Japanese Music Video (w/English Translation): Shujinkou by Masashi Sada

Shujinkou by Masashi Sada

Tokiniwa omoide iki no gaidobukku ni makase
Sometimes, in memory of the destination, I just follow the guidebook
Anokoro to iu na no eki de orite
The station named "That Time" is where I get off and
Mukashi doori wo aruku
"Avenue of the Past" is where I go walking
Itsumo no terasu niwa mada toki no nagaori ga sukoshi
In the usual terrace, some of that time still remains a little
Metoro no eki no mae niwa rokuju-ni-ban no basu
In front of Metro Station, bus number 62
Puratanasu namiki no furui hiroba to gakusei darake no machi
The lines of platanus trees, the old plaza, and so many students all over the town
Soieba anata no fuku no moyo sae oboeteru
Speaking of that, your clothing, the patterns in it, I still remember
Anata no mabushii egao to tomodachi no waraigoe ni
In your flashing smile and a friend's laughter
Dakarete watashi wa itsudemo kanarazu kirameiteita

That so embraced me, I must have been always shining.

Aruiwa moshimo da nante anata wa kiratta kedo
Otherwise, perhaps, you didn't like a saying like that
Toki wo sakanoboru chiketto ga areba hoshiku naru toki ga aru
Sometimes, I wonder, if I could have a ticket to go back in time, would I take it
Asoko no wakaremichi de erabi naoseru naratte
At that fork, I wonder if I would choose it again
Mochiron ima no watashi wo kanashimu tsumori wa nai
Of course, I have no intention to deplore myself now
Tashika ni jibun de eranda ijou seiippai ikiru
Because it was exactly what I chose, I do my best to live with it
So de nakya anata ni totemo totemo hazukashii kara
And since you'd be so embarrassed with me if I didn't
Anata wa oshiete kureta chiisana monogatari demo
You taught me this, even if it is a simple little story
Jibun no jinsei no naka dewa daremo ga mina shujinko
In one's life, everyone has a big role to play
Tokiori omoide no naka de anata wa sasete kudasai
Once in a while in these memories, won't you please sustain me
Watashi no jinsei no naka dewa watashi ga shujinko dato
By saying I am the one playing the lead role in my life.


The setting of this song is a memory of school days in the Ochanomizu vicinity of Tokyo, which includes the JR train station. This vicinity used to have quite a few colleges and other schools around, but lots of them have moved to the suburbs. My high school was near this area, so the scenes described in this song make me miss the good old days as I recall my memories of that area.

Sada has been performing in other Asian nations, hoping this would be appreciated by his non-Japanese fans. This is his classic, and the biggest favorite among his fans.

For those of who don't know who he is, Sada is a singer-songwriter from the 70's. There was a time when he was treated as a "wuss" since his songs are so sensitive. I think that as time went by people started to recognize the simple fact that he has a real skill of using Japanese words. Not so much in this song, but he uses a lot of words we no longer use in regular conversation.

Sorry, all of my favorite Japanese music are older classics! I'm not updated at all...
If you are interested, please request a song for this voiceover + translation material. Please be aware that the song is relatively slow, though. You can probably catch the words.

Language Study: Japanese Listening for Gamers (3)

Test your listening skill! Can you follow the dialog of these Final Fantasy XIII characters? The following episode is Chapter 3 of a limited offer Final Fantasy XIII audio drama presentation: Episode Zero - Promise (Encounter). These videos feature Japanese voice actors with English subtitles, and scenes from the game for the background.  

Please note: English translation is provided by Kotoba Doori. In a few cases, translation was altered at the discretion of the video's owner to aid in the understanding and continuity of the storyline.

Chapter 3 without English subtitles:



Chapter 3 with English subtitles:


Japanese script:

LIGHTNING:
セラ？出かけたのか。ん？
Serah? Dekaketa no ka… Nn？

‪NOTE from Serah:
おねえちゃんへ。シチューがあるから暖めて食べてください。この前みたいにナベを焦がさないでね。
Oneechan e. Stew ga aru kara atatamete tabete kudasai. Konomae mitai ni nabe wo kogasanaide ne.

‪LIGHTNING:
気をつけるよ
Ki wo tsukeru yo.

不思議だな。セラが作ると母さんの味になる。
Fushigi dana. Serah ga tsukuru to kaasan no aji ni naru.

‪MOTHER:
まぁ、セラ、とってもおいしいわ。母さんの腕を受け継いだわね。
Maa, Serah, tottemo (totemo) oishii wa. Kaasan no ude wo uketsuida wa ne.

‪LIGHTNING:
は。私は受け継げなかったよ、母さん。
Ha. Watashi wa uketsugenakatta yo, kaasan

‪MOTHER:
気にしない、気にしない。おねえちゃんには、お料理のほかにもやらなきゃいけないことが一杯あるものね。一人でがんばりすぎないで。セラに助けてもらえることだってあるのよ。
Ki ni shinai ki ni shinai. Oneechan niwa oryori no hoka nimo yaranakya naranai koto ga ippai aru mono ne. Hitori de ganbari suginai de. Serah ni tasukete moraeru koto datte aru no yo.

‪LIGHTNING:
料理については助かってるな。
Ryori ni tsuite wa tasukatteru na.

私が働いてる間、一人で練習したんだろうな。一人でがんばっていたのはセラの方か。
Watashi ga hataraiteru aida, hitori de renshuu shita n daro na. Hitori de ganbatteta no wa Serah no ho ka...

======

More chapters are available (seven total). They can be found on the same YT channel page.

Takeshi's Song

JAPAN via Tube - Tube de Nihongo - Song - Takeshi

Asakusa Kid by Takeshi Kitano

Omae to atta Nakamise no
Where I met you, on Nakamise* street
Nikomi shika nai Kujira-ya de
at Kujira-ya* they only had Nikomi*
yume wo katatta Chuhai no
we talked about the dream, with Chuhai* to drink

Language Study: Japanese Listening for Gamers 2

Final Fantasy Clip (2)

Test your listening skill! Can you follow the dialog of these Final Fantasy XIII characters? The following episode is Chapter 2 from a limited offer Final Fantasy XIII audio drama presentation: Episode Zero - Promise (Encounter). These videos feature Japanese voice actors with English subtitles, and scenes from the game as a background.


Please note: English translation is provided by Kotoba Doori. In a few cases, translation was altered at the discretion of the video's owner to aid in the understanding and continuity of the storyline.

Chapter 2, without English subtitles:

 

Chapter 2, with English subtitles:


Japanese script:

SERAH:
Snow mada kana.
スノーまだかな。
Snow wa mada konai deshou ka.

GADOT:
Ooi, Serah!
おーい！セラ！

SERAH: Gadot!
Gadar-san.
ガダオさん。

GADOT:
Taisho kara dengon ga.
大将から伝言が。
(Taisho kara dengon ga arimasu.)

SERAH:
Warui, okureru, desho? Joren-san ni tsukamacchattta?
悪い、遅れる、でしょ？常連さんにつかまっちゃった？
(Warui, okureru, desu ne? (Snow wa) Joren-san ni tsukamatte shimaimashita ka?)

GADOT:
Go-meito. Arya (>are wa) shibaraku kakaru na. Nora no mise ga hanjo suru no wa arigatee (>arigatai) ga, dono kyaku mo hanashi ga negee (nagai) ue ni, uchi no taisho to kitara aiso dake wa ii n dakara.
ご名答。ありゃ、しばらくかかるな。
ノラの店が繁盛するのはありがてぇが、どの客も話が長ぇ上に、うちの大将ときたら愛想だけはいいんだよ。
(Sono toori desu. Shibaraku kakaru to omoimasu.
Nora no mise ga hanjo suru no wa arigatai desu ga, dono kyaku mo hanashi ga nagai desu. Sono ue ni, watashitachi no taisho wa aiso dake wa ii desu kara.)

SERAH:
Wakatta, aigato.
わかった、ありがとう。
(Wakarimashita. Arigato.)

GADOT:
Iya, toorimichi dashi na.
いや、通り道だしな。
(Iie. Toorimichi desu kara.)

G.C SOLDIER:
ファロン軍曹、お疲れさまです。
Farron gunso otsukaresama desu.

LIGHTNING:
アマダ総長は？
Amodar socho wa?

G.C SOLDIER:
あっちでだべってますよ。
Acchi de dabette masu yo.

AMODAR:
ははは。魔物に囲まれて、それからどうした？
Ha ha ha. Mamono ni kakomarete, sorekara doshita?

SNOW:
倒しても倒しても沸いて来るわ、そのうち弾も切れちまうわで、手当り次第にぶん殴るしかなくてさ。
Taoshite mo taoshite mo waite kuru wa, sono uchi tama mo kirechimau wa de, teatarishidai ni bun-naguru shika nakute sa.

