“Nikuya no youni” by Yapoos

肉屋のように
戸川純

チェーンソー スターター 一気に引く手
お願い誰か私を止めて
骨まで響く振動で
全身感じる恍惚 あ駄目
殺意のボイラー コークスくべて
ああもう我慢ができない
滴る生き血に飢えるわ
愛しい貴方が食べたい

ドリルのスイッチ オンするこの手
お願い誰か私を止めて
闇夜に唸る轟音で
鳥肌が立つのよ身体中 あ駄目
殺意の炎にガソリンそそぐ
ああもう我慢ができない
腕や目玉や脳まで
愛しい貴方が食べたい
誰でもいいから私を止めて

誰でもいいから私を止めて 頚動脈をマグマが滾る
美味しい身震いする程 美味しい身悶えする程
誰でもいいから私を止めて

側頭脈が波打つくらい 頚動脈をマグマが走る
美味しい身震いする程 美味しいわ身悶えする程

側頭脈が火を吹くくらい 頚動脈をマグマが滾る
美味しい身震いする程 美味しいわ身悶えする程

Like a Butcher Shop
Togawa Jun

One quick tug on the chainsaw starter
Oh please, won’t someone stop me
It reverberates in the bones
The feeling of ecstasy through my body, oh no
Light the boiler coke of my murderous intent
Oh, I can’t hold out any longer
I thirst for trickling lifeblood
I want to eat you up, my darling

I flip on the drill switch
Oh please, won’t someone stop me
A thunderous roar in the dark of the night
sends goosebumps up and down my body, oh no
Pour gasoline on the flame of my murderous intent
Oh, I can’t hold out any longer
From your arms to your eyes to your heart
I want to eat you up, my darling
Won’t anyone come and stop me

Won’t anyone come and stop me, magma boils my carotid artery
until I shiver with delight, until I writhe in delicious agony
Won’t anyone come and stop me

My temporal pulse is pounding, magma rushes through my carotid artery
until I shiver with delight, until I writhe in delicious agony

My temporal pulse bursts into flames, magma boils my carotid artery
until I shiver with delight, until I writhe in delicious agony

30 More Essential Japanese Albums

The first list couldn’t contain all of the albums I wanted it to, so here’s a followup of some more great albums that belong in any respectable music collection:

タテタカコ (Tate Takako) — イキモノタチ (ikimonotachi, 2007)　Video
Idiot O’Clock — Idiot O’Clock (1989) Video
東京事変 (Tokyo Jihen, aka Tokyo Incidents) — 大人 (aka Adult, 2006)　Video
Zazen Boys — Zazen Boys 4 (2008) Video
Sherbets — Vietnam 1964 (2001) Video
GO!GO!7188 — 鬣 (Tategami, 2003) Video
Yapoos — Dadada ism (1992) Video
戸川純 (Togawa Jun) — 玉姫様 (Tamahime-sama, 1984)　Video
Speed, Glue & Shinki — Eve (1971) Video
Mono — You Are There (2006) Video
Rosso — Bird (2002) Video
Magical Power Mako — Super Record (1975) Video
P-Model — In a Model Room (1979) Video
Sheena & the Rokkets — #1 (1979) Video
Phew — Phew (1981) Video
ヒカシュー (Hikashu) — うわさの人類 (Uwasa no Jinrui, 1981) Video
矢野明子 (Yano Akiko) — Japanese Girl (1976) Video
寺内タケシとブルージーンズ (Terauchi Takeshi and the Blue Jeans) — 羅生門 (Rashomon, 1972) Video
岡林信康 (Okabayashi Nobuyasu) — 見るまえに跳べ (Miru mae ni tobe, 1972) Video
ミドリ (Midori) — 新世界 (Shin Sekai, 2010)　Video
サディスティックミカバンド (Sadistic Mika Band) — 黒船 (Kurofune, 1975)　Video
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs — Mass of the Fermenting Dregs (2008) Video
女王蜂 (aka Ziyoou-vachi) — 魔女狩り (Majo-gari, 2011) Video
０．８秒と衝撃 (aka 0.8syooogeki) — 1暴2暴3暴4暴5暴6暴、東洋のテクノ。 (1bo 2bo 3bo 4bo 5bo 6bo, Touyou no Techno., 2011) Video
Gellers — Gellers (2007) Video
downy — 無題 (Mudai, aka 4, 2004) Video
Zelda — Carnaval (1983) Video
The Stalin — Stop Jap (1982) Video
Hi-Posi — 体と歌だけの関係 (Karada to Uta Dake no Kankei, 1995) Video
銀杏BOYZ (Ging Nang BOYZ) — 君と僕の第三次世界大戦的恋愛革命 (Kimi to Boku no Daisanji-Sekai-Taisen-teki Ren’ai Kakumei, 2005)　Video

