Lyrics

  • Resonance　～ 私たらしめるもの

    Title: Resonance　～ 私たらしめるもの
    Translated title: Resonance ~ What Makes Me Who I Am
    Original tracks: ネクロファンタジア/少女綺想曲　～ Dream Battle/恋色マスタースパーク (Necrofantasia / Maiden’s Capriccio ~ Dream Battle / Love-Colored Master Spark
    Artist/Circle: やなぎなぎ (Yanagi Nagi)
    Arrangement: 矢鴇つかさ（Arte Refact）(Yatoki Tsukasa)
    Lyrics: やなぎなぎ (Yanagi Nagi)
    Vocals: やなぎなぎ (Yanagi Nagi)

    https://twitter.com/danmakuJP/status/1549009775756582913

    Can’t believe I get to translate a Yanagi Nagi song and… it goes hand in hand with the announcement of Danmaku Kagura’s shutdown… man…
    I’m pretty sure I hear Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly in there at 0:48, even if it’s not listed. Listen to the piano.
    English-only parts are my best guess and will be updated if official lyrics ever release with them included.

    Update: Whole song done. Pretty sure the lyrics are just one big reference to Chapter 2 of Danmaku Kagura’s main story, now that I have the whole context. Read notes for spoilers.

    聞こえてる？
    この旋律

    Can you hear it now,
    This melody right here?

    すれ違う　誰かに似た影と
    踏まれたのは私か彼方か
    行き違う心は置き去りに
    妬ましさに焼かれてしまったの

    I brushed against a shadow that looked just like someone (1)
    But was the one who got caught them, or was it really me? (2)
    My wayward heart, left by the wayside,
    Was burned by envy from the inside

    どれだけ器を真似たって
    大事なものが欠けてしまっていたら (Could be…)
    本物には満たない (Just you…)

    No matter how much the shell that I am might pretend,
    With such an important part missing, (Could be…)
    I couldn’t possibly be the real thing (Just you…)

    聞こえてる？
    内側震わせる音
    私が私でいられる音
    (Can you hear it?)
    聞こえない？
    なら届けてあげるわ
    どんな場所にいても
    境界の果てまでも

    Can you hear it now?
    This sound that resonates within
    That’s the sound that makes me who I am!
    (Can you hear it?)
    Can’t you hear it now?
    Then I’ll make sure it reaches you,
    No matter where you may be!
    Even at the furthest ends of the boundary!

    夜が笑う　世界を融かしては
    闇に紛れ私を騙った
    有耶無耶な理想郷描いて
    自分を守るなんて悲しいでしょ

    The night laughs, and the one melting the world away
    Slips into the dark and takes on my name
    Such a hazy utopia it’s envisioned for itself,
    But isn’t doing that just to protect yourself far too sad?

    どれだけ記憶が削がれても
    失われないものがあると知ってる (Could be…)
    そう　私わ知ってる (Just you…)

    No matter how many of my memories may be missing,
    I still know that there’s something I absolutely can’t afford to lose
    That’s right, this I know! (Just you…)

    聞こえてる？
    魂から愛を込めた
    色めく旋律　確かな鼓動
    (Can you hear it?)
    聞こえない？
    なら奏でてあげるわ
    あなたが飽きるまで

    Can you hear it now?
    With all the love from my soul poured into it,
    It’s such a lovely melody—and a steady beat
    (Can you hear it?)
    Can’t you hear it now?
    Then I’ll be the one to play it for you,
    Until you decide you’ve heard enough!

    空っぽの器も
    そっとノックしてみたら
    或いは
    思いがけない音色鳴らして
    天地が変わるかもね

    An empty shell though I may be,
    Gently knock upon me,
    And just perhaps…
    You may be treated to an unexpected tune,
    One that might just move heaven and earth

    聞こえてる？
    内側震わせる音
    私が私でいられる音
    何度でも轟かせてあげるわ
    境界の向こうでも
    覚悟していてね
    (Catch my heart)

    Can you hear it now?
    This sound that resonates within
    That’s the sound that makes me who I am
    Again and again, I’ll make it boom
    Even to the other side of the boundary!
    You’d best be ready for it!
    (Catch my heart)

    聞こえてる？
    魂から愛を込めた
    色めく旋律　確かな鼓動
    (Can you hear it?)
    聞こえない？
    なら奏でてあげるわ
    あなたが飽きるまで
    帳の向こうまでも

    Can you hear it now?
    With all the love from my soul poured into it,
    It’s such a lovely melody—and a steady beat
    (Can you hear it?)
    Can’t you hear it now?
    Then I’ll be the one to play it for you,
    Until you decide you’ve heard enough!
    Even on the other side of that curtain!

    (1) I debated whether to change this someone to me, but I left it as-is in the end. Knowing the context of the story and the whole song makes it clear that it’s a callback to the Shangri-La Yukari attacking the real Yukari before the story of Danmaku Kagura begins proper, if you ask me.
    (2) 影踏む (kagefumi, lit. shadow-stepping) is a children’s game in Japan similar to tag where the objective is to step on someone’s shadow to make them it (鬼、oni, lit. demon; ghost). In old ghost stories, folklore, and idioms, becoming an 鬼 (oni) can be synonymous with being cursed or even dying (e.g. 鬼籍に入る – to enter the death register; to join the ranks of the dead; to pass away).

    One thing I’m still not sure about if the whole song is sung from the real Yukari’s perspective or if the first half of it is from Shangri-La Yukari’s perspective. I could see both being possible.

  • 解けないように

    Title: 解けないように
    Translated title: Never Come Undone
    Original track: 春色小径 ～ Colorful Path (Spring Lane ~ Colorful Path)
    Artist/Circle: KIHOW from MYTH & ROID
    Arrangement: 杉下トキヤ (Sugishita Tokiya)，KanadeYUK
    Lyrics: KIHOW
    Vocals: KIHOW from MYTH & ROID

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJiPEld8fPI

    痛みごと夢の中に来て
    私の匂いだけ抱いて欲しい

    All that brings me pain, come to me in my dreams
    My own scent is the only one I wish for you to embrace

    闇が満ちて白になったの
    いつからわかった?
    吐き出す言葉もいらない
    意味がなくてね

    When did I realize that the darkness had taken over
    And everything blanked out to white?
    I’ve no more words to utter, none at all
    For there would be no point

    縫って 意地悪い病気
    こもりきりの呪い
    瞳の奥の方に映る
    記憶こそ見せられないで

    Stitched up; a cruel kind of illness,
    A confining curse isolates me
    The memories reflected deep within your eyes
    Are the one thing I don’t want to see

    だけど知っていたの 汚れたつま先
    どこに向けてみても 逃れられない
    沈んだの この鼓動だけが
    動かない水たまりに委ねて
    傷跡が塞がるように
    結び目が解けないように

    But I’ve known it to be true, since first I stained my toe tips
    That no matter where I turned, there’d be no escape
    I’ve sunk to the bottom, and my heartbeat alone
    Is what I’ll entrust to this still pool of water
    So that these scars may one day heal!
    So that these knots may never come undone!

    爪に残る私がいた時が
    君が触れた証が明日も続くかな

    A trace of when I was there still remains under your fingernail 
    Will it still be there tomorrow, will there be proof that you touched me?

    What does it feel like to be lost in?
    (迷子になるってどういう気持ち?)
    Guess I don’t have a single memory.
    (私には一つの思い出もない)
    泣き出すための涙の味さえ知らない

    What does it feel like to go astray?
    I don’t have a single memory left to believe in
    Don’t even know how it would feel to weep tears of grief

    縫って 意地悪い
    妙に痛い頭の呪い
    瞳の奥の方に映る
    記憶さえ見せられなくて

    Stitched up; in such poor taste,
    A bizarre curse curse makes my head hurt
    The memories reflected deep within my eyes
    Are the one thing I could never show

    彼の日見た痛みごと夢の中に来て
    私の匂いだけ抱いて欲しい
    沈んだの その願いだけが
    動かない水たまりに委ねて
    傷跡が塞がるように
    結び目が解けないように

    All I saw that day that brings me pain, come to me in my dreams
    My own scent is the only one I wish for you to embrace
    I’ve sunk to the bottom, and my wish alone
    Is what I’ll entrust to this still pool of water
    So that these scars may one day heal!
    So that these knots may never come undone!

    爪に残る私がいた時が
    君が触れた証が明日も続くかな

    A trace of when I was there still remains under your fingernail 
    Will it still be there tomorrow, will there be proof that you touched me?

    痛みごと夢の中に来て
    私の匂いだけ抱いて欲しい
    沈んだの その願いだけが
    動かない水たまりに笑って
    傷跡が塞がるように
    結び目が解けないように

    All that brings me pain, come to me in my dreams
    My own scent is the only one I wish for you to embrace
    I’ve sunk to the bottom, and my wish alone
    Is what’ll make me smile in this still pool of water
    So that these scars may one day heal!
    So that these knots may never come undone!

    傷跡が塞がるように
    結び目が解けないように

    May these scars one day heal!
    May these knots never come undone!

  • レプリカは嗤う

    Title: レプリカは嗤う
    Translated title: The Replica Sneers
    Original tracks: ハルトマンの妖怪少女/少女さとり ～ 3rd eye (Hartmann’s Youkai Girl/Satori Maiden ~ 3rd eye)
    Artist/Circle: イノライ (Inorai)
    Album: NECRO FANTASIA / レプリカは嗤う (Single)
    Arrangement: ACTRock
    Lyrics: ACTRock
    Vocals: Nachi
    Chorus: みゅい (Myui)

    Commissioned by IceFairy. With help from Little Justices and input from ACTRock.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxC1KJoVgh8

    繋ぎたい瞳
    開く光　闇を払い
    汚れた世界でも生きる

    This eye of mine wants to reach out,
    A light unfolds, driving away the darkness,
    Even in this twisted world, I live on.

    -Dark 3rd eyes
    闇を照らした
    far away  far away
    I just need to be me

    My dark third eye
    Cast a light on the dark!
    Far away, far away,
    I just need to be me.

    誰かが言う
    強くなれないから
    もう一つの自分から逃げた

    I heard someone say once
    That I could never become strong,
    And so I ran away from my other self.

    嘘じゃないと知る
    無邪気な心の目
    真実で汚れてく（二つの心）
    それは感情のない
    止めどない　閉じた瞳

    Knowing their words to be true,
    My innocent mind’s eye
    Found itself twisted by the truth (A heart split in two)
    And thus came to be my emotionless,
    Perpetually closed eye.

    開け開け
    知りたくて
    開け開け見たくないのに
    開け開け
    私はいったい
    ホントのアナタを見せてよ

    (Open up, open up!)
    I want to know it all
    (Open up, open up!)
    Though I don’t want to see
    (Open up, open up!)
    What in the world am I—
    Show me your true colors!

