Inagaki was born and raised in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, and graduated from Miyagi Prefectural Technical High School. One of his earliest musical influences was Stevie Wonder. While a student in middle school, he joined a local band called Faces as a vocalist and drummer. Later, he also performed in bands that entertained United States military personnel stationed in Yokosuka and Tachikawa. Beginning with his commercial debut single "Rainy Regret" (雨のリグレット Ame no riguretto) in 1982, Inagaki released a series of popular hits.
Inagaki's music became especially well known throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His songs have appeared on several drama programs and numerous commercial advertisements on Japanese television. His 1992 ballad "When The Christmas Carols Play" (クリスマスキャロルの頃には Kurisumasu kyaroru no koro ni wa) was featured on the TBS drama series Homework (ホームワーク), and remains one of the most popular holiday songs in Japan.
As of 2010, Inagaki continues to tour in Japan, and will perform in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya in June 2010. In a rare performance abroad, he held a private concert in San Francisco sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California on January 11, 2009.
Inagaki's first wife of more than 30 years died in 2006. He remarried in October 2007 to a woman 10 years his junior, and hosted a wedding reception in Tokyo for family and close friends in March 2008.
雨のリグレット
稲垣潤一 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
電話のボックスで くちびる噛んでる
乾いた交換の 声が優しげに
"使われてません"と告げれば
しのび雨
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
なぜ むせび泣くの
My heart
"今更そんなこと 死にたくなるわ"と
貴女がライターの 炎の向こうで
涙にふくらんだ 瞳をそらした
盛り場のホテルの窓にも
しのび雨
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今
なぜ 心は乱れる
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
なぜ むせび泣くの
My heart
雨の街は 暗い海
記憶の船 運んでゆく
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今
なぜ 心は乱れる
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
なぜ むせび泣くの
Why!? oh why
孤独は闇の中で
貴女を呼びつづける
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
なぜ むせび泣くの
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今...
The lyrics of 稲垣潤一's song 雨のリグレット (Ame no Regretto) describe a sense of solitude and longing. The singer is holding back their freezing loneliness with one hand, biting their lips inside a telephone booth. The dry and distant voice on the other end of the line sounds tender as it informs them, "This number is not in use." In the presence of the drizzling rain, memories of a lost love come flooding back.
The chorus questions the reasons behind the turbulence in the singer's heart in the present, even though time has passed. They are puzzled as to why they continue to grieve and suffocate over a love they turned their back on years ago. The lyrics suggest that the pain of regret and the weight of missed opportunities can haunt us despite the passage of time.
The rain-soaked city is portrayed as a dark sea, with the singer's memories being transported on a ship. The final repetition of the chorus amplifies the anguish and desperation, with the singer questioning why they continue to call out and cry in the darkness of their loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
凍える淋しさを 片手で支えて
Supporting the freezing loneliness with one hand
電話のボックスで くちびる噛んでる
Biting my lip in the phone booth
乾いた交換の 声が優しげに
The dry exchange voice sounds gentle
"使われてません"と告げれば
If I say, "I'm not being used"
しのび雨
Drizzling rain
Why, oh why
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今
Now, transcending time
なぜ 心は乱れる
Why is my heart in turmoil
Years ago
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
To the love I turned my back on
なぜ むせび泣くの
Why am I sobbing
My heart
My heart
"今更そんなこと 死にたくなるわ"と
"At this point, I want to die over something like that," you said
貴女がライターの 炎の向こうで
You, beyond the flames of a lighter
涙にふくらんだ 瞳をそらした
Avoiding eye contact, tears welling up
盛り場のホテルの窓にも
Even on the window of a bustling hotel
しのび雨
Drizzling rain
雨の街は 暗い海
The rainy city is a dark sea
記憶の船 運んでゆく
Carrying the ship of memories
Why!? oh why
Why!? oh why
孤独は闇の中で
Loneliness in the midst of darkness
貴女を呼びつづける
Continuing to call for you
Years ago
Years ago
背中向けた恋に
To the love I turned my back on
なぜ むせび泣くの
Why am I sobbing
Why, oh why
Why, oh why
時をへだてた今
Now, transcending time
Writer(s): Reiko Yukawa, Kazuhiko Matsuo
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tama fuku
こんにちは😃
50です。
そうなんですよね、今は珍しく無いかもですが
「 えっ、ドラムって叩きながらうたえるの？」ってびっくりしましたよね☺️
その後
Xとか？
CCBとか？
叩いて歌ってかっこいい方いましたが
私の稲垣さんが一番かっこいいです😍
あの衝撃は超えらえない😆
blue lagoon
こんな素敵な歌詞と曲が書けるなんて信じられない！✨歌詞の例えとチョイスがまさに天才的💫
リリーマリアンヌ
作詞と 作曲と 歌手の良さが…トライアングルのように 合体して…天才的な❗名曲を生んでくれた…雨のリグレットは10年に一度 いや20年に一度の名曲だと…個人的に思っている。
MrvelvetviruS
Hermosa canción, saludos desde Colombia :)
John Thomas
Que gusto da encontrar latinos por acá c:
村末博行
これがデビュー曲とは！完成している。
tama fuku
湯川れいこさんですもの〜〜✨
虎ちゃん
この雨のリグレットを聴いた瞬間「オフコースの歌に曲といいそっくり❗」と驚いた記憶が有ります。
直ぐ調べたら、オフコースの松尾一彦さんも曲に関わっていました。
オフコースの松尾さんらしさが、色濃く出ていますね。
オフコースのファンでしたので直ぐ分かりました。
Noriko Sato
80年代ごろの歌には、聞くだけで、歌の世界に連れて行かれる力がある。歌の中にドラマがある。
Esteban Surco
I like song...awesone fantastic banda.... Wil japanese
SUN KAN
私は今53歳ですが同じ年代の方達にとって本当にドラム叩きながら歌う姿は衝撃的でした。声も音程が安定して歌声も独特の心地よさがあり何度聴いても飽きませんネ。余り目立たない方ですが今でも歌い続ける価値があるからこその結果ですネ👌ステキな歌声ありがとうございます！