Akiko Shikata is a singer-songwriter, musician and soundtrack composer. A t… Read Full Bio ↴Akiko Shikata is a singer-songwriter, musician and soundtrack composer. A tricky artist to categorize, her works incorporate various genres such as neoclassical darkwave, world music, experimental, jazz, synthpop, new age, classical, ambient, and more ordinary Japanese pop, among many others. She launched her career in 2001, with the vocal EP Midori no mori de nemuru tori ("Sleeping Bird in the Green Forest"), which she made on her own using a synth and a laptop. In 2002, she released an instrumental album, Kurenawi, showing various influences such as Caribbean music, traditional Japanese folk and classical piano music. In 2003, she released her first full-length vocal album, Haikyo to Rakuen ("Ruins and Heaven"), showing influences from Old Europe, classical and ethnic music, in which she sang Italian poetry, but also Japanese lyrics and what is seemingly an invented language ("Iuripuka"). This album gained critical success in Japan through the indie music platform Muzie, where it stayed on top of the sales for two years.

Her latest release is the avant-garde album Ayashi (2018) which could be labeled as world fusion.

幻想林
志方あきこ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

夢現(ユメウツツ)と転(マロ)び合いて
在(マ)す LapoZa ry Elleny(森に抱かれた神殿)

深森(ミモリ)の随(マニマ)に揺らぐは
愛(ウ)き mEdefa-morIa Tysella(彷徨える古の記憶)

張(ハ)る満月(ミヅキ)は斯(カ)く清(サヤ)かに
紡ぎ詠い捧ぐ

燃ゆる神花(カンバナ)の雌蕊(シズイ)は
目も綾に夜半を燈す

翅に絡(カラ)ぐ幸(サキ)の記憶
災(サイ)の
生(セイ)の
名こそ残らじ憂きひとひらを

舞ひて語り伝う宿世(スクセ)
科(トガ)の
誉(ホマレ)の
徒(アダ)の名残を讃えん

真砂(マサゴ)の澪埋(ウ)む陵(ミササギ)
祈(ネ)ぐ百歳千歳(モモトセチトセ)

八百路瑞(ヤオロズイ)の水施(ミナセ) 出(イツ)く
眼(マナ)見えぬ刻載せ野へ

翅に絡(カラ)ぐ種々(シュジュ)の手向け
吉言(ヨゴト)
託言(カゴト)
喜懼(キク)の宴は夜もすがら

難(カタ)き荒地(アラジ) 徴(シル)す朝へ
根付く
芽吹く

煌(コウと瞬く藍蛍虫(ホタルムシ)
繚乱に綺羅々(キララ)に

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "幻想林" by 志方あきこ describe a dreamlike world where the singer entangles with another person in a forest temple called LapoZa ry Elleny. The poem uses several unusual words, including the blend of "夢現(ユメウツツ)" which means a dream-like state, and "転(マロ)び合いて" which could mean either tumbling or exchanging roles. The tempo of the song is slow and soft, leading to a calm and tranquil atmosphere that is complemented by the use of a harp.

The lyrics unfold in different scenarios, from the deep forest to the full moon and the temple. The words "mEdefa-morIa Tysella(彷徨える古の記憶)" describe the singer's swaying mind, where they remember their past. Further, the "燃ゆる神花(カンバナ)の雌蕊(シズイ)は" reflects the image of a burning flower that illuminates the darkness like a lantern. The singer mentions the memories of pride and regret and the passing of time on barren land before celebrating the rebirth of life.

Overall, the lyrics of "幻想林" are highly poetic and metaphoric, challenging the listener's imagination to travel, and experience the mystical world painted by the artist.

Line by Line Meaning

夢現(ユメウツツ)と転(マロ)び合いて
We turn and tumble in a state of waking dreams

在(マ)す LapoZa ry Elleny(森に抱かれた神殿)
Nested among trees is the LapoZa ry Elleny temple

深森(ミモリ)の随(マニマ)に揺らぐは
Swaying amidst the foliage of the deep woods

愛(ウ)き mEdefa-morIa Tysella(彷徨える古の記憶)
Beloved, wandering memories of the distant past

張(ハ)る満月(ミヅキ)は斯(カ)く清(サヤ)かに
The full moon shining so brightly

紡ぎ詠い捧ぐ
We spin, sing, and offer up

燃ゆる神花(カンバナ)の雌蕊(シズイ)は
The flaming stamen of the divine flower

目も綾に夜半を燈す
Glowing through the night like a dream

翅に絡(カラ)ぐ幸(サキ)の記憶
Trapped within my wings, memories of happiness

災(サイ)の
Of disaster

生(セイ)の
Of life