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.

TETHE'ALLA ～対の子どもたち～
志方あきこ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

まほらの戸に立つ産土(ウブスナ)へ
手向けるは椿花
夢路の社の其の奥に
よもすがら咲き匂う

捻れの街角夕暮れに
影法師誰を想う
からから廻るは

風車誘われ君を想う

ないしょないしょきこえくるのは
よいのさかいのかぐらうた

うたえ

あかやあかしやあやかしの
鳥居越えたその向こう
歪み歪んだこの心
すべてあいして喰らいましょう

あかやあかしやあやかしの
ゆれる狐火あざやかに
歪み歪んだこの絆
すべてあいして喰らいましょう

ひふみよいむなやこともちろらね
しきるゆゐつわぬそをたはくめか
うおゑにさりへてのますあせえほれけ

不知花(シラズカズラ)の茜森(アカネモリ)
手招くはまぼろしか
選び選ばれ行く末は
いとしかなしの朱隠(アカカク)し

逆しまの街はツギハギに
捩れの因果が蔓延(ハビコ)りて
悼(イタ)みの連鎖はツギツギに
次はどの児(コ)と追いかける

あかやあかしやあやかしの
願い飢(カツ)えたその果てに
繋ぎ繋げたこの想い
すべてあいして赦しましょう

かみのますとりいにいれば
このみよりひつぎのみやとやすらげくす

あかやあかしやあやかしの
鳥居越えたその向こう
歪み歪んだこの心
すべてあいして

あかやあかしやあやかしの
ゆれる狐火あざやかに
歪み歪んだこの絆
すべてあいして喰らいましょう

歪み歪んだこの心
すべてあいして喰らいましょう

かみのますとりいにいればこのみよ
りひつきのみやとやすらげくす

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song TETHE'ALLA ～対の子どもたち～ by 志方あきこ describe a world of magic and mysticism, with references to nature and traditional Japanese folklore. The first stanza talks about offering camellia flowers at the local shrine, which is at the end of a dreamy path surrounded by blossoms. The second stanza describes a twisted street corner at sunset, where someone is thinking about a shadow puppet. The windmill turns round and round, inviting thoughts of someone special. In the third stanza, there is a call for a secret song to be sung, invoking the spirits and the magic of the world. The next stanzas talk about foxfire, twisted bonds, and twisted hearts, all to be devoured by love.

The lyrics use poetic language and imagery to create an atmosphere of enchantment, inviting the listener to a world of fantasy and folklore. The themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption are present throughout the song, adding depth to the narrative. The repetition of the phrase "すべてあいして喰らいましょう" (let us devour everything in love) gives the song an eerie yet beautiful undertone, leaving the listener questioning its significance.

Line by Line Meaning

まほらの戸に立つ産土(ウブスナ)へ手向けるは椿花夢路の社の其の奥によもすがら咲き匂う
Standing at the door of Mahora, I offer camellias to my birthplace. They bloom and exude their sweet fragrance at the back of the shrine of my dream path.

捻れの街角夕暮れに影法師誰を想うからから廻るは風車誘われ君を想う
At the twisted street corner in the evening, I see shadow puppets and wonder who they remind me of. The windmill turns and invites me to think of you.

ないしょないしょきこえくるのはよいのさかいのかぐらうたうたえ
In secrecy, in secrecy, I hear a song of the mountain pass of goodness. Sing it out loud!

あかやあかしやあやかしの鳥居越えたその向こう歪み歪んだこの心すべてあいして喰らいましょう
Beyond the red, oh so red torii gate of the supernatural, let us devour all of this twisted, contorted heart that loves everything.

あかやあかしやあやかしのゆれる狐火あざやかに歪み歪んだこの絆すべてあいして喰らいましょう
The flickering foxfires of the supernatural, oh so vivid, let us devour this twisted, contorted bond that loves everything.

ひふみよいむなやこともちろらねしきるゆゐつわぬそをたはくめかうおゑにさりへてのますあせえほれけ
In the land of Hifumi's good omen, there is no need to know everything. Birds gather in the land where fate is tied like straw. In that place, I will always walk while admiring the rising sun.

不知花(シラズカズラ)の茜森(アカネモリ) 手招くはまぼろしか選び選ばれ行く末はいとしかなしの朱隠(アカカク)し
In the madder forest of unknown flowers, I am beckoned by a phantom. As I choose and am chosen, my future becomes a deep crimson hiding place of great nothingness.

逆しまの街はツギハギに捩れの因果が蔓延(ハビコ)りて悼(イタ)みの連鎖はツギツギに次はどの児(コ)と追いかける
In the upside-down city, where twisted karma spreads in ragged pieces, the chain of mourning follows piece by piece. Who will I chase after next?

あかやあかしやあやかしの願い飢(カツ)えたその果てに繋ぎ繋げたこの想いすべてあいして赦しましょう
At the end of the red, oh so red, supernatural wishes lies the chain that links all our feelings. Let us love and forgive everything.

かみのますとりいにいればこのみよりひつぎのみやとやすらげくす
If I enter the divine throne room, it will be a place of peace more than this world of fleetingness.

歪み歪んだこの心すべてあいして喰らいましょう
Let us devour this twisted, contorted heart that loves everything.

Writer(s): 志方あきこ

Contributed by Cameron K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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