(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.

無言坂
中森明菜 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

あの窓もこの窓も灯がともり
暖かなしあわせが見える
一つずつ積み上げたつもりでも
いつだってすれ違う二人
こんなつらい恋
口に出したら嘘になる
帰りたい帰れないここは無言坂
帰りたい帰れないひとり日暮坂

あの町もこの町も雨模様
どこへ行くはぐれ犬ひとり
慰めも言い訳もいらないわ
答えならすぐにでも出せる
こんなつらい恋
口を閉ざして貝になる
許したい許せないここは無言坂
許したい許せない雨の迷い坂
帰りたい帰れないここは無言坂

許したい許せない雨の迷い坂
ここは無言坂

Overall Meaning

In the song 無言坂 (Mugon-saka) by Nakamori Akina, the lyrics describe the pain and frustration of a difficult love that seems to have no resolution. The first verse talks about two people who always seem to pass each other by, even though they have been trying to build a relationship. The reference to the warm lights visible in the windows implies that there are happy couples inside, whereas the lovers in question are struggling. The chorus talks about a place called 無言坂, which translates to "the silent hill," where the singer cannot return home (帰りたい, kaeritai) but also cannot leave (帰れない, kaerenai). This could represent a physical place where the singer is stuck, or it could be a metaphor for the emotional turmoil they are facing in trying to let go of someone they love.

The second verse talks about feeling lost and alone in a city, and not needing others' consolation or excuses. The singer mentions that a solution is readily available (答えならすぐにでも, kotae nara sugu ni demo) but they are unable to say it aloud. The chorus repeats the refrain of the first chorus with the addition of a rainy path (雨の迷い坂, ame no mayoi-zaka) where the singer wants to forgive (許したい, yurushitai) but is unable to (許せない, yurusenai).

Line by Line Meaning

あの窓もこの窓も灯がともり
Both those windows and these windows have lights on, and we can see warmth and happiness from them.

暖かなしあわせが見える
We can see warmth and happiness.

一つずつ積み上げたつもりでも
Even though we thought we would accumulate our relationship step by step,

いつだってすれ違う二人
We always end up passing each other.

こんなつらい恋
This painful love,

口に出したら嘘になる
If we speak it out loud, it becomes a lie.

帰りたい帰れないここは無言坂
We want to go back, but we can't. This is a Silent Hill.

帰りたい帰れないひとり日暮坂
We want to go back, but we can't. We are walking alone on the dusk hill.

あの町もこの町も雨模様
Both that town and this town are gloomy because of the rain.

どこへ行くはぐれ犬ひとり
A stray dog is walking alone, not knowing where to go.

慰めも言い訳もいらないわ
I don't need comfort or excuses.