Ok, so I’ve been meaning to do this for a long while! You guys must know by now that Not yet is my favorite AKB subunit because it includes my 2 top members, Oshima Yuko and Yokoyama Yui <3 On top of that it also includes the always hilarious Sasshi and the gorgeous, quirky and kind Kitarie so it’s win all around With that said, I’ve been dying to review this single ever since it came out, but I haven’t had the time for various reasons. The PV is my favorite idol PV so far this year, it’s simply fantastic and super well done IMO, so I’ll review it with a million screencaps sometime soon, hopefully xD

However, the reason why I like Not yet other than the fact that all of its members are in my top 10 is the fact that I really like the songs they get, I find them pretty and the lyrics are always able to put a smile on my face I never got around to reviewing Shuumatsu, their debut single, although I loved it to bits, so I want to strike the iron while it’s hot and do it with Naminori Kakigoori before it slips away from everybody’s mind

Naminori Kakigoori was the second single release by AKB subunit Not yet formed by the following members:

Oshima Yuko ace of Team K and center of the group

Yokoyama Yui the new star of Team K

Sashihara Rino of Team A, known for her Hetare (useless) character and quirky blog posts

Kitahara Rie of Team B, known for being Sasshi’s best friend and partner in crime xD

The single was released on July 6th, and its theme is summer! I’ll review all of the tracks and provide lyrics translations as well because I feel like they are an important part of the reason why I like the songs so much

Naminori Kakigoori achieved the No. 1 weekly position having sold 156000 copies on its first week, coming just 3k short of their debut single. I don’t know the overall sales so far though so if anyone could let me know I would really appreciate it!

1. Naminori Kakigoori (Surfing Shaved Ice):

Here are the lyrics translation courtesy of STUDIO48 and loveandcoffee

Surfing and shaved ice
Are the things you like the most
As the third thing
Please fall in love with me

Your skilled board
Sliding on the blue see
Has forgotten
The beach

I wave my hands at you widely
But you don’t notice me at all
You’re a free
Flying fish

I pretend I’m a little sulky
And flip over my love
My back will get sunburnt
Because a certain someone isn’t here
To help me apply sun oil

Surfing and shaved ice
Are the things you like the most
You don’t notice
Anything else at all
Surfing and shaved ice
Are the things you like the most
As the third thing
Please fall in love with me
Before summer is over…

You’re finally back
With your hair wet
And you look
Very pleased with yourself

You laugh
As you eat melon flavoured shaved ice
You kind of irk me a little

You’re surrounded by the things you love
You’re happy, aren’t you?
You’re like a little boy…
I voiced my sarcastic remark
To the sun in the sky…

Waiting a ton of time on my own
What’s gonna happen to the two of us?
When I look back,
I feel so lonely
Waiting a ton of time on my own
What’s gonna happen to the two of us?
I feel uneasy when you’re not here
Please remember the third thing…
Surfing,
Shaved ice…
I wonder what do they
Have in common

Maybe I’m not enough?
Am I not enough?
But see, I don’t mind
If I’m not your number one favourite…

Surfing and shaved ice
Are the things you like the most
You don’t notice
Anything else at all
Surfing and shaved ice
Are the things you like the most
As the third thing
Please fall in love with me
Before summer is over…

So, as you can see, even though it’s an upbeat summery tune it’s actually a sad song about a girl who knows that she isn’t her boyfriend’s first priority but she still loves him so she tries to stay with him despite of this. This tradition of upbeat music but bittersweet lyrics is a classic in AKB’s discography, and it think it paints an interesting contrast, I also like how the song isn’t overly gloomy or melodramatic either lyrics wise, it keeps the whole scene it paints quite light hearted. Music wise, this time the song is a lot faster than Shuumatsu Not yet and it also gives every girl solo lines, which are very much welcome! The song is very poppy although it has some sparkly sounding elements (reminiscent of Kakigoori?) and some guitars. I like the stacatto sound of the interlude a lot since it makes it stand out.

Rating: 5/5

2. Vermeer no Tegami (Vermeer’s Letter):

Lyrics translation by me, keep in mind that I’m not fluent in japanese but I try my best xD If you spot any mistakes, feel free to let me know about them, thanks!

