Sachiko Kobayashi (小林幸子 Kobayashi Sachiko), born on December 5, 1953 in Ni… Read Full Bio ↴Sachiko Kobayashi (小林幸子 Kobayashi Sachiko), born on December 5, 1953 in Niigata, Japan, is a female Japanese enka singer and occasional voice actor. She previously worked alongside the Pokémon Company, under the alias "Garura Kobayashi".

Sachiko Kobayashi debuted with the 1964 single "Usotsuki Kamome" (ウソツキ鴎 lit. "Liar Common Gull") at the age of 10.
n 1979, her song "Omoide Sake (おもいで酒)" became the best seller of the year, winning the 21st Japan Record Awards, and causing her to be popular again. As a result, she was asked to take part in the illustrious annual end-of-year music show "Kōhaku Uta Gassen". After 1979, Sachiko Kobayashi became considered one of the most famous enka singers in Japan until now.

雪椿
小林幸子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

やさしさとかいしょのなさが
裏と表についている
そんな男に惚れたのだから
私がその分がんばりますと
背(せな)をかがめて微笑み返す
花は越後の花は越後の雪椿

夢にみた乙女の頃の

玉の輿には遠いけど
まるで苦労を楽しむように
寝顔を誰にも見せないあなた
雪の谷間に紅さす母の
愛は越後の愛は越後の雪椿

つらくてもがまんをすれば
きっと来ますよ春の日が
命なげすて育ててくれた
あなたの口癖あなたの涙

子供ごころに香りを残す
花は越後の花は越後の雪椿

Overall Meaning

The song "雪椿" by 小林幸子 is a beautiful dedication to a man who the singer has fallen in love with, despite his flaws. The first stanza talks about the duality of the man, who has both kindness and flaws. Despite this, the singer vows to work hard for him. The imagery of the snow camellia flower is used to describe this man. The phrase "花は越後の雪椿" translates to "The flower is the Echigo snow camellia", with Echigo referring to a region in Japan known for its snow camellias.

The second stanza talks about the singer's dreams of being a young girl and aspiring for a life of luxury, with a prince charming and a carriage made of jewels. Despite that not being a reality, the singer finds joy in the struggles of life. She describes the man's sleeping face as one that nobody gets to see, but in the valley surrounded by snow, the mother's love shines bright, just like the love of the man being described resonates.

The final stanza talks about the struggles of life and how, even when it hurts, one needs to persevere until the coming of spring. The lyrics "あなたの口癖あなたの涙子供ごころに香りを残す" mean "Your catchphrase, your tears, leave a fragrant scent in my childish heart". The snow camellia flower, once again, is used to describe the beauty of love, that it can blossom just as brightly and fragrantly even in the midst of snow and cold.

Overall, the song beautifully encapsulates the beauty of love, one that blooms even in the harshest of conditions and the duality of man, with flaws and kindness intertwined.

Line by Line Meaning

やさしさとかいしょのなさが
This feeling of kindness and the absence of bitterness coexist.

裏と表についている
Both emotions are present at the same time.

そんな男に惚れたのだから
Because I fell in love with this kind of man,

私がその分がんばりますと
I will work hard to be a supportive partner.

背(せな)をかがめて微笑み返す
I will lower my head and smile gently in return.

花は越後の花は越後の雪椿
The flower is a snow camellia from Echigo.

夢にみた乙女の頃の
When I was a young girl, I dreamed of

玉の輿には遠いけど
marrying a rich man, but that dream is far away.

まるで苦労を楽しむように
You seem to enjoy hardship like it's an adventure.

寝顔を誰にも見せないあなた
You don't show your sleeping face to anyone.

雪の谷間に紅さす母の
My mother's love, red against the snow in a valley