“Tamahime-sama” by Jun Togawa

玉姫様
戸川純

ひと月に一度 座敷牢の奥で玉姫様の発作がおきる
肌の色は五色 黒髪は蛇に
放射するオーラをおさえきれない
中枢神経 子宮に移り
十万馬力の破壊力
レディヒステリック 玉姫様 乱心

もう何も見えない もう聞こえない
あなたの話が理解できない
異常な発汗と嘔吐の中で
六感は冴えわたる

神秘 神秘 月に一度
神秘 神秘 神秘の現象

赤い月の夜 座敷牢の奥で玉姫様の発作はつづく
獣なみの体温 眼光は稲妻
逆流する血液をおさえきれない
脳下垂体 子宮に移り
十万馬力の破壊力
レディヒステリック 玉姫様 乱心

もう何も見えない もう聞こえない
あなたの話が理解できない
異常な発汗と嘔吐の中で
六感は冴えわたる

神秘 神秘 月に一度
神秘 神秘 神秘の現象

Tamahime-sama
Togawa Jun

Once a month, deep within her cell, Tamahime-sama falls into a fit
Her skin is five colors, serpents in her black hair
She can’t hold back her radiating aura
Central nervous system, a movement in the womb
100,000 horsepower of destructive force
Lady Hysteric, Tamahime-sama is going mad

I can no longer see, I can no longer hear
I can’t understand the words you are saying
Abnormal sweating and vomiting
My six senses have frozen over

A mystery, a mystery, once every month
A mystery, a mystery, a mysterious phenomenon

On a red moon night, deep within her cell, Tamahime-sama’s fit continues
Average body temperature of a beast, that glint in her eye is lightning
She can’t hold back the current of blood
Pituitary gland, a movement in the womb
100,000 horsepower of destructive force
Lady Hysteric, Tamahime-sama is going mad

I can no longer see, I can no longer hear
I can’t understand the words you are saying
Abnormal sweating and vomiting
My six senses have frozen over

A mystery, a mystery, once every month
A mystery, a mystery, a mysterious phenomenon

NOTES:

玉 (tama) means ball, and 姫様 (hime-sama) means princess (or lady) so the title would mean Ball Princess or Ball Lady. I’m not sure how this fits into the meaning of the song, so I’ve decided to leave her name in Japanese. Clearly, the song is about a woman’s cycle, and it has been suggested to me that the “tama” here might refer to the eggs that are released during menstruation, but I can’t find any evidence to back this up. If anyone has any insight, let me know.

25 Essential Japanese Albums

After posting a lot of translations back in October, I took a long break, but I’ve finally found my way back to the site, and I hope to keep up with it regularly from now on. I’m a huge fan of Japanese music — I’ve listened to hundreds (if not thousands) of albums since I discovered Japanese rock in 2002–, but I know there are a lot of people out there skeptical about its place in the world. “Why would you listen to Japanese music when you could just listen to music in English?” seems to be the usual question asked by people who don’t understand that the language of music is universal. The other reaction tends to be, “You like that kiddie-pop crap?” — usually from people who have only heard the more obnoxious anime theme songs. So, without repeating artists, I’ve narrowed down a list of twenty-five Japanese albums — spanning forty years — that I think are essential to any music lover’s collection, albums that I believe should answer the burning question “Why Japanese music?” — a list that just might have the power to convert the unbelievers. Without further ado, here are the albums, in no particular order:

椎名林檎 (Shiina Ringo) — 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花 (Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana, 2003) Video
Number Girl — NumHeavyMetallic (2002) Video
ジャックス (Jacks) — からっぽの世界 (aka Vacant World, 1968) Video
Flower Travellin’ Band — Satori (1971) Video
J. A. Seazer — 国境巡礼歌 (Kokkyou Junreika, 1973) Video
友川かずき (Tomokawa Kazuki) — Fault of Flowers (1993) Video
Boris — Heavy Rocks (2002) Video
Cocco — くムイウタ (Kumui uta, 1998) Video
ゆらゆら帝国 (Yurayura Teikoku) — ゆらゆら帝国のめまい (Yurayura Teikoku no Memai, 2003) Video
芸能山城組 (Geinoh Yamashirogumi) — 輪廻交響楽 (aka Ecophany Rinne, 1986) Video
Happy End — Happy End (1970) Video
頭脳警察 (Zunou Keisatsu) — 頭脳警察 1 (Zunou Keisatsu 1, 1972) Video
金延幸子　(Kanenobu Sachiko) — み空 (Misora, 1973) Video
INU — メシ食うな　(Meshi Kuu na, 1981) Video
The Blue Hearts — The Blue Hearts (1986) Video
The Roosters — The Roosters (1980) Video
Bloodthirsty Butchers — Kocorono (1996) Video
Bugy Craxone — Northern Hymns (2002) Video
Cowpers — 揺ラシツヅケル (Yurashitsudzukeru, 2000) Video
Eastern Youth — 雲射抜ケ声 (Kumo Inukegoe, 1999) Video
Quruli — The World is Mine (2002) Video
高円寺百景　(Koenji Hyakkei) — Nivraym (2001) Video
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant — Sabrina Heaven (2003) Video
King Brothers — King Brothers (aka Rainbow, 2001) Video (clip is from their 2010 album)
World’s End Girlfriend — Hurtbreak Wonderland (2007) Video

“Mushi no Onna” by Jun Togawa

蛹化（ムシ）の女
作詞：戸川純

月光の白き林で
木の根掘れば
蝉の蛹のいくつも出てきし
ああ

それはあなたを思い過ぎて
変り果てた私の姿
月光の凍てつく森で
樹液すする私は虫の女

いつのまにかあなたが
私に気づくころ
飴色のはらもつ
虫と化した娘は
不思議な草に寄生されて
飴色の背中に悲しみのくきがのびる

* * *

Insect Woman
Togawa Jun

Moonlight in the white forest
In all of the trees
Cicadas emerge from their chrysalises
Ah ah, ah ah

And so, as thoughts of you run through my head,
my body reaches the final stage of transformation
Moonlight in the frozen forest
Sipping sap, I am an insect woman

All of a sudden
when you notice me
amber fills me up
The girl who changed into an insect,
a parasite in the strange grass,
grows stems of sadness from her amber back

* * *

NOTES:

変り果てた私の姿 — lit. “My form, that has ceased to change”
蛹化, although pronounced “mushi” (insect) in the title, can also be pronounced “youka,” and it means “pupation.”

“Haru no shirosa ni boku, maketa.” by Guruguru Eigakan

春の白さに僕、負けた。

作詞：天野鳶丸

春の日、春の白さに僕、負けた。　
晴れた日、空の高さが僕、責めた。

春一番、雪も溶けた。新芽も出た。ほら、蕗の墓。
皆、気分が昇るのなら、僕が独り落ちたのと一緒。

おろし立ての、新しい服。外套脱いだ。前を見てる。
皆、気分が暖かいのなら、僕が余計に寒くなる。

「置いてけ堀、裏の裏は表じゃ無い。」

春の日、春の白さに僕、負けた。　
晴れた日、空の高さが僕、責めた。

* * *

By the White of Spring, I was Defeated.

Lyrics: Amano Tonbimaru
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

On a spring day, by the white of spring, I was defeated.
On a sunny day, high in the sky, I was condemned.

First storm of spring, the snow melted. Buds blossomed. Look, a butterbur sprout.
Everybody, when your feelings are high, mine alone will fall.

