M八七 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 米津玄師
• Album: ニューシングル 2022月5月18日発売

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through Kenshi Yonezu's "M八七" offers a unique opportunity to engage with poetic and emotionally rich language. The song's lyrics, filled with imagery of stars, flowers, and the abstract concepts of loneliness and strength, provide a beautiful context for understanding nuanced vocabulary and expressions. Its connection to the cultural icon Ultraman also adds a layer of pop culture significance, making the learning process both meaningful and fun.

[English]

Because I saw the stars in the far-off sky shining so brightly

I trembled as I chased after that light

Looking at my reflection in the shattered mirror, I saw myself from long ago

I wanted to become stronger, longing for everything

You are blown by the wind

Lifting your hat and looking up

Embarking on a long and fleeting journey

The shadow of days gone by

If you wish for it

It will respond strongly

Don’t be afraid of everything now

Know pain, and be alone

The wilting flower in the now

Spoke to me in the end

Even if its form is gone, watching over from far ahead

That’s right

You are battered down

With a heart worn down

The beginning of the story is

A faint loneliness

Your hand touched

If it’s the power of mutual loneliness pulling us together

Who can take that away, and how?

We seek each other until our lives end

The shining stars say

From behind the leaves of the trees

You simply keep gazing

While imagining the future

We move forward

Unaware of everything, heading toward the distant place

If you wish for it

It will respond strongly

Don’t be afraid of everything now

Know pain, and be alone

Smile faintly, like that star

Know pain, and be alone

[Japanese]

遥か空の星が　ひどく輝いて見えたから

僕は震えながら　その光を追いかけた

割れた鏡の中　いつかの自分を見つめていた

強くなりたかった　何もかもに憧れていた

君は風に吹かれて

翻る帽子見上げ

長く短い旅をゆく

遠い日の面影

君が望むなら

それは強く応えてくれるのだ

今は全てに恐れるな

痛みを知る　ただ一人であれ

いまに枯れる花が

最後に僕へと語りかけた

「姿見えなくとも　遥か先で見守っている」と

そうだ

君は打ちひしがれて

削れていく心根

物語の始まりは

微かな寂しさ

君の手が触れた

それは引き合う孤独の力なら

誰がどうして奪えるものか

求めあえる　命果てるまで

輝く星は言う

木の葉の向こうから

君はただ見つめる

未来を想いながら

僕らは進む

何も知らずに彼方のほうへ

君が望むなら

それは強く応えてくれるのだ

今は全てに恐れるな

痛みを知る　ただ一人であれ

微かに笑え　あの星のように

痛みを知る　ただ一人であれ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
星 /ほし/ A1	noun - star
光 /ひかり/ A1	noun - light
旅 /たび/ A2	noun - journey
痛み /いたみ/ B1	noun - pain
心 /こころ/ B1	noun - heart/mind
未来 /みらい/ B2	noun - future
孤独 /こどく/ B2	noun - loneliness
強く /つよく/ B2	adverb - strongly
憧れ /あこがれ/ B2	noun - longing/aspiration
語りかける /かたりかける/ B2	verb - to speak to
見守る /みまもる/ B2	verb - to watch over
削れる /けずれる/ C1	verb - to wear away
微か /かすか/ C1	adjective - faint
面影 /おもかげ/ C2	noun - remembrance/trace

Key Grammar Structures

• 僕は震えながら その光を追いかけた

  ➔ ながら (nagara)

  ➔ The particle "ながら" is used to indicate that two actions are happening simultaneously.

• 遠い日の面影

  ➔ の (no)

  ➔ The particle "の" indicates possession or a descriptive connection between words.

• 君は風に吹かれて

  ➔ に (ni)

  ➔ The particle "に" indicates the direction of an action or the agent performing it.

• 微かな寂しさ

  ➔ な (na)

  ➔ The copula "な" is used to link na-adjectives to nouns, describing qualities.

• 求めあえる 命果てるまで

  ➔ あえる (aeru)

  ➔ The verb "あえる" (potential form) expresses the ability to do something, combined here with "求め" (to seek/desire).

• 痛みを知る ただ一人であれ

  ➔ を (o)

  ➔ The particle "を" marks the direct object of the verb "知る" (to know).