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Fra-Foa: Higurashi
02.06.19
Artist: Fra-FoaTitle: Higurashi (Evening Cicada) Words: Mikami Chisako Music: Mikami Chisako The day I walked together with my mother along the hill where the evening cicadas chirped. the resounding click clack of the geta, *1 disappeared into the deep red sky. my little palm was gently surrounded by a warm hand, and the chilly evening wind tickled my ear. enjoy the cool evening in the little path around the side of the house *2 far off the sound of insects, the senkou fireworks dropped with a soft "pish". *3 After playing ball with Dad, we made crushed ice and ate it. *4 a cool breeze blew in, and I dozed off Still half asleep, I noticed the gentle scent of my mother. she'd put a soft blanket over me, and from somewhere near, the bubbling sounds, the delicious smell. *5 that sky that is no more, and that warm night now even still shine deep in my heart. Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma Translator's Notes: A Higurashi is a type of Chicada that chirps at night. It's name means literally "The end of the day". There's a lot of traditional Japanese Summer imagery in this song. * 1 - Geta are traditional Japanese wooden clog sandals, when you walk in them they make a click lacking noise. * 2 - The "engawa" is the path that goes around the side of the house to the garden and is often very cool because of its position of almost perpetual shade. * 3 - If you were to look up "senkou hanabi" in the dictionary it would say "toy fireworks" which is so misleading that we feel the need to elaborate. "senkou hanabi" a word I'm fairly sure in our infancy at Cent-J we mistranslated somewhere is a handheld firework that is more or less lit from the bottom and held at the top. Japanese people squat down and gather around to watch it burn itself out during the summer... it is often used to represent the passing of a summer in movies, manga and songs. The "soft pish" or "potsun" of the song, is the sound of the little bit of "senkou hanabi" dropping after its burned out. * 4 - The crushed ice of the translation refers to "kakigoori" a favored Japanese snack in Japan's unbearably hot mid-summer season. It's like a snow cone pretty much. Crushed Ice covered in Flavored Syrup or "Milk". * 5 - The bubbling sounds "kotokoto" indicate that from her slumber Mikami heard her mother cooking something in the kitchen. Romaji higurashi no naku sakamichi de haha to futari aruita hi karakoro to hibiku geta no oto ga makka na sora ni kietetta chiisana te no hira ha yasashiku atatakai te ni tsutsumarete hada samuku natta yuugure no kaze ga mimi wo kusubutteta engawa de yuusuzumi tooku de mushi no oto senkouhanabi "potsun" to ochita otou to bo-ru de asondara kakigoori tsukutte tabeta suzushigena soyokaze fuitekite utoutotatane toketeku neboke manako de kizuitara yasashii haha no nioi no suru yawarakana moufu ga kakatteru mukou de kotokoto ii nioi ima ha nai ano sora to atatakai ano yoru ha ima mo kono mune no oku ni hikatteru kara Romaji By: Brian Stewart |