“Stop acting like you’re an adult, stop it with that earnest look on your face, I know for a fact that my friend likes you.”
OR: A girl decides to bow out gracefully and let her friend pursue their mutual crush only for their crush to mess everything up by confessing to her instead.
kokuhaku nante shinaide yo
tsukiai kata mo shiranai kuse
douyatte watashi mamoru no yo
konkyo mo nan mo nai kuse ni
Don’t you dare confess your love for me
When you don’t know the first thing about going out
How in the world are you going to “protect” me
When you haven’t got a solid foundation or anything¹
otona buru no yamete
majime kao mo yamete
tomodachi ga kimi no koto
suki da to shitteru no yo watashi
Stop acting like you’re an adult
Stop it with that earnest face
I know for a fact that
My friend likes you
kyoushitsu ni wa nani mo nai wa
sonna tsuyoku semaranaide
onna doushi yuujou tte
konna koto de hakanaku kudakeru no
koi no jubaku
There’s nothing in this classroom
Don’t pressure me so insistently
Friendship between women
Is easily broken over something like this
Love’s spell
kokuhaku nante shinaide yo
onnagokoro mo shiranai no ni
ima nara zenbu wasureru wa
nanni mo iwazu kaette yo
Don’t you dare confess to me
Despite not knowing a thing about a girl’s heart
If you stop now, we can still forget everything
Don’t say another word and just go home
akirame kaketa no
yuujou toru tame yo
zutto zutto suki datta
nando datte namida shita watashi
I was ready to give up on my feelings for you
So I could choose friendship over you
I’ve always, always loved you
I cried so many times over it
kyoushitsu ni wa yuuhi ga sasu
kimi to watashi futari dake de
tomodachi ni wa nante iu no
yappa koko de unazukenai aa
koi no jubaku
The sun is setting in the classroom
Just you and me together, alone
What do I tell my friend?
Right, there’s no way I can say yes here, ah
Love’s spell
kyoushitsu ni wa nani mo nai wa
sonna tsuyoku semaranaide
onna doushi yuujou tte
konna koto de hakanaku kudakeru no
koi no jubaku
There’s nothing in this classroom
Don’t pressure me so insistently
Friendship between women
Is easily broken over something like this
Love’s spell
kyoushitsu ni wa yuuhi ga sasu
kimi to watashi futari dake de
tomodachi ni wa nante iu no
yappa koko de unazukenai aa
koi no jubaku
The sun is setting in the classroom
Just you and me together, alone
What do I tell my friend?
Right, there’s no way I can say yes here, ah
Love’s spell
---
¹ One of the fancier Japanese euphemisms for guys when declaring their love is “I’ll protect you”, much like how in English you get statements like “I’ll always keep you safe” or “I’ll always be there for you”. The singer in this case is just like UGH YOU ARE A SCHOOLKID HOW DO YOU EVEN PLAN ON DOING THAT in a slightly hilarious and panicked attempt to cover up her feelings.
Koibito wa Kokoro no Ouendan (“A Sweetheart is A Heart’s Cheerleader”)
“If you’re there, I wind up getting hyper! I wind up trying my best! A woman in love is incredibly strong!!”
OR: No real notes, but please note that a ‘ouendan’ cheerleader is more like a ‘cheer squad’.
konna watashi wo marugoto aishite (FAITO!)
Love all of me, just as I am (Fight!)
kimi wa itsumo 「ganbaree!」 tte iu
dakara watashi funbatte koreta
honto iu to fuan na no yo nanka
shoujiki kowai wa (FAITO!)
You always tell me, “Do your best!”
That’s why I’ve been able to hang on and make it this far
To be honest, I’m anxious, kind of?
Actually, I’m terrified (Fight!)
watashi watashi konna fuu ni zenkai
hisshi nante ima made nakatta
「douse watashi nante」 sonna kanji
SUNEte ikiteta (FAITO!)
I, I’ve never tried this
Desperately, full-throttle, at anything before
“Oh well—figures, I’m me, after all” I used to live sulkishly like that (Fight!)
