Akina Nakamori (中森明菜, Nakamori Akina, born 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, J… Read Full Bio ↴Akina Nakamori (中森明菜, Nakamori Akina, born 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan) is a multi-award winning j-pop singer and actress who debuted on May 1 of 1982. As a singer Akina came to be known for her mature yet rebellious style and powerhouse vocals, but also for her ever changing image both visually and musically as opposed to the conservative J-Pop scene. Together with Seiko Matsuda she dominated the 80's J-Pop scene and they were continuously rivaled by the media especially for their commercial success and contrasting "dark vs. light"-image conflict. Akina's so-called golden era situates between 1982 to 1989 till she attempted suicide for the failed romance with Kondo Masahiko. She has never gained back the popularity she once had from early to mid 1980's, yet she has still been able to maintain a somewhat steady career and her influence on the music industry never goes unnoticed. Today, Akina's built her image more as a cover artist with her Utahime cover albums with the award winning Enka. In 2024 she was the 21st best selling artist in Japan with over 25,1 million records sold. With a career as long as 41 years,nshe has explored many different music genres including pop, rock, R&B, jazz, blues, enka, folk and Latin music. After taking a series of hiatuses from 2010 to 2022 due to health issues, Akina has announced her slow yet certain return to the music industry after starting up a new management office, HZ VILLAGE. She released her self-cover of 1984's "Kita Wing" in 2023, and shortly after a behind-the-scene video and Youtube channel went up at December 25 of the same year as a Christmas present to fans who waited for her. At her first ever interview appearance at 2024, she revealed that she'll be releasing new music sooner.

Mind Game
Akina Nakamori Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

白い粉雪舞い散る窓に映る New York
そっとタイプの手を止めぼんやりと溜息

まるで恋のシナリオ先が見えない

愛されてるけれど物足りない
でも自由なままの心でいたい
我儘だね私贅沢だわ

誰もがみんな自分を愛してるだけじゃ悲しい
二人だけの MIND GAME

熱いシャワーを浴びたら貴方にすぐ逢いたい
こんな夜更けに一人で見てる夢知りたい

恋はどんなピリオド待って終わるの?

愛しているけれど醒めていたい
涙だけの恋は卒業したの
明日の朝電話かけてみるわ
甘える素振りするのよ素顔だけじゃ慣れてゆくから
はぐらかして MIND GAME

まるで恋のシナリオ先が見えない

愛されてる Ah Ha Ha 物足りない
でも自由なままの心でいたい
我儘だね Ah Ha Ha 贅沢だわ
誰もがみんな自分を愛してるだけじゃ悲しい

二人だけの MIND GAME
二人だけの MIND GAME

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Akina Nakamori's song MIND GAME depict a restless and uncertain love. The opening lines present an image of snow falling outside a window in New York, and the singer stops typing to let out a sigh. They can't see where the scenario of their love is headed, and while they feel loved by their partner, they still feel unsatisfied. The desire to maintain their freedom conflicts with their desire for deeper connection.

The singer wonders what kind of period awaits their love, and while they know they love their partner, they want to wake up from the dream of love that they're in. The tears that once defined their love have been left behind, and they resolve to try calling their partner the next morning to show them a vulnerable side of themselves. The chorus repeats the phrase "two-person mind game," as the singer emphasizes that their love is unique to them, and only they can figure it out.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of ambiguity and complexity in love that is relatable to many people. The desire for love and connection competes with the desire for freedom and independence, and it can be difficult to navigate the two.

Line by Line Meaning

白い粉雪舞い散る窓に映る New York
White powder snow falls, reflecting New York in the window

そっとタイプの手を止めぼんやりと溜息
Stopping typing and sighing absentmindedly

まるで恋のシナリオ先が見えない
It's as if the end of a love story is invisible

愛されてるけれど物足りない
Being loved but feeling unfulfilled

でも自由なままの心でいたい
But wanting to keep a free heart

我儘だね私贅沢だわ
I'm selfish, it's luxurious

誰もがみんな自分を愛してるだけじゃ悲しい
It's sad if everyone only loves themselves

二人だけの MIND GAME
Just the two of us playing a mind game

熱いシャワーを浴びたら貴方にすぐ逢いたい
After a hot shower, wanting to see you right away

こんな夜更けに一人で見てる夢知りたい
Wanting to know the dream being watched alone on a night like this

恋はどんなピリオド待って終わるの?
What kind of punctuation mark does love wait for to end?