Despite already having released three albums, "Passion" in 2001, "Dream of Love - Ai no yume -" in 2004 and "Ifu Dodo" in 2005, Akikawa, called "Akki" by fans, remained relatively unpopular, and even his most successful single to date "Sen no kaze ni natte" (I am a thousand winds) was ranked the single with the lowest initial sales, selling only 513 copies in the week of its debut.
Things changed with Akikawa's appearance at the annual Japanese music show "Kohaku Uta Gassen", aired at New Year's Eve and watched by millions of Japanese every year.
After his appearance in 2006 the sales for "Sen no kaze...", originally released in May 2006, skyrocketed, as well as the sales for "Ifu Dodo".
Furthermore, the song was used as a basis for a 4-part drama series, in which various actors replay the true stories of people whose lives have been affected by "Sen no kaze..."
The single was eventually announced best-selling single of 2007, with Akikawa appearing on Kohaku again in 2007, having given a total of 160 live performances over the year.
Since then, Akikawa has released two further albums, one in 2008, named after his most successful single, and "Fantasista" in 2010.
A Concert DVD has been released in 2010 and most recently, in March 2012.
Akikawa continues his busy touring schedule and appears on stages all over Japan every year.
ふるさとの山に向ひて
秋川雅史 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
言ふことなし ふるさとの
山は あ～ ありがたきかな
やはらかに柳 柳あをめる
北上の 岸辺目に見ゆ
う～ 泣けとごとくに
恋し 恋し 恋しかり
おもひでの おもひでの山
おもひでの川
ふるさとの訛 訛なつかし
停車場の 人ごみの
中に あ～ そを聴きにゆく
かにかくに 渋民村は
恋し 恋し 恋しかり
おもひでの おもひでの山
おもひでの川
ふるさとの山に 山に向ひて
言ふことなし ふるさとの
山は あ～ ありがたきかな
ありがたきかな
The lyrics of 秋川雅史's song ふるさとの山に向ひて express a deep sense of longing and nostalgia for one's hometown. The singer describes how they face towards their hometown's mountains with no words to say, but the mountains themselves are a precious sight to behold. The emotional weight of the singer's homesickness is made clear with the phrase う～ 泣けとごとくに, which translates to "I feel like crying."
The singer's memories and feelings of longing are further described through the imagery of the swaying willow trees along the northern shore, and the crowded train station where they strain to hear the regional dialect that reminds them of home. The refrain repeated throughout the song, かにかくに 渋民村は 恋し 恋し 恋しかり おもひでの おもひでの山 おもひでの川 (Kanikakuni Shibuminmura wa koishi koishi koishikari / Omoide no omoide no yama, omoide no kawa), emphasizes the singer's love and longing for their memories of the mountain and river of their hometown.
In conclusion, 秋川雅史's song ふるさとの山に向ひて is a beautiful representation of the deep emotions associated with homesickness and nostalgia. Through vivid imagery, the lyrics convey a sense of longing and an appreciation for the natural beauty of one's homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
ふるさとの山に 山に向ひて
Facing towards the mountains of my hometown
言ふことなし ふるさとの
There's nothing to say about my hometown
山は あ～ ありがたきかな
The mountains are so blessed
やはらかに柳 柳あをめる
The willows gently sway
北上の 岸辺目に見ゆ
Visible from the northern shore
う～ 泣けとごとくに
As if to make me cry
かにかくに 渋民村は
Anyway, Shimominato village
恋し 恋し 恋しかり
I love it, I really do
おもひでの おもひでの山
The mountain of my memories
おもひでの川
The river of my memories
ふるさとの訛 訛なつかし
I miss the dialect of my hometown
停車場の 人ごみの
In the crowd at the station
中に あ～ そを聴きにゆく
I go there just to hear it
ありがたきかな
How blessed it is
Writer(s): 新井 満, 石川 啄木, 新井 満, 石川 啄木
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.