(中森明菜, Akina Nakamori) is a Japanese pop singer and actress born on 13 July… Read Full Bio ↴(中森明菜, Akina Nakamori) is a Japanese pop singer and actress born on 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan. She was one of the most popular singers in 1980s Japan. Best known for 難破船 (Nanpasen), Nakamori made her debut on May 1, 1982 with the single スローモーション (Slow Motion). One of her best-known performances remains that of Desire where she came out in a white kimono and wig, leaving everyone with a very strong image of her. Her own image was always more mature than that of her companions, and her voice much lower and huskier.

She attempted suicide in July 1989 in her then-boyfriend 近藤真彦 (Masahiko Kondo)'s apartment after discovering that 松田聖子 (Seiko Matsuda), her main competition, and her boyfriend were having an affair together. Afterward, she disappeared from the public eye and is rumored to have spent her days drinking heavily in Hawaii. Her career since her suicide attempt has never regained the popularity she experienced in the early- to mid-1980s. But she kept performing even after 1996. Her performances before Japanese audiences continue to be of high quality. Her 2000, 2002 and 2003 concerts attracted large numbers of fans. She still performs and releases original songs (as of 2005). She is also on the New Year’s TV show Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

月華
中森明菜 Lyrics

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夜の果てただ逢いたかった
ひとりがつらくてきっと
ひとときの
慰めが欲しいのでしょう
唇は夕月になった
見つめられながら
そっとやさしさを
ただあげられたらいいのに

抱きしめて夢を見せて
あなたの渇き癒すまで
花のない女でなどいたくない
抱きしめて愛にふれて
名残り惜しさに
揺れるまで
幻で済ませるのも
覚悟して眠るから
Ah 恋は Ah どこへ
長い髪乱すほどもっと
涙も忘れるきっと
永遠に気づかない幸せもいい
抱きしめて夢を見せて
爪のさきまでなにもかも
別れ際想い出まで隠すから
抱きしめて愛にふれて
めまいのように一度でも
傷ついて苦しむほど
愛しさが深くなる
Ah ふたり Ah どこへ
抱きしめて夢を見せて
抱きしめて愛にふれて
さみしさに夢を見せて
ためいきで愛にふれて
抱きしめて夢を見せて

抱きしめて愛にふれて
さみしさに夢を見せて...

Overall Meaning

"Tsukihana" or "Moon Flower" is a ballad by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori, released on June 5, 1987. The song was written by Chelmsford, Tom Keane, and his wife Betsy Cook, and was one of Nakamori's most successful singles. The song's melody is soothing and soft, accompanied by piano and a solo acoustic guitar. It talks about the feelings of a woman who meets a man at the end of the night, and who longs for his love and comfort. She is willing to endure the pain of being alone just to feel his embrace, and she wants to be able to ease his "thirst" for her love.

The song is full of imagery, with the moon repeatedly mentioned as a symbol of the male love interest, and flowers being used as a metaphor for the woman. The lyrics paint a picture of the woman yearning to be held and to have her dreams fulfilled, even if it's only a temporary respite from her loneliness. She acknowledges that her love may not last forever, and that it may only be a brief illusion, but she is willing to risk the pain of separation for the experience of loving someone deeply.

Line by Line Meaning

夜の果てただ逢いたかった
At the end of the night, I just wanted to meet you

ひとりがつらくてきっと
It's surely painful to be alone

ひとときの慰めが欲しいのでしょう
I suppose I just want a moment of comfort

唇は夕月になった
My lips turned into an evening moon

見つめられながらそっとやさしさをただあげられたらいいのに
If only I could softly give you kindness while looking at you

抱きしめて夢を見せてあなたの渇き癒すまで
Hold me tight and show me a dream, until your thirst is quenched

花のない女でなどいたくない
I don't want to be a flowerless woman

抱きしめて愛にふれて
Hold me tight and touch me with love

名残り惜しさに揺れるまで
Until I'm swaying with regret for parting

幻で済ませるのも覚悟して眠るから
I'm prepared to accept even a dream-like love, as I go to sleep

Ah 恋は Ah どこへ
Where does love go?