On the table there are figs
ripening without noticing it
even though their sweet scent is inviting
somehow I can’t reach out my hand…

Only by
loving you
I’m causing someone else to be unhappy
I avert my gaze suddenly
and look for relief in
the light that comes through the window
Forgive me for this love…

I wonder what was written
in Vermeer’s letter
somehow my current self
understands it…
Even though I know that that moment was a mistake
I don’t have regrets about our unexpected meeting
My destiny

There are precious things
that disappear when you touch them with your fingers
if that happens then I’d rather close my eyes
and not see anything anymore

I know that I
don’t have the requirements
to love you
my room gets darker
everything
becomes the same under the blindfold
of love’s pain

Without even writing a reply to
Vermeer’s letter
my pure white stationary
represents the feelings in my heart
I can’t betray someone I don’t know
instead of hurting her
I’ll turn this into a memory
Your destiny

There are fruits
whose flowers don’t bloom
but secretly open
when the night comes
I will certainly remember
just like the bright sunlight
love is a memory

I wonder what was written
in Vermeer’s letter
somehow my current self
understands it…
Even though I know that that moment was a mistake
I don’t have regrets about our unexpected meeting
My destiny

So, first things first. This song is the standard B-side that came with all the types of the CD. The song was the theme of a Museum Exhibit called “Vermeer’s Love Letter” in Kyoto, which is probably where the title and theme of the song come from. Vermeer was a dutch painter, famous for his “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painting, but he also had a painting called “The Love Letter” which depicted a young woman getting a love letter, with imagery that suggests a tempestuous love (read the whole thing at wiki here). This is all important because the lyrics of the song tell a story about a girl who has a love affaire with a guy who is committed to someone else, the girl of the song realizes that she can’t hurt somebody else just because of her selfish feelings and decides to cut it off even though it saddens her. This way, she says she understands what was written in Vermeer’s Letter, maybe alluding to the fact that the letter might have been addressed to some guy’s mistress (this last part is my interpretation of it though) and she’s going to write a reply to it to put an end to their romance.

As it happens often with Akimoto’s lyrics they paint a very specific scene, and I think it’s pretty awesome how he managed to come up with a story that was fitting for the painting in question, without stretching things too much. It’s quite a grown up song too, which surprised me considering how the lyrics of their previous songs have been normal idol stuff.

Ok, so now, the musical part. This song is a ballad, and it has a bit of a dramatic undertone to it, especially during the verses. There’s a very interesting accordion (or something like that) arrangement that gives it its distinct flavor and saves it from just being another random idol ballad, but it isn’t enough to make it stand out particularly. Actually, I’ve heard it described as “museum music” xD which might have been what Akimoto was looking for? I think it’s relaxing and pretty but not much more than that.

Musically, this song sounds honestly a bit country, I like to think of it as Kokoro no Hashi no Sofa’s little sister because of its similar lyrics and music style Lyrically, it’s nothing to write home about, the usual friendship song, with some really cute lyrics and metaphors (the mirror one was pretty adorable IMO).

It’s perfect for making you cheer up if you’re feeling gloomy and remind you that you’re not alone, and it’s quite catchy in its simplicity!

Yokoyama Yui has a high pitched timbre, but I’d argue that she’s the best singer in the unit. She’s proven to be quite good live (listen to her cover of Ikimonogakari’s Bluebird) if you can tolerate her sweet voice xD and she works pretty well in the group because the rest of the girls have significantly lower registers.

Now, moving on to Sashihara Rino, she has an average voice, but she’s good at hitting all the right notes and can harmonize properly. I was actually pleasantly surprised to hear her solo lines in this single, even though I’ve never thought she’s bad, I used to find her voice very non descript, but she’s improved and now sounds clearer.

Last is Kitahara Rie. God knows I love Kitarie to death, she’s my second favorite Team B member, and she could do no wrong in my eyes until I heard her solo line in the a capella chorus here. Seriously, she was all over the place, her voice sounded kinda shaky and not right. I wish I knew more about music so I could point out exactly what was it that bothered me but uhh…  It might have to do with the fact that the song is a bit higher than their other stuff so she strains a bit. Anyway. girl needs singing lessons, because she’s amazing and all, but even when she’s harmonizing she’ll go off tune at times and stick out. And this is the recording so, yeah. Kitarie, I love you to death, but please take singing lessons ;_; all of them could use them, really, so that they harmonize better and not clash, because Yuko, Sasshi and Rie’s voices are quite similar and it really stands out when one of them isn’t getting it right.

