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.
見上げてごらん夜の星を
秋川雅史 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
小さな星の 小さな光りが
ささやかな幸せを うたってる
見上げてごらん 夜の星を
ボクらのように 名もない星が
ささやかな幸せを 祈ってる
おいかけよう 夢を
二人なら 苦しくなんかないさ
見上げてごらん 夜の星を
小さな星の 小さな光りが
ささやかな幸せを うたってる
見上げてごらん 夜の星を
ボクらのように 名もない星が
ささやかな幸せを 祈ってる
The song, titled "Miagete goran Yoru no Hoshi wo," which translates to "Look up at the Night Sky," by 秋川雅史 or Masafumi Akikawa, is an evocative song with melancholic notes, that encourage the listener to look beyond the mundane and find happiness in small things.
The lyrics of the song highlight the beauty of the night sky, with small stars twinking their light, and like every small star has a small light, and so does every individual have a right to yearn for their humble desires. The lyrics further emphasize that even nameless, small stars have the right to pray for happiness, and in the same way, every individual, irrespective of their social or economic status, has the right to aspire for happiness.
The song stresses upon the importance of companionship in life and romanticizes love by encouraging the listener to reach for the stars while holding hands, to dream while running after that dream, as it is easy to endure difficulties when we have someone by our side. The lyrics suggest that like the stars in the night sky, humans have a small role to play in the grander cosmic universe, yet every individual can desire for happiness, companionship, and aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
見上げてごらん 夜の星を
Look up at the stars in the night sky
小さな星の 小さな光りが
The small lights of the little stars
ささやかな幸せを うたってる
Sing of modest happiness
ボクらのように 名もない星が
Like us, the nameless stars
ささやかな幸せを 祈ってる
Pray for modest happiness
手をつなごう ボクと
Hold my hand
おいかけよう 夢を
Let's chase our dreams
二人なら 苦しくなんかないさ
If we're together, nothing will be difficult
Contributed by Kylie J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.