1965 - 1992

Yutaka Ozaki was a true legend of Japanese music, a rebe… Read Full Bio ↴1965 - 1992

Yutaka Ozaki was a true legend of Japanese music, a rebellious figure who revolutionised J-Pop/Rock, created a string of timeless records and cemented his status by dying a gruesome, untimely death in a Tokyo street at age 26.

He was born in 1965 in Tokyo`s Setagaya-ku, and debuted in 1983 with the single 「15の夜」 (juu-go no yoru) when he was still a High School Student. This track was the first single from "SEVENTEEN'S MAP" 「十七歳の地図」, an album unusual in that he wrote and performed all the tracks, but a staggering achievement considering he really was just 17 at the time he wrote it. His youthful experiences are at the heart of the album; most songs concern the stifling circumstances of teenage life, boredom, sexual awakening and the confounding of expectations. There is a dark, perhaps even desparate, tone to the record that belies the superficially MOR sheen of the production and it is hardly surprising that the record continues to strike a chord with todays teenagers, as well as being held in high esteem by their parents, themselves children of the 80s and victims of the strange days of the economic bubble.

Although his first record is his masterpiece, the five that followed are of a similarly high standard, especially 1985s 「回帰線」, which contains 「卒業」, a song about graduation that captures something of the emptiness and dread of post-High School life in Japan.

In April 1992, he was found naked in a Tokyo street, dead as a result of pulmonary edema. Although this official cause of death has been disputed, and some people believe he was murdered, what is certain is that he had consumed large quantities of drugs and alcohol on the night he died. A career spanning six albums and only 61 songs was over, but he remains a highly visible figure in Japanese music, his songs are often covered and are karaoke standards, and there are numerous books and tribute albums.

His most famous songs are 「I LOVE YOU」 and 「卒業」, both of which appear on 「13/71 THE BEST SELECTION」, essential listening for anyone with more than a passing interest in J-Pop or Japanese culture.

MARRIAGE
尾崎豊 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

埃まみれの都会の空
独りきりの寂しさの訳
探しながら二人は出会った
背負い切れぬ悲しみの数
互いの笑顔の作り方
積木のように重ねて過ごした
人は誰も心の中に何かを
隠し続けているものだけれど

過ぎ去った時よりも
今は君のこと愛している
それが俺の答えだから
I wanna marry you 諦めないから
I wanna marry you
傷んだ心に君が泣かぬように
壊れた愛の傷跡が
二人を悲しく包む
愛はとてももろいものだと
手探りの優しささえも
見つけられなくなる時に
愛が冷めてしまいそうだから
二人の幸せ描けるものだとしても
何も語らず寄り添う姿だけだから
ひとつひとつを
覚えておいてほしい
愛を償いながら二人は生きてる
I wanna marry you 諦めないから
I wanna marry you
終わりのない優しさの始まり

I wanna marry you 諦めないから

I wanna marry you
傷んだ心に君が泣かぬように

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Marriage" by Yutaka Ozaki describe the loneliness and sadness felt by two people living in a dusty and lonely city, as they encounter each other and gradually build a relationship. The song talks about the shared struggles and pain between two people, and the growing love and commitment that follows. The lyrics suggest that everyone keeps some kind of hidden emotion inside of them, but true love can overcome even the darkest of times. The song also highlights the fragility of love and the importance of cherishing every moment, especially when love is broken and difficult to find. The lyrics convey a message that despite the challenges, the two lovers are determined not to give up and want to marry each other.

Line by Line Meaning

埃まみれの都会の空
The polluted city sky

独りきりの寂しさの訳
The reason for loneliness when alone

探しながら二人は出会った
While searching, the two of us met

背負い切れぬ悲しみの数
The number of unbearable sorrows

互いの笑顔の作り方
How to make each other smile

積木のように重ねて過ごした
Spent time piecing things together like blocks

人は誰も心の中に何かを
People always conceal something in their hearts

隠し続けているものだけれど
But keep hiding it

過ぎ去った時よりも
More than the past

今は君のこと愛している
I love you now

それが俺の答えだから
That's my answer