Anyway, great song, I could definitely see this being a stage song, which is great in my book

Musically, I’ve heard people call it generic, but I actually quite like it and think it’s very catchy and melodic! It has a nice upbeat pace and nice and different verses that make it stand out. My favorite part is the bridge and how it leads to an almost a capella chorus to pick up the genki pace afterwards. Actually, it reminds me a bit of SKE’s music, because of the high energy and the fast pace. I just really hope I can watch a performance of this song at the next AX or anywhere, really. Should I vote for it? I was planning on voting for Korogaru Ishi ni Nare and ALIVE but hmmm… I like this song too much! I’ll figure it out when the time comes, I guess

Rating: 5/5

Overall Rating 4,5/5: Naminori Kakigoori is a very solid effort by the girls of Not yet that proves why they are the best selling sub unit of AKB (lol not really, that’s just because of their popularity but this was great anyway ) Despite Shuumatsu Not yet not leaving a very good impression in a big chunk of the english speaking fanbase, they completely turned it around this time with a refreshing summer A-side and original B-sides that ranged from ballads to country and that were very well written, lyrics wise. To be honest, I feel like it was one of Akimoto’s better recent efforts, reminiscent of the lyrics of old stage songs, and I was incredibly happy to find out when I translated them, it definitely made it MUCH better to me, because I’m  nerd who likes to overanalyze idol lyrics 8B

The PV of the A-side also set them aside from their debut, where people were quite disappointed at the dance shot/close up format. I will review the PV and DVDs that came with the CDs next time

Even though they didn’t manage to sell more than their debut single, I was glad to see them performing everywhere and their events looked like a lot of fun! And with good reason, because Yuko, Rie and Sasshi are great at MCing and generally entertaining a crowd, and Yuko surfing was super badass!

So, all in all, I think this was a great release and I would recommend you guys to pick it up if you can, you won’t regret it! It’s idol pop at its finest and great for the summer! My entire holiday at the sea consisted pretty much of me humming Naminori Kakigoori, Bokutachi no Offshore and Ningyo no Vacance from AKB’s latest album (which I also want to review, but we’ll see).

See you next time for PV + DVD extras! As usual all comments are much appreciated

EDIT: Sorry about the spacing issues, I tried to fix them 10 times and no luck. Gah. WordPress hates me and I’m totally dumb at this kind of stuff so please bear with me.

Hello everyone! Sorry for the interference, we’re back on regular schedule with more translations

Remember to vote for my blog! Yay!

10. An Alibi of Jealousy: This one is a really great song! The music is very dramatic and rock driven, and the desperate lyrics are so epic <3

An alibi of Jealousy

I can only look at you

the flame in my heart,

no matter how much I try to turn it off, it’s an affection that flares up (1)

right now this is the last flight

I run like a stampede to check in

Why is it that I want to meet you so badly

where are you and who are you with?

Without a doubt

I can’t be stopped

in the airport runway

the blue light is

calling out to the night sky

flying out to an unknown town

is a stupid behavior

An alibi of Jealousy

I can only look at you

Born with my doubts

are these hallucination tears (2)

Repeat (1)

Crossing over the sea, crossing over our dates, why?

Am I aiming to be alone?

Meeting you was inevitable

although I know that much

I wanted to understand it

with my own eyes

No matter how many hours passed

I still can’t sleep

as I looked at the black sky

you are too far away

a big mistake

An alibi of sadness

I was the one who was wrong

I didn’t believe

in destiny or bonds

An alibi of sadness

I was the one who was wrong

the distance of our love

it wasn’t the right time to bury it

Ah jealousy

Repeat (2)

Repeat (1)

11. Doubt!: This song was somehow super complicated to translate to me *scratches head* The drill is that these are a couple of childhood friends who fight all the time and then they realize that they are in love with each other.

Doubt! Doubt! Doubt!

I won’t say the truth about myself

I like you so much that it makes me wonder what should I do?

I’m fooling myself (1)

Because I was suddenly told to go to the capital

“I am relieved” you said mischievously

I had to fight with you like we were enemies but

that was the proof that I had started to care about you

Your eyes were a little lonely

even though you tried to smile

Doubt! Doubt! Doubt!

