Translation for Ichibanboshi / 一番星

Ichibanboshi / 一番星: “First star” (of the evening).

Today I’ve decided to feature a translation of “Ichibanboshi” by new translator, Daniel. He expressed his desire to contribute translations to the site about two months ago and will be doing so by posting them to his Tumblr blog. There are seven more that I will post sometime.

Before I read the translation, back when I first heard the song and didn’t know any Japanese, I had assumed it was a wish on the first star of the night. Of course, this being Oku Hanako, it isn’t as simple as that.

The singer is reminded of someone when she sees the first star of the night and she wants to use the star as a way to communicate to that person. It reminds me a lot of the song “Somewhere Out There” by James Ingram and Linda Ronstadt from the movie, An American Tail.

There’s a lot of interesting language used in this song, some that you don’t typically find in her other songs. What interesting lines do you see in this song? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks again, Daniel, for your hard work! I look forward to reading more of your translations.

Translation for TAKOYAKI

TAKOYAKI: “Fried Octopus Balls”

Time to start posting all those translations I’ve neglected to post in the past few months.

Today we have a translation for TAKOYAKI by Edward from the official Chinese translation. Edward also includes a translation for the self-liner notes included in the album for the song.

I had noted in my post that it was a cute song, and in many ways it still is. What I didn’t sense was the longing. Until I read Edward’s translation I had thought it might have been about celebrating something by making or eating takoyaki. It seems I was mistaken. It’s about a couple who haven’t spent much quality time together and the singer expressing her wish for her partner to make takoyaki so that they would spend more quality time.

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Lyrics

Translation

I want to eat takoyaki; you will make it for me
I want to eat takoyaki; make it with pride

“Today I will be working late again”, you said on the telephone
Lately, we don’t even have time to have proper conversations
It was for our sake that I started working
But it meaningless, we seem to just go past each other all the time

Cleaning, laundry, cooking, everything … you don’t do any of it
Occasionally you bring out the takoyaki pan and meticulously make takoyaki for me
That makes me really happy

I want to eat takoyaki; you will make it for me
I want to eat takoyaki; make it with pride

For our next holiday, I want us to go out together
To buy a new tablecloth

Immediately after saying “I’m home”, you opened a can of beer
You left your clothes in a mess after stripping them off; I followed you to pick them up
Living every day like this might be okay

I want to eat takoyaki; you will make it for me
As I say things like “Another one! Delicious!”
I want to eat takoyaki; you will make it for me
I want to eat takoyaki; make it with pride

Translation by Edward

Kataomoi / 片想い

Kataomoi / 片思い: “Unrequited Love”

Today we step into some Oku Hanako history. Kataomoi, according to her old biography page, was made in 1996 and is her first completed song. Her friends were making songs, so she gave it a shot. She was 18 at the time.

Kataomoi was first released as track 7 on vol.best and a live version was later included in her 2007 TIME NOTE concert release.

片想い － 奥華子《歌詞付き》・・・他の人を思っていても　そんな事はどうでもいいの… by dm2green7coralreef [Dailymotion]

I found a translation of this song by Nakari Amane which I’ve included later in the post. I edited it somewhat because I felt certain lines could have been worded better and I have to say, the lyrics are quite impressive, especially for her first song. The lyrics are very rich. The lines that hit me the most are the last two lines of the last chorus:

片想いでも　友達でもいいから　あなたを好きでいたい
Kataomoi demo tomodachi demo ii kara Anata wo suki de itai
でもいつか私の気持ちに　答えてくれると信じさせて
Demo itsuka watashi no kimochi ni Kotaete kureru to shinjisasete

which Nakari Amane translated as (with my edits):

It’s fine even if it’s unrequited, even if we’re just friends
I still want to love you
But let me believe that someday you will answer my feelings

Cover art for Omoide ni Nare/Ai to Iu Takaramono / 思い出になれ/愛という宝物 released!

The cover art for Oku Hanako’s upcoming double A-side single “Omoide ni Nare/Ai to Iu Takaramono” / 思い出になれ/愛という宝物 was released on Twitter today.

奥華子new single『思い出になれ/愛という宝物』ジャケ写出来ました！
全曲ライブのシークレットソングで歌い反響が大きかった「小さなアリ」のライブ音源も収録！盛り沢山シングル9/21発売宜しくお願いします☆ pic.twitter.com/0jH9Uz3ML9

— 奥華子 (@okuhanako) August 7, 2016

Cover art for Omoide ni Nare/Ai to Iu Takaramono

It appears to be a head shot of her leaning against a brick wall.

According to the updated announcement post, the track list also appears to be finalized:

1. Omoide ni Nare / 思い出になれ (“Become a Memory”)
2. 愛という宝物（2016 cross fm GREEN campaign song） (“A Treasure Called Love”)
3. Chiisa na Ari / 小さなアリ（Live ver.）(“Small Ant”)

The newly-revealed song, “Chiisa na Ari”, is the “secret song” that was listed for one of her recent concert tours. According to Popscene^[jp], it is one of her indies songs and the recording is from one of her recent hikigatari tours. Further research reveals that this was the 40th song played during the 2007 Oku Hanako Day^[jp] event. Taking a look at nouburin28’s blog post^[jp] that lists the keys for her songs, it is likely in the key of D, and the note says that the first performance of this song was on June 25, 1999.