Here’s a simple and lovely song. The phrase “charm point” is Japanese-originated English that means, roughly, one’s most attractive feature. I’ve left it as-is here rather than trying to rephrase it, since it’s the title of the song! Given some of what Ms. Ikuko has revealed about her early influences, it’s reasonable to believe that this song is partly inspired by her own discovery of Nina Simone.
| Japanese | Karaoke | English |
| charm point | charm point | charm point |
| 彼女はとってもユニークな声をしている 怪獣みたいってみんなにいじめられた |
kanojo wa tottemo yuniiku na koe wo shiteiru Kaijuu mitaitte minna ni ijimerareta |
She has a very unique voice Everyone teases her that it’s like a monster’s |
| あんまり 傷ついて 黙り込んで かわいた くちびるを 噛みしめた |
anmari kizu tsuite damarikonde kawaita kuchibiru wo kamishimeta |
She just let herself get hurt and kept quiet Chewed her dried-out lips |
| なぜ こんな声にしたの？ 親を責めた どうすればいいの？ はじめて孤独を知る 誰にも会いたくない彼女の 狭い部屋に ある日ラジオから だみ声の歌が流れた |
naze konna koe ni shita no? oya wo semeta dou sureba ii no? hajimete kodoku wo shiru dare ni mo aitaku nai kanojo no semai heya ni aru hi rajio kara damikoe no uta ga nagareta |
Why did you give me this voice? she blamed her parents What should I do? when she first learns loneliness She who didn’t want to be with anyone, in a tiny room One day a song with a thick voice came through her radio |
| いつまで 傷ついて 黙っているの？ かわいた くちびるを 開きなさい あなたの 声を聞かせてちょうだい それこそが あなたのcharm pointなの |
itsu made kizu tsuite damatteiru no? kawaita kuchibiru wo hirakinasai anata no koe wo kikasete choudai sore koso ga anata no chaamu pointo na no |
How long are you going to just let yourself get hurt and keep quiet? Open up your dried-out lips Let me hear your voice That’s what your “charm point” is |
| 誰とも話したくない彼女に たったひとり ジャズシンガーだけが 語りかけた |
dare to mo hanashitaku nai kanojo ni tatta hitori jazu shingaa dake ga katarikaketa |
She who didn’t want to talk to anyone Only that one Jazz singer could speak to her |
| あんなに 傷ついて 黙っているの？ かわいた くちびるに うたをどうぞ あなたの 声を聞かせてちょうだい それこそが あなたのcharm pointなの |
annani kizu tsuite damatteiru no? kawaita kuchibiru ni uta wo douzo anata no koe wo kikasete choudai sore koso ga anata no chaamu pointo na no |
Are you going to let yourself get hurt so much and keep quiet? Go ahead and bring a song to your dried-out lips Let me hear your voice That’s what your “charm point” is |