“I don’t want you to go!” you cried

even though I’m unreasonable it’s ok

your voice was loud

if you told me your real motivation it would be ok but

you, who are my childhood friend can’t be honest

I see through your lies (2)

If such a thing happened, somehow it happened

I had confidence in my skills at fighting

“I don’t want to become sad” you whispered in a subdued voice

That’s when I realized about your weak kindness

we let go of the fights until the end, didn’t we?

I wonder if our compatibility is bad?

Doubt! Doubt! Doubt!

I want to say what I’ve always tried to say but…

Why is it that I can’t say the basic words?

Repeat (1)

Repeat (2)

12. Friends Song: I love this songs lyrics xD To all the haters: Yes, the girls of the 48 franchise aknowledge that they are tone deaf But, see, that is so NOT the point of idol music! The point is to sing love’s song until our hearts become one! <3

A lot of things have happened but

we are walking the same path

your profile becomes happy

you walked a path that was somehow different from that of your friends

becoming anxious

On days when the rain fell

and also on nights when the wind blew strongly

you were next to me, who gets lonely easily

I want to listen to the song of love being sung

we’re not good at it but we put our hearts into it

with a loud voice like the sun

I’ve wanted to say it for a long time, thank you always (1)

That moon that shone so brightly too, for the sake of tomorrow graduates

Goodbye to the sky of tears

what is more important than anything else is the fact that I’m living now

each of them sparkles and shines (the tears)

The dream was far away and it seemed like I would turn back

you gave courage to this depressed me, didn’t you?

Let’s sing love’s song together, everybody

even if we are tone deaf it’s ok, let’s unite our hearts

what I can do is lend a shoulder

if there are friends around it’s ok, it’s warm all the time (2)

Repeat (1)

Repeat (2)

Let’s sing this song so that it resonates through the whole world

because I have this many friends

whenever I’m sad I will strain my ears,

everyone keeps singing in this place

13. A pool without water: This songs lyrics are so beautiful ;_; the analogy to swimming and drowning and stuff is so powerful to me…

From the classroom window

I look at

the pool without water

I remember

That summer’s sunshine and large brown cicadas.

My energetic friend’s laughter

I can hear it from afar

the youth that splashed water

in front of the deep red sunset

becomes a shadow

Everyone clumsily

forgot how to swim

in happiness and sadness

thrashing their feet about

it looked like they would drown… (1)

The fallen gingko leaves

filled the bottom of

the concrete pool

until the next summer comes

they are waiting for the water to arrive

the fading tan of my skin

makes me feel too lonely

recollections always disappear

new memories are born

overlapping with them

my struggling legs are cramping

there is water coming into my nose

while I choke on despair

It seems like

I can start swimming

How much water will be taken out

and then added later?

someday

will the bottom of the pool

feel shallow?

Repeat (1)

14. The Stairs to Paradise: My favorite group song! And the lyrics *__* They describe the rush of going to the theater perfectly! Epicness!

Yay!

This show’s encore

we are still full of energy so let’s go!

Yay!

if we’re in the theater

nights are longer than usual

Let’s flare up!

Loving! Blowing kisses!

We place our dream in your hands!

We’ll take you! Look at us!

Feel the miracle that happens at the same time!

Everyone is happy

and then our eyes aim for the stairs to paradise (1)

Yay!

The stage is a sultry night

with max voltage let’s run swiftly!

Yay!

Bathing in the light

with our minds completely blank

let’s dance!

Loving! Blowing kisses!

We’ll show you the passion in front of us!

Throw your fists in the air! Raise your arms!

Forget all the bad things now and let’s have fun!

We’ll make this a godly night

so, let’s climb the stairs to paradise… (2)

Repeat (1)

Repeat (2)

Become a legend! Towards the top of the paradise!

15. Pinocchio War: This song is completely psychotic! and I love it because of it! Also, blurry screencaps ahoy. The seizure dance is freaking hard to screencap -_- Think of it as artsy or something hahaha

“Pinocchio War! when the nose grows big, move forward!”

In perfect form! The current me

In perfect form! this feeling is excellent

In perfect form! without anyone realizing

In perfect form! this nose started growing

If its Pinocchio you don’t have to worry

If it’s Pinocchio you don’t have to be anxious

If it’s Pinocchio you don’t have to be shy

God gave us this

When the nose grows big let’s run without bumping into each other

When the nose grows big let’s go

when the nose grows big let’s enjoy

Now is the best time

Turn this overwhelming power over with a screw

Oh yeah! it’s a victorious fight

Overwhelmingly push it! Throw it down!

