Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, born January 19, 1954) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She was born in Hachioji, Tokyo. Her nickname is Yuming, which she received at the age of 13 from a Chinese artist, who inspired her to take on a career in music. Her first 4 albums are released under her maiden name, Yumi Arai (荒井由実).

In 1972, she released her debut single Henji wa Iranai (返事はいらない, "No Response Necessary"). The next year she released her first album Hikoki-gumo (ひこうき雲, "Contrail").

In 1976, at the age of 22, she married her producer, Masataka Matsutoya (松任谷正隆), and from then on she went by her new name Yumi Matsutoya. In 1990, she received a gold disc grand prix. She also made appearances in many television commercials. Fans take note of her singing talent as well as her unique singing voice.

She became famous for many songs, including Hikoki-gumo and Haru yo, Koi (春よ、来い, 1994, "Spring, Come") which was used as the opening theme song for a TV drama by the same name. Her song Rouge no Den'gon (ルージュの伝言, "Rouge Message") is featured in the anime film Kiki's Delivery Service from the famed Studio Ghibli.

As reported on various websites, Yuming also writes songs for other singers, using the pen name Kureta Karuho.

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松任谷由実 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

さみだれの空を便箋にして
故なき哀しみつらつら綴る

いつかあのひとと見た夕焼け
茜い帯と家々の屋根
明日は晴れそうな薄闇の雨

さみだれの雲は墨色流し

うち消す想いに沈んでゆくの

けれど西の方が朧ろげに
明り見えていたまぼろしに
希望を持たせて待たせたのに

あきらめたあのひとよいちばん好きだった頃が
今もまだ今もまだ心しめつけるの

さみだれ乱れて記憶の奥の
癒せぬ恋しさつらつら辿る

いつかもう一度会える日を
ずっと探してる放浪の
お土産ばなしを書き留めるの

あきらめたあのひとよどこかで変わらずいて
いつまでもいつまでも哀しみを下さい

あきらめたあのひとよいちばん好きだった頃が
今もまだ今もまだ心しめつけるの

Overall Meaning

The song "Kanashimi wo Kudasai" by Yumi Matsutoya talks about the pain of separation and the longing for a lost love. In the pouring rain, the singer writes down their feelings on a letter, reminiscing about the sunset they once saw with their loved one, the red obi and the houses' roof that they noticed at that moment. They remark that the light no longer flickers and fades into the rainy darkness. The singer refers to the illusion they had that they would reunite again someday, keeping their spirits up with the faint lights that shone from the west, but in the end, their hope vanished.

Line by Line Meaning

さみだれの空を便箋にして
Using the rainy sky as writing paper, I jot down my meaningless sorrow.

故なき哀しみつらつら綴る
Tediously chronicling a sadness that has no reason.

いつかあのひとと見た夕焼け
The sunset that I saw with that person one day,

茜い帯と家々の屋根
The reddish sunset and the roofs of the houses.

明日は晴れそうな薄闇の雨
A faint, rainy darkness that seems to clear up tomorrow.

さみだれの雲は墨色流し
The rainy clouds wash away in black ink,

うち消す想いに沈んでゆくの
Sinking into the feelings that I wish to erase.

けれど西の方が朧ろげに
However, in the hazy western direction,

明り見えていたまぼろしに
There is an illusion of light that I could see.

希望を持たせて待たせたのに
Even though I raised hope and waited so long,

あきらめたあのひとよいちばん好きだった頃が
That person who gave up still affects me from the time I loved them the most,