Hitoto Yoh: Edo Polka

03.12.08
Artist: Hitoto Yoh
Title: Edo Polka
Words: Hitoto Yoh
Music: Takebe Satoshi

I never thought, yesterday
in the corridor between buildings
a picture of a fall from pillowy paradise

we're an item... Q&A to my bosom
Flip over "disgust",
and it can mean "love"

hand in hand, tetoteto shan *1
(step, step, clang)
then more tetoshan (step clang)
You and I laugh at the same point
hand in hand, tetoteto shan (step step clang)
squeeze your hand in love, teto shan (step clang)
bend down and go through, Edo Polka.

I never thought, it'd be over a week,
more than ten days, thunder to the
perversity round the corner. *2

unplanned,
our stealthy steps in perfect synch *3
you're the one whose face is suited for Kabuki.

hand in hand, tetotetoshan (step step clang)
then more tetoshan (step clang)
Are you the fool in love me with me,
or am I the fool smitten with you? *4
Hand in hand, tetotetoshan (step step clang)
squeeze your hand in love, teto shan (step clang)
looking up to your forehead Edo Polka

the string which triggers the trap
~of the Calamus~ *5
my heart sinks, and resurfaces~
standing on tiptoe

hand in hand, tetoteto shan
(step, step, clang)
still more tetoshan (step clang)
You and I laugh at the same point
hand in hand, tetoteto shan (step step clang)
squeeze your hand in love, teto shan (step clang)
bend down and go through, Edo Polka.
Eventhough I chase you forever... it's Polka.

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: Hitoto Yoh wrote this song before filming her role for the movie it's featured in. It's in the style of popular music from the Showa era. Let's get down to the *'s.

* 1 - The biggest problem we had translating this song was in the chorus Hitoto sings tetoteto shan which has no English equivalent. It is in fact a word Hitoto used to describe her impression of traditional Japanese Kabuki Drama plays. The sound tetoteto is a kind of sound word which describes; music which trots along, the pace of Kabuki, and the steps the actor's take. Hitoto's description captures that feeling, of a slow to build to a clear moment. The shan is the sound of a bell being clanged, it could also be seen as the sudden action which gives the build meaning. Have we lost you?

* 2 - A play on words... tsumujimagari by itself means 'perverse' 'strange', magarikado means corner.

* 3 - The a and un comes from aun no kokyuu a reference to the komainu (guardian dog statues) which are put in front of Japanese shrines. The mouths of the dogs are in the shapes of a and un respectively. When Japanese refer to this, they mean that two people/things are in synch.

* 4 - horeta/hareta is usually used to make fun of foolish people in an affair. Literally "the one in love and the one swollen (infected)".

* 5 - Hitoto might actually be saying shoubu as in "fight" "battle" "match".

Romaji

masaka kinou
watari no rouka, de
gokuraku makura otoshi zu

musubaretari... futokoro mondou
hikkurikaeshi
'iya yo' mo suki

tete to tetoteto shan
keredo motto teto shan
warau tsubo ga atashi to ha issho da to ka
tete to tetoteto shan
ai de te gyutto teto shan
kagandeku gureba oedo poruka!

masaka, nanoka
tooka sugita no ka
tsumuji magari kado ni kaminari

hakarazu to mo
a*un no nuki ashi
anata koso ga kabuki kaodachi

tete to tetoteto shan
keredo motto teto shan
horerareta, ka atashi kara hareta no to ka
tete to tetoteto shan
ai de te gyutto teto shan
miageta hitai ha oedo poruka!

shikakehimo~shoubu wana~kunzuhogure~
tsumasakidachi

tete to tetoteto shan
sara ni motto teto shan
warau tsubo ga atashi to ha da to ka
tete to tetoteto shan
ai de te gyutto tetoshan
kagandeku gureba oedo poruka

itsumademo anata wo oedo poruka!

Romaji By: Brian Stewart