    まだ尖った瞳　閃光切って
    嘆き叫び呼んでる
    限界突破寸前
    耐えられない　痛い　疼いてる
    こんなの自分じゃないって
    違うって願って拒んだ
    嫌い嫌い嫌い　レプリカは嗤う
    抗う瞳は灯を燃やす

    A ray of light flashes from my eye, still so sharp,
    Still screaming out in grief!
    Standing on the brink overcoming my limits is unbearable!
    It hurts! It throbs with pain!
    This isn’t me—It can’t possibly be!
    Wishing for anything else, it refused it all.
    I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! — The replica sneers!
    My defiant eye flares up as a light!

    きっと誰かに優しくされたい
    でも、正気じゃないワタシ許さない
    汚れて濁った瞳

    I’m sure that deep down, I just want someone to treat me kindly,
    But someone like me, already so far gone, would never permit it.
    Not with this twisted eye of mine!

    地下深く寄り添い合う二つ
    嗤い唄うケダモノ　Wow Wow
    それは二つで一つだと
    目を見て嗤う

    Deep in the underground, two beasts snuggle up to each other,
    Sneering and singing all the way. (Wow, wow)
    And saying that they are two as one,
    They look each other in the eye and sneer.

    砕けた眼光に喰らい付いた
    痛み　命落として
    存在瓜二つ繋ぐ
    レプリカは覗き嘲笑う
    暗闇にしか生きれなくて
    苦い蜜を啜った
    お前じゃないホントの私は
    不自由で自由な世界を選んだ

    As I lose my life to the neverending pain
    That gnawed at the shattered sparkle in my eye,
    The replica peers through and mocks me,
    Its existence inseparable from mine.
    Unable to live anywhere but in darkness,
    I slurped on that bitter nectar,
    I’m not you; the true me chose
    A world of freedom, no matter how inconvenient!

    Like a light piercing the darkness
    心燃やせ　Dark in the Dark Yeah
    I love myself as I am now
    瞳揺らす　3rd eyes  the Light

    Like a light piercing the darkness,
    Set my heart ablaze; Dark in the dark, yeah!
    I love myself as I am now,
    Glistening with tears, my third eye is the light.

    心の声を聞いて聞いて
    孤独　痛み　全てを知ったんだよ
    命　　果ててしまうまでは
    愛が意味があると信じたいから

    Listen now, listen to the words deep in my heart.
    I’ve learned of loneliness, pain, and all else all too well.
    Because until the day that I pass on,
    I want to believe that there was love; that there was meaning to my life.

    まだ尖った瞳　閃光切って
    嘆き叫び呼んでる
    限界突破寸前
    耐えられない　疼いた
    照らせ　正気になれないの
    違うって違うって拒んだ
    嫌い嫌い嫌い　レプリカは嗤う
    抗う瞳は灯を燃やす

    A ray of light flashes from my eye, still so sharp,
    Still screaming out in grief!
    Standing on the brink overcoming my limits is unbearable!
    It throbs with pain!
    Illuminate it all! Never to come back to my senses!
    This is wrong, this is wrong! It refused it all!
    I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! — The replica sneers!
    My defiant eye flares up as a light!

    -Dark 3rd eyes
    闇を照らした
    far away  far away
    I just need to be me
    開け瞳　レプリカはいる
    光と闇　私で居続ける
    汚れた世界で輝いてる

    My dark third eye
    Cast a light on the dark!
    Far away, far away,
    I just need to be me.
    Open up, my eye! My replica’s always right here!
    Light and dark alike, living on inside of me.
    Even in this twisted world, I glow on!

    強く強く灯を燃やす

    With all my might, with all my might, I will be like a shining light.

  • ケダモノの唄

    Title: ケダモノの唄
    Translated title: The Song of the Beast
    Original track: 少女さとり ～ 3rd eye (Satori Maiden ~ 3rd eye)
    Artist/Circle: イノライ (Inorai)
    Album: ケダモノの唄 (The Song of the Beast)
    Arrangement: ACTRock
    Lyrics: ACTRock
    Vocals: Nachi

    Commissioned by IceFairy. With help from Little Justices and input from ACTRock.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mRtXO45FD4

    見えてるケダモノの唄

    Hear the song of the gazing beast…

    現状回路は破裂寸前
    願う解放満たされない
    見えないものが私をズタズタに切り裂いてく
    もう何も知りたくないのに
    言葉一つだって 傷ついてしまうんだよ
    何回も死にたくなる度聞こえるんだ

    Present state of mind: on the brink of explosion,
    Unable to unleash their deepest desires,
    A series of invisible things tears me to shreds.
    Even though I would prefer not to know any longer,
    For even a single word is enough to cause harm,
    Again and again, each time I wish I were dead, I hear them.

    開けFake my day
    滲んだ世界で
    息を潜めて息をして
    落ちていた

    Open up! Fake my day,
    Within this blurred out world,
    I held my breath before taking another,
    And fell into the depths.

    殺して
    燃えるくらいに
    たくさんの目を
    閉じて開けては繰り返す

    Kill me!
    Until I burn up!
    With so many eyes on me—
    Fluttering over and over.

    何故　暗い　ねえ闇夜に彷徨い心を喰らった
    嗤い　唄う　ケダモノ　Wow Wow
    朽ちたんだ光も　嫌われ嫌うことで
    私はホントを知れる(汚れた目で)
    悪魔を振りかざす
    Wow

    But why is she so dismal? Subjected to wandering hearts in the dark night,
    The beast sneers and sings, wow, wow!
    Even light has been lost to obscurity, in a cycle of mutual hate,
    But I can see the truth (With this twisted eye of mine)
    I brandish the power of a fiend!
    (Wow, wow, wow, wow wow!)

    感情ばっかり先行して
    表情ばっかに踊らされて
    泣けないのに泣いてる
    腐敗したキレイゴトに

    Always anticipating every single emotion,
    Always made to dance to the tune of others’ expressions,
    Although I spill no tears, I weep
    In response to all of their corrupt lip service.

    End my eyes
    すぐに消えたいな
    誰も近づけない心に

    End my eyes
    I’d rather disappear at once,
    All because of this heart of mine that’ll let no one come near.


    ダサい最期なんて絶対見せたくないのに
    アハハと感情示すケダモノ　Wow Wow
    でも悲しくてずっと　合理的悲観的
    私は自分を認めてあげたい(心の音)
    未練を振り切って

    And yet, no matter what, she doesn’t want to let them see her meet a miserable end!
    With a boastful smile, the beast voices her emotions, wow, wow!
    But ever sorrowful, always logical and gloomy, 
    I want to learn to accept myself! (The sound of my own heart)
    And cast aside all of my regrets!

    Wow
    ずっと響くサイレンス
    響く心の声がする    

    Wow, wow, wow, wow wow
    Echoing for so long now, through the silence…
    Echoing… I hear the voices within their hearts!

    殺して 燃えるくらいに
    奈落へ落ちる
    その目で聴いて　ケダモノの唄を
    もう聞きたくないのに

    Kill me! Until I burn up!
    As I fall into the abyss…
    Open your eyes and hear it! The song of the beast—
    Though I would prefer not to hear all of you any longer!

    ケダモノは唄う
    静かな地下で

    The beast sings…
    Throughout the silent underground…

    何故　Cryねぇ　闇夜に後悔しないように喰らった
    嗤い　唄う　　　　ケダモノ　Wow Wow
    朽ちたんだ光も　嫌われ嫌うことで
    私はホントを知れる(汚れた目で)
    悪魔を振りかざす　止めどなく
    瞳開けて　振りかざしてる

    But why does she cry? Subjected to it all to be left with no regrets in the dark night,
    The beast sneers and sings, wow, wow!
    Even light has been lost to obscurity, in a cycle of mutual hate,
    But I can see the truth (With this twisted eye of mine)
    I brandish the power of a fiend! Never to be stopped!
    I open my eye—And wear it proudly.

    ケダモノはそう　嗤い　唄う

    Thus the beast sings, with a sneer!

  • 唯唯、泡沫模様

    Title: 唯唯、泡沫模様
    Translated title: Mere Ripples on the Water’s Surface
    Original track: プレインエイジア (Plain Asia)
    Artist/Circle: イノライ (Inorai)
    Album: 叫べ ディザイア (Shout It Out, Desire!)
    Arrangement: ACTRock
    Lyrics: ACTRock
    Vocals: cheluce

    Requested by IceFairy. With help from Levander and input from ACTRock.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9uViZynKY

    咲いて浮かぶ水面の花は
    凛と揺らす儚き瞳
    遠く離れ夢へと隠し　空を染めてゆく

    Flowers bloom on the water’s surface,
    Swaying gracefully before my vacant eyes,
    Hiding away in dreams that seem so distant now, and painting over the sky.

    咲いて咲いた微かな夢に淡く淡く鳴く蝉時雨
    夢と夢幻なぞるように降り注ぐ結晶

    Bloomed they did, blossomed they have, in these feeble dreams of mine, where a chorus of cicadas oh so ephemerally sings.
    As though retracing my own dreams and fantasies, these crystals rain down endlessly.

    時の流れを止め（ゆらゆら寄せるの）
    空の闇夜をそっと照らした溢れる月模様

    It halts the flow of time itself now: (Swaying, swaying, ever slightly closer)
    The brilliant figure of the moon in the sky which gently illuminates this dark night.

    泡沫模様　刹那　とたとた流れて
    記憶零さぬよう　包み込んで
    月夜に満ちる夢は　唯唯、弾けて
    いつか託せるよう
    言の葉の物語　影模様染める

    Bubbles ripple on the water’s surface, for but an instant—drip-drop—and they’re swept away.
    I cradle these memories of mine so as to not spill any more.
    My dreams, filled with the sight of moonlit nights, merely keep on bursting forth.
    To ensure that some day
    This tale of words may be passed on, I’ll paint over it with shadows.

    綴り綴る　然すればいつか清か遥か見る　写す影
    離れ離れ呼んでいる　空の鏡よ

    I’ll write on, pen it down, and so long as I do, some day, the shades I’ve transcribed might be clearly seen in the far off future.
    So far off, drifting away, I call out to the great mirror in the sky.

    時の色さえまだ（不可逆溺れて）
    隠し無に還すは　儚さ彩る人の色

    Even the colors of time itself still lie hidden away: (Irreversibly sinking under)
    Returned to naught by the colors of humans, all adorned with transience.

    泡沫模様　思い　とたとた流れて
    一人写すのは空蝉色
    それでも霞　記憶　唯唯、綴ろう
    全て忘れぬよう
    悲しみも愛しさも結び合う　永遠に

    Bubbles ripple on the water’s surface, as my feelings—drip-drop—keep flowing out.
    All that one can transcribe on their own are the colors of this mortal coil.
    But nevertheless, I shall take these hazy memories, and merely write them down.
    So that it may not all be forgotten,
    I’ll record all the sorrow, and all of the beauty, entwining them together for eternity.

