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 by, 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.
[Thanks to John Williams for correcting my translation, see the comments below for his full comments]
天城越え
Amagi goe
Crossing Amagi
隠しきれない 移り香が
Kakushi kirenai utsuri na ga
The indelible, lingering scent
いつしかあなたに しみついた
Itsu shika anata ni shimitsuita
Stained you unawares
誰かに盗られる くらいなら
Dare ka ni torareru, kurai nara
If someone stole you, I couldn’t bear it
あなたを殺して いいですか
Anata o koroshite ii desu ka?
Could I kill you?
寝乱れて 隠れ宿
Nemidarete kakure yado
An unmade bed in a secret room,
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
Whatever is there, it’s enough
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
The broken glass that found its mark
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 it was a lie
わさび沢 隠れ径
Kakure michi, Wasabi Sawa
The hidden path, 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, who turned your back on me
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
Even if there is no return, it’s enough
くらくら燃える 地をはって
Kura kura moeru chi o hatte
Walking over the dizzily 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
Running water, love lost
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, who have turned your back on me
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
Walking over the dizzily 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
