Eisaku Okawa (大川栄策), born 30 October 1948, is a Japanese enka singer from F… Read Full Bio ↴Eisaku Okawa (大川栄策), born 30 October 1948, is a Japanese enka singer from Fukuoka, Kyushu. His real name is Itsuzo Aramaki (荒巻逸造). After graduating from a trade school in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, Okawa left for Tokyo, where he studied music under composer Masao Koga (古賀正男). Okawa made his début as a recording artist in 1969 with his version of "Men Nai Chidori" (目ン無い千鳥), which was the B-side to a single by Antonio Koga (アントニオ古賀). In 1982, Okawa released his greatest hit so far, "Sasanqua no Yado" (さざんかの宿). Okawa also writes both Japanese and Korean music using the alias "Tatsuhei Tsukishi" (筑紫竜平).

For more information (in Japanese), please visit Eisaku Okawa's official website at:
http://www.ans.co.jp/u/e-ohkawa/index.htm

男の夜曲
大川栄策 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

母の横顔まなざしは
咲いた夕顔かんぴょうの花
故郷(ふるさと)恋しや茶臼岳(ちゃうすだけ)
背伸びしたって見えぬのに
まぶた閉じれば...
優しい母がそこにいる

だっぺでれすけ帰ってコ

訛り懐かし友の顔
故郷恋しや遠い空
独り手酌の酔いがたり
苦い酒だよ...
今夜はやけに深くなる

夕(ゆ)んべも見たんだ母の夢
少しやせたか苦労をしてか
故郷恋しや会いたくて
馬鹿な倅(せがれ)と詫びながら

あれやこれやと...
思い出しては男泣き

Overall Meaning

The song "Otoko no Yakyoku" by Eizaburo Oka is about a man who is homesick for his hometown and his mother. The opening lines describe the mother's profile as she gazes at the night sky. The mention of evening glories and Kanpyo flowers adds to the melancholic atmosphere of the song, which is about nostalgia and longing for home. The man is stretching on his tiptoes, trying to get a glimpse of the faraway mountains, but all he sees is darkness when he closes his eyes.

The second verse introduces a friend named Dappe Deresuke, who speaks with a regional accent that reminds the singer of home. He is also homesick and talks about the distant sky. The singer is drinking alone and thinking about his mother's dreams, which he mentions having seen. His mother looks a bit thinner, and he wonders if she's been having a hard time. He wishes he could see her and apologizes for being a foolish son. The singer feels overwhelmed by memories of his youth and sobs uncontrollably, which is why the song is referred to as a "man's nocturne."

Line by Line Meaning

母の横顔まなざしは
Her sidelong appearance and gaze belonged to my mother

咲いた夕顔かんぴょうの花
Her smile and bright attitude gave me energy.

故郷(ふるさと)恋しや茶臼岳(ちゃうすだけ)
I long for my hometown, with its views of Mt. Chausu.

背伸びしたって見えぬのに
I may stretch, but her attempts to hide her feelings are in vain.

まぶた閉じれば...
But when I close my eyes...

優しい母がそこにいる
My caring mother is right beside me.

だっぺでれすけ帰ってコ
My old neighborhood friend Dappe Dresuke is visiting.

訛り懐かし友の顔
Hearing his unique dialect, I remember his face fondly.

故郷恋しや遠い空
My love for my hometown and longing for the distant sky.

独り手酌の酔いがたり
I'm alone, drinking and recounting old stories.

苦い酒だよ...
But the alcohol is bitter.