    消えては記憶の隅（泡沫それは時をも）
    結んで繋いでゆく（魂離れても）
    微かに伝う　記憶と声が
    振り返り消えてしまえど

    All that would fade from the recesses of my memories, (As ephemeral as ripples on water—even time itself)
    I’ll bind and preserve for times to come (Even should my soul depart)
    Even though these memories and voices that faintly guide me along
    May all vanish as soon as I turn to look back.

    泡沫模様　刹那　とたとた流れて
    記憶零さぬよう包み込む
    月夜に満ちる夢は　唯唯、弾けて
    いつか託せるよう　時を創る

    Bubbles ripple on the water’s surface, for but an instant—drip-drop—and they’re swept away.
    I cradle these memories of mine so as to not spill any more.
    My dreams, filled with the sight of moonlit nights, merely keep on bursting forth.
    To ensure that someday it may be passed on, I will bring about a new age.

    空蝉色に染まる時代を　嗚呼　唯　歩いて
    遠き時代でも　言の葉の物語　影模様染める

    Through the times stained by impermanence, alas, I’ll simply march on.
    Even in times yet far away, I’ll paint over this tale of words with shadows.

    This song is wrapped in layer upon layer of metaphors and literary symbols.
    I’ll append all the notes I have on it to this post tomorrow.

  • ステップラビッツ

    Title: ステップラビッツ
    Translated title: Step Rabbits
    Original track: 狂気の瞳 ～ Invisible Full Moon (Lunatic Eyes ~ Invisible Full Moon)
    Artist/Circle: イノライ (Inorai)
    Album: 月華蝶/革命宣戦ファシズム (Moonlight Butterfly/Revolutionary War Declaration Fascism)
    Arrangement: ACTRock
    Lyrics: ACTRock
    Vocals: 謎の人物K (Nazo no Jinbutsu K)

    Requested by IceFairy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr76H3JYFVI

    痛いよ　痛いよ　言葉の針が
    怖くて怖くて何も言えないよ
    渦を巻く明日へ踏み込め

    They hurt me so, they hurt me so, your words like daggers oh so sharp.
    I’m terrified, so terrified, that I can’t say a word.
    So I’ll take one brave step toward the muddled future.

    馴れ合うことすら苦手
    ずっと一人ぼっちで生きてたから
    優しい目を見ていたら
    おかしくなってしまいそうだよ
    どうして　裏切りのウサギなのに 

    Getting close to others has never been my strong suit either,
    Because I’ve lived my whole life all alone.
    So even if you look at me with such a kind expression,
    I feel like I could just go crazy!
    Why is it that, even though I’m a traitor of a rabbit…

    この耳には聞こえてるよ
    伝えたいこと　伝わるよ
    どんな惑星も飛び越えて
    踏み込むと誓ったのに    

    These ears of mine can still hear it all?
    All the things you want to say – I read them loud and clear!
    I’ll leap across whatever planet it takes—
    But even though I’ve sworn to keep walking on…

    痛いよ　痛いよ　言葉の針が
    辛くて辛くて逃げ出したんだよ
    帰れはしないよ　月の都に居場所はないから見上げてる
    後悔しないように　精一杯飛び跳ねて見せるよ
    一歩一歩踏み込んだ　明日をその手でさらえ

    They hurt me so, they hurt me so, your words like daggers oh so sharp.
    So harsh they were, so harsh indeed, that I ran from it all!
    There’s no going back, for that city on the Moon no longer has a place where I can belong, so I gaze up towards it…
    And to leave no regrets—I’ll take one giant leap—with all my might!
    One small step after another, I’ll take my future into my own hands!

    言葉なんて裏腹
    気持ちなんて手に取れないものだから

    Yet I act contrary to my words—
    Because emotions aren’t something tangible.

    さみしくなる　私なんだよ
    月の陰に怯えてる
    伝うテレパシー星間超え
    近づけ明日へと    

    And so at times I get lonely,
    And cower in the shadow cast by the brilliant moon.
    But your telepathic messages reach me across the stars,
    Bringing me ever closer to a new tomorrow.

    変わったよ　弱いままでも
    乗り越えてゆくから　だから    

    I have changed—Though I may still not be very strong,
    I can rise to overcome it all! So please,

    わかってよ　わかってよ　勝手な私情
    ダメだよ　わかるよ　理解してたのに
    戻れはしないよ　過去の自分なんて考えても進めない
    恐れずに飛び込めば　もっと強く変われるはずなんだ 

    Understand, oh, understand! I have known all along
    That acting in shallow self-interest would do me no good.
    But there’s no going back, and if I keep on dwelling on my past self, I’ll never get anywhere.
    If I keep on leaping fearlessly, I should be able to become even stronger!

    私の声　聞こえますか
    辛くたって平気だよ
    どんな惑星も飛び越えて    
    踏み込む未来へと    

    Do you read me?
    Even if it gets painful, I’ll be fine.
    I’ll leap across whatever planet it takes—
    And take a brave new step into the future!

    痛いよ　痛いよ　言葉の針が (1)
    無限に続いた遠い星たちに
    願うよ　戻れない道を作ってしまった私の物語
    後悔しないように　精一杯飛び跳ねて見せるよ
    一歩一歩踏み込んだ　明日をその手でさらえ    

    They hurt me so, they hurt me so, your words and all they meant.
    And so I’ll wish upon the stars that stretch without end,
    For I’ve built a path with no return—my own story.
    And to leave no regrets—I’ll take one giant leap—with all my might!
    One small step after another, I’ll take my future into my own hands!

    彼方まで追い越すよ
    私を過ぎてゆく星間へ    

    I’ll go even further beyond—
    Towards the stars that rush on by!

    今ならわかるよ　進んでいると
    渦巻く明日へ踏み込め

    I have now come to understand what it means to forge ahead,
    So I’ll take one brave step toward the muddled future.

    (1) Although the video suggests that this verse says 針 like the other chorus verses, I’m pretty sure I hear 意味 as actually being sung, and have translated this verse accordingly.

  • 汎用合成クラスメイト : 宇佐見ＸＸ号

    Also check out: Kafka Fuura’s take on Usami 227. They’ve been at this for much longer than I have, and even helped me figure out some things about both Usami 05 and Usami 227. Big thanks to them!

    An RD-Sounds double feature once again. I’m not sure if the Usami 227 version somehow fits into the overarching Project Tetra narrative as I haven’t had the time to make a deep dive into it, but I’ve been aware of the Usami 05 version’s existence for some time.

    On that note, I was under the impression that there was some vague consensus that 宇佐見０５ possibly referred to Renko – ０５, Rei-Go, Ren-Ko… Its narrative also really reminded me of the descriptions of the Secret Sealing Club’s world in the future, a scientific utopia with little to worry about that’s actually completely soulless even if you just scratch the surface. I took it mostly at face value, assuming that whoever the natural-born narrator was (probably a human from that future) perceived Renko (who is inhumanly inquisitive and can tell you the time and place just by looking at the stars) as an anomaly because of how amazing she was, and was coming to terms with it.

    …So what’s the wordplay with 227? Frankly, I couldn’t figure it out, but Tetra’s booklet makes it apparent that Usami 227 is Sumireko and that our main narrator this time is a bona fide android. Both of the Usamis are rebellious and questioning to a fault, but Sumireko seems to get the short end of the stick here – the lyrics of 227 are a lot more confrontational, and the two voices—the Machine and the Synthetic—are very much at odds with one another. There’s also certainly some absurdity in the android calling itself “natural-born,” but I think it went over my head because I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe the android is just an allegory for how cold and lethargic people have become in that world. It was certainly one of the implications in ZUN’s Music Collection stories.

    But RD is hard, so maybe I’m also in over my head.

    In any case…

    Title: 汎用合成クラスメイト : 宇佐見05号
    Translated title: General-Purpose Synthetic Classmate: Usami No. 05
    Original track: 科学世紀の少年少女 (Boys and Girls of the Age of Science)
    Artist/Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
    Album: 東方compilation CD 萃星霜 (Touhou Compilation CD Gathering of Years)
    Arrangement: RD-Sounds
    Lyrics: RD-Sounds
    Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop), nayuta

    いつから彼女はそうだろう
    どこか皆から浮いている
    それもそのはず　だって彼女
    合成のクラスメイトなのさ

    I wonder how long she has been that way?
    For some reason she doesn’t quite fit in with the rest.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    For she is a synthetic classmate, after all.

    一目じゃ誰にも分からない
    歪な科学の申し子よ
    低まるバース·レイトの中
    ついに叩かれたかその扉

    At a glance, you’d never be able to tell
    But she’s the twisted brainchild of science.
    Amidst declining birth rates,
    Is that the solution we’ve opted for at last?

    どれほど隠しおおせても
    僕には全部お見通し
    それもそのはず　だって彼女
    人並みに外れたその頭脳

    No matter how good she might be at hiding it,
    I can see right through it all.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    For her intellect is far beyond the average.

    その表情ひとつとっても　何もかもを知りたいようで
    世界の端から端までの　その向こうへと向けている

    Look at any one of her expressions, and you’ll realize just how unquenchable her thirst for knowledge is.
    From one end of the world all the way to the other—she’s set on something even further beyond.

    何もかも変わらぬ日常に (1)
    全て曖昧な認識に
    君というその存在だけが異質な合成品で (2)

    In these lives that we spend in blissful ignorance
    With only a vague understanding of everything around us
    You alone stand out, a synthetic, fake being.

    “天然”の僕達に (3)
    どれほどいっても馴染めない
    僕らと同じにはなれない
    君だけが独りぼっち

    No matter how much you may try,
    You will never be one of us born of nature.
    You cannot ever become like us.
    Always all alone you are doomed be.

    月日は次第にめぐって
    それでも彼女は馴染まない
    それもそのはず　だって彼女
    合成のクラスメートだから

    Days turned to months as time marched on,
    And yet she still does not quite fit in.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    For she is a synthetic classmate.

    誰をも必要としない
    瑕疵を抱えたその心
    だから声をかけたとして
    合成の笑顔で笑うだけ

    Her heart must bear a fatal flaw
    That makes it so that she has no need for anyone else.
    Which is why, even if you tried to talk to her
    All you’d get in response is a synthetic smile.

    差のあることは悪徳と
    僕ら何一つ均整で
    それだというに　だって彼女
    その意図のわからぬ能力偏差 (4)

    To stand out from others is a fault,
    Which is why we all strive for perfect uniformity.
    But even then, there must some deviation in that girl’s specs
    The point of which I could never hope to understand.

    そうだ自分のいるその意味　世界に探そうとするのは
    何もかもが決められている以上に“意味”などはあるのかい—？

    Tell me now, what “meaning” is there in searching the world
    For the meaning of one’s existence in a world where everything is predetermined?

    全て平穏な日常に
    疑うことなど何もない
    君というその存在だけがただ全て掻き乱す

    In these lives that we spend in undisturbed peace,
    Where we have no reason to doubt in anything,
    You alone stand out, longing to stir up everything there is to.

    “天然”の僕達は (5)
    何もかもを恐れはしない
    僕らと何が違うのだろう
    君だけが独りぼっち

    Those of us born of nature
    Have absolutely nothing to fear.
    What is so different about you from us?
    Always all alone you are doomed be.

    君は想う　君は問う
    それが合成の心のせいで
    何もかもを疑わず　生きていくこともできない

    You ponder on, you inquire more,
    And it must all be the fault of your synthetic heart.
    You can’t even live your life without placing doubt in everything.

    どこまでも　どこまでも
    君はどうなってしまうのだろう
    そんなにも不確かな幸せの理由に縋るようで

    Stubbornly you go, stubbornly you go,
    But whatever will happen to you
    If you continue to cling to such a fickle idea of happiness?

    なんでもないよな日常に
    僕らは何も変えられない
    君というその存在だけが全てを壊していく

    In these lives that we spend uneventfully
    Where we have not even the power to exact any change
    You alone stand out, tearing everything down.

    “天然”の僕らより (6)
    天然らしい顔をしてる (7)
    あるいは全てが逆しまでも
    君はずっと独りぼっち—？

    Compared to those of us born of nature,
    Your expression looks far more genuine to me.
    Could we have had it the wrong way around all along?
    Are you truly doomed to be all alone?

    —桜の下で笑う君。
    その笑顔を見るとき、僕は—。
    本当の合成品は—。 (8)
    もしかしたら僕らの方と、そんな風に思うのだろうか？

    …One day you’ll smile beneath those cherry blossoms.
    And should I see your smile then, I must wonder…
    If a thought along these lines would occur to me…
    That, just perhaps, the ones who were really fake have been us all along?

    Title: シン・汎用合成クラスメイト : 宇佐見227号
    Translated title: Neo-General-Purpose Synthetic Classmate: Usami No. 227
    Original track: 科学世紀の少年少女 (Boys and Girls of the Age of Science)
    Artist/Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
    Album: △ (Tetra)
    Arrangement: RD-Sounds
    Lyrics: RD-Sounds
    Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop), nayuta

    いっから彼女はそうだろう
    どこか皆から浮いている
    それもそのはずだって彼女
    合成のクラスメイトなのさ

    I wonder how long she has been that way?
    For some reason she doesn’t quite fit in with the rest.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    For she is a synthetic classmate, after all.

    誰にも隠そうとしない
    歪な科学の申し子よ
    低まるバース・レイトの中
    ついに叩かれたかその扉

    She doesn’t even try to hide it from anyone,
    The twisted brainchild of science that she is.
    Amidst declining birth rates,
    Is that the solution we’ve opted for at last?

    どれほど普通で居ようと
    僕には全部お見通し
    それもそのはずだって彼女
    けして隠し切れぬその仕草

    No matter how normal she might try to act,
    I can see right through it all.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    For she could never conceal those gestures if she wanted to.

    その表情ひとつとっても 何もかもを突き放して
    世界の端から端までの そのどこにもいられないー！

    Look at any one of her expressions, and you’ll realize just how detached she is.
    From one end of the world all the way to the other—there is no place she can call her own!

    何もかも変わらぬ日常に
    全て曖昧な認識に
    君というその存在だけが異質な合成品で (9)

    In these lives that we spend in blissful unchangeability
    With only a vague understanding of everything around us
    You alone stand out, a synthetic, fake being.

    天然の僕達に (10)
    どれほどいっても馴染めない
    僕らと同しにはなれない
    君だけが独りぼっち

    No matter how much you may try,
    You will never be one of us born of nature.
    You cannot ever become like us.
    Always all alone you are doomed be.

    いっから私はこうだろう
    きっと皆から浮いている
    それもそうよね　だって私
    合成のクラスメイトだから

    I wonder how long have I been this way?
    It’s no secret that I don’t fit in with the rest.
    But that should come as a given—
    For I am a synthetic classmate, after all.

    けれども何も問題ない
    それがどうでも関係ない
    私が私であること
    それが何より大切だから

    But I don’t really see a problem with that.
    It doesn’t really concern me at all.
    So long as I can stay who I truly am,
    That’s the only thing that matters to me.

    差のあることは悪徳と
    そんな押し付けはお断り
    それだというに　だって彼ら
    鏡を覗こうともしないの?

    To stand out from others is a fault?
    I’ll agree to no such pressure, thank you very much.
    And with that in mind, look at them all,
    When’s the last time they looked in the mirror?

    そうだ!私のいるこの意味世界に探そうとすること
    何もかもが与えられている以上に大いに意味があるー！

    I’ll tell you now! There is a point to me searching the world for the meaning of my own existence,
    For everything has meaning to it, far beyond what that may have been predetermined!

    全て平穏な日常に
    疑うことなど何もない
    だからこそありったけの全部　疑ってかき乱す

    In those lives that you spend in undisturbed peace,
    There is no reason to doubt in anything,
    Which is exactly why I’ll doubt it all and stir up everything there is to.

    天然の彼らより (11)
    私は恐れも感じない
    彼らと何もかも違うなら
    私だけが独りぼっち

    Compared to those born of nature,
    I feel no fear.
    If everything about us is so fundamentally different,
    Always all alone I am doomed be.

    “合成”は想フー (12)(13)

    You ponder on, “Synthetic”—

    “機械”は問ウー (14)

    You inquire more about me, “Machine”—

    それは合成の心のせいで
    何もかもを疑わず生きていくこともできない

    And it must all be the fault of your synthetic heart.
                                                               the way it’s meant to be lived.
    You can’t even live your life
                                                               without doubting.

    どこまでもどこまでも
    それでどうなってしまうのだろう?
    辿り着くその明日は幸せだとさえ限らないのに

    Stubbornly you go, stubbornly you go,
    But whatever will happen to you
    When there is no guarantee that the future you strive to reach will be a happy one?

    いつまで彼女はこうだろう?
    きっと何かの手違いさ
    それもそのはすだって彼女
    幸せの意味さえ知らぬなら

    I wonder how long she will be this way?
    Surely this is all some sort of mistake.
    But I suppose that should come as no surprise—
    If she still does not even know the true meaning of happiness.

    きっと本当の仲間は
    数えるほどしか残ってない
    世界の何処かまっててよね
    きっと探し当てて見せるから

    I’m sure that no matter how hard I tried to look here,
    I could count my remaining true friends on the fingers of one hand.
    So wait for me if you’re still out there, somewhere in this world,
    I’ll make sure to find you, wherever you may be!

    ああ
    なんでもないよな日常は
    僕らはなにも変えたくない
    君というその存在だけが全てのエラーとなる

    A-ah!
    In these lives that we spend uneventfully
    We have not the slightest wish to change a thing,
    Yet you alone stand out, a terrible error in every conceivable way.

    天然にさよならを (15)
    幼き日の終わりはそこに
    私の世界を見つけるまで
    今はずっと独りぼっち?!ああ!

    I bid farewell to you born of nature,
    As the days of my youth near their end.
    Until I’ve found a world of my own where I can belong,
    I wonder, am I doomed to be all alone? A-ah!

    ーー遠い誰かに笑う君。
    ーーどこも見つめずに笑うキミ
    けして交わらぬ行く末

    …You smile, looking at someone far away.
    …You smile, looking at nothing at all.
    No doubt, our paths shall never cross again.

    本物の笑顔はさあどちら?
    きっと聞くまでもないことだろうーー

    Now, which of our smiles is the genuine one?
    I must wonder if there’s even any need to even ask…

    (1) 何もかも変わらぬ (unchanging; where nothing changes) is sung as 何もかもわからぬ (ignorant; not knowing [about] anything)
    (2) 合成品 (synthetic [thing]) is sung as 作り物 (fake, fabrication)
    (3) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)
    (4) 能力偏差 (a deviation in [her] faculties) is sung as パラメータ (“parameters”, specs)
    (5) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)
    (6) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)
    (7) 天然らしい (natural, of nature) is sung as 本物らしい (genuine)
    (8) 合成品 (synthetic [thing]) is sung as 作り物 (fake, fabrication)
    (9) 合成品 (synthetic [thing]) is sung as 作り物 (fake, fabrication)
    (10) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)
    (11) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)
    (12) 合成 (the synthetic) is sung as 君 (you)
    (13) The classical/archaic 想フ (omofu) is sung as 想ウ (omou). The symbolic significance of writing it this way could be that the Machine represents old, traditional systems, and the old way of doing things. Credit where credit is due: Kafka figured this one out.
    (14) 機械 (the machine) is sung as 君 (you)
    (15) 天然 (nature, natural) is sung as ナチュラる・ボーン (“natural-born”)

  • NECRO FANTASIA

    Title: NECRO FANTASIA
    Original track: ネクロファンタジア (Necrofantasia)
    Artist/Circle: イノライ (Inorai)
    Album: NECRO FANTASIA
    Arrangement: ACTRock
    Vocals: Nachi

    Commissioned by IceFairy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7jbXtfIIcE

    I feel 世界の片隅へ　帰ればしない常闇へ
    Wow 抜けろ　掠める Lonely Sky (1)

    I feel—Into a corner of the world; Into an everlasting darkness with no return
    Wow wow, let’s break through the sweeping lonely sky.

    Own all the grief and the pain
    異界に背を向け　吐き出すかき乱す
    ああ　命を濁らす隙間の目に

    Own all the grief and all the pain,
    Turn your back on the afterlife, spit it all out, mess it all up,
    Oh, all for those eyes within the gap, corrupting your life.

    Run away my darkness
    首に食い込むネイル
    愛しい愛しくて
    ああ　冷たいこの手は誰のもの

    Run away, my darkness,
    As nails dig into my throat,
    My darling, so beloved,
    Oh, whoever could these cold hands belong to?

    繰り返す消失と鬼没よ (2)
    Your sadness 私を求めて
    寂しい腕に喰らいつくよ

    I’m like a phantom, vanishing all at once, time and time again.
    In your sadness, seek me out
    And I’ll sink my teeth into those lonely arms.

    Wow wow wow wow
    Just be alive
    幻想はキリのない罵声をすり抜け　闇夜を抜け
    作り出してけ　Fantasia
    Cry ありえない未来へ常世の闇に潜む
    触れてよこの目に　くらくらさせて

    Wow wow wow wow
    Just be alive
    Fantasy is to slip gracefully through endless jeers,
    To break through the dark night, and create your own Fantasia
    Cry out for an impossible future; look into these eyes
    That lurk within eternal darkness, and let me make your head spin.

