かくれんぼ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: AliA

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a captivating linguistic and emotional journey with AliA's "Kakurenbo"! This vibrant rock anthem, a massive hit in Japan, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the Japanese language. Its clear, powerful vocals and a chorus that became an internet sensation ("いっせーのーで声を上げて" - 'Ready, set, go! Raise your voice!') make it perfect for picking up common phrases and understanding emotional expression in Japanese. Beyond the catchy tunes, you'll discover a deeply resonant message about self-discovery and perseverance, making "Kakurenbo" not just a song to learn from, but one that truly inspires.

[English]

With a "ready, set, go," the signal rang out

A world connected by traced lines

We start to add color from here

...

By the time I became aware, it was already here

Memories that aren't mine

Revive with the setting sun

I take out an old picture book

Found one answer within the scribbles

I doubted my own worth

I can fall as far as I want

I want to disappear somewhere far away

In this world, I feel unnecessary

The countdown has already begun

With a "ready, set, go," I raise my voice

I can hear it coming

I notice the length of my own shadow

It's already this time

The first star has appeared

I reached out, feeling like I could touch it

Next, follow me

No matter how dark it gets

(Are you ready? Not yet)

The curtain has started to rise

(Are you ready? Not yet)

We start to add color from here

...

Ten years later, we keep passing by each other

Lost in fantasies

I convinced myself that "I can't go back"

Adding to the weary heart

The sunset, unchanged from those days

Doesn't mean anything to me

If I can believe in myself and keep walking

I could rise as high as I want

Crossing over cuts, in that blank space

I’m overlooking something important

To you, who cries out that you can't find it

With a "ready, set, go," raise your voice

I can hear it coming

I notice the length of my own shadow

It's already this time

You, who rushes through as the top prize

Even I, who just stuck around

Can I walk in front of you?

Even someone as unreliable as me

The treasure chest remains covered in dust

...

The lost key was always

In your pocket

Everything that was scattered

Now overlaps into one

Let's take hands and begin

Our story

I once thought I didn't need it

But now I feel I can hold my head high

So dear, the cheers are always

With a "ready, set, go," raise your voice

With a "ready, set, go," raise your voice

I can hear it coming

I notice the length of my own shadow

It's already this time

The first star has appeared

I reached out, feeling like I could touch it

Next, follow me

No matter how dark it gets

(Are you ready? Not yet)

With a voice that cried

(Are you ready? Not yet)

I saw you laughing

(Are you ready? Not yet)

The curtain has started to rise

(Are you ready? It's okay now)

We start to add color from here

...

[Japanese]

"いっせーのー"で鳴り響いたスタートの合図

なぞった線で結んだ世界

色付けていく ここから

物心がつく頃 すでに此処にあった

僕じゃない誰かの記憶は

夕陽とともに蘇る

古ぼけた絵本を取り出して

落書きの中に１つの答えを見つけた

自分の価値に 目を疑って

どこまでだって 堕ちていけるの

どこか遠くに 消えてしまいたい

こんな世界じゃ 僕はいらない

カウントダウンは始まっているよ

"いっせーのー"で声を上げて

聴こえてくるんだ

自分の影の長さに気付く

もうこんな時間だ

一等星が顔を出した

届きそうで手を伸ばした

次は僕に着いてきなよ

どんな暗闇でも

(もういいかい？まーだだよ)

幕は上がりだした

(もういいかい？まーだだよ)

色付けていく ここから

10年後の僕らはすれ違いばかりで

幻想に想いを馳せては

"戻れない"そう思いこんだ

くたびれた心に追い討ちを

あの頃と変わらない夕陽も

なんとも思わない

自分を信じ 歩いていければ

どこまでだって 昇れるのにな

カットを跨ぐ その空白に

大切なモノ 見落としている

見つけられないと泣きわめく君へ

"いっせーのー"で声を上げて

聴こえてくるんだ

自分の影の長さに気付く

もうこんな時間だ

一等賞で駆け抜ける君

くっついていただけの僕でも

君の前を歩けるかな？

こんな頼りない僕でも

宝箱はホコリをかぶったまま

無くした鍵はずっと

君のポケットの中にあった

散らばっていた全てが

今ひとつに重なる

手を取り 始めよう

僕たちの物語

一度はいらないと思った

今なら胸を張れる気がしたんだ

愛おしくて 掛け声はいつも

"いっせーのー"で声を上げて

"いっせーのー"で声を上げて

聴こえてくるんだ

自分の影の長さに気付く

もうこんな時間だ

一等星が顔を出した

届きそうで手を伸ばした

次は僕に着いてきなよ

どんな暗闇でも

(もういいかい？まーだだよ)

泣きじゃくった声で

(もういいかい？まーだだよ)

笑う君が見えた

(もういいかい？まーだだよ)

幕は上がりだした

(もういいかい？もういいよ)

色付けていく ここから

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
声 /koe/ A1	noun - voice
時間 /jikan/ A1	noun - time
影 /kage/ B1	noun - shadow
世界 /sekai/ A2	noun - world
記憶 /kioku/ B2	noun - memory
答え /kotae/ A2	noun - answer
心 /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart
宝箱 /takaramako/ B2	noun - treasure box
暗闇 /kurayami/ B1	noun - darkness
物語 /monogatari/ B2	noun - story
想い /omoi/ B1	noun - thought, feeling
道 /michi/ A2	noun - road, way
手 /te/ A1	noun - hand
星 /hoshi/ A1	noun - star
答 /kota/ B1	verb - to answer
歩く /aruku/ A1	verb - to walk

Key Grammar Structures

• 物心がつく頃 すでに此処にあった

  ➔ When (someone) becomes aware of something

  ➔ The phrase "物心がつく頃" refers to the time when one becomes aware of their surroundings or emotions.

• 自分の価値に 目を疑って

  ➔ Doubting one's own value

  ➔ The phrase "自分の価値に目を疑って" expresses the feeling of questioning or doubting one's self-worth.

• どこまでだって 堕ちていけるの

  ➔ Can fall as far as (one) wants

  ➔ The phrase "どこまでだって堕ちていけるの" suggests the idea of having no limits to how far one can fall or fail.

• 一等星が顔を出した

  ➔ The first star has appeared

  ➔ The phrase "一等星が顔を出した" signifies the emergence of something significant or beautiful, often used metaphorically.

• 宝箱はホコリをかぶったまま

  ➔ The treasure chest remains covered in dust

  ➔ The phrase "宝箱はホコリをかぶったまま" suggests that something valuable is neglected or forgotten.

• 散らばっていた全てが今ひとつに重なる

  ➔ Everything that was scattered now comes together

  ➔ The phrase "散らばっていた全てが今ひとつに重なる" indicates a sense of unity or resolution after a period of chaos.

• 愛おしくて 掛け声はいつも

  ➔ Affectionate and the call is always

  ➔ The phrase "愛おしくて掛け声はいつも" conveys a sense of warmth and affection in the way one calls out.