Ah~ watashi no koibito
Ah, my sweetheart
danjo kagirazu shiriai no ooi
hito na no ni MOTEru no ni
doushite doshite watashi nante
eranda no? (Yeah!)
You’re friendly with boys and girls alike,
And yet…you’re so popular, and yet….
Why, why did you pick
Someone like me? (Yeah!)
kimi ga ireba
harikicchau harikicchau
ganbacchau ganbacchau
koishiteru onna tte sugoku tsuyoinda
If you’re there,
I wind up getting hyper, getting hyper
I wind up trying my best, trying my best
A woman in love is incredibly strong!
kimi ga ireba
tanoshikute harikicchau
tanoshikute ganbacchau
sukisugite nakidashichau
koto mo aru kedo
If you’re there,
I have so much fun I wind up getting hyper
I have so much fun I wind up trying my best
There are also times that I end up bursting into tears
Because I love you too much, but
nante chokusetsu kao mite ienai (FAITO!)
Somehow, I can’t look you in the face and directly just say it (Fight!)
kimi wa itsumo nattoku suru made
donna koto mo hanashite kureru wa
wakaru you ni chanto kantan na
tatoebanashi de (FAITO!)
You always talk things over with me—no matter what it is,
You explain it until I’m satisfied
Using easy, just-right examples
So I can understand it (Fight!)
dakedo kimi ga ochikonderu toki
nani wo sureba ii ka wakaranai
watashi bakari hagemasaretetanda~...
sontoki kidzuita (FAITO!)
But when you’re the one that’s down
I don’t know what to do
That’s when I realized
It’s always only been me receiving the encouragement (Fight!)
Ah~ watashi no koibito
Ah, my sweetheart
otoko tomodachi to atsui hanashi
shiteru toki betsujin ne
yokoccho suwatte nantonaku
kiku no suki! (Yeah!)
When you’re talking passionately with
Your guy friends, you’re a different person
I love sitting to the side and
Just listening! (Yeah!)
kimi ga ireba
harikicchau harikicchau
norikicchau norikicchau
kore kara wa otagai ni ouen shiaou
If you’re there
I wind up getting hyper, getting hyper
I end up pulling through, I end up pulling through
From now on, let’s cheer each other on mutually!
kimi ga ireba
nande darou harikicchau
nande darou norikicchau
yarisugite DOJI shichau
toki mo aru kedo
If you’re there,
I wind up getting hyper, I wonder why
I end up pulling through, I wonder why
There are also times when I overdo it and wind up
Messing it all up, but
konna watashi wo marugoto aishite
Love all of me, just as I am (Fight!)
kimi ga ireba
harikicchau harikicchau
ganbacchau ganbacchau
koishiteru onna tte sugoku tsuyoinda
If you’re there,
I wind up getting hyper, getting hyper
I wind up trying my best, trying my best
A woman in love is incredibly strong!
kimi ga ireba
tanoshikute harikicchau
tanoshikute ganbacchau
sukisugite nakidashichau
koto mo aru kedo
If you’re there,
I have so much fun I end up getting hyper
I have so much fun I end up trying my best
There are also times that I end up bursting into tears
Because I love you too much, but
nante chokusetsu kao mite ienai (FAITO!)
Somehow, I can’t look you in the face and directly just say it (Fight!)
konna watashi wo marugoto aishite
Love all of me, just as I am
---
Okay I said no notes, but two things:
1) The twirling and arm-straight hand motions (along with the pin-straight jumps and punching) in the original choreography are 100% based off actual typical cheer squad choreography.
2) S/mileage recorded a cover of this as their b-side to Dot Bikini in 2012 and it’s become the “official” concert arrangement ever since.
“The scent fills the air, our fire reaches its peak. Save the talking for later.”
OR: Possibly Gomaki’s most innuendo-laden song while with H!P.
namida nuredasu hitomi yasashiku
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
yubi ni KISU shite mimi ni yasashiku
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
Eyes that start becoming wet with tears, tenderly
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
Kiss my fingers, ear, tenderly
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
ushiromuki nara kao mienu DESIRE
yokubari na no watashi tte
If I turn my back, you won’t see my face, DESIRE
I’m greedy, I am
aisatsu desho KISU kurai wa
jouzu ni dekiru desho?
moeru you ni ESUCOOTO shite yo
koibito ni wa hayai kedo daiji ni shite ageru
SABO tte naide ai wo sasayaite
SOME BOYS
Hey, it’s a way of saying hello, you can at least handle
Kissing well, can’t you?
Take the lead and guide me into it so I can burn with passion¹
It’s too soon to be lovers, but I’ll cherish you
Don’t slack off, whisper love to me
SOME BOYS
chibusa yuredasu kodou hageshiku
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
mabuta KISU shite kami ni hageshiku
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
My breasts start shaking, my heart beats violently
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
Kiss my eyelids, my hair intensely
TOUCH CATCH
TOUCH CATCH
COME ON TOGETHER
kaori ga suru wa noboritsumeru FIRE
kaiwa suru nara ato de ii
The scent fills the air Our fire reaches its peak
Save the talking for later
joushiki da wa SORE kurai wa
torekechau kurai ni
odoru you ni ESUKOOTO shite yo
chotto yasashiku toki ni GYUtto
kowasanaide ageru
tsuyogatte koboshichau SOME BOYS
SOME BOYS
This much should be basic common sense
Take the lead and guide me as if we were dancing
Until I melt.
A little tenderly, sometimes forcefully–
I won’t break you
I act tough and my feelings slip through, SOME BOYS
SOME BOYS
joushiki da wa SORE kurai wa
torekechau kurai ni
odoru you ni ESUKOOTO shite yo
chotto yasashiku toki ni GYUtto
kowasanaide ageru
tsuyogatte koboshichau SOME BOYS
SOME BOYS
This much should be basic common sense
Take the lead and guide me as if we were dancing
Until I melt
A little tenderly, sometimes forcefully–
I won’t break you
I act tough and my feelings slip through, SOME BOYS
SOME BOYS
---
¹ It’s literally “escort me as if dancing” but escorting as a verb sounded so awkward that I figured I’d translate the nuances of it instead.
This is also one of those songs that gets its shares of Hello!Project covers, but my absolute favorite is still Takahashi Ai’s.
“You’re cool! Just as you are, with your honest feelings, all of them. Yes, it’s love alright: the present you, with these overflowing feelings, all of them.”
OR: I don’t have any commentary, actually, I just love this song.
kotae nante dokoka ni aru tte omottecha dame sa
kotae nante JIBUN no naka dake ni arunda
You shouldn’t think the “answer” can be found somewhere
“Answers” are only found inside yourself
kakkoii jan
ari no mama sunao na kimochi zenbu
yappa ai jan
ima no mama afureta kimochi zenbu
You’re cool!
Just as you are, with your honest feelings, all of them
Yes, it’s love alright
The present you, with these overflowing feelings, all of them
seiippai hi ni mukatte butsukete miyou yo
mae muite kao agete naiteru HIMA wa nai yo
Let’s face the sun with all our might and tackle things head-on!
Eyes looking forward, raise your head, there’s no time for crying
jounetsu no KISU! kono "seishun" ni KISU!
ima GANBAtteru kimi ga daisuki
SAIKOO no KISU! sono "zenryoku" ni KISU!
mune ippai no omoi tsutaetainda yo
A・I・SHI・TE・RU
A kiss of passion! A kiss to this “youth”!
I love the you that’s doing your best right now
The ultimate kiss! A kiss to your “all-out effort”!
I want to convey my full heart’s worth of feelings
I l.o.v.e. y.o.u.
riyuu nante doko ni mo mitsukaranakutatte ii sa
kidzuita toki wa mou hashiridashiterunda
Even if you can’t find a “motive” for it anywhere, it’s okay
Because by the time you realize it, you’ll have already started running
datte ima jan
tsukinukete HADASHI no mama de zutto
sonde ai jan
tsuranuite akiramenaide zutto
After all, the time is now!
Break through, barefoot as you are, keep on going forever
And it’s love!