    I feel so bad 出口探して Alive
    闇へ消える　Wow Wow 迎えに行こうか
    Necro Fantasia

    I feel so bad—Looking for a way out—Alive
    Fading into the dark, wow wow, shall we go and greet it for ourselves?
    It’s a Necro Fantasia!

    A moth into the flame
    ネクロマンサー　こちらへ
    世界を喰らい尽くす
    こうなるのはお前で私じゃない

    Like a moth into the flame
    Come right this way, Necromancer.
    Devouring the world whole—
    You’re the one who turned out this way, not me!

    さあ　シンドロム　愛しさに焼かれて
    So many die 健全に回想して
    隠せ　隠せ　魂さえも

    Now, like stricken with a syndrome, burn up with affection.
    As so many die, reflect upon them solemnly.
    Hide it away, hide it all away, even your very soul!

    Wow Wow Wow Wow
    Just be alive
    幻聴は　嘘じゃなくて (3)
    本当の　姿を映す鏡は　ひび割れ壊す
    その狂った寝言は　愛しい闇へ歩む
    Why are you crying?
    どれくらい時を刻むのだろう

    Wow wow wow wow
    Just be alive
    Phantasms are no falsehoods
    But the mirror that reflects their true forms is shattered to pieces.
    All that deranged nonsense will lead you into a most lovely darkness.
    Why are you crying?
    How much more time must still tick away?

    どこまでが私で
    どこからが誰なのか

    How far is it until I end?
    Where is it that someone else begins?

    All my dead hope 時を越えて
    哀れな私　掴んだその手に　引きずり込まれて

    All my dead hope, transcend time!
    Pitiful as I was, I clung dearly to that arm… and got taken along for the ride.

    真っ白な常闇に産まれて

    To be born in a blinding white, everlasting darkness.

    Wow Wow Wow Wow
    Just Be alive
    幻想はキリのない罵声をすり抜け　闇夜を抜け
    作り出してけ　Fantasia
    Cry ありえない未来へ常世の闇に潜む
    触れてよこの目に　くらくらさせて

    Wow wow wow wow
    Just be alive
    Fantasy is to slip gracefully through endless jeers,
    to break through the dark night, and create your own Fantasia
    Cry out for an impossible future; look into these eyes
    that lurk within eternal darkness, and let me make your head spin.

    I feel so bad 出口探して Alive
    闇へ消える　Wow Wow 迎えに行こうか
    Necro Fantasia

    I feel so bad—Looking for a way out—Alive
    Fading into the dark, wow wow, shall we go and greet it for ourselves?
    It’s a Necro Fantasia

    Be with me, be with you…
    Wow wow, wow wow…

    (1) 掠める can also mean “deceitful” or “thieving”, but I based my interpretation on the fact that the music video shows the sky “sweeping” past the camera on cue with this line.

    (2)鬼没 is from the four-kanji compound 神出鬼没. This idiom is very frequently used to describe Yukari in various Touhou works, even official ones, and literally translates to “Appearing like a god, vanishing like a demon.” Idiomatically it translates into “Appearing in unexpected places”, “vanishing unexpectedly”, “elusive”… It’s a little hard to pin down, but I think “I’m like a phantom” works well enough in this case.

    (3)幻聴 more accurately means “auditory hallucinations”, but I’m pretty sure the word was just chosen to match with 幻想 that’s in the other two choruses. Phantasms/Fantasy seems like a good choice to convey that idea of near-homophony.

  • without U

    Title: without U
    Artist: AZKi
    Album: without U
    Lyrics, Composition, Arrangement: RD-Sounds
    Guitar: Hikari Syuyo
    Vocals: AZKi

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofdfaM11NIw

    Wait a minute, I know that voice…

    I originally translated this some time in April 2020, but I didn’t have as much confidence in my work back then as I do now. I’m surprised no one beat me to it in all the time this translation’s been collecting digital dust, but here it is now.
    Shoutout to [kafka fuura] for helping me out with a few lines back then and for being a big inspiration to even start doing this sort of stuff to begin with.

    キミがいるから　一人じゃないから

    It’s because you’re here with me. It’s because I’m not alone.

    ずっと　一人だけで　同じことばっかり
    何か　寂しくなっちゃうよね

    Always repeating the same things over and over, all by myself,
    It’s enough to make me feel kind of lonely.

    俯いてばかりで　明日もわからない
    こんな　足りないものみたいに

    Always looking back, while not even knowing what tomorrow holds,
    As if I were lacking something.

    はじめからおしまいまで　きっとちいさなわたし
    “A→Z”“K→i” (1)
    …世界に怯えている

    From the beginning, until the very end, it must be that my small self
    “A→Z”“K→i”
    Was frightened of the world…

    だから
    without U――キミがいないときっと　私は私でいられないんだ
    I need U――私を見て、聞いて！　そうしたらきっと届けられるから

    That’s why
    without U――If it weren’t for you, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stay who I truly am.
    I need U――Watch me; listen to me! So long as you do, I’m sure I’ll be able to feel

    キミがいるって　一人じゃないって

    That you are here with me; that I am not alone.

    歩きどおしなのは　私だけじゃなくて
    きっと　こうしているときでも

    Even as I kept on walking, I wasn’t on my own.
    I’m sure that even during moments like these…

    キミは　ずっとずっと　頑張っていたんだね
    私は全部見ているから

    You were always, always trying your best.
    I know because I’ve been watching all along.

    つまさきからてっぺんまで　ちいさな心ぜんぶ
    “Z→A”“i→K” (2)
    …伝える想いがここに

    From the tips of my toes, all the way to my head, and filling up my whole little heart
    “Z→A”“i→K”
    …All of the emotions that I want to convey are right here!

    それは
    Beside U――キミのそばにいるよ　どんなに辛く思ったときでも
    I read U――聞かせて、キミの声！　そこに私の声を重ねたら

    And they are
    Beside U――I will be right here next to you, no matter how hard it all might become to bear.
    I read U――Let me hear your voice, loud and clear! And if I just raise my voice to sing there with yours

    傍にいる――

    I’ll be by your side

    もらったものを抱え通し
    返し足りないくらいだよ

    As I hold all that I’ve received in my arms,
    I realize I’ll never have enough to pay you back.

    一人じゃない　わかってもね
    いつまでこうしていられるの？

    I’m not alone – I understand that,
    But how long can it stay this way?

    そんなことわからないよ
    わからないから歌うんだよ！

    There’s just no way I could possibly know,
    And because I don’t know, I’m singing now!

    キミといるこの瞬間
    大切なものにするために――！

    To turn this one moment with you
    Into something truly precious!

    そうだ
    without U――キミがいないときっと　私は私でいられなかった
    I need U――私を見て、聞いて！　そうしたらきっと　きっとこれからも…

    That’s right
    without U――If it weren’t for you, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to stay who I truly am.
    I need U――Watch me; listen to me! So long as you do, I’m sure that even from now on…

    だから
    within U――キミのなかにいるよ　キミがくれたもののその限りに
    I with U――どうか、覚えていて！　私がここに立つときはいつも

    That’s why
    within U――I will be inside of you, until all that you’ve given me comes to its end.
    I’m with U――So please, keep on remembering! Every single time I that stand I up here

    キミといるから　一人じゃないから

    It’s because I’m here with you. It’s because I’m not alone.

    I’m not 100% sure what the letters that read out AZKi’s name in the pre-chorus actually mean, but here is my best guess under the assumption that they’re just a symbolic way to read the verse they’re right under:

    (1) A (From the beginning) → Z (Until the end);
    K (I’m sure that [kitto]) → i (my small self, lowercase pronoun I)
    (2) Z (From the tips of my toes) → A (All the way to my head);
    i (little, from the previous usage) → K (heart [kokoro])

  • I hope so…

    Artist: 池田春菜 (Ikeda Haruna)
    Album: AQUAPLUS VOCAL COLLECTION VOL.3
    Composition: 中上和英 (Nakagami Kazuhide)
    Lyrics: 須谷尚子 (Sutani Naoko)
    Vocals: 池田春菜 (Ikeda Haruna)

    This is the opening song to Aquaplus’ visual novel 天使のいない12月 (Tenshi no Inai Juunigatsu). Requested by a friend.

    風が冷たくて　コートを着込んでた
    風が無くなって　交わす言葉もない
    別に気になんない　ホントは気にしてる
    熱いコーヒーで　飲み込んでいるだけ

    As the cold wind blew in, I put my coat on.
    Yet we didn’t share a single word once the wind blew past.
    Though I pretend not to care, the truth is I’m worried.
    But all I do is swallow it down with some hot coffee.

    憂鬱が始まる　長すぎる一日が(yah)
    孤独が忍び込む　冷めた心の中へ

    On this day that seems to last forever, the melancholy sets in, yeah…
    The loneliness creeps its way inside of my cold heart.

    I hope so … 夢を見ていたい　心地よい温もり満たされたい
    I hope so … 側にいて欲しい
    叶うならせめて寒い冬が通り過ぎるまで

    I hope so… I want to dream; get my fill of this comforting warmth.
    I hope so… I want to stay by your side,
    If only I could, at least, until the cold winter passes by.

    雨が吹き込んで　扉を閉ざしてた
    雨音に消され　言葉は届かない
    何も問題ない　ホントはマイってる
    甘いキャンディーで　紛らしているだけ

    As the rain came in, I closed the door shut.
    Yet not a single word reached me, drowned out by the sound of the rain.
    Though I pretend to be fine, the truth is I’m at a loss.
    But all I do is take my mind off things with some sweet candy.

    季節は色褪せる　輝いていた日々が(yah)
    不安が駆け抜ける　渇く心の奥へ

    As the seasons lose their luster, the days that once shone bright, yeah…
    Only fill the depths of my longing heart with anxiety.

    I hope so … 独りにしないで　孤独からすぐに逃げ出したい
    I hope so … 暖めて欲しい
    叶うならずっと寒い冬を忘れられるまで…
    雪が解けるまで…
    空が晴れるまで

    I hope so… Don’t leave me all alone; I want to escape this solitude right away.
    I hope so… I want you to warm me up,
    If only you could, at least, until I can forget this cold winter…
    Until the fallen snow melts…
    Until the sky clears up.

    憂鬱が始まる　長すぎる一日が(yah)
    孤独が忍び込む　冷めた心の中へ

    On this day that seems to last forever, the melancholy sets in, yeah…
    The loneliness creeps its way inside of my cold heart.