Brand new clothes. Overcoat removed. Looking straight ahead.
Everybody, when your feelings are warm, mine will grow frigid.

“Left in a ditch, the bottom of the bottom is not the top.”

On a spring day, by the white of spring, I was defeated.
On a sunny day, high in the sky, I was condemned.

Notes:

Trans. 10/26/2011.

Amano Tonbimaru is the lead singer of Guruguru Eigakan, so I am assuming the lyrics are his, although the one site where I found the band’s lyrics in Japanese does not list the name of the lyricist.

“Dorobou” by UA

泥棒

作詞：UA

それは多分そうね きっと盗まれた
4/14 23:00 西の風5m 我慢 冗談 相談 傲慢 花壇
自慢 油断 舞台の中央に捨てられた裸の心臓
ジャバラなあたしがめくられてく お化け 怪獣 悪魔 泥棒
そしてあたしの夢は 一時停止のまま
割った玉子もフライパンに届かずじまい 不埒なあなたが舌を出す
誰か どうか お構いなく 彼を あいつを 消して 檻に入れて
とかげ らくだ きりん 泥棒

* * *

Thief

Lyrics: UA
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

That must be it I’m certain it was stolen
4/14 23:00 West wind 5mph Patience Joke Discussion Arrogance Flowerbed
Pride Negligence A naked heart thrown onto center stage
Accordion me turns over Ghost Monster Devil Thief
And so my dreams are suspended in time
The cracked egg never even made it into the frying pan Insolent you sticks out your tongue
Someone Somehow Don’t bother with me It’s him That guy Kill him Throw him in jail
Lizard Camel Giraffe Thief

Notes:

Translated in 2008. Revised 10/19/2011.

“SABAKU” by Zazen Boys

SABAKU

作詞：MUKAI SHUTOKU

ゆれている日曜日 すり抜ける人混み
雨上がりの空は黄色い 気持ち晴れたつもり

東京湾に群がるミヤコカモメの集団
くちばしに食わえたどっかの国のゴミ袋
体毛は黒と白とねずみ色の合間
腹ん中、コンクリートが詰まっていっぱい
反射した品川の鈍い光　まどわされてふらつき
肌、ただれる雨が酸性　染みこんでとてもむずかゆい
夢に触った跡がない　流されていつのまにか消えた
赤くさびた釘　心臓に刺さったまんま

心臓に刺さってる　赤くさびた釘を早くぬいて
心臓に刺さってる　赤くさびた釘を早くぬいて

終末思想ずっと漂う街の気配
でも終わりはぜんぜんやってこないみたい
３００円の傘の先端を地面に突き刺す
手ぶらで歩き出す　雨はもう降ってない
砂漠に。砂漠のどっか真ん中に
砂漠に。砂漠のどっか真ん中にいるかんじ
わりと意外なほど、とてもさびしい

ゆれている日曜日　すり抜ける人混み
雨上がりの空は黄色い

割と…さびしい

* * *

Desert

Lyrics: Mukai Shutoku
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

I work my way through a crowd of people on a drifting Sunday,
after it has rained and the sky is yellow, in order to clear my mind

A flock of seagulls are gathered at Tokyo Bay
clutching trash bags from another country in their beaks
Their feathers are shades of black and white and grey
and their stomachs are packed full of concrete
I stagger in a daze in the dim light reflecting off Shinagawa
The acid from the blistering rain has seeped into my skin and itches
Nothing remains of the things I touched in my dreams — they are washed away, suddenly gone
replaced with these red-rusted nails stuck in my heart

Hurry and pull them out, the red-rusted nails stuck in my heart
Hurry and pull them out, the red-rusted nails stuck in my heart

I see signs of the end times in this ever-drifting city
and yet the end never seems to come
I stab the tip of my 300-yen umbrella into the ground
and walk empty-handed now that the rain has stopped
In the desert. Somewhere in the middle of the desert
In the desert. It feels like I’m somewhere in the middle of the desert
and it’s lonelier than I thought it would be

I work my way through a crowd of people on a drifting Sunday
The sky is yellow after the rain

and a little… lonely

Notes:

Trans. 6/6/2009. Revised 10/18/2011.

