
Eyes burned by the light,
飽きずに求めていた
akizu ni motomete ita
I hungrily yearned for it [3]
浸りきったぬるま湯
hitari kitta nurumayu
Submerged in lukewarm water
なんて意味ない場所だろう
nante imi nai basho darou
What a meaningless place, right?
ずいぶん遠いとこに
zuibun tooi toko ni
In quite a distant space,
気づけば来ていたんだな
kizukeba kite itan da na
Whenever I noticed it, it arrived
放課後の世界では
houkago no sekai de ha
In the world after school,
眩しさに慣れきって
mabushisa ni nare kitte
Succumbing to the brightness [4]
やれている気がしたの
yarete iru ki ga shita no
I got the feeling I’m worn out
光に絆されて
hikari ni hodasarete
Fettered by the light,
被害に困ったふうで
higai ni komatta fuu de
In a way that tortured me [5]
それなりにこなすの
sore nari ni konasu no
To some extent, the collapse
なんて意味ない わかるよ
nante imi nai wakaru yo
Is rather meaningless; I get it
光にいざなわれ
hikari ni izanaware
Lured in by the light,
無様に取り繕う
buzama ni toritsukurou
I awkwardly persist with my pretence
漁り火のない海で
isaribi no nai umi de
In these unlit waters, [6]
もう息もできないよ
mou iki mo dekinai yo
I can't breathe any longer
光に憧れて
hikari ni akogarete
Longing for the light,
光に近づけたら
hikari ni chikazuke tara
If I get closer to the light
もしかして自分も、なんて意味ない
moshikashite jibun mo, nante imi nai
Then I might be meaningless too
わかれよ
wakare yo
Scatter apart [7]
光に伸ばした手
hikari ni nobashita te
I reached out my hand to the light
光に焦がれたって
hikari ni kogare tatte
But even if I crave the light,
気が狂ったような
ki ga kurutta you na
It feels like I'm insane
この悲喜劇は終わらないから
kono hikigeki ha owaranai kara
Because this tragicomedy won't end
光に焦がれたって意味はないから
hikari ni kogare tatte imi ha nai kara
Even if I crave the light, it'll mean nothing at all
[1] this is probably referring to the lingering heat or the ‘echo’ of the students and staff filling the previously bustling school halls. it could also be talking about the speaker’s lingering memories, because it’s in the present tense.
[2] みだり (midari) connotes ignoring rules, so I chose the word ‘blind’.
[3] but this action is continued over a longer period of time (this line is in the past continuous, but we don’t really say ‘I was yearning’ in English).
[4] I opted for the word ‘succumbing’ because the Japanese translates to ‘getting completely used to’, and I wanted to emphasise a sudden loss of control.
[5] lit. ‘troubles me with pain’
[6] actually, 漁り火 (isaribi) refers to a fishing boat lit with a fire to attract fish to it at night.
[7] this line is entirely in hiragana, so it has a very vague meaning.. the verb わかれ (wakare) is in the imperative form and could either be 'understand' or 'part' or 'divide' (and synonyms). ironically it is very hard to understand, which could (more fittingly, but a stretch) represent the scattered-ness of the meaning; it is a meaningless line, an adjective the song keeps repeating.
Throughout the lyrics, Souma-san has included lots of imagery about large bodies of water (sasuga ww). I believe these can be attributed to the setting given, even if they seem unrelated at first. It's quite a lonely and idle song, with the speaker probably wandering in empty school corridors, with only traces of the day that had just passed. The tense can also tell us whether the speaker is reminiscing or still going through what they're singing about, which is worth noting.
In this song, the speaker desperately wants what will damage them: light. (The 'imi nai' lines can also serve as a way to show that the speaker knows what they desire doesn't make sense.) They are an awkward mess, trying to keep up appearances at school, not fitting in, stuck in dark waters. It feels like wading through ink. They know that if they give up the constant struggle and step into the light, whatever they are will be destroyed; dissolved. Nothing but bright, burning white. These lyrics are very abstract.
