Toshimi Tagawa (田川寿美), born 22 November 1975, is a Japanese enka singer fro… Read Full Bio ↴Toshimi Tagawa (田川寿美), born 22 November 1975, is a Japanese enka singer from Wakayama. By recommendation of lyricist Keiko Yuki (悠木圭子), she proceeded to Tokyo after graduating from junior high school to pursue a career in music. In Tokyo she studied under composer Jun Suzuki (鈴木淳). In 1992 Tagawa made her début with the single "Onna...Hitori-tabi" (「女・・・ひとり旅」). Her most current single is "Muteki" (「霧笛」).

For more information (in Japanese), please visit:
Official Toshimi Tagawa website, courtesy of Nagara Productions
or
Toshimi Tagawa's artist page at Columbia Music Entertainment

冬の日本海
田川寿美 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

北の海は荒れて波の
飛沫(しぶき)が頬を打つ
海岸線の灯りが揺れて
貴方の面影消えてゆく
はぐれかもめが一羽
ねぐらを見つけたの
私にはもう待つ人も
ぬくもりも胸もない

涙みちづれ想い出抱いて
冬の日本海

夜明け間近か
風雪(かぜ)が哭(な)いて
心に凍(し)みて来る
愚かでしょうかふるえる胸が
来ない貴方を待ってます
津軽の海を越えて
離れて来たけれど
恋しさがつのるばかりで
逢いたくて泣けてくる
涙みちづれ想い出抱いて
冬の日本海

凍りついた指で書いた
最後の手紙です
こんなにつらい胸の痛みを
あなた分かってくれますか
涙で滲んだ文字は心の乱れです
もう二度と逢えない人と
知りながら未練です
涙みちづれ想い出抱いて

冬の日本海
冬の日本海

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the song "冬の日本海" (Fuyu no Nihonkai) by Tatsumi Togawa. It portrays a scene of the northern sea in winter, with its rough waves and splashes hitting the singer's cheeks. The lights on the coastline sway, gradually erasing the memories of someone dear to them. A stray seagull finds its roost, while the singer is left with no one to wait for, no warmth, and an empty heart. They hold onto their tears and the memories, feeling the loneliness of the winter on the Japan Sea.

As dawn approaches, the winds and snow cry, freezing the singer's heart. Despite feeling foolish and trembling with anticipation, they wait for the person who doesn't come. Crossing over the Tsugaru Sea, they have come so far, but their longing only intensifies, making them cry in desperation to see the person they miss. They hold onto their tears and the memories, feeling the loneliness of the winter on the Japan Sea.

Line by Line Meaning

北の海は荒れて波の飛沫(しぶき)が頬を打つ
The northern sea is rough, its waves splashing against my cheeks

海岸線の灯りが揺れて貴方の面影消えてゆく
The lights along the coastline flicker, your presence fading away

はぐれかもめが一羽ねぐらを見つけたの
A lone seagull has found its roost

私にはもう待つ人もぬくもりも胸もない
I no longer have someone to wait for, nor warmth in my heart

涙みちづれ想い出抱いて冬の日本海
Tears fill my path as I embrace memories of the winter Japan Sea

夜明け間近か風雪(かぜ)が哭(な)いて
Dawn approaches, and the wind and snow weep

心に凍(し)みて来る愚かでしょうかふるえる胸が
My heart freezes, is it foolish? My trembling chest

来ない貴方を待ってます津軽の海を越えて
I wait for you who won't come, crossing the Tsugaru Sea

離れて来たけれど恋しさがつのるばかりで
Though we have grown apart, my longing continues to grow

逢いたくて泣けてくる涙みちづれ想い出抱いて冬の日本海
I cry because I miss you, tears fill my path as I embrace memories of the winter Japan Sea

凍りついた指で書いた最後の手紙です
With frozen fingers, I wrote this last letter