Another special thanks to Grady Martin for all of his help.

Shinagawa is the name of a river.

I’m not exactly sure what he means by どっかの国のゴミ袋, but it literally translates to “trash bags from a country somewhere.” Whether or not he is implying a specific country without saying it, I don’t know.

“DON QUIJOTE” by Eastern Youth

DON QUIJOTE

作詞：吉野寿

馬鹿な男が立っている
雨上がりに
唇噛んで太陽が去るのを待っている
連なるテールライトが
河のように赤く流れる国道で
独り突っ立って風の中

憧れて　人の世に焦がれて
窓枠のもどかしさを
飛び越えてやって来た
魂は燃えている
夕焼けに負けない程
無様に転げ落ちたって
どこまでも信じている

見えざる影に刃を振り翳しては
敗れる事が唯一の生きている証
馬鹿な男が立っている
大事そうに胸に抱えているものは
二束三文のシケた詩
二束三文の真実

現れて
忽然と消えて行く
暁の儚さを
携えてやって来た
魂は燃えている
雷鳴を蹴散らす程
励ましなんて用は無い
目隠しで立ち向かうさ

そうさ 「明日はきっと晴れる。俺には判る。」

* * *

Don Quijote

Lyrics: Yoshino Hisashi
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

A foolish man stands,
after it has rained,
biting his lip, waiting for the sun to go down
A line of taillights stream by
like a river down the highway
He stands alone in the wind

Yearning, burning for the human world
he leaps over
the weary windowsill
His spirit is so bright
he beats out the sunset
No matter how many times he stumbles
he continues to believe

Raising his sword against invisible shadows,
defeat is the only proof that he’s alive
A foolish man stands
holding his treasures in his heart:
a cheap and brooding song,
a cheap reality

He holds in his hands
the transience of dawn
that is here
and then suddenly gone
His soul is so bright
it drives out the thunder
Without a word of encouragement
he blindly fights on

“It will clear up tomorrow. I just know it.”

Notes:

Trans. in 2008. Revised on 10/18/2011.

“SARUBIA no hana” by Hayakawa Yoshio

サルビアの花

作詞：相沢靖子

いつもいつも思ってた　サルビアの花を
あなたの部屋の中に　投げ入れたくて
そして君のベッドに
サルビアの紅い花　しきつめて
僕は君を死ぬまで　抱きしめていようと

なのになのに　どうして他の人のところへ
僕の愛の方が　すてきなのに
泣きながら　君のあとを追いかけて
花ふぶき舞う道を
教会の鐘の音は　なんてうそっぱちなのさ

とびらを開けて出てきた君は　偽りの花嫁．
ほほをこわばらせ　僕をチラッと見た
泣きながら　君のあとを追いかけて
花ふぶき舞う道を
ころげながら　ころげながら
走りつづけたのさ

* * *

Salvia Flowers

Lyrics: Aizawa Yasuko
Trans.: Alex Fyffe

I always used to think about how I wanted
to throw salvia flowers around your room
and spread red salvia flowers
all over your bed
and I would tell you that I would hold you till you died

And yet, somehow, you found someone else
who you loved more than me
I ran crying after you
Cherry blossoms fell and danced on the street
and the ringing of the church bells sounded false

You came through the door, a faithless bride.
Your lips stiffened, and you glanced at me
I ran crying after you
Cherry blossoms fell and danced on the street
Stumbling, stumbling
I just kept running

Notes:

Trans. 10/14/2011.

“Stumbling, stumbling…” ころげる means to fall over, but it most frequently seems to be used with 笑う, to laugh, to indicate “falling over laughing.” However, I assume in this case he simply means that he is stumbling as he continues to chase after his faithless bride.

“Your lips stiffened…” I believe that ほほ actually means “cheeks,” so the line should be “Your cheeks stiffened, and you glanced at me.” However, this could be taken the wrong way in English, and since stiffening lips seem to be more common in the English language than stiffening cheeks, I went that route.

Hayakawa Yoshio was the lead singer of the highly influential 60s rock band Jacks. This song is from his first solo album.