My Road – Sakura Gakuin

from Sakura Gakuin 2017 Nendo ~My Road~ album.

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The sweat trailing down my flushed red cheeks
Is proof that I’m alive
The planned for future I drew out selfishly
Isn’t a goal, but a lost way

Exposed to the choking heat of everyday, struggling
A quivering girl’s heart.
Can I progress on, unafraid of choice?

Even with ten thousand regrets
I can’t stop this feeling of love
It’s true, in this painful life, it’s better to shine
I’ll polish it my own way, this limitless diamond

The wetness in my eyes as I look up at the sky
Is proof of my passion
That day when I acted all feisty
Remembering it makes me so desperate

Having my careless attitude seen through, I panicked
Returning thorny words
Did I manage to say “sorry” before they hit their mark?

Even with ten thousand collisions
I can’t stand not doing anything
Surely, in this painful life, it’s better to have fun
Because smiles are shining, invincible diamonds

I said this, I said that
Yet I couldn’t do it
What’s happened to my messy jumbled road?
Such a distance from my ideal self
…So, have I grown up?

Regretting, sobbing
These overlapping wounds can’t be counted
But in this painful life, I aim for revival
Continuing to crash against everything now

Even with ten thousand regrets
I can’t stop this feeling of love
It’s true, in this painful life, it’s better to shine
I’ll polish it my own way, this limitless diamond

——

Carry on – Sakura Gakuin

from Sakura Gakuin 2018 Nendo ~Life iroasenai hibi~ album.

——

That moonlight that’s too bright
The commotion of the swaying forest
I’ll bring you to a colorful world

Carry on… carry on…

Waiting still, hoping for a push on the back
Pride is just in the way, just so troublesome

Though it always seems the same
The scenery is changing every second
The sky that day and the sky today
Do they seem the same shade of blue to you?

Your hand that I used to hold so tightly
I need to gently let it go
Or you can’t grasp anything, even that hoped-for brand new future
Surely, even the curtains in the black of night
Will be seeped with various colors
Even if you can’t see it, the music of stardust is always around you

If you’re guided by the fragrance of memories that won’t fade
Let’s make a detour sometimes, following those footprints

Blocked by thick fog
That even a compass can’t pierce
Just spread out that map
You’ve imagined, and progress onward

Your eyes are tightly shut
I need to gently wake you up
Or you can’t notice anything, even the sun’s smile melting into the sea
Surely, even water with the clearest reflection
Echoes with various sounds
Riding on the ripple’s rhythm, the wind whistles invitingly

Your hand that I used to hold so tightly
I need to gently let it go
Or you can’t grasp anything, even that hoped-for brand new future
Surely, even the curtains in the black of night
Will be seeped with various colors
Even if you can’t see it, the music of stardust is always around you

Carry on… carry on…

——

Fairy tale – Sakura Gakuin

from Sakura Gakuin 2018 Nendo ~Life iroasenai hibi~ album.

——

Why is it that my heart is pounding?
And my eyes sparkling so?
As I flipped open the picture book I found in the library that day, like in a dream

Gently, a nostalgic wind
Softly caressing my cheek
Surpassing sighs and slipping into a magical world

Hello, good-bye, to the world of falling stars
A fantasy for an angel who can’t fly
I still remember now, that password overflowing with love
Those small hands have always
Reached out towards the future
Once again, I know of you here, on this one page drawn with hope

From the seed of happiness given by the rabbit
One, two, three, four leaves
No need to grow big, each day’s furrows have bloomed surely

Dimly, hidden by clouds
A plump full moon
Blowing it away with a deep breath, and to the galaxy’s town, I say “I’m home”

Starting over, in a world that never ends
Unable to be honest, just hanging my head down
Please consider our existence once again
Because we have sorrowful courage
This wonderful day has come about
Overcoming sleepless nights, with a message shining with tears

“What do you love?”
“What do you want to be?”
Upon this lap of quivering memories
We spoke as if in a dream

Even when afraid to speak out
Just like back then
I’ll dream until morning comes

Hello, good-bye, to the world of falling stars
A fantasy for an angel who looked up at the sky
My heart filling up with that password overflowing with love
Those small hands have always
Held onto mine
Look, the light is shining steadily now
Towards hope, come, on this one page that has taken flight

Hello, good-bye, to the world of falling stars
Starting over, in a world that never ends

——

Road of Resistance – BABYMETAL

from LIVE AT BUDOKAN ~RED NIGHT~ album.

——

Light from the signal fire dyes the Eastern sky scarlet
Telling of the end of lonely darkness, a new guiding light
No matter how many times you fall, let the fire in your heart burn

Now it’s the time! It’s the time! In this moment now
It’s the time! It’s the time! Let’s live
Just it’s the time! It’s the time! Singing for the you tomorrow
Come, the time has come!