(My interpretation:) I think this song is about social conformation, which I think is really prevalent in a school setting (think about 'fitting in' or 'being popular'). The speaker feels like they don't belong, and wants to, but knows that how they are now just won't make the cut. It's a struggle they've been feeling for a long time, burdening them more each day. This song has a 'defeated' tone to it, similar to Uzumibi/Banked Fire, though it picks up more at the choruses.
So here was Souma-san's newest song, 'afterschool'! It's made me really excited for the rest of the EP!
psst.. i've written a lot at the end of this tl, please give it a read 🙏
click here for doc version
afterschool - Soma Saito
ずいぶん長いあいだ
zuibun nagai aida
For quite a long time,
余熱で歩いている
yonetsu de aruite iru
I’m walking in the afterheat [1]
放課後の世界では
houkago no sekai de ha
In the world after school,
誰も彼もあいまいで
dare mo kare mo aimai de
All and everyone gets blurry, and
誤魔化せる気がしたの
gomakaseru ki ga shita no
I got the feeling I could’ve been fooled
光に騙されて
hikari ni damasarete
Deceived by the light,
みだりに藻搔いていた
midari ni mogaite ita
I was blindly writhing [2]
悲哀に染まるだけ
hiai ni somaru dake
Nothing but stained by sorrow
なんて意味ない わかるよ
nante imi nai wakaru yo
How meaningless; I get it
光に眼を焼かれ
hikari ni me wo yakare
Eyes burned by the light,
飽きずに求めていた
akizu ni motomete ita
I hungrily yearned for it [3]
浸りきったぬるま湯
hitari kitta nurumayu
Submerged in lukewarm water
なんて意味ない場所だろう
nante imi nai basho darou
What a meaningless place, right?
ずいぶん遠いとこに
zuibun tooi toko ni
In quite a distant space,
気づけば来ていたんだな
kizukeba kite itan da na
Whenever I noticed it, it arrived
放課後の世界では
houkago no sekai de ha
In the world after school,
眩しさに慣れきって
mabushisa ni nare kitte
Succumbing to the brightness [4]
やれている気がしたの
yarete iru ki ga shita no
I got the feeling I’m worn out
光に絆されて
hikari ni hodasarete
Fettered by the light,
被害に困ったふうで
higai ni komatta fuu de
In a way that tortured me [5]
それなりにこなすの
sore nari ni konasu no
To some extent, the collapse
なんて意味ない わかるよ
nante imi nai wakaru yo
Is rather meaningless; I get it
光にいざなわれ
hikari ni izanaware
Lured in by the light,
無様に取り繕う
buzama ni toritsukurou
I awkwardly persist with my pretence
漁り火のない海で
isaribi no nai umi de
In these unlit waters, [6]
もう息もできないよ
mou iki mo dekinai yo
I can't breathe any longer
光に憧れて
hikari ni akogarete
Longing for the light,
光に近づけたら
hikari ni chikazuke tara
If I get closer to the light
もしかして自分も、なんて意味ない
moshikashite jibun mo, nante imi nai
Then I might be meaningless too
わかれよ
wakare yo
Scatter apart [7]
光に伸ばした手
hikari ni nobashita te
I reached out my hand to the light
光に焦がれたって
hikari ni kogare tatte
But even if I crave the light,
気が狂ったような
ki ga kurutta you na
It feels like I'm insane
この悲喜劇は終わらないから
kono hikigeki ha owaranai kara
Because this tragicomedy won't end
光に焦がれたって意味はないから
hikari ni kogare tatte imi ha nai kara
Even if I crave the light, it'll mean nothing at all
[1] this is probably referring to the lingering heat or the ‘echo’ of the students and staff filling the previously bustling school halls. it could also be talking about the speaker’s lingering memories, because it’s in the present tense.
[2] みだり (midari) connotes ignoring rules, so I chose the word ‘blind’.
[3] but this action is continued over a longer period of time (this line is in the past continuous, but we don’t really say ‘I was yearning’ in English).
[4] I opted for the word ‘succumbing’ because the Japanese translates to ‘getting completely used to’, and I wanted to emphasise a sudden loss of control.
[5] lit. ‘troubles me with pain’
[6] actually, 漁り火 (isaribi) refers to a fishing boat lit with a fire to attract fish to it at night.
