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.
Up to you
稲垣潤一 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
もうすぐ夜明けだ
君はからっぽのチェスト
ひじで もたれながら
昨日のままさ
分かってるよ 壊れそうな愛を
あぁ 迷っていること
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
素直なままに 君から決めなよ
いつも 僕のペースで
2人の すべてを
決めては来たけれど
きっと今度のチョイスは
君が 決めなければ
くりかえすだけ
引き止めるのは 待ってる事よりも
あぁ 優しいけれど
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
苦しいくらい
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
愛してるから 自由にさせたい
分かってるよ 壊れそうな愛を
あぁ 迷っていること
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
心の向きに
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
素直なままに 君から決めなよ
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
縛られてない
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
自由な君が 一番 すてきさ
(IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU Ah...)
(IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU Ah...)
The lyrics of "Up to You" by 稲垣潤一 suggest a conflict of emotions between two individuals who are struggling to make a decision about the future of their relationship. The track opens with a description of the environment in which they find themselves, revealing a dawn that is about to break. The singer then addresses the other party, who is resting their head on an empty chest, indicating she is wrestling with her emotions, stuck in yesterday's pain. The singer acknowledges that a love that feels like it may break is understood and empathizes with the other person's indecisiveness in favour of choosing love.
The chorus follows: "IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU/ Let your heart lead you/ IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU/ Be true to yourself and decide for yourself." The singer is aware that the decision lies with the other person, so he is urging her to pay closer attention to her heart and go with what feels right. He stresses that she doesn't need to be coerced or manipulated to make a choice. The singer also emphasizes the importance of freedom in a relationship, insisting that it's crucial for the two individuals to have distinct identities.
Line by Line Meaning
窓の遠い時計台 文字盤が見えれば
When the clock tower with a distant window face is visible, it means dawn is approaching.
もうすぐ夜明けだ
It is almost dawn.
君はからっぽのチェスト ひじで もたれながら
You lean on an empty chest with your elbows.
昨日のままさ
You are still the same as yesterday.
分かってるよ 壊れそうな愛を
I know that our love is in danger of breaking.
あぁ 迷っていること
Oh, we're lost.
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
It's up to you, completely up to you.
心の向きに
Let your heart guide you.
素直なままに 君から決めなよ
Just be honest and decide from your heart.
いつも 僕のペースで
We've always been going my way.
2人の すべてを
Everything we have is the two of us.
決めては来たけれど
But I've been the one making the decisions.
きっと今度のチョイスは
Surely this time, the choice will be yours.
君が 決めなければ
If you don't decide,
くりかえすだけ
We'll just repeat the same pattern.
引き止めるのは 待ってる事よりも
Holding back is not as good as waiting.
あぁ 優しいけれど
Oh, it's kind, but...
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
It's up to you, completely up to you.
苦しいくらい
It's painfully difficult.
IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU
It's up to you, completely up to you.
愛してるから 自由にさせたい
Because I love you, I want you to be free.
縛られてない
You're not bound by anything.
自由な君が 一番 すてきさ
You are most beautiful when you are free.
(IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU Ah...)
(It's up to you, completely up to you)
(IT'S UP TO YOU, UP TO YOU Ah...)
(It's up to you, completely up to you)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 康 秋元
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind