Amagi Goe

This is my translation of another Japanese song, one I came across in my Japanese pop culture class last semester.  It belongs to a genre known as Enka, something along the lines of Japanese country music.  Although it may look like a traditional artform, Enka is a 20th century phenomenon, produced partly in reaction to the mostly Western-inspired J-Pop.  Fans are typically older and more working-class than pop listeners, and performers tend to be chosen for their powerful voices rather than the cute looks and charisma that are responsible for the success of most Japanese Idols.

Like Country singers, Enka singers dress fairly conservatively- suits for men and kimono for women, and along with its pentatonic scale (which I understand to mean it lacks two notes) this may responsible for its traditional feel.  As with Country music, Enka lyrics are full of stories of tragic love and loss, everyday hardships and nostalgic references to their lyricists’ particular rural roots.

Amagi Goe (Crossing Amagi) is a case in point; The title refers to Mount Amagi, and specific waterfalls, bridges and marshes pop up throughout the song.  Amagi Goe was also used as the theme tume of  a drama series of the same name, in which a young boy does indeed, cross Mount Amagi, meeting on the way a beautiful geisha.  I haven’t seen the series, so I can’t really say how much the song relates to its plot; but if the lyrics are anything to go to, its a bittersweet and powerful story of  frustrated longing and jealousy.  Visit YouTube and watch Ishikawa Sayuri belt it out (Amaaaagiii Goooooooooe); it’s a great piece of music.

天城越え
Amagi goe
Crossing Amagi

隠しきれない 移り香が
Kakushi kirenai utsuri na ga
I can’t hide the lingering scent

いつしかあなたに しみついた
Itsu shika anata ni shimitsuita
Stained without knowing it by you

誰かに盗られる くらいなら
Dare ka ni torareru, kurai nara
If someone stole you,

あなたを殺して いいですか
Anata o koroshite ii desu ka?
Would it be ok if I killed you?

寝乱れて 隠れ宿
Nemidarete kakure yado
The secret inn where we slept,

九十九折り 浄蓮の滝
Tsuzura ori jouren no taki
The winding Jouren waterfall

舞い上がり 揺れおちる 肩のむこうに
Mai agari, yure ochiru, kata no mukou ni
Rises dancing, falls trembling; over your shoulder

あなた…… 山が燃える
Anata… Yama ga moeru
My dear… the mountain is burning

何があっても もういいの
Nani ga atte mo mou ii no
It’s okay, whatever is there

くらくら燃える 火をくぐり
Kura kura moeru hi o kuguri
Passing through the dizzily burning fire

あなたと越えたい 天城越え
Anata to koetai, Amagi goe
I want to cross with you, cross Amagi

口を開けば 別れると
Kuchi wo hirakeba wakareru to
If you open your mouth we will be parted,

刺さったまんまの 割れ硝子
Sasatta manma no ware garasu
Stabbed with broken glass

ふたりでいたって 寒いけど
Futari de itatte samui kedo
It’s cold even with you there,

嘘でも抱かれりゃ あたたかい
Uso demo dakarerya atatakai
If you would hold me, I would be warm even if you didn’t mean it

わさび沢 隠れ径
Kakure michi, Wasabi Sawa
The hidden path through Wasabi Marsh

小夜時雨 寒天橋
Sayoshi gure Kanten Bashi
A light shower falls on Kanten bridge

恨んでも 恨んでも からだうらはら
Uurande mo, urande mo, karada urahara
Even if I resent you, even if I resent you, my body feels differently

あなた…… 山が燃える
Anata… Yama ga moeru
My dear… The mountain is burning,

戻れなくても もういいの
Modorenakute mo mou ii no
It’s okay if I don’t go back

くらくら燃える 地をはって
Kura kura moeru chi o hatte
Dizzily walking over the burning earth

あなたと越えたい 天城越え
Anata to koetai, Amagi goe
I want to cross with you, cross Amagi

走り水 迷い恋
Hashiri mizu mayoi goi
Love lost in running water

風の群れ 天城隧道
Kaze no mure amagi suidou
The wind rushes, the waterway through Amagi

恨んでも 恨んでも からだうらはら
Urande mo urande mo karada urahara
Even if I resent you, even if I resent you, my body feels differently

あなた…… 山が燃える
Anata… Yama ga moeru
My dear… The mountain is burning

戻れなくても もういいの
Modorenakure mo mou ii no
It’s okay if I don’t go back

くらくら燃える 地をはって
Kura kura moeru chi o hatte
Dizzily the burning earth spreads

あなたと越えたい 天城越え
Anata to koetai, Amagi goe
I want to cross with you, cross Amagi

Gamble

I first discovered the singer Shiina Ringo when I was living in Japan in 2003, and she’s been one of my favourite artists ever since.  If you’re not familiar with her eclectic stylings you might want to imagine the lyricism of Tori Amos, the endless reinvention of David Bowie and the theatricality of Bjork, combined into one chameleonic Tokyoite.

Since my Japanese has stuck resolutely around intermediate level for the past 6 years, I still need help getting the gist of most of her songs (which are especially difficult to understand given her fondness for obscure references and archaic spellings).  Translations of most of her songs are available online in various places, but there are some songs which I haven’t been able to find translations of, among them the beautiful Gamble (ギャンブル).  So with the help of my language exchange partner I thought I’d give it a go myself. There are a couple of versions of this song, the one most easily found on youtube is from a collaboration with the violinist Saito Neko, and used in the movie SAKURAN.

(If you notice any mistakes in my translation, or can improve on it in any way, let me know.)

ギャンブル
Gyanburu
Gamble

あなたはそっと微笑ってくれるから
Anata wa sotto waratte kureru kara
You softly smile at me

明くる朝とうに泣き止んで居るのさ
Akuru asa tou ni naki yandeiru no sa
You know I stop crying as the morning breaks

此の小さな轍に「アナタ呼吸ヲシテ居ル」
Kono chisa na wadachi ni “anata iki wo shiteiru”
I ask the little furrow “are you breathing?”

蝉が喚いて夏の到来を知る
Semi ga naite natsu no torai wo shiru
The cicadas cry and we know of summer’s coming

其の都度何故か羨んで居るのさ
Sono tsudou naze ka urayandeiru no sa
Why do I feel envious every time?

此の戦地で尽きたら「何カシラヘノ服従」
Kono senchi de tsukitara “nani ka shirahen fukuju
If I’d ended on this battlefield,  “Obedience without knowing”

帰る場所など何処に在りましょう
Kaeru bashou nado ni doko ni arimshou
Where can I return to?

動じ過ぎた
douji sugita
I‘m too agitated

もう疲れた
Mou tsukareta
I’m already tired

愛すべき人は何処に居ましょう
Ai subeki hito wa doko ni imashou
Where is the person I’m meant to love?

都合の良い答えは知っているけど
Tsugo no ii kotae wa shitteiru kedo
I know the easy answer

中目黒駅のホームに立って居たら
Nakameguro eki no homu ni tatteitara
Standing at the platform of Nakameguro Station

誰かが急に背を押したんだ 本当さ
Dare ka ga kyu ni se wo oshitanda honto sa
Someone suddenly pushed me from behind, it’s true

此の勝負に負けたら「生キテユク資格モ無イ」
kono shobu ni maketara, “ikite yuku shikaku mo nai”
If I lose this contest, “Unqualified to live”

飼い馴らされた猫の眼で
Kai nasareta neko no manako
The eyes of a tamed cat

鳴いてみようか
Naite miyou ka
Should I try mewing?

やってみようか
Yatte miyou ka
Should I try it?

愛すべき人は何処に居ましょう
Ai subeki hito wa doko ni imashou
Where is the person I was supposed to love?

予定の調和なんて容易だけど
Yotei no chowa nante youi da kedo
But it’s so easy to harmonise plans

声を出せばどなたかみえましょう
Koe wo daseba donata ka miemashou
Should I see what would happen if I spoke?

真実がない
Shinjitsu ga nai
There’s no truth

もう歩けない
Mou arukenai
I can’t walk any more

灰になれば皆喜びましょう
Hai ni nareba mina yorokobimashou
Everyone would be happy if I turned to dust

愛していたよ
Aishiteita yo
I loved you

軽率だね
Keisotsu da ne
Thoughtless, wasn’t it