Then in the later half of 1971, the group changed it's member roaster as Mori and Oshima quit the group and added Yamada and Ise. They released their first single together, "Seishun", in September 1991. They also released the Yoshida Takuro-produced album Hajimashite a year later, resulting in 50,000 copies sold.
Their major hit came two years later when "Kanadagawa" was released, selling over 16 million copies. Before the year was up, the group made their first appearance on the year-end special Kouhaku Uta Gassen. They also changed their name from Minami Taka to Kaguyahime to just plain Kaguyahime. However, it was bittersweet when the group broke up two years later in 1975 when they performed their last concert at Kyoritsu Women's University. Minami Kousetsu and Yamada Panda would continue with their own separate music careers while Ise Shozo took a hiatus after group's split.
The band would go on to reunite many times over the years. For example, they reformed in 1978 after the release of the album Kaguyahime Kyou and going on a small tour that including stops at Yokohama Stadium. The group also came back together from 1999 to 2001 with the release of the single "Seishun no Itami", a concert tour, and an appearance on the 1999 Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
ひとりきり
かぐや姫 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
野山は今 花が咲き乱れ
汽車はゆくよ 煙はいて
トンネル越えれば 竹中だ
こんな楽しい夢の様な こんな素適なところは
もう今はない もう今はない もう今はない
今はない ひとりきり
太鼓が響き 御輿がくり出し
いよいよ待ちに待ったお祭りだ
親戚が集まり 酒を呑んで
今年は 豊年だ
こんな楽しい夢の様な こんな素適なところは
もう今はない もう今はない もう今はない
今はない ひとりきり
The lyrics of かぐや姫's song ひとりきり are poignant and nostalgic, evoking a sense of loss and longing for the past. The first verse paints a picture of the beauty of nature, with birds chirping, rivers flowing, and flowers blooming. However, this idyllic setting is juxtaposed with the bleak reality of progress and modernization, as trains pass by leaving behind smoke and noise. The mention of "竹中" (Take-naka) refers to a place that used to be peaceful, but changes with the arrival of trains and modernity. The refrain, "今はない" (Ima wa nai), translates to "it is now gone", highlighting the feeling of loss and nostalgia for the past.
The second verse establishes a similar contrast between the joy of a festival and the reality of time passing. The taiko drums and mikoshi (portable shrine) being paraded around signify the excitement of the festivities. However, the mention of family members gathering and drinking sake shows the passing of time and the changing of traditions. Finally, the refrain "今はない" reinforces the theme of loss and longing for the past, culminating in the final line "ひとりきり" (hitorikiri), meaning "alone".
Line by Line Meaning
鳥が鳴いて 川が流れて
Birds singing and rivers flowing
野山は今 花が咲き乱れ
Fields and mountains covered in blooming flowers
汽車はゆくよ 煙はいて
Trains chugging along leaving smoke in their trail
トンネル越えれば 竹中だ
Crossing through the tunnel and arriving at Takenaka
こんな楽しい夢の様な こんな素適なところは
A place that feels like such a lovely dream, such a wonderful spot
もう今はない もう今はない もう今はない
It's gone now, it's really gone, it's completely gone
今はない ひとりきり
Now it's gone, all alone
太鼓が響き 御輿がくり出し
Drums resounding as the portable shrine is carried out
いよいよ待ちに待ったお祭りだ
Finally, the long-awaited festival is here
親戚が集まり 酒を呑んで
Gathering of relatives, drinking sake
今年は 豊年だ
This year is a bountiful harvest
Writer(s): 南 こうせつ, 南 こうせつ
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.