Daftar Isi
槇原 敬之 (Keishi Makihara) is a well-known Japanese singer-songwriter who has been active in the music industry since the late 1980s. Among his many hit songs, わさび (Wasabi) is a fan favorite that has captured the hearts of many music lovers in Japan.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a person who is trying to move on from a past love but finds it difficult to do so. The title わさび (Wasabi) serves as a metaphor for the lingering pain that the person feels, just like how wasabi’s spiciness lingers in one’s mouth.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the lyrics of わさび (Wasabi), breaking it down point by point and exploring the emotions and themes that the song conveys.
Verse 1
始まる前から 終わりを知っていた
似合わない二人が 恋をしてた
The song opens with the lines hajimaru mae kara owari wo shitteita (from the beginning, I knew it was going to end), setting a melancholic tone from the start. The speaker then describes how niawanai futari ga koi wo shiteta (two people who didn’t match fell in love), hinting at a doomed romance from the start.
Chorus
君はわさび 私は醤油
辛くないと 味気ないし
あの日の風に 吹かれて泣いた
今も消えない痛みがある
The chorus is where the title of the song, わさび (Wasabi), comes into play. The speaker compares themselves to soy sauce, while their former lover is compared to wasabi. They explain that without the spiciness of wasabi, soy sauce (or the speaker) is bland and uninteresting.
The next lines, ano hi no kaze ni fukarete naita (I cried in the wind of that day), suggest that the speaker is reminiscing about the past and the pain they felt when the relationship ended. The final line, ima mo kienai itami ga aru (even now, there is pain that won’t go away), reinforces the idea that the speaker is still struggling to move on.
Verse 2
遠くまで行った 遠距離恋愛
毎晩の電話 でも弾かれた
The second verse describes a long-distance relationship that ultimately failed despite the couple’s efforts to stay in touch. The line maiban no denwa demo hajikareta (even nightly phone calls were rejected) suggests that communication between the two became strained and eventually fell apart.
Chorus
The chorus repeats from earlier in the song, emphasizing the pain and difficulty that the speaker is experiencing in trying to move on.
Bridge
時間が解決する 勘違いしてた
それでも君を忘れることはできない
The bridge suggests that the speaker once thought that time would heal their heartache, but has since realized that it is not that simple. The line soredemo kimi wo wasureru koto wa dekinai (even so, I can’t forget you) shows that the speaker is still holding onto their memories of the past.
Chorus
The chorus repeats once again, driving home the central theme of the song.
Outro
この広い世界に 一人きりで
君の声も 届かないと知って
The song ends with the lines kono hiroi sekai ni hitorikiri de / kimi no koe mo todokanai to shitte (all alone in this wide world, knowing that even your voice won’t reach me). The speaker acknowledges the finality of their situation and the fact that they are now alone, unable to connect with their past love.
In conclusion, わさび (Wasabi) is a poignant and emotional song that explores the pain of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on. Makihara’s lyrics and melody come together to create a beautiful and melancholic piece of music that has resonated with listeners for years. The metaphor of wasabi serves as a powerful symbol for the lingering pain and spiciness of the speaker’s emotions, and the song’s repetition of the chorus emphasizes the emotions and themes that the lyricist is trying to convey. Overall, わさび (Wasabi) is a touching and memorable song that has cemented itself as one of Makihara’s most beloved works.