Ah! Even if it’s with luck or skill!

Move forward! get in a good mood

Move forward! riding on a tune

Move forward! with only your power

Move forward! Catch the whole world! Yay!

“You will become useless soon” I was told that rumor

But those things don’t make me worried in the least

No meditating!

In perfect form! I am the best in this century

In perfect form! the first and probably the last

In perfect form! it’s an untrodden path

In perfect form! let’s finish it in this way!

Raise the flag now! Victory!

Even if someone said that they would fold that nose

the long nose won’t go back to the way it was!

It can’t be stopped!

Move forward! get in a good mood

Move forward! riding on a tune

Move forward! with only your power

Move forward! Catch the whole world! Yay!

Pinocchio war Let’s advance towards a victory!

Pinocchio war We don’t know defeat!

Pinocchio! the nose grows it’s Victory!

16. About a letter: This lyrics are incredibly pretty! So simple, but so moving ;_;

I wrote a letter to you

in many pages of a simple stationary with nothing on it

The reason why I chose blue ink

is because you said that you like the blue sky.

But I was thinking what should I write and started over

somehow, I got embarrassed

so while I was thinking of you blankly

I tried to talk

I like you (I like you)

I wrote down

and after that I tore the paper up

I took many many detours before saying that

What part of you is what attracts me?

I tried to think back to when we met for the first time

Your smile and your discouraged face

are charming and I like them

but when it isn’t like that and you have a sad face

I feel like my chest tightens

I like you (I like you)

I wrote down (I wrote down)

I put down the pen

And I look at the many pictures of you I took

“Usually, I can’t write letters.

But suddenly I wrote you a letter

Will you read it?”

Why is it that now I

wrote a letter to you?

Maybe it’s because whenever I think of you

that’s the moment I enjoy the most

Surely (surely)

don’t show this letter

to anyone

After many hours I’ve wrote messily about this love

my feelings are somehow indescribable

what I put in the envelope is my monologue

Ok! That’s it!! I’ve bought A TON of AKB stuff, so I plan on reviewing it or scanning it or whatever xD I’ve also been drawing the AKB girls a lot, so maybe I’ll muster enough courage to post my doodles Don’t expect anything amazing though, they’re basically stick figures hahaha.

Also, next time, B5 translations!! I only have the encore left to translate

I’m sure that with Team A being the most popular team around, everybody will translate A6, which I feel relieved about, since my japanese is far from being perfect. I do plan on translating S2 though. It’s one of my favorite stages ever after all!

Hello everybody Sorry about the fact that I couldn’t update yesterday. It was my grandma’s birthday so I was very busy the whole day <3 Nevertheless, here are the amazing unit songs!

5. More than a feeling: This is the first unit song, sung by Matsui Jurina (aka. The Ace), Kinoshita Yukiko (aka. she’s a halfie ) and Hiramatsu Kanako (aka. The loli looking one). And in all honesty, one day I was working at my office and listening to some random music, and then all of a sudden, this song started playing and it blew me away. The longing in the lyrics, the selfishness of the singer… wow. I just HAD to translate this song, and that’s when this whole translation madness began xD

Hey, don’t look at me

with those distant eyes

even though beyond the sea

there is no tomorrow

Why doesn’t that crescent moon

shed any tears?

when the night comes

you aren’t here

the two of us in the beach

become more connected

our embracing footsteps faded

this affection

was left behind

Embrace me

Tell me you still love me

Lie to me and say that you still love me

for the last time, one more time,

this is the diary of a single summer

I still want to be by your side

I still can’t let go of you

this fever in my heart is

more than a feeling (1)

the eastern horizon

became bright once more,

the fragments of the stars

are floating and glittering

So if you told me

good bye in an even colder way

I would become lonely

even on my way home

The moments when you were kind

are impossible to understand to me

if time stopped like this

I want to dream

for all eternity

Even now

tell me you still love me

just like the day when we met each other

please kiss me

it’s a regret on my lips

I still want to be connected to you

I still can’t forget

the comfort I felt in your arms

is more than a feeling

Everything is an illusion (everything is an illusion)

turning back to you (turning back to you)

is nothing like me at all

I still don’t want us to say goodbye

I still don’t want to be separated from you

my love for you

is more than a feeling

Repeat (1)

The selfishness I couldn’t tell you about

Is more than a feeling

6. The big wolf and Pride: Sung by Yagami Kumi (aka. SKE’s no. 3 girl) and Mori Sayuki (aka. babyface although she’s gone now and isn’t in this particular performance) this song reminds me a lot of the Lolita book. Except, well, Lolita didn’t love Humbert Humbert and the girl in this song does love her big bad wolf very much xD Oh Akimoto, you zany wota…

I wonder if

the wind that blew through

my pure white skirt

is to blame for me liking someone so much?

