Enjoying Sakura With This Enka Tune By Yukino Ichikawa

It’s another #SongLyricsSunday! This week’s prompt was suggested by me, which is “blossoms, spring, and flowers”. Why did I pick this? Around the end of March and the beginning of April, cherry blossoms or 桜 (sakura) bloom all over the city that I live in: Nagoya. It is my favorite season as there is a lot of sakura-flavored snacks/food/drinks that are served at various stores. But, I love walking around the city, enjoying the beautiful views, and taking a lot of photos (which I shared a few down below that I took last week).

The song I choose for this week’s prompt is Yukino Ichikawa’s latest single “Hizakura” (秘桜; secret cherry blossoms). It is an enka tune. If you don’t know what enka is, it is a popular Japanese musical genre that resembles traditional Japanese music. Enka used to be popular in the Showa era (1926 to 1989). Many elderly Japanese still love enka, while younger people don’t like it a lot as they favor more rock, pop, R&B, and modern tunes. Ironically, if you walk into a music store or an electronic shop, you will see enka still being released on cassette tapes.

Yukino Ichikawa’s “Hizakura” was written by Ou Yoshida. Since 1969, Yoshida has written many enka songs from famous enka singers like Fuyumi Sakamoto, Hibari Misora, Yoshimi Tendo, and Naomi Chiaki. He had six songs that won awards at the Annual Japan Record Awards. In 2007, he received the purple medal of honor from the Japanese government for his artistic contributions.

Check out Yukino Ichikawa’s “Hizakura” down below and let me know what you think in the comments below!

While you listen to Yukino Ichikawa’s “Hizakura”, you can enjoy the beautiful views of sakura around Nagoya that I saw (and capture) this week:

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The Lyrics For Yukino Ichikawa’s “Hizakura”

Here is the English translation for the lyrics:

I’m not really serious.
This is a farewell with a soft sound.
I can’t live alone.

I want to see you.
I want to see you.
Even if you run a thousand miles, come to hug me
In the middle of your hear,
The secret cherry blossoms fluttering around.
Ah, one hundred eight colors.

I will follow you to the abyss.
This sinful fate romance,
I don’t regret it.

I want to see you.
I want to see you.
Come through the darkness and hug me.
Sleeping alone, while I continue to dream.
The burning and ephemeral
secret cherry blossoms are annoying.
Ah, one hundred eight colors.

I want to see you.
I want to see you.
Come through the darkness and hug me.
Sleeping alone, while I continue to dream.
The burning and ephemeral
secret cherry blossoms are annoying.
Ah, one hundred eight colors.

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The Rules

If you want to participate, here are the rules:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

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