Takahashi Yuichi – Tooi Machi (English Lyrics)

遠い街
Distant Town

In a distant town, surrounded by mountains, stands an old gas station
Day after day, waiting for customers, the man there works away

Unconcerned with the oil and sweat sullying his hands
He simply smokes his cigarette

In the scorching afternoon heat, he opens the half-broken faucet
Cool water spraying against his tanned, brawny arms

In a nursery school, near the gas station, is where his lover works
She yearns for the big city; says it’s her dream to live there

She would always tell him
“Let’s leave this place together!”

Not saying a word, he would light his cigarette
Always a hint of sadness on his face, removing his glasses

Staying here would ruin them, she would insist
Him, always just quietly listening, wiping his glasses

Dust blowing in the dry wind across the road
Today, just as every other day, he heads to work

Even if everyone else was to go, leaving him in his lonesome
He alone would remain in this town, no matter what

Her feelings grow distant — she gives up on the halfhearted man
And one morning, she quits her job and gets on a long-distance bus

As they parted the man spoke
“Think of me when you get lonely”

Dust blowing in the dry wind across the road
The bus, with her inside, vanishes into the distance

While everyone else abandons this place, leaving it behind
He alone would remain in this town, living there forever

Today, just as every other day, he lights his cigarette
Only a hint of sadness on his face, removing his glasses

Even if everyone else was to go, leaving him in his lonesome
He alone would remain in this town, no matter what

Continue reading

Takahashi Yuichi – Yume (English Lyrics)


Dream

That night I had a dream
One I just can’t forget, try as I might

On the stage of a small pub
A man held his guitar
As he sang his song

A sad song about trying to stop his lover from leaving
Singing it over and over again
It’s like he was singing about me
And when I thought of you, it hurt so much

Trying to catch a glimpse of his face
It would only blur like paint

I couldn’t even hear his voice as he sang
And yet I found myself singing along
Dreams can be so strange…

A sad song about trying to stop his lover from leaving
Singing it over and over again
It’s like he was singing about me
And when I thought of you, it hurt so much

The dream ends, but since you’re no longer here
I’d have preferred to just keep dreaming
A sad song about trying to stop one’s lover from leaving
And it’s me who’s singing

Continue reading

Takahashi Yuichi – Ano Natsu no Companion (English Lyrics)

あの夏のコンパニオン
Summer Companion

That summer at my part-time gig
I saw you and your long hair, and I was in love

I remember us sneaking out the shop
Walking endlessly on the beach

“When summer ends and we stop seeing each other
You’re going to forget about me”
Oh, how sad you looked
That summer evening

Since then I’ve come back to this town
Once or twice I even got in touch, but…

With the cold wind blowing outside the window
I was yearning for someone by my side

“When summer ends and we can’t see each other anymore
Even then don’t forget about me”
Oh, how lonely you looked
That summer evening

Summer ended and we stopped seeing each other
Sure enough, it feels like I’m about to forget you
You begin to vanish into the scenery
Summer days growing distant
Summer days fading away

That summer… That love…
That summer… That you…

Continue reading

Takahashi Yuichi – Summer Holiday (English Lyrics)

サマー・ホリデー
Summer Holiday

Here at last, it’s summer holiday
Let’s go out, just the two of us
Wind so alluring — Lovers on a Beach
Holiday of my dreams

Setting up the parasol, I turned around to look
You were so dazzling, I had to close my eyes
Embraced by a feeling of pure happiness
Watching you playing in the waves

Here at last, it’s summer holiday
Let’s go out, just the two of us
Play the cassette — Dreamin’ on the Beach
Holiday of my dreams

Continue reading

KAN “Ai wa Katsu” Interview (1992)

Yesterday, it was announced that this man—one of my favorite songwriters—has passed away.

I had been working on this interview about his most well-known single, “Ai wa Katsu,” and my intention had been to post it today. I’m going to go ahead and publish the interview as scheduled, but please allow me first to express a couple of thoughts.

I just want to say that I absolutely adored this guy. Everything about him. I loved his voice. I loved his singing. I loved his piano playing. I loved his sense of humor; how he had seemingly dedicated his entire adult life to never ever being serious when he spoke. Even his lyrics were silly and comical more often than not. Humor was his life philosophy, and deservedly so. After all, what point is there to life if you can’t even have a wink and a laugh about it?

Most of all, however, I loved his sense of melody.

We all have our “sweet spots” when it comes to music, and for me the things he did as a songwriter often hit those sweet spots exactly on the mark. Anyone could tell he was a real musician’s musician, always wearing his influences—Beatles, Billy, Stevie, et al—on his sleeve. I’m going to miss this guy so much, and I’m going to continue singing praises of his work forever.

I wish I had something more meaningful to say. I feel like there has to be a better set of words I could string together to express how I feel about him. But this is the best I can do for now.

I love you, KAN. Thank you for the music. ❤️


Is KAN‘s 1990 hit single “Ai wa Katsu” your favorite goddamn song of all time? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you see, is an entire 5000-word interview dedicated to that very tune.

This interview was originally published in the 1992 book Boketsu Bari Hori.

Text: Morita Kyoko
English translation: Henkka
KAN links: Website, Twitter, YouTube

Note: You can buy KAN’s physical releases on CDJapan.


Continue reading