(For information on his work as a vocaloid producer, please see ハチ.)
Read Full Bio ↴(For information on his work as a vocaloid producer, please see ハチ.)

米津玄師 (Yonezu Kenshi), born on March 10, 1991, is a singer, songwriter & illustrator. He has released vocaloid music under the name ハチ (Hachi) since 2009. His official home page is at Reissue Records.

On May 16, 2012, he released his debut non-vocaloid album, diorama, using his real name. He was picked up by a major label (Universal Music Japan) about one year later, and released the single, サンタマリア (Santa Maria) on May 29, 2013. On October 23, 2013, he released the single MAD HEAD LOVE / ポッピンアパシー (MAD HEAD LOVE / Poppin' Apathy). Along with all of his releases, he created the illustrations for the covers. On April 23, 2014, his second full album was released entitled YANKEE.

On October 8th, 2015, he released his third full album, entitled Bremen. Featuring the singles Unbelievers, Fluorite, and Flowerwall, 米津玄師 tried to move away from his previous sound. In an attempt to make "a universal album everybody could relate to", he tried to remove himself from the album as best he could.

In 2017, he released the album BOOTLEG, featuring a collaboration with DAOKO. The record won Album of the Year at the 60th Japan Record Awards.

In 2018, Kenshi released his famous single Lemon, which was a chart-topping success and really helped him to reach recognition across Japan, as he went on to write for artists like 嵐 and Masaki Suda. The next string of singles across 2018 and 2019, and the album STRAY SHEEP that followed in 2020 were also met with great commercial success.

Amen
米津玄師 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah 馬が走る黒いアスファルトの上
荒んだ並木風もなし香りだす雨の気配
Ah 東京はフラスコの中の風景
迷い込んでは泣いていたのは遠い遠い昔

Ah 光の澱に道草を誘う亡霊
九つの門を通り抜けてあの山の麓へと
空っぽの花瓶に活ける花を探している

恥ずかしいくらい生き急いでいた遠い遠い昔

お願いママパパこの世に生まれたその意味を
教えて欲しいのわたしに
悲しい思い出はいらないからただただ美しい思い出を
祈りの言葉を amen

Ah 怒りが満ちる黒い炎を纏って
どうかわたしのこの心を赦してくれやしないか
Ah さもなければその清い雷を以って
わたしの身を灰になるまで焼いてくれないか

Ah 音を立てて燃える部屋の中ひとり
歯軋りみたいに火の粉は舞う酸素を食べて育つ
ありがとう今身をやつす苦渋の全てに
再会を願い今日はおやすみまた明日

お願いママパパこの世に生まれたその意味を
教えて欲しいのわたしに
悲しい思い出はいらないからただただ美しい思い出を
祈りの言葉を amen

お願いママパパこの世に生まれたその意味を
教えて欲しいのわたしに

悲しい思い出はいらないからただただ美しい思い出を
祈りの言葉を amen

Overall Meaning

The song "Amen" by Kenshi Yonezu begins with the scene of a horse running on a road made of dark asphalt, bordered by withered trees, with no wind and the scent of rain looming in the air. The lyrics evoke the image of lonely and desolate streets of Tokyo city. The mood of the song suggests a feeling of being lost and disconnected from oneself, and taking comfort in thoughts and memories of beautiful moments.

The second verse symbolizes the act of searching for something vital in a lifeless and empty vessel. "Nine gates" in the lyrics refer to the stages one must pass through to reach nirvana or enlightenment in Buddhist tradition. It highlights the search for redemption and fulfillment in life, despite feeling rushed in the past. The chorus of the song brings a desperate plea for clarity and closure, asking the parents to reveal the meaning and purpose of life in the world, and for creating beautiful memories instead of sad ones.

The bridge of the song is eulogizing the conflicting emotions of anger, pain, and a desire for absolution. Kenshi's unique ability to express the emotions through his lyrics makes him one of the greatest Japanese songwriters, and this song conveys an intense emotional energy. The song's lyrics say goodbye to the difficult and bitter memories with the hope for the beauty of the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah 馬が走る黒いアスファルトの上
On the black asphalt road, horses run.

荒んだ並木風もなし香りだす雨の気配
There is a scent of rain in the stagnant, tree-lined street without wind.

Ah 東京はフラスコの中の風景
The city of Tokyo is like a landscape seen through a flask.

迷い込んでは泣いていたのは遠い遠い昔
A long time ago, I lost my way and cried.

Ah 光の澱に道草を誘う亡霊
A ghost is tempted to wander in the puddle of light.

九つの門を通り抜けてあの山の麓へと
Passing through nine gates, I arrived at the foot of the mountain.

空っぽの花瓶に活ける花を探している
I am looking for flowers to arrange in an empty vase.

恥ずかしいくらい生き急いでいた遠い遠い昔
A long time ago, I lived in such a hurry that it was embarrassing.

お願いママパパこの世に生まれたその意味を教えて欲しいのわたしに悲しい思い出はいらないからただただ美しい思い出を祈りの言葉を amen
Please, Mom and Dad, tell me the meaning of being born in this world. I do not need sad memories - only beautiful ones. Amen to these prayerful words.

Ah 怒りが満ちる黒い炎を纏ってどうかわたしのこの心を赦してくれやしないか
Wrapped in black flames of anger, please forgive my heart.

Ah さもなければその清い雷を以ってわたしの身を灰になるまで焼いてくれないか
Otherwise, could you burn me to ashes with your pure lightning?

Ah 音を立てて燃える部屋の中ひとり歯軋りみたいに火の粉は舞う酸素を食べて育つ
Alone in a room burning with noise, sparks dance like teeth grinding, feeding on oxygen.

ありがとう今身をやつす苦渋の全てに再会を願い今日はおやすみまた明日
Thank you for enduring all the bitterness. Hoping to meet again, good night for today, see you tomorrow.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kenshi Yonezu

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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