Congratulations on Hina for making it to Round 2 by the way in Seimoe.
Sekkenya/Zekkenya songs spin me around from time to time…
Anyway, thoughts are welcome :3
I’ve been out for a week because I’ve been studying for the JLPT N1, which I took a few days ago (and I think there’s a good chance I passed \o/) and then right after I got back I had to move to another room…, maybe I’ll take pictures of my new living space when it’s well, functional.
Also, since I have 35+ requests currently outstanding, I will not accept any new requests at least until the new year (except preemptive requests for C81 songs). Depending on how much I can do it might be longer, or I might have to limit requests in some other way ^^; (I can only do so much…)
Oh, if you’re feeling in the holiday giving mood – Donate! >:D (you can do so on this lonely and forgotten page, via paypal) [link]
Notes:
Yakupuri=Yaku+Puri=Misfortune+Print=The print of the Yaku symbol on Hina’s skirt.
Homudawake=品陀和氣命(homudawakenomikoto)=誉田別尊(hontawakenomikoto)=大鞆和気命(ootomowakenomikoto)=応神天皇(oujintennou)=…
Was the 15th Emperor of Japan, first of the Tumulus Period (meaning they made lots of Tombs) and one of the first emperors that historians think actually existed. [ja-wiki]
As for the “that would shock even Homudawake” might refer to the fact that he had dozens of consorts and children, but probably has more to do with the fact that he was later enshrined and worshipped as 八幡神 (Yahata no Kami/Hachiman-Jin) a warrior diety. (Yahata/Hachiman=Eight/Many flags). [ja-wiki]. You could say that a warrior emperor/god who has been around all sorts wouldn’t ordinarily be shocked at the behavior of lower classes or warriors or death or what have you. Anyway, it’s just a guess.
放生会 (Houjoue) is the ceremonial release of wild captive animals (it is meant to show respect for life, not like the European practice of the running of the hounds and whatnot). It is a ceremony that started at the main Hachiman shrine (Usa) – I translated it as “catch and release” which isn’t really sufficient, but I’ve got to keep those lines from getting too long. I can only think that it has something to do with making up for all the death a warrior must cause. Anyway this event originally originated from a tale of one of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s former lives (Rusui) in which he saved the fish from a parched lake and set them adrift in a stream. – It’s a long shot, but you can tie this to 流し雛 (Nagashibina) which is tied to Kagiyama Hina’s origins. Nagashibina (which also shows up in the song translated as “cursed dolls”) is an event that you tie the misfortune, ills, or sins to dolls and set them afloat on a river stream. So, you see the similarities between letting captive animals free to atone for other deaths you’ve caused, and setting your sins on dolls to free yourself. Right?
The sexual references/mild-innuendo, “It may hurt at first”, “look (at me) with clinging eyes”, and the fact that “embrace” 抱く is often used as a synonym for sex, points also to the cult practice of raping young girls to remove ones sins. It’s one of those things that is kind of like oba-sute in that we’re not sure to what extent it might have actually been done, but it’s a hot topic in plots from time to time (see Mirai Nikki, and I’m sure some H-products use that plot). Anyway, it’s related to the above. Sort of.
“Even if we change into Yahata-no-kami, it’s only in part!” Wakemitama is the splitting of a god’s spirit across many shrines. Yahata-no-Kami/Hachiman-Jin is probably the most enshrined Shinto/Buddhist diety in all of Japan, so this makes a lot of sense, sort of. – Anyway, it’s also possible to interpret the line as “even if (something) changes into Yahata no Kami, it’ll only be a part” as in, even if he appears, we don’t need to worry… or something – but right after the spinning/mixing line, there’s not much weight to that interpretation.
“I’m sure I’m the only one who would embrace someone like you
So vulgar that even Homudawake would be shocked
I’m sure I’m the only one who would find someone lost like you
Wonderful and with such an exalted status”
^I hated having to switch the lines on this (1234->2143) but it just wouldn’t work otherwise D: Oh well. I’m sure the “wonderful and with such an exalted status” is supposed to be ironic, but I’m just not exactly sure how… Maybe it’s just poking at “high-class” individuals most often being truly the most lowly of us all.
“with an existence so mean” mean as in: “base, vile, poor, low, stingy, sordid”, but also as in “small”
In Japanese “exiled” is “punishment by flowing”, which is like floating down the river – ie. Nagashibina. Anyway.
—
ヤクプリ
Yakupuri
Misfortune Print
ゼッケン屋（秀三）
Dry Eye Party (C73)
あるいは悲劇なのかしら それとも喜劇なのかしら
温（ぬく）い世界に捨てられた あなたが出会うのが私
もっとこっちに来なさいな 縋（すが）る目をして来なさいな
はじめは痛むかもだけど 悪いようにはさせないわ ほうら
arui wa higeki nano kashira sore tomo kigeki nano kashira
nukui sekai ni suterareta anata ga deau no ga watashi
motto kocchi ni kinasai na sugaru me wo shite kinasai na~
hajime wa itamu ka mo dakedo warui you ni wa sasenai wa houra
I wonder if you would call this a tragedy or a comedy –
That it was I who met you, outcast in this lukewarm world?