    I hope so … 夢を見ていたい　心地よい温もり満たされたい
    I hope so … 側にいて欲しい
    叶うならせめて寒い冬が通り過ぎるまで

    I hope so… I want to dream; get my fill of this comforting warmth.
    I hope so… I want to stay by your side,
    If only I could, at least, until the cold winter passes by.

    風が冷たくて　コートを着込んでた
    風が無くなって　交わす言葉もない
    雨が吹き込んで　扉を閉ざしてた
    雨音に消され　言葉は届かない

    As the cold wind blew in, I put my coat on.
    Yet we didn’t share a single word once the wind blew past.
    As the rain came in, I closed the door shut.
    Yet not a single word reached me, drowned out by the sound of the rain.

  • 夢現-mugen- / 現夢-genmu- + ver.R
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhgd9sagWfY

    This is a big one. I need to explain some things first.

    現夢-genmu- was featured on the eponymous album, a massive tie-in with a Shimensoka novel named うつつのゆめ (Utsutsu no Yume; Dream of Reality) that brought about a dozen different circles together. This novel in turn is a sequel to an older novel named 夢現 (Yumeutsutsu; Dream and Reality). The song features three perspectives and three(!) concurrent voices in the chorus: Merry, Renko, and Merry-turned-Yukari. This might make it a bit hard to follow, but it’s awe-inspiring.

    夢現-mugen- was featured about a year later on a different TUMENECO album, and features only Merry’s (or even Yukari’s?) perspective, and comes off as less hopeful than the original if you ask me. The songs’ themes are very similar to those featured in the novels, though.

    The viewing experience that I recommend for this translation is Red Forest’s cover of TUMENECO’s two songs. The second half features an animated music video with recreated scenes from Utsutsu no Yume and some extras. Some spoilers, I guess, but the novel is almost impossible to find nowadays and not translated either (though I hope to translate it one day).
    Red Forest’s cover also features an extra stanza that really brings the two songs together, as well as a reference to the last page of Yumeutsutsu at the end.
    Finally, it also includes Japanese versions of some of Yukari’s verses, which are originally written in somewhat broken English, so it was easier to make sense of some of those lines.

    From what I know, yukina usually sings Renko’s part while Mie usually sings Merry’s part in TUMENECO songs, but the roles seem to be reversed here.
    Mie also sings Yukari’s voice in Genmu.
    Red Forest’s cover, of course, has a totally different set of singers. Miners in Mugen, and Napoleon and Mamemi in Genmu.

    Merry is in purple. Renko is in maroon. Yukari is in gold. Duets in black.

    A few words are written differently in the booklet than they’re actually sung.
    I’ll focus on the written meanings in translation and point them out with notes at the very end.

    I wish I could make the columns wider to make reading easier, but this is all a free WordPress blog will afford me for now. Maybe one day. Sorry for rambling.

    Title: 夢現-mugen-
    Translated title: Dream and Reality -mugen-
    Original tracks: ジャパニーズサーガ (Japanese Saga);
    リーインカーネイション (Reincarnation)
    Artist/Circle: TUMENECO
    Album: Re.TMNC
    Arrangement: tomoya
    Lyrics: ななつめ (Nanatsume)
    Vocals: yukina

    君と二人で夜を駆けた
    あの日々を忘れることなんてできない
    今も月と星の下で
    僕は今も待ち続けるあなたの声を

    Those days when I ran through the night together with you
    Are ones I could never forget.
    Even now, under the light of the moon and the stars,
    I’m still waiting here, waiting to hear your voice.

    出口も判らない箱庭を暴き出す
    諦めを知らぬ微かな渡し火
    雁字搦めになった箱庭に閉じ込めた
    真実それだけが微かな思い出

    A faint guiding light that knows not of resignation
    Exposes this miniature garden with no exit in sight.
    The truth that’s been locked away within this hedged-in garden
    Is my only remaining, hazy memory.

    君と出会ったあの月夜に
    もう一度戻ることが出来るのならば
    この命を捧げてもいい
    僕は今も待ち続けるあなたの声を

    If only I could once again go back
    To that moonlit night when I met you
    I’d be willing to give my life in return.
    I’m still waiting here, waiting to hear your voice.

    儚いと知ってる繰り返しの願いは
    今は虚ろなる遥かな日常
    もう一度だけでいいただ切に願うのは
    声も届かない切ない感情

    Though I know it’s but an empty wish, the one thing I keep wishing for
    Is to have my old life, that’s turned so hollow now, back.
    Desperately yearning for it, wanting to have it again just one more time,
    Is a suffocating feeling I can’t even put into words.

    君と過ごしたあの夏まで
    もう二度と戻ることが出来ないならば
    いつかその夢が叶う日まで
    僕は今も待ち続けるあなたの声を

    If the moments I spent with you until that summer
    Are bygone days, forever lost to time,
    Then until the day comes for that dream to come true,
    I’ll still be waiting here, waiting to hear your voice.

    落ちた瞳の向こうで月が語るその声に
    失うのが怖くて僕は首を振り続ける

    If I were to open my eyes, the moon might stop speaking with your voice.
    Too scared to lose it, I keep on shaking my head…

    夢のような夜に二人駆けた空を
    今も僕はここで追いかけてる

    On that dreamlike night, the two of us ran through the sky.
    I’m still right here, even now, chasing after it.

    君と出会えるその夜まで
    何度でもこの世界を作り直そう
    この命が尽き果てるまで
    僕はここで待ち続ける

    Until the night comes when we can meet again,
    I’ll keep on remaking this world over and over.
    Until I take my very last breath,
    I’ll keep on waiting, waiting right here.

    君と二人で夜を駆けた
    この奇跡を忘れることなんて出来ない (1)
    いつか月と星の下で
    出会えるまで醒めない夢を

    This miracle of running through the night together with you
    Is one I could never forget.
    And until we can meet again under the light of the moon and the stars,
    I’ll keep on dreaming this dream that I’ll never wake from…

    Title: 現夢-genmu-
    Translated title: Reality and Dream -genmu-
    Original tracks: ジャパニーズサーガ (Japanese Saga);
    リーインカーネイション (Reincarnation)
    Artist/Circle: TUMENECO
    Album: 現夢 (Genmu)
    Arrangement: tomoya
    Lyrics: ななつめ (Nanatsume), Jell, GCHM
    Vocals: yukina, みぃ (Mie)

    君と出会い夢を視てた
    あの日々を忘れることなんてできない
    今も月と星の下で
    僕は夢を視続ける醒めない夢を

    Those days when I dreamed of meeting you
    Are ones I could never forget.
    Even now, under the light of the moon and the stars,
    I’m still dreaming this dream that I’ll never wake from.

    出口の判らない箱庭が隠すのは
    諦めが閉ざす小さな灯し火
    雁字搦めになった箱庭を壊すのは
    信じるそれだけの小さな思い出

    A small lamplight, shut off by resignation
    Is concealed by this miniature garden with no exit in sight. 
    The only thing that could shatter this hedged-in garden
    Is the faith that I hold in my meager memories.

    君と二人で手を繋いだ
    (君の視てた夢を)
    あの夜を忘れることなんてできない
    (忘れない)
    終わりのない夜が明けても
    (朝も、夜も、越えて)
    僕は夢を視続けるだろう

    That night when I held your hand in mine
    (The dream that you dreamt)
    Is one I could never forget.
    (Is one I’ll never forget)
    Even if this endless night were to dawn,
    (Crossing morning and night alike)
    I’m sure I’ll keep on dreaming this dream.

    紅い月が地に落ちても
    咲かぬ花が枯れ果てて
    永い夜が燃え尽きても
    君の声は届いているから

    For even if the scarlet moon were to fall to Earth,
    For even if flowers yet to bloom were to wither,
    For even if this drawn out night were to burn out,
    Your voice will always reach me!

    I walk alone

    Time to go my own way

    Night’s falling down

    No one can see

    I walk alone

    The time has come to go my own way.

    As night falls,

    No one can see.


    We still search the starlights
    Despite there’s no hope inside
    Fill my heart with shine
    To find the truth of this world’s end

    We still search the starlights,

    Despite there being no hope to be found in them.
    I’ll fill my heart with their shine

    To find the truth of this world’s end.

    儚いと知っても繰り返し願うのは
    たぐり寄せていた虚ろな日常
    もう一度だけでいいただ切に願うのは
    目を逸らさないで見つめた日常

    Even if it’s but an empty wish, wishing for something again and again
    Is what drew this hollow life to me.
    Desperately yearning for it, wanting to have it again just one more time,
    Is how I’ve faced this life, not looking away.

    君と二人で空見上げた
    (君と駆けた道を)
    あの場所を忘れることなんてできない
    (忘れない)
    力尽きるその時まで
    (空も、海も、越えて)
    僕は夢を視続けるだろう

    That place where I gazed up at the sky together with you
    (The road I ran down with you)
    Is one I could never forget.
    (Is one I’ll never forget)
    I’ll gather all my strength, and until the time comes,
    (Crossing sky and sea alike)
    I’m sure I’ll keep on dreaming this dream.

    風の吹かぬ迷宮にも
    遥か遠く世の果てにも
    どんな暗い地の底にも
    君の声は届いているから

    For even in a maze where the wind doesn’t blow,
    For even at the farthest reaches of a faraway land,
    For even in the darkest, deepest depths of the world,
    Your voice will always reach me!

    あなたの言葉はまだ、ここに響いてる。
    君と手を繋いで過ごした日々
    壊れるものはなかった、けれど
    宙に涙を零す残酷な運命い出逢った

    You walk across

    Time to say goodbye my friend

    Right choice, perhaps

    For you and me

    You cross the threshold.

    The time has come to say goodbye, my friend.

    This might just be the right choice

    For you and me.

    We still search the starlights
    In spite of someone’s advice
    See my heart blaze up
    To break the spell of this worlds end

    We still search the starlights

    In spite of what we’ve been told.

    I’ll see my heart blaze up

    To break the spell of this world’s end.

    Word you say still remains this place

    Days we played and held each hands
    Nothing was afraid but now we’ve faced
    This ruthless fate tears drop in space

    The words you said still echo in this place.
    In those days we spent together, holding one another’s hand
    We feared not a single thing,  yet now,
    Having met with a cruel fate, we shed our tears in empty space.

    閉じた瞳を開けば夢を繰り返す世界
    失うのが怖くて僕はただ眠り続ける

    If I were to open my eyes, this world of endless dreams might fade away.
    Too scared to lose it, I simply keep on dreaming…

    忘れないで、私はいつもそばにいるから
    あなたをもう一度笑顔にする言葉を。
    空は淀んでいるけれど、私達なら塗り替えられる
    この運命を打ち破って、 流れ星のように
    燃しつくすために

    Don’t forget I’ll be there always

    Phrase to make you smile again
    Sky’s painted gray but we can change

    To smash this fate and catch a flame

    like the shooting star

    Don’t forget that I’ll always be by your side
    To give you the words that’ll make you smile once again.
    Though the sky may be gray, the two of us can surely repaint it
    So that we may break through this fate and burn out
    Like shooting stars.