[7] this line is entirely in hiragana, so it has a very vague meaning.. the verb わかれ (wakare) is in the imperative form and could either be 'understand' or 'part' or 'divide' (and synonyms). ironically it is very hard to understand, which could (more fittingly, but a stretch) represent the scattered-ness of the meaning; it is a meaningless line, an adjective the song keeps repeating.
Throughout the lyrics, Souma-san has included lots of imagery about large bodies of water (sasuga ww). I believe these can be attributed to the setting given, even if they seem unrelated at first. It's quite a lonely and idle song, with the speaker probably wandering in empty school corridors, with only traces of the day that had just passed. The tense can also tell us whether the speaker is reminiscing or still going through what they're singing about, which is worth noting.
In this song, the speaker desperately wants what will damage them: light. (The 'imi nai' lines can also serve as a way to show that the speaker knows what they desire doesn't make sense.) They are an awkward mess, trying to keep up appearances at school, not fitting in, stuck in dark waters. It feels like wading through ink. They know that if they give up the constant struggle and step into the light, whatever they are will be destroyed; dissolved. Nothing but bright, burning white. These lyrics are very abstract.
(My interpretation:) I think this song is about social conformation, which I think is really prevalent in a school setting (think about 'fitting in' or 'being popular'). The speaker feels like they don't belong, and wants to, but knows that how they are now just won't make the cut. It's a struggle they've been feeling for a long time, burdening them more each day. This song has a 'defeated' tone to it, similar to Uzumibi/Banked Fire, though it picks up more at the choruses.
So here was Souma-san's newest song, 'afterschool'! It's made me really excited for the rest of the EP!
‘Good evening everyone! New information for the new EP ‘Nuance’ has been released to the public! The jacket has been given some wonderful finishing touches and I am so grateful! The pictures are also the best so please check it out—! S’
[1] 遺す (nokosu) - leaving in a will/leaving smth to someone after death (used more symbolically here)
[2] could also be 'I faced forwards'
[3] an alternative translation of the last two lines: 'In the eye [ie reflection] of the glass, I see me, looking like a lost child'
[4] うたかた (utakata) - ‘ephemeral’ also means 'foam/bubbles on a liquid's surface', adding to the sea motif.
STOPP OMG I WILL CRYY
I had sm fun translating this. Souma-san's subtle changes between the first and the last chorus are so powerful. Just wanted to note, pronouns are often omitted in the Japanese (I'm talking about 'I', 'you', 'we' in this song specifically) so the meanings can vary slightly, but I selected what seemed most appropriate.
appusaidodaun kono basho ha ruuru muyou no hengoku
Upside down, this place is a ruleless limbo
銃 射した林檎が甘い蜜を吐き出す
juu sashita ringo ga amai mitsu wo hakidasu
The apple shot by a gun spews out its sweet nectar
ペテン師のペルソナ 剥いで唇湿らせ
petenshi no perusona heide kuchibiru shimerase
The persona of a swindler, peeled off, the lips moisten
またぞろ いかさまの過剰発注なの 先生
matazoro ikasama no kajou hacchuu na no sensei
Yet again, this is another fraudulent surplus order, teacher
企んだ裏側のひび
takuranda uragawa no hibi
The cracks behind the planned hidden side
ねじこんだ二股の意味 (oh-oh-oh)
rejikonda futamata no imi
The meaning behind playing both sides
降参は今のうち スタンダアルのルーレット
kousan ha ima no uchi sutandaaru no ruuretto
Defeat while the time is ripe, a standard roulette
ラザニア貪って 怠惰きめこむエイリアン
razenia muzabotte taida kimekomu eirian
Stuffing its face with lasagne, a lazy, ignorant alien
アンダーグラウンドの穴ぐら 裂いて酌み交わすリキュール
andaaguraundo no anagura saite kumikawasu rikyuuru
In the underground cellar, tear apart and drink liqueur together
もう1回 さかさまの線で賭けさせておくれ
mou ikkai sakasama no sen de kakesarete okure
One more time, gamble on inverted lines [1]
なんで惑わされて
nande madowsarete
Why are you bewildered?
