NEO ZIPANG〜UTAGE〜 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: DANCE EARTH PARTY, banvox, DRUM TAO

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey of cultural discovery, and 'NEO ZIPANG〜UTAGE〜' by DANCE EARTH PARTY is a perfect gateway to the heart of modern and traditional Japan. The song's lyrics, which include the globally recognized Japanese word 'mottainai', offer a fun and energetic way to pick up new phrases. What makes this song special is its fusion of old and new, allowing learners to experience the dynamic spirit of a Japanese 'matsuri' (festival) while enjoying a contemporary dance track. Let this song be your vibrant first step into the world of Japanese language and culture!

[English]

Let's get excited together...!

Let's call for dawn

On this earth where the gods dwell

Let's keep dancing

Gather where the sun rises

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Give it up!

Now is the time for the light in your heart

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Here we go!

Shine on forever

With the beat of this 'Banquet ~UTAGE~'

Even the sun can be casual!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

Raise your voice, let's get hyped

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

Shout out loud, BE THE ONE!

Dance! Dance!

Form a circle and sway your body, YEAH!

Dance! Dance!

Let our feelings unite, YEAH!

Feeling sunny and clear

Hallelujah to this sky

Dance! Dance!

Still, oh, girls, it's such a waste...

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

Baby, break it down! (Oh, feels so right!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

Oh, girls, it's such a waste...

DANCE!!! DANCE!!! DANCE!!!

Baby, break it down! (Scream it out!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

DANCE... (HEY!!!)

Than yesterday,

Let's be happy today

Raise your hands to the sky

Life! It's a festival! Enjoy!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Give it up!

Dance instead of being forced to

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Here we go!

Until our prayers reach...

If you sing loudly

The universe can be casual too!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

We can stay connected

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

Never stop, BE THE ONE!

Dance! Dance!

Form a circle and sway your body, YEAH!

Dance! Dance!

Let our feelings unite, YEAH!

Feeling sunny and clear

Hallelujah to this sky

Dance! Dance!

More and more, oh, girls, it's such a waste...

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

Baby, break it down! (Oh, feels so right!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

Oh, girls, it's such a waste...

DANCE!!! DANCE!!! DANCE!!!

Baby, break it down! (Shout it out!)

Shout it loud!!! Shout it loud!!! Shout it loud!!!

DANCE... (HEY!!!)

[Japanese]

盛り上がろう 一緒に together...!

夜明けを呼ぼう

神様が宿るこの大地で

踊り続けよう

日がいづる場所に集まれ

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Give it up!

いまこそ心の光

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Here we go!

放つんだ shine forever

この「宴～UTAGE～」のビートで

太陽も無礼講!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

声あげてアガろう

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

叫べよ BE THE ONE!

Dance! Dance!

輪になって身体揺らせ YEAH!

Dance! Dance!

想いも一つになって YEAH!

気分は晴れ晴れ

この空ハレルヤ

Dance! Dance!

まだまだ、オ・ド・ン・ナ・キャ、モッタイナイ…!

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

baby, break it down! (oh, feel so right!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

オ・ド・ン・ナ・キャ、モッタイナイ…!

DANCE!!! DANCE!!! DANCE!!!

baby, break it down! (さわげよ!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

DANCE... (HEY!!!)

昨日よりも

今日 happy でいられるように

空に手あげよう

人生! 祭だ! Enjoy!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Give it up!

踊らされるより踊れ

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! Here we go!

祈りが届くまで…!

声高らかに歌えば

宇宙も無礼講!

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

つながっていけるよ

YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO! YEAH YO!

終わらせない BE THE ONE!

Dance! Dance!

輪になって身体揺らせ YEAH!

Dance! Dance!

想いも一つになって YEAH!

気分は晴れ晴れ

この空ハレルヤ

Dance! Dance!

もっともっと、 オ・ド・ン・ナ・キャ、モッタイナイ…!

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

baby, break it down! (oh, feel so right!)

Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!! Shake it off!!!

オ・ド・ン・ナ・キャ、モッタイナイ…!

DANCE!!! DANCE!!! DANCE!!!

baby, break it down! (さわげよ!)

Shout it loud!!! Shout it loud!!! Shout it loud!!!

DANCE... (HEY!!!)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
盛り上がろう /moriagarou/ B1	verb - to get excited or lively
神様 /kamisama/ A2	noun - god
大地 /daichi/ B1	noun - earth, land
踊り /odori/ A2	noun - dance
太陽 /taiyou/ A2	noun - sun
声 /koe/ A1	noun - voice, sound
光 /hikari/ A2	noun - light
気分 /kibun/ B1	noun - mood, feeling
祭 /matsuri/ B2	noun - festival
宇宙 /uchuu/ B2	noun - universe
想い /omoi/ B1	noun - thought, feeling
声高らか /koe takaraka/ B2	adjective - loud voice
終わらせない /owarasenai/ B2	verb - to not end
DANCE /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music

Key Grammar Structures

• 一緒に together...!

  ➔ Use of "一緒に" (issho ni) to indicate doing something together.

  ➔ The phrase "一緒に" means "together" and indicates performing an action collectively.

• 神様が宿るこの大地で

  ➔ Use of "が" particle to mark the subject; "宿る" (yadoru) as an intransitive verb meaning "to dwell" or "to reside."

  ➔ The particle "が" identifies "神様" (kami-sama, god) as the subject performing the action of "dwell".

• 踊り続けよう

  ➔ Use of volitional form "続けよう" (tsuzukeyou) to express "let's continue" or "let's keep on"

  ➔ The volitional form "続けよう" expresses an invitation or suggestion to "continue" with the action.

• 放つんだ shine forever

  ➔ Use of the explanatory particle "んだ" (nda) to emphasize or explain; imperative sense to "shine forever."

  ➔ The "んだ" (nda) particle emphasizes the command or strong encouragement to "shine forever."

• 声あげてアガろう

  ➔ Use of "て" form "あげて" to connect actions (raise voice); volitional form "アガろう" (agaro) to suggest "let's cheer up."

  ➔ The "て" form "あげて" connects the actions of raising voice, and "アガろう" (agaro) is a volitional form suggesting "let's cheer up."

• 終わらせない BE THE ONE!

  ➔ Use of negative form "終わらせない" (owarasenai) to express "not to end"; imperative/encouragement phrase "BE THE ONE!"

  ➔ The negative form "終わらせない" emphasizes the determination to "not let something end"; "BE THE ONE!" is an encouraging call to action.