[J-Pop] Sakurairo (The Color of Cherry Blossoms) by Angela Aki

One of my very first ventures in the world of J-Pop! I loved this song so much, even when I could barely understand half of it. I heard it first on Music Station and Angela Aki performed it so well, I was so moved by it. Even now, it gets me.

I initially translated "sakurairo" as "pink" or "rose-colored," but that doesn't really do it justice, so I stuck with "sakura-colored." I would have gone with cherry blossom-colored, but it's too lengthy and hard to read while you're listening to the song, so yeah. For reference:

Kanji Romaji English

川沿いに咲いてた　サクラ並木を
共に生きてゆくと　二人で歩いた
世界に飲み込まれ　吐き出されても
ただそばにいたくて　もっともっともっと

時間の流れと愛の狭間に落ちて
あなたを失った

恋しくて目を閉じれば
あの頃の二人がいる
サクラ色のあなたを忘れない　ずっとずっとずっと

あなたから離れて　自分を知った
夢に近づきたくて　もっともっともっと

否定の言葉に押しつぶされても
はい上がって戦い続けた

苦しくて目を閉じれば
あの頃の自分がいる
サクラ色の私を忘れない　ずっとずっとずっと

ふるさと心の中で今でも優しく響くよ
そんな歌が聴こえる

恋しくて目を閉じれば
あの頃の二人がいる
サクラ色のあなたのことを
サクラ色のわたしのことを
サクラ色の時代を忘れない　ずっとずっとずっと
ずっとずっとずっと

Kawazoi ni saiteta　Sakura nami ki wo
Tomo ni ikite yuku to　Futari de aruita
Sekai ni nomikomare　Hakidasarete mo
Tada soba ni itakute　Motto motto motto

Jikan no nagare to ai no hazama ni ochite
Anata wo ushiatta

Koishikute me wo tojireba
Ano koro no futari ga iru
Sakurairo no anata wo wasurenai　Zutto zutto zutto

Anata kara hanarete　Jibun wo shitta
Yume ni chikazukitakute　Motto motto motto

Hitei no kotoba ni oshitsubasarete mo
Haiagette tatakai tsuzuketa

Kurushikute me wo tojireba
Ano koro no jibun ga iru
Sakurairo no watashi wo wasurenai　Zutto zutto zutto

Furusato kokoro no naka de ima demo yasashiku hibiku yo
Sonna uta ga kikoeru

Aishikute me wo tojireba
Ano koro no futari ga iru
Sakurairo no anata no koto wo
Sakurairo no watashi no koto wo
Sakurairo no jidai wo wasurenai　Zutto zutto zutto
Zutto zutto zutto

They bloomed along the riverside　The line of sakura trees
Living our lives together　We walked along that path
Even if we're swallowed and thrown up by the world
I just want you beside me　More and more and more

Somewhere between the flow of time and falling in love,
I lost you

Even if I close my eyes full of love
I still see the two of us from back then
I will not forget that sakura-colored you　Never ever ever

When I was separated from you　I got to know myself better
I started wanting to chase my dreams　More and more and more

Even when I got beaten down by hurtful words
I got up and kept on fighting

Even if I close my eyes full of pain
I still see myself from back then
I will not forget my sakura-colored self　Never ever ever

Even when I go back home now, it still echoes gently in my heart
I can still hear a song that sounds like that

Even if I close my eyes full of love
I still see the two of us from back then
Neither the sakura-colored you
Nor my sakura-colored self
Nor the sakura-colored time we spent together　I will never forget any of them　Never ever ever
Never ever ever