These lyrics are so uniquely Japanese that I could almost imagine Harada Ikuko knows about this site and specifically wrote a song to be as untranslateable as possible. Almost. For the first time, I was tempted to add a fourth column so that I could do a literal translation and a figurative one, but I ended up being able to strike some sort of balance. I won’t be surprised if I didn’t get some of the idioms quite right, so let me know if you spot any problems!
| Japanese | Karaoke | English |
| JAPANESE MANNER | ||
| こんがらがって てんぱって 顔面蒼白 お疲れさまです |
kongaragatte ganmensouhaku otsukaresama desu |
All mixed up, ready to burst Growing pale, quite the hard work |
| 焦らない 慌てない って 平静を装いまして いわゆるひとつの JAPANESE MANNER 世は苦しゅうない |
aseranai awatenai tte heisei wo yosooimashite iwayuru hitotsu no japaniizu manaa yo wa kurushuunai |
Not getting impatient, not getting flustered That’s how you put on an air of calm That is what they call Japanese manner This world is not so harsh |
| 問題解決に向けまして 全力を尽くして参ります 弊社と致しましても 誠にこの度は（甲!乙!） |
mondai kaiketsu ni mukemashite zenryoku wo tsukushite mairimasu heisha to itashimashite mo makoto ni kono tabi wa (kou! otsu!) |
Aiming for a resolution Putting in all you have We at our company Truly thank you on this occasion (First party! Second party!) |
| たいへん遺憾にございますが お詫びの言葉もございません 重々承知しております故 お察し致します |
taihen ikan de gozaimasu ga owabi no kotoba mo gozaimasen juujuu shouchi shiteorimasu yue osasshi itashimasu |
It’s terribly unfortunate There can be no excuse Having made thorough acknowledgment, We shall take it into consideration |
| こじれない こわさない 穏便に取り計らいまして すなわちそれは JAPANESE MANNER おあつらえむき |
kojirenai kowasanai onbin ni torihakaraimashite sunawachi sore wa japaniizu manaa oatsuraemuki |
Not complicating, not disrupting Civilly making arrangements That, precisely, is Japanese manner Whatever is most appropriate |
| 付かず離れず近づかず 障らぬ神にたたりあり 知らぬ存せぬ立ち入らぬ 目は口ほどにもの言う |
tsukazu hanarezu chikadzukazu sawaranu kami ni tatari ari shiranu sonsenu tachiiranu me wa kuchi hodo ni mono iu |
Not getting attached, not moving away, not getting close The god you leave alone still makes a curse Not knowing, not being, not interfering The eyes say as much as the mouth |
| 父の父もまた母の母もそのまた 父の父もまた母の母も JAPANESE MANNER |
chichi no chichi mo mata haha no haha mo sono mata chichi no chichi mo mata haha no haha mo japaniizu manaa |
Father’s father, his mother’s mother, And her father’s father, his mother’s mother’s Japanese manner |
| 細やかな気配り 網の目のようにはりめぐらされ 繊細な構図とルール くれぐれも失礼なきよう |
komayaka na kikubari ami no me no you ni harimegurasare sensai na kouzu to ruuru kuregure mo shitsurei na kiyou |
Warm consideration, tied together like a net Delicate composition and rules, to avoid disrespect |
| 自分のことなど とりあえずはさておいて | jibun no koto nado toriaezu wa sateoite | Setting aside one’s own concerns for the time being |
| 焦らない 慌てない って 平静を装いまして いわゆるひとつの JAPANESE MANNER 丸く収める tu tu |
aseranai awatenai tte heisei wo yosooimashite iwayuru hitotsu no japaniizu manaa maruku osameru tu tu |
Not getting impatient, not getting flustered That’s how you put on an air of calm That is what they call Japanese manner Pulling it together smoothly, tu tu |
| こじれない こわさない 穏便に取り計らいまして いみじくもええ JAPANESE MANNER どうぞお気遣いなく お構いなく |
kojirenai kowasanai onbin ni torihakaraimashite imijiku mo ee japaniizu manaa douzo okidzukai naku okamai naku |
Not complicating, not disrupting Civilly making arrangements Yes, indeed, Japanese manner Not to worry, don’t trouble yourself on my behalf |