1999, Natsu, Okinawa

01.04.03
Artist: Mr. Children
Title: 1999, Natsu, Okinawa (1999, Summer, Okinawa)
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi
The first time I went to Okinawa, what I found to be somewhat sad was
that it was surrounded by america just as if it was a microcosm of japan.
Then, okinawa in the summer of 1994 was so hot
my shirt clung to my sweaty body,
so i threw all the depressing things into the night sea,
and went about having two or three affairs. *1
Whether the chirping of the cicadas is a song of joy or a grieving blues,
I couldnt have known but,
we played a song like the chirping of those cicada and went on.
walking different towns, meeting different people,
I dont even know how many times I said goodbye.
and now what I think of, what I dare to think
ah I want to love someone much more.
Once Id learned the taste of alcohol,
I went around drinking various drinks
and then I found the worlds best alcohol.
Thats the alcohol you have after working yourself hard.
These days, I can see through to what really supported Japan
in the post war era.
I have no right to think so but, was it peace, or freedom,
maybe the government or the family
Leaving my hometown, moving far away from my dreams,
Ah Where will I end up?
Getting on the train today, I find my face reflecting in the window
a little bit tired.
Will God save us, or will science take his place?
Is it inappropriate to think of wanting to live forever?
Is it egoistical to wish to be almighty
time goes by qickly
Even though I am already 30 years old, what can I leave behind?
Ah there are many things which changed, in good ways and bad ways,
and things which are now still the same.
Then in the summer of 1999 in Okinawa,
for now my journey once again comes to an end.
I had the best alcohol in the world with the people I love,
and those who love me.
When the last song finished, and the ringing stopped,
ah what did I think about?
The road that we chose may have been hard but,
we laugh and cry at such trifling things.
walking around different towns, meeting different people,
well continue to do it that much is true but,
what I thought about now, the one thing I think of,
ah I want to sing in this town again someday.
ah and surely someday I want to sing in even that town.
ah and I want you to hear this song.
Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

Translators Notes: This song must be about the end of a tour. Like going
around meeting different people in different towns, the Discovery tour
must have ended in Okinawa that year so this song was born.
* 1 The line I had two or three affairs means he had sex with two or
three different women. Maybe casual romances a very introspective song,
like a diary.

ROMAJI
boku ga hajimete okinawa ni itta toki
nantonaku monoganashiku omoeta no wa
sore ga marude nihon no shukuzu de aru ka no you ni
america ni kakomarete ita kara desu
to wa ie kyuu juu yo nen, natsu no okinawa wa
T shirt ga karada ni hebaritsuku you na atsu sa de
yuuutsu na koto wa zenbu yoru no umi ni nugisutete
tekitou ni ni, san hatsu no koi mo shimashita
minmin, minmin to semi ga naite ita no wa
kanki no uta ka sore tomo nageki no blues ka
mohaya shiru sube wa nai ga ano semi no koe ni nita you na
nakiwarai no uta wo kanade bokura wa susumu
ironna machi wo aruki ironna hito ni deai
kuchi ni shita sayounara wa kazu shirezu
soshite ima omou koto wa daitan ni mo omou koto wa
aa motto motto dareka wo ai shitai
sake no aji wo oboe hajimete kara wa
ironna mono wo nomi aruki mo shimashita
soshite sekai ichi no osake wo mitsukemashita
sore wa hisshi de hataraita ato no sake desu
sengo no nihon wo sasaeta mono no shoutai ga
nantonaku sukete mieru kono koro wa
heiwa to wa jiyuu to wa nanika kokka to wa kazoku to wa nanika
gara ni mo naku kangaetari mo shite imasu
umareta basho wo hanare yume kara mo tooku sorete
aa boku wa doko e tadoritsuku no darou
kyou mo densha ni yurare shasou ni utsuru kao wa
sou honno chotto kutabirete iru keredo
kami wa warera wo sukui tamau no deshou ka
sore tomo kagaku ga sore ni kawakru no deshou ka
eien de aritai to omou no wa yabo deshou ka
zennou de aritai to negau no wa ego deshou ka
toki no nagare wa hayaku mou san juu na no dakeredo
aa boku ni nani ga nokoseru to iu no darou
kawatte itta mono to ima da kawaranu mono ga
aa yoku mo waruku mo ippai aru keredo
soshite kyuu juu kyuu nen natsu no okinawa de
toriaezu bokura no tabi mo mata owari
ai suru hito tachi to ai shite kureta hito tachi to
sekai ichi no sake wo nomikawashita no desu
saigo no kyoku ga owari oto ga nariyanda toki
aa boku wa soko de nani wo omotta no darou
eranda michi to wa ie toki ni kewashiku mo ari
sasai na koto de bokura wa naki warau
ironna michi wo aruki ironna hito ni deau
kore kara datte sore wa sou na n dakedo

soshite ima omou koto wa tatta hitotsu omou koto wa

aa itsuka mata kono machi de utaitai
aa kitto mata ano machi demo utaitai
aa soshite kimi ni kono uta wo kikasetai