Persist, don’t give up, ever!
kanashii hi wa onaka ippai tabereba ii
tama ni HEKOndara hiru made netereba ii
On sad days, go ahead and eat until your stomach’s full
If you’re feeling down occasionally, go ahead and sleep until noon
kandou no KISU! kono "shunkan" ni KISU!
ima GANBAtteru kimi ni agetai
DONMAI no KISU! sono "yancha" ni KISU!
mune ippai no omoi kanjitainda yo
DA・KI・SHI・ME・TE
A heart-stirring kiss! A kiss in this “moment”!
I want to give you one for doing your best right now
A “don’t stress!” kiss, a kiss to your mischievousness!
I want you to feel my full heart’s worth of feelings
H.o.l.d. m.e.
kanashii hi wa onaka ippai tabereba ii
tama ni HEKOndara hiru made netereba ii
On sad days, go ahead and eat until your stomach’s full
If you’re feeling down occasionally, go ahead and sleep until noon
jounetsu no KISU! kono "seishun" ni KISU!
ima GANBAtteru kimi ga daisuki
SAIKOO no KISU! sono "zenryoku" ni KISU!
mune ippai no omoi tsutaetainda yo
A・I・SHI・TE・RU
A kiss of passion! A kiss to this “youth”!
I love the you that’s doing your best right now
The ultimate kiss! A kiss to your “all-out effort”!
I want to convey my full heart’s worth of feelings
I l.o.v.e. y.o.u.
“Let’s hurry on ahead, without panicking—without waiting for someone else to open up the path. Everybody, let’s go! There’s still time, c’mon, get on board. The world is ‘one for all and all for one.’”
OR: all of Hello! Project, singing a song about coming together, circa 2004.
awatezu ni
saki wo isogou
kirihiraku no sa
dareka ga suru no wo
matazu ni
Let’s hurry on ahead
Without panicking—
Without waiting for
Someone else
To open up the path
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ONE for ALL!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world is “one for all!”
ima kara sa (GO!)
mirai wo tsukamou
furuki ni manabi
kenkyuu shita bun
koujou suru kara
From here on out (GO!)
Let’s seize the future
Let’s learn from the old
Because we’ll only progress
Just as much as what we’ve studied
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world = “all for one and one for all!”
yume wo idake
dare ni mo iu na
Hold onto your dreams
And don’t tell them to anyone
kuchi ni sureba
kanawanu rashii
sore ga yume nanda
If you say them out loud
It seems like they won’t come true
Because that’s what dreams are
mokuhyou kakage
kakujitsu ni
susumou!
Fly your goals proudly, like a flag
And let’s move ahead
With certainty!
Nihon nya kirei na kawa ga aru sa
sono utsukushisa wo
KEEP ON KEEP ON
mamorou!
Japan has clear, pure rivers—
That beauty, let’s
KEEP ON, KEEP ON
Protecting it!
ima kara sa (GO!)
mirai wo tsukamou
furuki ni manabi
kenkyuu shita bun
koujou suru kara
From here on out (GO!)
Let’s seize the future
Let’s learn from the old
Because we’ll only progress
Just as much as what we’ve studied
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ONE for ALL!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world is “one for all!”
katare katare
minna de katarou
Talk, talk
Let’s all talk together
honki naraba
tsutawaru hazu sa
kotoba chigaedo
If we put our all into it,
It’ll definitely be communicated
Even if our words are different
mokuhyou aeba
minna shite
HERE WE GO!
If we unite our goals
All together,
HERE WE GO!
jakuten ja nakute kosei dakara
tataeaimashou
sungoi sungoi ii bubun
It’s not “weakness”, it’s individuality
So let’s praise that about each other
It’s a super, super great part of you
awatezu ni (GO!)
saki wo isogou
kirihiraku no sa
dareka ga suru no wo
matazu ni
Let’s hurry on ahead
Without panicking—
Without waiting for
Someone else
To open up the path
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ALL for ONE!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world is “all for one!”
awatezu ni (GO!)
saki wo isogou
kirihiraku no sa
dareka ga suru no wo
matazu ni
Let’s hurry on ahead
Without panicking—
Without waiting for
Someone else
To open up the path
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ONE for ALL!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world is “one for all!”
ima kara sa (GO!)
mirai wo tsukamou
furuki ni manabi
kenkyuu shita bun
koujou suru kara
From here on out (GO!)
