Shiina had always wished to work with a band, and selected its members while working on her third solo album, 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花. The band, comprised of guitarist ヒラマミキオ (Mikio Hirama), PE'Z keyboardist H ZETT M, drummer 畑利樹 (Toshiki Hata), and music producer 亀田誠治 (Seiji Kameda) as bassist, was first introduced as Tokyo Jihen during Shiina's Sugoroku Ecstasy tour. Being part of a band allowed Shiina to both share the songwriting process as well as tone down her public image.
In July 2005, H ZETT M and Hirama left the band. H ZETT M returned to his duties as pianist for PE'Z and Hirama returned to his solo career. Two months later, あっぱ pianist and vocalist 伊澤一葉 (Ichiyo Izawa) and 浮雲 (Ukigumo) joined Tokyo Jihen as the replacement keyboardist and guitarist, respectively.
On January 11th 2012 Shiina Ringo announced the band's breakup on their official website.
January 1st, 2020,marks a new beginning for the band since Tokyo Jihen released a surprise digital single, "Erabarezaru Kokumin", and announced a tour on Japan titled "Live Tour 2020 News Flash", beginning on February 29th. In February, the band announced their 5-song EP "News" would be released on April 8, 2020. The band's sixth album, Music (音楽) would then be released on June 9th, 2021.
Shuraba
東京事変 Lyrics
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疑うなんて浅ましいです
陽のもと認めたあの腕の白さまで
忘れたら 凍えずに温まるのか
一層この侭 通わないとて構わない
笠の雪の自然が災ひや
揺れては末とあの夏の期待を責め
仰いだら 灰色に誘う娑羅双樹
一層この侭繁らないとて厭わない
何方かに会えば 記憶を奪取まれよう
喉を使えば貴方が零れ出で溢れよう
是以上 識りたくなどない
一層この侭 眠って居られたら好いのに
噫! 貴方の首筋が
きっと現在はもう 真っ白く透き徹って居る
The lyrics of 東京事変's "Shuraba" describe a scene with a fleeting, summer-like, and deceitful atmosphere. The opening lines of "短夜半夏" mean "short night half summer" and refer to a time when the night is shorter and the days are longer, creating a feeling of restlessness and impatience. The next line, "嘘を眩むとぞ," translates to "dazzled by lies," suggesting that the singer is aware of the deception around them but still finds it alluring. The following lines continue this theme of being aware of deception but choosing to ignore it, as the singer criticizes those who doubt what they see as "浅ましい," or shallow.
The next few lines describe the beauty of a person's white arm and question whether forgetting such beauty would cause one to freeze or warm up. It is unclear who this person is or what significance they hold, but the singer seems to be pondering the consequences of forgetting beauty. The line "通わないとて構わない" means "it's okay not to come" and may imply a sort of resignation or apathy towards the situation.
The subsequent lines are difficult to interpret and are full of metaphors and allusions. "笠の雪の自然が災ひや" could be translated to "the snow on the hat causes a natural disaster," suggesting that even small things can have significant consequences. "黒ばむ前科に労働きます" means "work on a prior conviction turning black," which is a more enigmatic image that could evoke feelings of guilt, punishment, or oppression. The final section ends with the idea of losing memories if one meets someone and the desire to sleep peacefully despite being aware. The closing line "噫!貴方の首筋がきっと現在はもう真っ白く透き徹って居る" means "Oh! Your nape must be clear and white by now." This may indicate a sense of loss and finality.
Line by Line Meaning
短夜半夏 嘘を眩むとぞ
It's shameful to be doubtful when dazzled by a half-lit summer night lie.
陽のもと認めたあの腕の白さまで 忘れたら 凍えずに温まるのか
If I forget the whiteness of that arm I verified under the sunlight, will I no longer feel cold?
一層この侭 通わないとて構わない
I don't mind not going now more than ever.
笠の雪の自然が災ひや 黒ばむ前科に労働きます
Snowfall on the bamboo leaves is a natural disaster, and it is a punishment for my blemished criminal record.
揺れては末とあの夏の期待を責め 仰いだら 灰色に誘う娑羅双樹
I blame the expectation of that summer that swayed and ultimately failed me, and the ashy sal tree that I look up to lures me in.
一層この侭繁らないとて厭わない
I don't mind staying as is and not thriving, now more than ever.
何方かに会えば 記憶を奪取まれよう 喉を使えば貴方が零れ出で溢れよう
If I meet someone, they will surely take away my memory. If I speak, you will overflow from my lips.
是以上 識りたくなどない 一層この侭 眠って居られたら好いのに
I don't want to know anything more, and I'd rather just be asleep and left alone, now more than ever.
噫! 貴方の首筋が きっと現在はもう 真っ白く透き徹って居る
Ah! Your neck must be transparently white and clear as of now.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ringo Shiina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind