JUDY AND MARY were a Japanese multi-genre band known for their innovative p… Read Full Bio ↴JUDY AND MARY were a Japanese multi-genre band known for their innovative punk, rock, and pop meldings of noisy but melodic music in the 1990's. They formed in 1992 when bassist Yoshihito Onda (jp: 恩田快人) met vocalist Yuki Isoya (磯谷有希) in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Much later drummer Kohta Igarashi(五十嵐公太) and guitarist Takuya Asanuma (浅沼拓也) were added to round out the group.

In 1992 they released their first indie album, Be Ambitious, with an accompanying video on Chainsaw Records. They were picked up by Epic/Sony Records and released their first major label single, Power of Love in 1993. Their first debut major label album, J.A.M, was released in 1994. With each release they grew in popularity until they became one of the most popular and well-known bands in Japan.

In all, they released seven albums, three compilation albums and twenty-two singles. JUDY AND MARY broke up in 2001 following the WARP Tour Final held at the Tokyo Dome, where fans bid them a tearful farewell.

Yuki is now enjoying a successful solo career, under the name YUKI. Takuya is also currently a solo artist. Onda has joined a new band called the Hot Rod Crue.
A well known song is Sobakasu, from the opening of Rurouni Kenshin anime.

Sobakasu
JUDY AND MARY Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

大キライだったそばかすを
ちょっとひとなでしてタメ息をひとつ
ヘヴィー級の恋はみごとに
角砂糖と一緒に溶けた
前よりももっとやせた胸に
ちょっと"チクッ"っとささるトゲがイタイ
星占いもあてにならないわ

もっと遠くまで一緒にゆけたらねぇ
うれしくてそれだけで

想い出はいつもキレイだけど
それだけじゃおなかがすくわ
本当はせつない夜なのに
どうしてかしら?
あの人の笑顔も思いだせないの

こわしてなおしてわかってるのに
それがあたしの性格だから
もどかしい気持ちであやふやなままで
それでもイイ恋をしてきた

おもいきりあけた左耳のピアスにはねぇ
笑えないエピソード

そばかすの数をかぞえてみる
汚れたぬいぐるみ抱いて
胸をさすトゲは消えないけど
カエルちゃんもウサギちゃんも笑ってくれるの

想い出はいつもキレイだけど
それだけじゃおなかがすくの
本当はせつない夜なのに
どうしてかしら?
あの人の涙も思いだせないの
思いだせないの wow

ララララララ
どうしてなの?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to JUDY AND MARY's song Sobakasu tell a story of a young girl who hated her freckles, but with just a simple touch, she realizes she has fallen in love with someone. The heavy weight of this love dissolved along with the sugar crystals on her tongue. She feels a slight pain in her chest and wonders why she can't remember the smile of the one she loves, despite the fact that the memories are still beautiful. She counts her freckles and holds a dirty stuffed animal in her arms, feeling the pain in her heart but finding comfort in her little friends who always make her smile.

The second verse speaks of her personality and how even though she knows she breaks things, she can't help but do it because that's just who she is. The pain of her confusing feelings remains but she has still experienced good love. She wears her left earring with pride, though it holds a sad story, while she counts her freckles and holds her stuffed animal close, grateful for their company, as they both listen to the memories that make her feel so empty inside, as she can't even remember the tears of the one she held so dear. The lyrics leave us asking "why is this happening?"

Line by Line Meaning

大キライだったそばかすを
I used to hate my freckles

ちょっとひとなでしてタメ息をひとつ
But now, I gently stroke them and take a deep breath

ヘヴィー級の恋はみごとに
My intense love melted like a heavy sugar rock

角砂糖と一緒に溶けた
Completely melting away like candy

前よりももっとやせた胸に
In my even skinnier chest

ちょっと"チクッ"っとささるトゲがイタイ
The tiny pricks of pain still hurt a bit

星占いもあてにならないわ
Even fortune telling can't be trusted

もっと遠くまで一緒にゆけたらねぇ
If only we could go further together, hey

うれしくてそれだけで
I'd be happy just with that

想い出はいつもキレイだけど
My memories are always beautiful

それだけじゃおなかがすくわ
But they're not enough to fill my stomach