    今は細く遠い声も
    やがて遠い時の果てで
    霞み消える星のように
    境界越えて

    And now, that minute, distant voice,
    Will, at last, travel across the vast sea of time
    Like a fading, dying star,
    Crossing over the boundary!

    君と二人で夜を駆けた
    (君と僕の日々を) (2)
    この奇跡を忘れることなんてできない
    (忘れない)
    いつか月と星の下で
    (過去も現在も未来も) (3)
    出会えるだろう醒めない幻想と (4)

    This miracle of running through the night together with you
    (Those days I spent with you)
    Is one I could never forget.
    (Are ones I’ll never forget)
    And someday, under the light of the moon and the stars,
    (Across the past, the reality, and the future)
    I’m sure we’ll meet again, so long as I don’t wake from this fantasy.

    月と星を違えようと
    明けぬ夜が交わろうと
    たとえ時が隔てようと
    君の声は届いているから

    For even if I mistake the moon for the stars,
    For even if an endless night were to cross my path,
    For even if time itself were to separate us,
    Your voice will still reach me!

    Walk together

    Try to find the way back home

    Not so hard I guess

    For you and me

    Let’s walk together

    And try to find the way back home.

    It might not be so hard

    For you and me.

    We still search the starlights
    Despite there’s no hope inside
    Wind blows through this ground
    To make us braver than we are

    We’ll still search the starlights,

    Despite there being no hope to be found in them.
    And the wind blowing through this place
    Will make us braver than we are.

    Title: 現夢 -GENMU-ver.R
    Translated title: Reality and Dream -GENMU- Ver. R
    Original tracks: ジャパニーズサーガ (Japanese Saga);
    リーインカーネイション (Reincarnation)
    Artist/Circle: TUMENECO & RED FOREST METAL ORCHESTRA
    Re-arrangement: Red Forest (RF)
    Lyrics: ななつめ (Nanatsume), Jell, GCHM
    Vocals: マイナス (miners), Napoleon, まめみ (Mamemi)

    君と二人で夜を駆けた
    (君と僕の日々を)
    この奇跡を忘れることなんてできない (5)
    いつか月と星の下で
    出会えるまで醒めない夢を

    These dreams of running through the night together with you
    (Those days I spent with you)
    Are ones I could never forget.
    And until we can meet again under the light of the moon and the stars,
    I’ll keep on dreaming this dream that I’ll never wake from.

    「夢で逢いましょう」
    “Let’s meet in a dream.”

    (1) 奇跡 (miracle) is sung as 夢 (dream)
    (2) 奇跡 (miracle) is sung as 夢 (dream)
    (3) 現在 (the present) is sung as 今 (now)
    (4) 幻想 (fantasy) is sung as 夢 (dream)
    (5) 奇跡 (miracle) is sung as 夢 (dream). However, for the sake of preserving the plural in the music video, I opted for what’s sung rather than what’s written here.

  • 地球儀-ソバニアルホシ- / Chikyuugi -Soba ni Aru Hoshi-

    Title: 地球儀-ソバニアルホシ-
    Translated title: Globe -The Star by My Side-
    Original track: 少女秘封倶楽部 (Girls’ Secret Sealing Club)
    Artist/Circle: TUMENECO & 四面楚歌 (Shimensoka)
    Album: 劇場版秘封俱楽部 星降る夜のユートピア (Secret Sealing Club: The Movie
    A Utopia under a Night of Shooting Stars) (CD 2)
    Arrangement: tomoya
    Lyrics: 人比良 (Hitohira)
    Vocals: yukina, みぃ (Mie)

    The sequel song to Armillary Sphere, from the previous CD of the same album.
    Renko (yukina) is in maroon, Merry (Mie) is in purple. Duet is black.

    There’s a couple of verses where the lyrics booklet reveals a deeper meaning to the lyrics actually sung. I focused on translating with those meanings in mind but will list the lyrics as you’ll hear them sung in notes down below.

    星の廻る夜に　手を繋ぎ　貴方を見た
    夜が明けても　さめない夢

    Upon a night of trailing stars, I held your hand and looked at you
    In a dream I’d never wake from even if night dawned.

    鏡合わせみたいな　瞳に映る輝きは
    またたきしても　消えない星　ゆめとうつつ

    The twinkle reflecting in my eyes, like a pair of mirrors,
    Is a star that’ll never fade, even if I blink. Dream and reality.

    この想いが幻想で　やがて失われても
    いま　むかいあって　笑おう

    Even if these feelings are but a fantasy, only to be lost before long,
    Let’s face the present with a smile.

    おなじ夜空をみて　おなじ地上を歩いてゆく (1) (2)
    二人だけの秘め事
    恋を語って　愛を歌おう　いつでも
    貴方を求めてる (3)

    Gazing upon the same night sky, walking upon the same ground,
    We share a secret that’s ours alone.
    Talking of our love, putting it to song, forevermore.
    I’ll always long for you, my star.

    かなしみ　なげくなみだ　よろこび　しあわせ
    【ゆめも　うつつさえも】
    なにもかも　わかちあいたい

    Sorrow, tears of grief, joy, and happiness,
    (Dreams, too, and even reality,)
    They are all things that I want to share with you.

    夜は明け　星は流れて 封じた秘密も　あばかれて (4)
    二人で　笑ってる
    貴方と　いきたい

    As night dawns, a star falls, unveiling the secrets sealed away.
    The two of us laugh.
    I want to spend my life with you.

    恋をして
    愛をしり
    そばにいる
    いまも

    Falling in love,
    Learning of affection,
    Staying by your side,
    Even now.

    (1) 夜空 (night sky) is sung as 星 (stars)
    (2) 地上 (ground) is sung as 星 (here meaning planet)
    (3) 貴方 (you) is sung as 星 (my star)
    (4) 秘密 (secrets) is sung as 想い (feelings, emotions)

  • 天球儀-ヨゾラノホシ- / Tenkyuugi -Yozora no Hoshi-

    Title: 天球儀-ヨゾラノホシ-
    Translated title: Armillary Sphere -The Stars in the Night Sky-
    Original track: 少女秘封倶楽部 (Girls’ Secret Sealing Club)
    Artist/Circle: TUMENECO & 四面楚歌 (Shimensoka)
    Album: 劇場版秘封俱楽部 星降る夜のユートピア (Secret Sealing Club: The Movie – A Utopia under a Night of Shooting Stars) (CD 1)
    Arrangement: tomoya
    Lyrics: ななつめ (Nanatsume)
    Vocals: yukina, みぃ (Mie)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VndKgOALOXQ

    Title song for TUMENECO and Shimensoka’s banger of an album.
    Featured in the trailer above. Sadly a trailer is all it will ever be.
    Renko (yukina) is in maroon, Merry (Mie) is in purple. Duet is black.

    There’s a couple of verses where the lyrics booklet reveals a deeper meaning to the lyrics actually sung. I focused on translating with those meanings in mind but will list the lyrics as you’ll hear them sung in notes down below.

    星のない世界で 手を繋ぎ 星見上げた
    忘れ物を探すように
    鏡合わせみたいな 瞳に映る星空を
    誰かの夢と 重ねながら 目を凝らして

    Upon a world devoid of stars, I held your hand and stargazed
    As if I were searching for something I’d lost.
    Like a pair of mirrors, my eyes reflect the starry sky,
    I strain them to see it, as I project it over your dreams.

    “後ろ振り返るたびに 闇に怯えるならば”
    ただ 前を向いて 歩こう

    If you’re scared of the darkness whenever you turn to look behind,
    Just keep looking forward and walk on.

    “夢を見るように 夜空の謎を解き明かして
    辿る未知の数だけ” 積み重ねてく 時間の限り 今でも星を追いかけてる

    As if I were dreaming, the number of roads I’ve travelled
    To reveal the mysteries of the starry sky will keep on increasing, until the very end of time. Even now, I’m still chasing after those stars.

    誰もいない世界で 時間だけが過ぎていく
    いつの日にか 終わる夜を 惜しみながら

    Upon a world devoid of life, the time just keeps on passing by,
    As I lament the end of this night that will someday surely come.

    “繰り返す夢の中で 明日に 手を伸ばして”
    ただ 前を向いて 歩こう

    Reaching out for tomorrow in this recurring dream,
    Just keep looking forward and walk on.

    “夢を見るたびに 瞳に映した 星空が
    【夢を見るたびに 偽物の星空が】
    続く現実と幻想を”繋ぎ合わせる 境界を超えて 今でも (1)
    【涙さえ 流して 明日に 続いてる】
    星を追いかけてる【星を追いかけてる】

    Every time I dream, the starry sky reflected in my eyes
    (Every time I dream, this fake starry sky,)
    Connects the recurring reality and fantasy, crossing over the boundary, even now
    (Even with all the tears I’ve shed, leads into tomorrow)
    I’m still chasing after those stars (I’m still chasing after those stars)

    出会いが 運命なら 流れる涙も【いつか物語が】
    止まらない 止められないから【終わる場所で】
    心の嘘を暴いて 何度でも 夢の先へ【二人で 目指した 夢の先へ】
    “『偽物の星空』を 見上げながら” (2)

    If our meeting is to be destiny, even all of these flowing tears
    (Someday, this story)
    Will not stop, because they may never be stopped.
    (Will meet its end)
    Exposing the lies inside my heart, again and again I’ll reach beyond this dream
    (At the place we both aim for, beyond this dream.)
    As I gaze upon this fake starry sky.

    夢から醒めても 二人の 物語は 続いてる

    Even if I wake from this dream, our story will go on.

    “夢を見るように 世界の謎を解き明かして描く天球儀が[夜空の星で]” (3)
    二人の未知を 前に進める 今でも星を追いかけてる

    As if we’re dreaming, the armillary spheres we’ve envisioned to reveal the mysteries of the world
    Are what will guide us on our unknown path forward. Even now, we’re still chasing after those stars.

    “春、夏、秋から冬へ変わりゆく季節は” 【いつも 物語が】(4)
    止まらない 止められないから 【続くように】
    二人の瞳重ねて 何度でも 夢の先へ 【二人で 目指した 夢の先へ】
    “『見果てぬ星空』を 見上げながら…” (5) (6)
    不思議な夜の向こう側へ

    Spring, then summer, and from fall into winter, the ever-changing seasons
    (So that this story)
    Will never stop, because they may never be stopped.
    (May go on forevermore,)
    Looking into your eyes with mine, again and again I’ll reach beyond this dream
    (At the place we both aim for, beyond this dream.)
    As we gaze upon this unfinished starry sky…
    We’ll reach for what lies beyond this mysterious night.