AMODAR:
無茶な野郎だ。何匹仕留めた？
Mucha na yaro da. Nanbiki shitometa?

SNOW:
20から先は数えるのも面倒で。
20 (niju) kara saki wa kazoeruno mo mendo de.

Hahaha.

LIGHTNING:
あいつは...
Aitsu wa...

AMODAR:
お、隊長殿、お疲れさん。
Oh, taicho-dono, otsukare-san.

LIGHTNING:
隊長？なんの冗談です？総長どの。
Taicho? Nanno jodan desu, Socho-dono?

AMODAR:
うちの切り込み隊長はお前さんだろう。
Uchi no kirikomi-taicho wa omaesan daro.

LIGHTNING:
ところで、なにものです？
Tokorode, nanimono desu?

SNOW:
あ？おれ？
A? Ore?

G.C SOLDIER:
ノラですよ、軍曹。聞いたことないですか？
Nora desu yo, gunso. Kiita koto nai desu ka?

AMODAR:
町の若い衆が組んだ自警団だそうでな。リーダーのスノーくんだ。
Machi no wakaishu ga kunda jikeidan da so dena. Leader no snow-kun da.

SNOW:
どーも
Domo!

AMODAR:
こいつがうちの切り込み隊長殿だ。若いが凄腕だが。
Koitsu ga uchi no kirikomi taicho da. Wakai ga sugoude da.

SNOW:
あー、そいつはすげぇ。
Ah, soitsu wa sugee (sugoi).

AMODAR:
そんなわけで、今回はうちの軍曹殿が早々に仕留めたからな。お前等も獲物がなくてがっくりだったろう。
Sonna wake de, konkai wa uchi no gunso-dono ga sousou ni shitometa kara na. Omaera mo emono ga nakute gakkuri dattarou.

SNOW:
いやいや、通報される魔物だけが魔物じゃねぇんで。
Iyaiya, tsuho sareru mamono dake ga mamono ja nai n de.
Nah, the reported monsters are not only the monsters.

AMODAR:
そうか？
So ka?

SNOW:
ちょいといぶりだしてやりゃぁ、ぞろぞろってね。
Choi to iburidashite yarya (yareba) zorozoro tte ne.

AMODAR:
いぶり出すはいいが、物騒なことはしてくれるなよ。
Iburidasu wa ii ga, busso na koto wa shite kureruna yo.
SNOW: そりゃもう。
Sorya mo.

AMODAR:
全くお前等と来たら、元気が有り余っとるんだな。なんなら軍に来るか？
Mattaku omaera to kitara, genki ga ariamattoru n dana. Nan nara gun ni kuru ka?

SNOW:
おれら、規則とか制服とか、そういうの性に合わないんで。
Orera, kisoku toka seifuku toka, so iu no sho ni awanai n de.

AMODAR:
何だと、この野郎。
Nandato? Konoyaro!

SNOW:
じゃ、魔物も片付いたし、俺等はここで。
Ja mamono mo katazuita shi, orera wa koko de.

G.C SOLDIER:
お前等、調子に乗って目つけられるなよ。うちと違ってサイコムの連中は厳しいからな。
Omaera choshi ni notte me tsukerareruna yo. Uchi to chigatte, PSICOM no renchu wa kibishii kara na.

SNOW:
へーきっすよ。ノラは軍隊より強いんで。
He-ki ssu (desu) yo. Nora wa guntai yori tsuyoi n de.

SNOW:??
おつとめごくろーさんでした〜
Otsutome gokurosan deshita.

LIGHTNING:
待て。スノー。。。だったな。
Mate. Snow datta na.

SNOW: Yeah?
はいはい。
Hai hai.

LIGHTNING:
妹につきまとっているのはお前か。
Imouto ni tsukimatotteru no wa omae ka?

SNOW:
妹？
Imouto?

LIGHTNING:
セラ・ファロン
Serah Farron

SNOW:
あー！じゃぁ、あんたがセラのねえさん？顔は似てるけど、ほんと雰囲気違うなぁ。ねえさんは軍人だってセラに聞いてたから、さっき会ったとき、あれ？って思ってたんだ。はじめまして、スノーヴィリアスです。セラには世話になってます。
Ah, ja anta ga Serah no neesan? Kao wa niteru kedo, honto fun-iki chigau na. Neesan wa gunjin datte Serah ni kiiteta kara, sakki atta toki, are tte omotteta n da. Hajimemashite. Snow Villiers desu. Serah niwa osewa ni natte masu.