Even though I call your name

you pretend not to hear it

it’s like you are taking off

the darts in your heart

I want you to

stop treating me like a child

I am after all

a lady

The truth is

you are tantalizing

your manners are too good

my Mr. wolf is somehow

afraid

you are tantalizing

your manners are too good

in front of the sheep you

won’t attack

I won’t give you

even just a kiss

because I

have pride (1)

It’s like we’re riding

a merry-go-round

because the distance between us

can’t become smaller

With my eyes still closed

I expose my forehead

I’m waiting

for you

30 seconds

Somehow I’m getting impatient

your pace is too slow

I have heard

that men turn into wolves

somehow I’m getting impatient

your pace is too slow

even if I get suddenly eaten

I won’t care

because I want

to become special

tell me

what is so different with me when compared to other girls!

don’t tell me that I’m

like your little sister

because you’re a guy

act properly

Repeat (1)

7. Girls 6th sense: Sung by Takada Shiori (black haired beauty), Ooya Masana (snowhite), Kuwabara Mizuki (CRRRAZY), Shinkai Rina (helium voice, she’s gone now too D:) and Suda Akari (cutest girl EVAH). This song is just… way too girly and adorable! I can relate with the lyrics so much… you go out with a boy and have plans to make everything special and then something bad happens… xD

Tonight I have a feeling that it could become a special night

I’ll wear the dress and earrings my mom lent me

Being more passionate might seem shallow

even if you honk to pick me up, I’ll make you wait for at least 5 minutes

Full moon, the round moon is romantic

As you drive your open car

it looks like a mirrorball in the sky

A girls 6th sense without a doubt is nothing strange

when anything, anything happens

it’s a surprise of love

I have to many premonitions and reacting is difficult

will he come? will he come? hey, he came!

there’s no cuteness there (1)

We eat a great dinner, and we leave the restaurant in your car

the BGM that flows in the car gives a good feeling

soon the hazard appears, I wonder if we’ll stop in the shoulder of a road

I want you to give me the sweet words you hid in the depths of your heart

Suddenly the rains starts falling down really hard

even though you hurriedly closed the roof of the car

both of us ended up soaking wet

A girls 6th sense without a doubt is nothing strange

however, however, it was unexpected

this horrible happening

A development like this only could have been known by God

No way, no way, will I be

rejected like this…

We came close to my house really fast

Mistake let’s postpone this until next time

I really hope it happens.

Repeat (1)

8. The Station of Dry Leaves: Matsui Rena (MISTRESS GEKIKARA) has a solo, this super heartbreaking song also got the No. 1 spot in the Request Hour Set List Best 30 SKE48 songs

The dry leaves flutter in the wind

just like my tears

The dry leaves flutter in the wind

they come floating down into my heart

in the station

where I was left alone

Suddenly you said you can’t go

and canceled the trip

Inside of the trunk our plans

are stuffed

Coming out from the ceiling

is the destination of this platform

Near the trees in the side line

I wait in vain

Fluttering painfully among the branches

is your selfish back

Fluttering painfully among the branches

I held on to this affection

the location

where I lost my dreams

Now it seems like rain is going to fall

the train is going to depart from this city

the seat next to me is still empty

I run

The glass window was clouded

even though I pretended to be strong

loneliness is chasing after

my memories

The dry leaves flutter in the wind

just like my tears

The dry leaves flutter in the wind

they come floating down into my heart

In the station

where time is passing by

“It’s Rena. I’ve been waiting for a long time but…

I… will leave alone”

