Kaguyahime is Japanese folk group that formed in the 1970s. The group first… Read Full Bio ↴Kaguyahime is Japanese folk group that formed in the 1970s. The group first formed in 1970 under the name "Minami Taka to Kaguyahime" when Minami joined with Mori Shichiro and Oshima Sanpei. The group released their debut single, as first generation Kaguyahime, "Yoidore Kaguyahime" in 1970 along with one album and two more singles within the year. "Yoidore Kaguyahime" and the single after it broke the Top 100 on the Oricon charts at that time. They also became popular regulars on television and radio shows such like the show Zen Nigon Kayou Senshuuken.

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.

黄色い船
かぐや姫 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

熱い日射しに輝いた
オレンジの山
見ながら飲んでる
このコーヒー港の昼さがり
僕は毎日いつかきっと
行ってみせるよ
黄色い船で海の向うへ

僕が積荷をおろす時
積荷の奴らは
僕の知らない国の話
きかせてくれるよ
僕は毎日いつかきっと
行ってみせるよ
黄色い船で海の向うへ

やさしい目をした
あの爺さん嵐の夜に
海の底で飲んでいるよ
苦いコーヒー
僕はけれどもいつかきっと
行ってみせるよ
黄色い船で海の向うへ

海の向うへ

Overall Meaning

In "黄色い船" ("The Yellow Ship") by かぐや姫 (Kaguyahime), the singer is drinking coffee in a port town on a bright orange mountain, gazing out at the sea and dreaming of the day when they will leave on the yellow ship to go beyond the ocean. The singer imagines unloading cargo with strangers in a foreign land and learning stories of that place. They also mention an old man with kind eyes who drinks bitter coffee at the bottom of the sea during storms. Despite any hardships or obstacles, the singer remains determined to embark on the yellow ship and sail toward the unknown.

The lyrics of "黄色い船" evoke themes of adventure, wanderlust, and the unknown. The yellow ship symbolizes the journey to new places, both literal and figurative, and the courage to explore the unfamiliar. The singer's desire to travel on the ship can be interpreted as a yearning for change and growth, to leave behind the monotony of everyday life and discover new perspectives and experiences. The mention of the old man who drinks coffee at the bottom of the sea during storms may symbolize the idea that even in the midst of turmoil, there is still something to be gained or enjoyed.

Line by Line Meaning

熱い日射しに輝いたオレンジの山
The orange mountain shining under the hot sun.

見ながら飲んでるこのコーヒー港の昼さがり
Drinking coffee during the afternoon while overlooking the harbor.

僕は毎日いつかきっと行ってみせるよ黄色い船で海の向うへ
Every day, I promise to show you that I will go beyond the ocean on the yellow boat.

僕が積荷をおろす時積荷の奴らは僕の知らない国の話きかせてくれるよ
When I unload the cargo, the cargo workers tell me stories about countries that I do not know.

やさしい目をしたあの爺さん嵐の夜に海の底で飲んでいるよ苦いコーヒー
That old man with gentle eyes drinks bitter coffee at the bottom of the sea on stormy nights.

僕はけれどもいつかきっと行ってみせるよ黄色い船で海の向うへ
However, I will definitely show you that I will go beyond the ocean on the yellow boat.

海の向うへ
Beyond the ocean.

Writer(s): 山田つぐと, 山田　つぐと

Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

うえちゃん

自分は港で仕事してます。
いつも船の連中は海の向こう側の話をしています。
いつか自分も八戸に行ってみたい
そう思っていた矢先にこの歌に出逢いました。
よし、行ってみよう、この船に乗って

八戸に着いた時、海の向こう側に着いた気がして、ちょっぴし嬉しかった。
内地の夏の海風が気持ち良かったです。

そんな船も1月いっぱいで廃止です。
思い出をありがとう