LIGHTNING:
セラに手を出すな。
Sera ni te wo dasuna.

SNOW:
なんで？
Nande?

LIGHTNING:
手を出すなと言ってるんだ。
Te wo dasuna to itteru n da.

SNOW:
出したら？なぁ、もし手を出したら？
Dashitara? Na, moshi dashitara?

LIGHTNING:
手が出るね。
Te ga deru ne.

SNOW:
わりーけど、ぶん殴られてもきかねぇや。おれ頑丈なんで。
Warii (warui) kedo bun-nagurarete mo kikanee (kikanai) ya. Ore ganjo nande.

G.C SOLDIER:
ファロン軍曹、お知り合いですか？
Farron gunso, oshiriai desu ka?

LIGHTNING:
いや別に。戻るぞ。
Iya betsu ni. Modoru zo.

==== End of clip ===

Language Study: Japanese Listening for Gamers 1

Final Fantasy Clip (1)

Test your listening skill! Can you follow the dialog of these Final Fantasy XIII characters? The following episode is Chapter 3 from a limited offer Final Fantasy XIII audio drama presentation: Episode Zero - Promise (Encounter). These videos feature Japanese voice actors and scenes from the game for a background.




Please note: English translation is provided by Kotoba Doori. In a few cases, translation was altered at the discretion of the video's owner to aid in the understanding and continuity of the storyline.

Chapter 1, without English subtitles: 

Chapter 1, with English subtitles:


Japanese Script:

LIGHTNING: ライトニングよりダディベア。ターゲット発見。少なくとも5体。
Lightning yori Daddy Bear. Target hakken. Sukunakutomo 5-tai.

AMODAR: ダディベア了解、一人でやれるか？
Daddy Bear ryokai. Hitori de yareru ka?

LIGHTNING: 2分ほどで
2-fun hodo de.

Lightning: 来い
Koi!

囲まれたか
Kakomareta ka.

LEBREAU: 助太刀するよ。つっこめユージ
Sukedachi suru yo. Tsukkome, Yuji.

YUJ: そーら
So-ra.

レブラ、右だ
Lebreau, migi da!

LEBREAU: はいよ
Hai yo.

YUJ: 退治完了っと
Taiji kanryo tto.

LEBREAU: 兵隊さん、危なかったね
Heitai-san abunakatta ne.

LIGHTNING: おまえたちは？
Omaetachi wa?

LEBREAU: ノラさ。ボーダムの兵隊さんなら一ぺんくらい聞いたことあるんじゃないの？
Nora sa. Bohdum (spell?) no heitai-san nara ippen kurai kiita koto arunja nai no?

LIGHTNING: 悪いが一度もないな
Warui ga ichido mo nai na.

LEBREAU: だってさ
Datte sa.

YUJ: おっかしいな。おれらもうちょっと知名度高いと思ってたけど。
Okkashii (okashii) na. Oretachi mou chotto chimeido takai to omotteta kedo.

LEBREAU: まぁ、いいんじゃない？有名になりたくてやってるんじゃないし
Maa iinja nai? Yumei ni naritakute yatteru wake ja nai shi.


YUJI: そうはいうけど、あんまり無名だと張り合いってもんがないさ
So wa iu kedo, anmari mumei dato hariai tte mon ga nai sa.



LIGHTNING: 
のら、か

Nora ka.



SERAH: おれたちはのらねこみたいなもんだから、それがチーム名の由来だって言ってたよ。いつも海岸のカフェに集まってて、魔物が出たら退治に行くの
。
Oretachi wa noraneko mitaina mon dakara, sore ga team-mei no yurai datte itteta yo. Itsumo kaigan no cafe ni atsumatte, mamono ga detara taiji ni iku no.

LIGHTNING: ヒーロー気取りでいい気なものだ
Hero kidori de iiki na mono da.

AMODAR: 隊長殿はご機嫌斜めか。正義の味方気取りの連中がお気に召さんわけだ。

Taicho-dono wa gokigen naname ka. Seigi no mikata-kidori no renchu ga okinimesan wake da.

LIGHTNING: ライトニングよりダディベア。任務完了につき、これより帰島します。
Lightning yori Teddy Bear. Ninmu knaryo ni tsuki, kore yori kito shimasu.




AMODAR: ダディベア、了解。
Daddy Bear ryokai.

=== End of clip ===

More chapters are available (seven total). They can be found on the same YT channel page.