Why is it that I understood

from the start

Alone in the terminal station

Fluttering painfully among the branches

is your selfish back

Fluttering painfully among the branches

I left my goodbye in your answering machine

in the station

where I was left alone

9. Kaleidoscope: Sung by Matsushita Yui (Best singer of SKE48), Ono Haruka (FIERCE), Nakanishi Yuuka (cool girl), Hirata Rikako (MAI WAIFU), Deguchi Aki (The cool older sister). This song literally gave me a horrible headache. I started out thinking that it was a happy and pretty song and turns out to be the most emo thing Akimoto has written since Inochi no Tsukaimichi O_O (BTW, it’s Oya Masana instead of Yui in this performance). Random thoughts: My 3 SKE oshis in the same unit! (That’s Yui, Haruka and Rikako) I totally want those clothes too ;_;

As I turn the kaleidoscope round and round

it collected the light that came from the window

the boy from back then was the prisoner

of a fleeting dream of primary colors (1)

An incomplete life has a blank space as a reason for living

I imagine that in the middle of this empty journey

my friend who is like a grown up says “what you are missing is self awareness”

that’s the philosophical opinion she saw on the internet

The thing I want is love

but what I was given has no color at all (2)

I got dizzy from watching the kaleidoscope twirl

as I looked up from the fluorescent light inside it

what jumps inside only one of my eyes

is a sparkling flower of primary colors (3)

“There is no point in studying, it’s a method to make you smart”

when you said that, I felt suddenly depressed, and had no courage left

this low way of living and the father who despises me

while I pester them for a little more money I hate them more

What I aim for is freedom

everything around me is dyed in a fading color

Repeat (1)

Repeat (2)

Repeat (3)

The kaleidoscope turns round and round and it starts rolling

I store my pride inside the desk

I can’t return to that time again

it’s a broken dream of primary colors

So there you have it, the lovely units Next time! Group songs!

Hello everybody! Feeling generous today? How about voting for my humble blog?

Vote for my blog! Yay!

*clears throat* so now, after all the fighting, struggling, typing and raging, I’ve come up with an amazing idea to defeat the evil entity that has been space-eating wordpress

1. I can’t become a poet who speaks about love: Well, this song is kind of… unremarkable xD It’s standard idol fare. And I have no idea of who Rilke is This is sung from a boy’s perspective, and the lyrics are very cute and dreamy

Under the tree shadow of the elm in the schoolyard

I flip the pages of a Rilke poem book

my lips are moving

you are now in the bottom of my heart

I wonder if what is troubling you

can be blown away by the gentle wind?

From afar

without you noticing

I want to protect you gently

my gaze

will be a sun

that keeps you warm

I can’t become a poet who speaks about love…

instead of adorning words

I remain my usual silent self

I can’t become a poet who speaks about love…

my heartbeat will remain as a heartbeat

it would be good if it were a flower blooming in the wild

You tie again the ribbon of

your deep blue school uniform

And start running while smiling

what you found in that place

certainly wasn’t an answer

but a path called youth

Just talking seems like it would fade…

more than ideas to communicate

there are things I love

Just talking seems like it would fade….

my sadness will remain as sadness

it would be good if it were a beloved flower

I can’t become a poet who speaks about love…

instead of adorning words

I remain my usual silent self

I can’t become a poet who speaks about love…

my heartbeat will remain as a heartbeat

it would be good if it were a flower blooming in the wild

2. Passing Kiss (pass as in being accepted on a school or something like that. My english fails me.) Admission kiss? Well, I hope you get the point xD I love this lyrics. I can’t believe how Akimoto has written a TON of songs yet he still manages to come up with new topics Music wise it’s nothing outstanding, but it’s a sweet girly song. Of course, the girl who sings this is an honor student! This will be the dorkiest thing I’ll admit to ever but I feel like I can kind of relate to this lyrics :3

Hey, for the sake of the two of us

(Don’t fall in love!)

hey, let’s end this love

(Don’t kiss me now!)

Right now,

it isn’t the right time

you understand that too, don’t you? (1)

In the seat next to me in cram school

I brush aside the hand you extend to me

I have to take more lessons

There is little time left until the exam

The truth is that even though I look at the teacher

I would like to say OK to your invitation

(I have to be patient)

Hey, when april comes

(Let’s fall in love!)

Hey, we can be together

(Let’s kiss more…)

I believe that

so right now I can only study (2)

Hey, so until then

(Don’t fall in love!)

Hey, let’s postpone everything

(Don’t kiss me now!)

