Tag Archives: Lamp

Lamp “Akari Tsushin” Issue #3

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I’m happy to announce that the third issue of Akari Tsushin has been released in English!

As with Issue #1 and Issue #2, the designs for this digital magazine are created by Sakakibara Kaori.

Contents
■ Lamp Interview – Interviewer: Kadoya Hirohide (Uwanosora)
■ Endless Rain Into a Paper Cup: “Streaming Services & Lamp” (Someya Taiyo)
■ Unaddressed Letter: “Password” (Sakakibara Kaori)
■ Monologue: “House by the Sea” (Nagai Yusuke)
■ Casual Best 5: “TV Drama”
■ Yume Utsutsu: “Past Obsessions”
■ Photo Studio Reminiscences
■ Editorial Postscript

See below for an exclusive sneak peek.

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Lamp “Akari Tsushin” Issue #2

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The second English-language issue of Lamp’s digital magazine, Akari Tsushin, has now been released!

Just as was the case with the first issue, this second issue was created entirely by the members of Lamp with the English translation by yours truly. The design for Issue #2 (again, like for Issue #1) was all done by Sakakibara Kaori. Not only is it interesting, but it even looks pretty!

Contents
■ Lamp in Conversation: “4 AM Chat”
■ Endless Rain Into a Paper Cup: “School Trip & Ben Folds Five” (Someya Taiyo)
■ Unaddressed Letter: “Picnic” (Sakakibara Kaori)
■ Monologue: “Person by the Name of Someya Taiyo” (Nagai Yusuke)
■ Casual Best 5: “90’s Japanese Music”
■ Yume Utsutsu: “Eve of the Band’s Formation”
■ Photo Studio Reminiscences
■ Editorial Postscript

Below is an exclusive sneak peek from this issue.

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Lamp “Akari Tsushin” Issue #1

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I have an exciting announcement to make.

Akari Tsushin is the name of Lamp’s digital magazine, previously available only in Japanese. Today, I am very pleased to be able to announce the publication of the English-language edition of its first issue, now available at Lamp’s Spotify store.

Akari Tsushin is created by the members of the band, with the English translation by yours truly.

Contents
■ Lamp in Conversation: “4 AM Chat”
■ Endless Rain Into a Paper Cup: “Language and Music” (Someya Taiyo)
■ Unaddressed Letter: “It Was Time Travel” (Sakakibara Kaori)
■ Pajama Travel Journals: “Winter 2009 Sado Trip” (Nagai Yusuke)
■ Casual Best 5: “The Beatles”
■ Yume Utsutsu: “First Encounters with Music and Instruments”
■ Photo Studio Reminiscences
■ Editorial Postscript

That’s 15 pages of Lamp goodness!

Lamp and I have worked closely together to produce a faithful English language edition of Akari Tsushin for their non-Japanese-speaking audience. I’m personally very pleased with the results, and it is sure to be of much interest to their listeners everywhere.

For a sneak peek, below is a small sample from the five-page opening conversation.

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Kaede – Sepiairo no Kugatsu (English Lyrics)

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セピア色の九月
Sepia September

Summer ends as though nothing had happened
Opening the window, watching the clear skies

It passed, never once looking back
Leaving only the swimsuit lines on my suntanned skin

My tears blur into sepia
Sweet, slightly languid September

Surely I’ll get to see the blue coastline again
Thinking that, I feel better

Autumn begins and as though nothing had happened
A trench coat envelops my dress

So now within this ambiguous season
I wish to be alone, as if on a journey by myself

My tears are sepia-colored syrup
Sweet, slightly bitter memories

The blue coastline so far away, a summer forever gone
Thinking that, I feel lonely

I cried — In September
I cried — Sepia tears

Lamp – Tsumetai Yoru no Hikari (English Lyrics)

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冷たい夜の光
Cold Night Light

A conversationless passenger car headed nowhere
Memories of days past hang in the air like wings
It’s just as always, this enveloping world
Stealing up on me without a word or sound

Suspended neon signs; a lie by the window
Holding my breath at the bottom of the universe

I have heard the sound of unending sorrow
The gentle embrace of this cold night light is all I need
Who would think of this town as it floats past unnoticed
Illuminated only by the cold night light?

Coffee stains remain on the letter
With words left unsaid, simply abandoned
Is it the same as always, the life you’re living?
A gentle kiss before drifting off to sleep

A winter illusion of a distant spring
Now-forgotten songs of days gone by

An endless silence fills the sky
My heart shaken by the cold night light
Quietly take with you these rusted feelings
Oh, cold night light, just like this…

Alone, humming an unending song of youth
Singing it to the cold night light for all eternity
Smells in the wind of this unknown land reminding me of times past