Let’s seize the future
Let’s learn from the old
Because we’ll only progress
Just as much as what we’ve studied
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
mada ma ni au ze
saa norikome
sekai wa 「ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL!」
EVERYBODY GO! (GO!)
We can still make it
Come on, get on board
The world is “one for all!”
Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka? (“Are You Watching the Sunset?”)
“Hey, take a good look up. You’re living life in your own way.”
OR: The favorite AKB song among all AKB members, circa-2011.
kyou ga donna ichinichi datta ka nante
kaerimichi kangaeru yo ne
kanashii koto ya tsurai koto mo aru sa
tanoshii koto ga kachikoseba ii
You think over what kind of day you had today
On the way home, right?
There was sad stuff and rough stuff too
Hopefully the fun stuff outnumbers them
kazoku ya tomodachi ya mawari no hito ni
shinpai wo kaketakunakute
muri ni hohoemi uso ikutsuka tsuite
kimi dake ga kakaekomu no wa yamete...
You don’t want to worry
Your family, your friends, and everyone around you
So you force a smile and lie a little–
Stop shouldering it all alone
kisetsu no kaze no muki kanjitari
ashimoto no hana ni kidzuitari
chiisana deai ni
sou kansha dekitara
bokura wa shiawase ni narerunda
Feeling the direction that the season’s wind is blowing,
Noticing the flowers at your feet—
If we can be grateful for
Small encounters that way,
We can be happy
yuuhi ga shizumu sora wo miteiru ka?
toki ga sugiru
sono senaka wa utsukushii darou?
Yes! sorenari no kyou ga owari
subete RISETTO suru yoru ga kuru yo
ieji wo isogu kimi wa hitorikiri
doushite
jibun no koto wo homete agenai no ka
nee chanto mite ageyou yo
kimi ga kimi rashiku ikiteru koto
Are you watching the sky as the sun sets?
Time passes by
Isn’t it beautiful from the back?
Yes! The day ends in its own way
And a night that resets everything arrives
As you hurry along on the way home all alone
Why
Don’t you praise yourself?
Hey, take a good look up
You’re living life in your own way
ningen kankei wa mendou dakedo
hitori de wa ikite yukenai
hito wa dare demo yowai ikimono dakara
otagai ni sasaeatte irunda
Social relationships are a pain but
We can’t make it through life alone
People are all weak creatures so
We mutually support one another
toki ni wa kitsui iikata shitari
dareka no ashi wo funde shimattari
gokai saretari
iroiro to atta kedo
itsumo kibou ni michiteiru
Sometimes we may use harsh words,
Accidentally step on someone’s toes,
Be misunderstood,
And on and on, but
We’re always full of hope
yuuhi ga shizumu sora wo miteiru ka?
ima wo ukeireru koto
susumu koto oshiete kureru
ushinau koto wa nanika wo
itsuka kanarazu te ni irerareru koto
atari wa sukoshizutsu kuraku nari
yoru wo egaku tensen mitai na hoshitachi
nee chanto ashita ga kuru made
kimi wa kimi rashiku yume wo miyou
Are you watching the sky as the sun sets?
Taking in the present
Is what teaches us how to move forward
To “lose” something is
To gain the ability to grasp something else in your hand someday, for sure
As it grows darker little by little around you
Stars appear, like dotted lines that draw the night
Hey, until tomorrow fully arrives,
You should dream in your own way
yuuhi ga shizumu sora wo miteiru ka?
toki ga sugiru
sono senaka wa utsukushii darou?
Yes! sorenari no kyou ga owari
subete RISETTO suru yoru ga kuru yo
ieji wo isogu kimi wa hitorikiri
doushite
jibun no koto wo homete agenai no ka
nee chanto mite ageyou yo
kimi ga kimi rashiku ikiteru koto
Are you watching the sky as the sun sets?
Time passes by
Isn’t it beautiful from the back?
Yes! The day ends in its own way
And a night that resets everything arrives
As you hurry along on the way home all alone
Why
Don’t you praise yourself?
Hey, take a good look up
You’re living life in your own way