Yes, if the two of us

Don’t pass

we won’t be able to go out on dates, will we? (3)

we are dreaming of the same goal but

I can only think about the happy things

I worry a bit but

because you are here, I have the feeling that I will do my best

(last spurt)

Hey, if the cherry blossoms bloom

(Let’s fall in love!)

Hey, we will be free

(Let’s kiss more!)

What I wish now

is only for that

Repeat (1)

Until we give each other a passing kiss

Repeat (2)

Repeat (3)

3. Antenna: If you’ve heard K6 UHOHOHUHUHOHOHO song (and you MUST) this one might sound a little familiar. It’s like a toned down version of Team K’s song, but it’s still full of energy and super cute! Ahhh… The amazing and always surprising thing that is love… Hey, maybe I can become a poet who speaks of love xD

Yes, when a girl

looks in the mirror

she becomes pretty

I’ve heard that

But I want to try

getting dolled up

because romance is

quite…

Meeting is (meeting is)

not something you look for

Coincidences (coincidences)

overlap

and I’m in front of you

Somewhere someone is waiting

like finding something that was lost…

Somewhere someone is waiting

it’s surprising no matter where it is… (1)

Yes, maybe it’s not easy

to find it

if I stand still

it runs away

So, I will gather courage

take a deep breath

And increase my number of male friends

Love is (love is)

Something I realized that day

The fact that it was

this close (this close)

surprised me!

Somewhere something starts to change

It catches this kindness

Somewhere something starts to change

The antenna deep in my heart

Repeat (1)

4. A sprout of school uniform: Sadly for me, the title song of S3 is my least favorite song of the whole stage xD It just… sounds generic genki… somehow hahaha It doesn’t stand out much to me, and I’m too old for seifukus so I’ll admit that the whole seasons and plants analogy is nice and heartwarming though.

On the road to school in the winter morning

Wearing my heavy grey and dark blue clothes

my breath doesn’t become white

I think I don’t need a muffler

The north wind gradually changes direction

and sunlight leaks through a creak in the clouds

On the road is the calendar of a sunny day

the people who looked down

will raise their heads and smile

soon…

The school uniform sprouts

under this heavy coat

like a horsetail (plant) a new spring is waiting

The school uniform sprouts

I have a feeling that I can do something…

Facing the sky

I want to grow more

in the middle of this energetic preparation (1)

the harsh cold and snow

and hardships and sad things

exist in order to make a beautiful flower bloom

it’s a necessary season for our heart

There’s still more time left until keichitsu (when insects come out of hibernation)

but we’re closer to it than we were yesterday

inside the earth there are endless possibilities

the people who were lost are all

waving their arms and aiming straight

to their dream

Let’s walk wearing our school uniforms

we’ll become more nimble

let’s try

our vitality and power

Let’s walk wearing our school uniforms

believing in our good luck

in order to scream

“I’m here”

I’ll prepare too

Repeat (1)

Ok, tomorrow unit songs! You guys, you have no idea how long this took xD I’m amazed at how I managed to make uber long profiles back when the blog started, it’s already 10:00 pm and I’ve been doing this the whole day and I’m so tired lol I guess I really am getting old But I’ll work hard for all of you guys nonetheless!

Hello everyone! I turned 23 years old last week! Yay me!!! As a birthday present to myself I bought a ton of Yuko stuff xD Oh yeah!

But yeah, that’s not relevant to anyone other than me hahaha

Anyhow, I also got a message from Diromo saying that my site is ranked 30 in their top AKB48 sites! That is amazing! Thank you very much to all of you guys who keep reading my blog even though it’s been so neglected lately -_- Anyhow, here’s the voting code for a button in case you feel like voting up my blog which would make me insanely happy! Also, I no longer have anyone to talk about AKB48 to, so I’m guessing there will be an increased amount of posts

Vote for my blog! Yay!

And as a birthday present to myself and to everyone who still reads my poor neglected blog, here are the translations I made of SKE48′s Team S 3rd Stage “Seifuku no Me” I’m nowhere near fluent in japanese, however, I have some basic knowledge, and I figured that it might be a WHILE before someone decides to do a proper translation of these, and since I love Team S and I love this stage, I figured I’d try my hand at them So, again, these translations aren’t perfect, but I tried my absolute best to make them sound coherent in english and convey the meaning of the song. I took the kanji and romaji from STUDIO48

Fufufu~ coming soon! I WILL DEFEAT YOU WORDPRESS! *ebil laf*