フィクション がんじがらめのアヒンサー
fikushon ganjigarame no ahinsaa
Fiction, ahimsa with bound hand and foot [2]
ジャンキーゆえ溺れて
jankii yue oborete
Drowning because you're a junkie
アディクション 断然もう止まらない
adikushon danzen mou tomaranai
Addiction, it definitely won't stop now
誰にも邪魔はさせない ここからは
dare ni mo jama ha sasenai koko kara ha
You won't be a disturbance to anyone, from now on
泥土までのゲーム
deido made no geemu
It's a game until the mud [3]
すかんぴんならオルヴォワール
sukanpin nara orubowaaru
If you're penniless, then au revoir
まるで見ちゃいらんないわフィルムノワール
marude micha irannai wa firumunowaaru
It's as though it's a film noir that I don't want to see [4]
誰かが呼ぶファム・ファタール
dareka ga yobu famu fataaru
The femme fatale that someone calls
カタルシスならもう騙るに死す
katarushisu nara mou kataru ni shisu
If it's catharsis, soon you'll pretend to die
馬鹿な こんなはずないんだ
baka na konna hazu nainda
You fool, it can't be like this
なんてナンセンスな踊り
nante nansensu na odori
What a nonsensical dance
溶けてゆく輪郭
tokete yuku rinkaku
Your silhouette, melting away
もう1杯も変わんないでしょ?
mou ippai mo kawannai desho?
Just one more won't matter, won't it? [5]
まだだ 次こそは逆転 ディール
mada da tsugi koso ha gyakuten diiru
Not yet, next time it'll be a reverse deal [6]
哀れな男ね いたずらなジンたち
awarena otoko ne itazura na jin tachi
What a pitiable man, mischievous gins are [7]
嘲笑う
azawarau
Sneering at you
なんで 読み違えた
nande yomichigaeta
Why did you misread it?
噛んで含めてみた
kande fukumete mita
It was explained simply
残穢 逃したのは
zane nogashita no ha
The remaining filth that was left was
こちらの方で
kochira no hou de
On this side
ばい ばい
bai bai
Bye-bye
サレンダー
sarendaa
Surrender
なんで惑わされて
nande madowsarete
Why are you bewildered?
フィクション がんじがらめのアヒンサー
fikushon ganjigarame no ahinsaa
Fiction, ahimsa with bound hand and foot [2]
ジャンキーゆえ溺れて
jankii yue oborete
Drowning because you're a junkie
アディクション 断然もう止まらない
adikushon danzen mou tomaranai
Addiction, it definitely won't stop now
誰にも邪魔はさせない ここからは
dare ni mo jama ha sasenai koko kara ha
You won't be a disturbance to anyone, from now on
ああ もう おしまいよ
aa mou oshimai yo
Ah, that's enough already
[1] suffix おくれ (okure) indicates that this is an imperative (a command) - ie 'please gamble....'
[2] ahimsa: abstinence from taking life/principle of non-violence
[3] 泥土 (deido) is a formal or literary version of どろ or 泥 (doro) - mud/dirt.
[4] film noir is a style of filmmaking with overly cynical heroes (usually crime dramas)
[5] it's implied that this lyric is talking about cups of alcohol (bc of the counter used)
[6] ie. a sudden change/turn of the tables
[7] ジン (jin) is written in katakana so means 'gin' (esp. due to the alcohol mentions). but if it was written as 人 (in kanji), it'd mean 'people'. however, it has to mean 'gin' because if in kanji, it'd be pronounced 'hito' and not 'jin'.