Road of resistance (resistance) resistance (resistance)
Woh woh woh, hearts as one
If you believe, then proceed, even if there’s no path
Forever (forever) forever (forever)
Woh woh woh, in our chests
Our hearts burn hot, that is our resistance

To the end of our lives, we won’t turn our backs
Tomorrow is created today, yes, our future is on the way Ah-

Resistance resistance
Stand up and shout (shout!) shouting forever
If you believe, then progress, the answer is here
Forever (forever) forever (forever)
Woh woh woh, in our chests
Our hearts burn hot, our resistance

——

Shanari hannari dorayaki hime – Mini Pati

しゃなりはんなりどら焼き姫 (Shanari hannari dorayaki hime) – Swaying elegant Dorayaki princess

from Sakura Gakuin 2013 Nendo ~kizuna~ album.

——

Dozing in glorious spring
The princess of coloured-glass
Dancing in circles as she grills sponge cake
Morning and evening, the spring wind fills with fragrance

Sakura petals
Light crimson red bean
The tiny princess at the end of the fork
Jumps with all her might
Pressing on the branding grill, and it’s done

Dorayaki beauty
A bashful sakura sauce
Delicious (swaying) (elegant) joyful
Long live Japan’s traditional ladies

Leisurely awakening
To the sweet fragrance
A feast (a dream) (reality) left
The princess has disappeared

Bouncy warabi mochi
Who is shaking it? Thieves?
Are you really making an appearance? Princess
Yawning and stretching, you appear once again!

After dorayaki
Comes a smooth cherry
Sakura ice-cream, a little stumble
Give it a lick, as the gentle breeze blows through the blooming profusion*

Dorayaki beauty
Soft skin like yoghurt
Butterflies (flutter) (gently) flowers
An alluring chaos of colours

Awakening to petals
Tickling her cheek
Magic (mystical) (possible) wrought
Where is the princess?

Soiya seiya
Choina choina
Everything is about
Dorayaki

Aiya aiya
Dedere koden
Come, take a rest
Have a taste

Dorayaki beauty
A bashful cherry blossom sauce
Delicious (swaying) (elegant) joyful
Long live Japan’s traditional ladies

Leisurely awakening
To the sweet fragrance
A feast (a dream) (reality) left
The princess has disappeared

Dorayaki beauty
Soft skin like yoghurt
Butterflies (flutter) (gently) flowers
An alluring chaos of colours

A single small handwritten note
Left on the plate
Mystical (but) (really) wonderful
Let’s eat, princess

——

Notes:
1. “Shanari” is a phrase derived from old Kyoto, and describes the walking motions of a maiko or apprentice geisha; swaying and slightly pretentious.
2. “Dorayaki” is a traditional Japanese dessert consisting of two slices of sponge cake with red bean jam in between.
3. “Sakura” are cherry blossoms.
4. “Warabi mochi” is a traditional rice cake dish made using bracken starch.
5. The line describing flowers blooming in profusion has an alternate meaning of “a gathering of many beautiful women”.
6. The chants during the bridge, “soiya”, “seiya”, choina”, “aiya” etc are Japanese festival chants.

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Yokubari feuille – Mini Pati

よくばりフィーユ (Yokubari fiiyu) – Greedy feuille

from Sakura Gakuin 2011 Nendo ~FRIENDS~ album + Hokago Anthology from Sakura Gakuin album.

——

H.a.p.p.y.h.a.p.p.y sweets
And favourite crêpes

Jammed with chocolate, bananas and strawberries
Stretched thin, wrapped up, just like an embrace
I want to wrap up everything I love and eat it all
Created with my own choices, it’s time to eat

Airy and white, everyone’s idol
Melting fresh cream, sweet and fluffy

24 hours is not enough in 1 day
There’s too much to do, it’s all so exciting
I want to challenge everything I love
Because I’m greedy, I want to do it all

Sometimes, bad things happen, but
Good things can’t be stopped, always making my heart race

I want to make it everyday, am I too greedy?
Chocolate yesterday, vanilla today, what will it be tomorrow?
Each day flies by too quickly, but
My smile sparkles with dazzle ☆

H.a.p.p.y.h.a.p.p.y sweets
Greedy me
C.u.r.l.y.c.u.r.l.y sweets
And favourite crêpes

Girls today are really so fashion-conscious
Each one wants to stand out from the others with their cuteness
Making up for sweet looks and cute faces
All matched with a slightly devilish smile

Crêpes during the holiday will surely
Have more ice-cream than usual, right?

I need to work hard at making friends and studying
I want to have more excitement and heartthrobs
I want to make it everyday, am I too greedy?
Chocolate, custard, red bean too!!

New things happen all the time
So many things to do, everyday shines
My smile sparkles with dazzle ☆

H.a.p.p.y.h.a.p.p.y sweets
Greedy me
C.u.r.l.y.c.u.r.l.y sweets
And favourite crêpes

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