Come closer.. look here with your clinging eyes and come to me~
It may hurt at first, but I won’t let anything bad happen – Alright?
鏡写しの放生会（ほうじょうえ） 夜通し続く放生会
あなたが望む私なら 「カカカ」とだって笑えるわ
もっとこっちに来なさいな 縋（すが）る目をして来なさいな
手と手をとってクルクルと 回りましょう ほうら
kagamiutsushi no houjoue yodooshitsudzuku houjoue
anata ga nozomu watashi nara “kakaka” to datte waraeru wa
motto kocchi ni kinasai na sugaru me wo shite kinasai na~
te to te wo totte kururkuru to mawarimashou houra
It’s catch-and-release on the other side of the mirror, all through the night.
If you wish me to, I’ll even laugh with a cackle – “kakaka”
Come here.. look here with your clinging eyes and come to me~
Take my hand and we’ll spin round and round and round – Like this!
八幡八幡化けても分霊（わけみたま）
yahatayahata baketemo wakemitama
Even if we change into Yahata-no-kami, it’s only in part!
ホムダワケも呆れるほどの卑俗なあなたを
癒し抱いてやれるのは きっと 私だけ
人の身には過ぎた身分の素敵なあなたを
探し出してやれるのは きっと 私だけなの
homudawake mo akireru hodo no hizoku na anata wo
iyashidaiteyareru no wa kitto watashi dake
hito no mi ni wa sugita mibun no suteki na anata wo
sagashidashiteyareru no wa kitto watashi dake na no
I’m sure I’m the only one who would embrace someone like you
So vulgar that even Homudawake would be shocked
I’m sure I’m the only one who would find someone lost like you
Wonderful and with such an exalted status…
水に還るは流し雛 まるで流刑（るけい）ね流し雛
私が望むあなたなら 果たして生まれ変われるの？
もっとこっちに来なさいな 縋（すが）る目をして来なさいな
手と手をとってトクトクと 混ざりましょう ほうら
mizu ni kaeru wa nagashibina marude rukei ne nagashibina
watashi ga nozomu anata nara hatashite umarekawareru no?
motto kocchi ni kinasai na sugaru me wo shite kinasai na
te to te wo totte tokutoku to mazarimashou houra
Cursed dolls return to the water; it’s just as if they’ve been exiled.
If I wished you to, could you be reborn?
Come here.. look here with your clinging eyes and come to me~
Take my hand and we’ll mix together with proud looks on our faces – Like this!
八幡八幡化けても分霊（わけみたま）
yahatayahata baketemo wakemitama
Even if we change into Yahata-no-kami, it’s only in part!
ホムダワケも呆れるほどの卑俗なあなたを
癒し抱いてやれるのは きっと 私だけ
後ろ指を指されるほど矮小なあなたを
庇い 包みこめるのは きっと 私だけなの
homudawake mo akireru hodo no hizoku na anata wo
iyashidaiteyareru no wa kitto watashi dake
ushiro yubi wo sasareru hodo waishou na anata wo
kabai tsutsumikomeru no wa kitto watashi dake nano
I’m sure I’m the only one who would embrace someone like you
So vulgar that even Homudawake would be shocked
I’m sure I’m the only one who would take and protect someone like you
With an existence so mean that everyone talks behind your back
もっとこっちに来なさいな 縋（すが）る目をして来なさいな
最後に涙を一粒 流しましょう ほうら
motto kocchi ni kinasai na sugaru me wo shite kinasai na
saigo ni namida wo hitotsubu nagashimashou houra
Come closer.. look here with your clinging eyes and come to me~
And in the end let flow a single tear – just like that.
八幡八幡化けても分霊（わけみたま）
yahatayahata baketemo wakemitama
Even if we change into Yahata-no-kami, it’s only in part!
ホムダワケも呆れるほどの卑俗なあなたを
癒し抱いてやれるのは きっと 私だけ
人の身には過ぎた身分の素敵なあなたを
探し出してやれるのは きっと 私だけなの
homudawake mo akireru hodo no hizoku na anata wo
iyashidaiteyareru no wa kitto watashi dake
hito no mi ni wa sugita mibun no suteki na anata wo
sagashidashiteyareru no wa kitto watashi dake na no
I’m sure I’m the only one who would embrace someone like you
So vulgar that even Homudawake would be shocked
I’m sure I’m the only one who would find someone lost like you
Wonderful and with such an exalted status…
—
kafka-fuura 