Good weather, pretending to be on the rooftop of an apartment complex; distorted
存在が飽和してしまったようだ きみ
sonzai ga houwa shite shimatta you da kimi
Seems like your existence has become saturated [3]
まだ濁ったままの
mata nigotta mama no
Staying dirty again, the
濾過機能はソー・ファー
roka kinou ha soo faa
Filtration function is so far
いじらしいほど憐憫
ijirashii hodo renbin
Mercy to the point of being pitiful
蜜の飴玉 頬張って
mitsu no amedama hoobatte
Stuffing my face with honey candy
入り口は別でいいんだっけ
iriguchi ha betsu de ii nda kke
I think it was okay to have a separate entrance
なんでいつもこうなっちゃうかな
nande itsumo kou nacchau kana
How come it always ends up going this way
そういえばあれはなんだっけ
souieba are ha nanda kke
By the way, what was that again
逸らした瞳に残像が
sorashita hitomi ni zanzou ga
The afterimage of your averted eyes is
Ah, ah, ah ア・バオ・ア・クゥー
Ah, ah, ah a bao a kuu
Ah, ah, ah, A Bao A Qu [4]
誰もいないとこまで
dare mo inai toko made
Until a place with no-one around
飛べる気がしたの
toberu ki ga shita no
I felt like I could fly
穴が空いたばっかの
ana ga aita bakka no
Of a hole just opened
がらんどうのままで
garandou no mama de
Remaining empty
廊下の向こうには
rouka no mukou ni ha
Across the corridor
なにが待っているかな
nani ga matte iru kana
I wonder what's waiting
ずれた細胞はピーキー
zureru saibou ha piikii
The dislodged cells are peaky
ほら
hora
Hey,
ほら
hora
Hey!
バグってるんだって
bagu tte ru nda tte
Apparently it's bugged
[1] as in 'I felt like I could fly until somewhere where nobody else was'
[2] ほら (hora) is an expression that is said to direct the listener's attention to something, like 'hey!', 'look!', or 'over there!' in English.
[3] the translation is more like 'Seems like the existence has become saturated, yours', but this is super awkward in English!!
[4] The A Bao A Qu is a creature in Malaysian mythology that lives on the steps of the Tower of Victory. Basically, as someone climbs the steps of the tower, this monster follows behind them, draining the person's life force until they die. The more force drained, the stronger the A Bao A Qu becomes, but when the person dies it loses its power and form and lets out a cry.
this song is really confusing! it appears nonsensical, with strings of words and phrases, and not much of an observable 'story'. but I can ascertain from the lyrics a feeling of disconnect from reality, like in a liminal space, and that the speaker is indulging themselves in this disassociation. however, the whole song feels a little unsettling, and the dissonance right at the end confirms our suspicions. but overall this song is very subjective! with liminal spaces, we have to account for the fluidity of concepts like time and space, so this song being confusing makes sense (in its own nonsensical way).
Unfortunately, I just specialise in drawing blanks in the lottery
だが今日から全部変わるぜ
daga kyou kara zenbu kawaruze
However, from today, everything will change
存外価値はある
zongai kachi ha aru
There's value beyond expectations
わがままな足取りで
wagamama na ashidori de
With a self-absorbed gait
溶ける木漏れ日 ごらん
tokeru komorebi goran
The light melting through the trees, look,
シュプレヒコール
shuprehikooru
Sprechchor [3]
神さまがまばたいた
kamisama ga mabataita
God is twinkling like stars
瞬間 触れた指を
shunkan fureta yubi wo
In this moment, the finger I touched
覚えていて
oboeteite
Remembering it
花々が舞い踊る
hanabana ga maiodoru
Flowers, dancing around
紡ぐ調べはほら
tsumugu shirabe ha hora
The spun melody [2] is, look,
シュプレヒコール
shupurehikooru
Sprechchor [3]
憧れは捨て去って
akogare ha sutesatte
Throwing away this longing
揺れる陽だまりは
yureru hidamari ha
Swaying, the sunshine
蜃気楼でいい
shinkirou de ii
Is fine if it's a mirage
夢を見るよ
yume wo miru yo
I'm dreaming
琥珀の繭で
kohaku no mayu de
In a cocoon of amber
夢を見よう (ah, you're gonna need flowers)
yume wo miyou
Let's dream
[1] may be an idiom kinda like '(to be) an open book' but not sure
[2] as in spinning yarn/spinning a tale (story)
[3] German word for a chant/chorus of voices
the meaning behind this song is kinda difficult to unpick imo, dressed up with the amount of kanji I didn't previously know (so sorry for any mistakes) and allat.. but this is souma-san's regular flower-based song in Fictions, and it really strikes a chord with my beautiful valentine (his EP) as well; there's hints of romance in here, but the message hidden behind this upbeat song is that it's all the speaker's imagination, or a delusion, or a dream. up to interpretation! enjoy!