    (1) 現実と幻想 (reality and fantasy) is sung as 今と明日 (present and future)
    (2) 偽物の星空 (fake starry sky) is sung as 見知らぬ空 (an unfamiliar sky)
    (3) 天球儀が (the armillary spheres [are]) is sung as 夜空の星で ([by] the stars of the night sky)
    (4) 季節 (seasons) is sung as 時 (the flow of time)
    (5) 見果てぬ星空 (unfinished starry sky) is sung as 見知らぬ空 (an unfamiliar sky)
    (6) The official lyrics booklet seems to be missing a “ character at the start of this line. I’ve added it here. Interestingly, the lyrics booklet for the trailer doesn’t feature the quotation marks at all so I wonder what that’s about.

  • Secret Disclosers & Secret Keepers

    These two tracks are like two sides of the same coin. In true RD-Sounds fashion, there’s a lot of verses where the lyrics written in the booklet show a deeper meaning to the words actually sung. I focused on the written lyrics but included the sung variants in square brackets. If I can figure out how to do ruby text on WordPress, I’ll edit it like that someday.

    Merry (Meramipop) is in purple, Renko (nayuta) is in maroon. Verses sung in duet are left in default black.

    Title: Secret Disclosers
    Original track: 少女秘封倶楽部 (Girls’ Secret Sealing Club)
    Artist/Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
    Album: 密 (Hisoka)
    Arrangement: RD-Sounds
    Lyrics: RD-Sounds
    Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop), nayuta

    そっと　囁く
    声は　密かだけれど
    わたしたちには　秘密などは　ある筈なく。

    We whisper, ever so quietly.
    Though we keep our voices hushed,
    There should be no secrets between us.

    そっと　囁く
    声は　密かだけれど
    わたしたちには　秘密など　無いと。

    We whisper, ever so quietly.
    Though we keep our voices hushed,
    There are no secrets between us.

    そっと　囁く
    幾多　密かなる声
    幾重　隠され
    誰の目にも見えぬよう

    We whisper, ever so quietly.
    A countless many clandestine voices
    Overlapping in a countless many layers
    So that no one may notice.

    世界の全て　表と裏側
    隠された　その意味を　読み取っていけ

    There’s two sides to everything in this world,
    So let’s go and read into those hidden meanings!

    『怪奇、秘密、神秘、結界、都市伝説、etc…[けしてみえぬもの]』
    どんな理由で隠されたのだとしても
    秘封倶楽部[あばきつくすもの]、その名を掲げて。

    The bizarre, the secret, the mysterious, the boundaries, the urban legends, etc…
    [Things that should never be seen;]
    No matter what the reason why they’re hidden may be,
    We’ll proudly bear our name – The Secret Sealing Club [Secret Disclosers].

    『怪奇、秘密、神秘、結界、都市伝説、etc…[けしてみえぬもの]』
    その先に何が隠されていたとしても
    秘封倶楽部[あばきつくすもの]、その名を掲げて。

    The bizarre, the secret, the mysterious, the boundaries, the urban legends, etc…
    [Things that should never be seen;]
    No matter what may lie hidden on the other side,
    We’ll proudly bear our name – The Secret Sealing Club [Secret Disclosers].

    明日なき世界の向こう側
    夢と現のその境界を探しゆく……

    Beyond this world with no tomorrow, 
    We’ll search for the boundary that separates dreams and reality…

    Title: Secret Keepers
    Original track: 少女秘封倶楽部 (Girls’ Secret Sealing Club)
    Artist/Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao Ye Zong)
    Album: 密 (Hisoka) (Secret song featured here)
    Arrangement: RD-Sounds
    Lyrics: RD-Sounds
    Vocals: めらみぽっぷ (Meramipop), nayuta

    ・・・ねえメリー。
    私、前から。
    あなたの目が気持ち悪くて、厭だった。

    …You know, Merry,
    For the longest time now,
    Those eyes of yours have been giving me the creeps.

    でもね。
    その目があるから。
    あなたの価値はそこにあるのだから。

    But, I suppose…
    The fact that you have those eyes…
    Is where your whole value lies.

    ・・・そうなの。
    私、本当はね。
    あなたの手の助けなんて、もう、要らないの。

    …That’s right.
    The truth is, you see,
    I no longer need your help at all.

    でもね。
    すごく都合のいい。
    道連れくらいにはなるかもって思うから。

    But, you know…
    I figured it could prove to be useful…
    To keep dragging you along some more. (1)

    世界はこうも　見えざるものに溢れているのに
    互いの心の中だけは　けして知らない

    Even though this is a world teeming with unseen things,
    The one thing we’ll never truly get a glimpse into
    Are the depths of one another’s heart.

    秘密など無いと
    同じ幻想を縋っても
    心のどこかで
    互いの影　そっと突き放す

    There are no secrets between us!
    Though we both cling to that same fantasy,
    Deep down in our hearts,
    We quietly turn a blind eye to one another’s shadow.

    秘密を守るもの
    われら全てが背負う重さとは

    We’re the Secret Keepers,
    And the burden of all that we bear –

    その背後に隠れた
    かくも醜きこれら幻想

    Are the countless unsightly fantasias,
    Hidden behind our backs.

    秘密は須らく
    秘されるべきものであるのだと

    Secrets are things that, by all means,
    Should be kept hidden away.

    逸らす視線の先に
    それにはけして気付けないままに

    But as we keep turning our eyes away,
    We never could realize that one simple truth.

    『欺瞞、利用、打算、野心、etc…[けしてみえぬもの]』
    何者も知ることのないあなただから
    秘封倶楽部[すべてかくすもの]、その名を名乗るの？

    Deceiver, exploiter, self-seeker, traitor, etc…
    [Things that should never be seen;]
    Because I don’t know a single thing about you!
    The Secret Sealing Club [Secret Keepers] – is that what we should call ourselves?

    『犠牲、生贄、餌食、道連、etc…[けしてみえぬもの]』
    何者もわかっていないあなただから
    秘封倶楽部[すべてかくすもの]、その名を背負うの？

    Sacrifice, scapegoat, prey, drag-along, etc…
    [Things that should never be seen;]
    Because I don’t understand a single thing about you!
    The Secret Sealing Club [Secret Keepers] – is that the name we should burden ourselves with?

    それでも全てを　暴きつくそうという思いは強く強く――。
    強くあればいい　ならば何処までも――。

    Even so, I want to reveal it all! The desire burns within me strong, stronger still!
    Strong is all we need it to be! It can take us anywhere!

    密かなる心
    ときに互いを疎みさえしながらも　なお
       秘封倶楽部[あばきつくすもの]、その名を掲げて。

    With our clandestine hearts –
    Though at times we might shun one another,
       We’ll still proudly bear our name – The Secret Sealing Club [Secret Disclosers].

    暴かれぬ秘密を抱いて
    破れぬ境界を横たえて

    Harboring secrets that will never be exposed –
    Laying down barriers that will never be broken through –

    けしてわかり合えなどせずとも
    それでも今日という日を
        二人で。
        一緒に。
        さあ！

    Even if we’ll never truly understand each other,
    I still want to spend this day
       With you.
       Together.
       Come on!

    貴女となら、歩いていけるはず。

    So long as I am with you, I should be able to keep going.

                                                                             蓮子？
    ・・・ねぇ、本当にそう思うの、
                                                                           メリー？

                                                                              Renko?
    …But, is that really how you feel,
                                                                              Merry?

    (1) 道連れ can mean a few things – most commonly it’s “traveling companion”, but in this context it leans more into the sense of someone you unwillingly take along – perhaps into danger or even death, maybe in something like a double suicide. This is supported by 犠牲、生贄、餌食、道連 later down the line.

  • The Rabbit Has Landed

    Title: The Rabbit Has Landed
    Original tracks: 宇宙巫女現る (The Space Shrine Maiden Appears);
    兎は舞い降りた (The Rabbit Has Landed)
    Artist/Circle: 暁Records (Akatsuki Records)
    Album: C90 Venue-Only Omake CD (DOWN DOWN DOLL -to the beginning 07-)
    Arrangement: Stack Bros.
    Lyrics: Stack
    Vocals: Stack

    My first ever solo song translation, originally made sometime in 2020. Now updated. A slightly older version is featured on this Youtube upload of the song.

    ああ、遥か遠のいていく　縁の緑を越え
    湖面を撫ぜる風が　一薙ぎ、月を揺らす
    どこまで行くのだろう？私に何が出来る？
    狂気宿す瞳は、前だけを見て飛んだ

    Ah, I’m going to a place so far away – As I cross over this nostalgic greenery,
    The gentle breeze on the lake’s surface turns into a gust, making the Moon’s reflection ripple.
    How far will I be able to go? What could I hope to achieve?
    Bearing lunacy, my eyes looked ever ahead as I took flight

    戦え、兎は舞い降りた！
    帰れない場所　見上げた遠い憧憬は
    孤独な戦士の紅い瞳に　揺れている金色の月

    Now fight, the Rabbit has landed!
    Gazing at a place she cannot return to, her one distant yearning.
    Within those lonely warrior’s crimson eyes trembles the visage of the golden moon.

    ああ、生まれた星を捨て　ひとり堕ちてきた戦士
    自ら立ち向かっていく　宇宙へと昇っていく
    「もう私は知ったんだ、守りたい人がいて
    帰れる居場所がある　生きて足掻きたいんだ、だから」

    Ah, leaving behind her birthplace, the warrior descended all on her own,
    Resolved to fight with her own two hands, she is taking to the sky.
    “I know full well already, there are people who I want to protect
    And a place I want to return to – that’s why I’ll live and struggle on!”

    戦え、兎は舞い降りた！
    もう誰にも止められはしない、満月に
    かすり傷一つ許されない　狂気には狂気をもて！

    Now fight, the Rabbit has landed!
    Never to be stopped by anyone under this full moon
    She cannot afford even a single scratch! This lunacy is what all Lunatics bear!

    「メーデー・メーデー、地上の兎より、
    月で眠ってる何も知らぬ君たちへ
    戦いはすでに始まっている、目を覚ませ、その夢の中で！」

    “Mayday, mayday! This is the rabbit on the surface…
    To all of you sleeping on the Moon in blissful ignorance:
    The battle has already begun, so open your eyes, awaken from your dream!”

    戦え、兎は飛び立った！
    空は宇宙を越え　悪夢へ続いている
    私は生きて、そして死ぬの
    運命を切り開いて
    永遠へ帰る

    Now fight, the Rabbit has taken flight!
    As the heavens stretch across outer space, leading into a nightmare
    This destiny bids me to live, and then to die
    But I’ll cut a path right through it
    And return to eternity!

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