Kemuri is a Japanese ska-punk band formed in 1995. They have an upbeat soun… Read Full Bio ↴Kemuri is a Japanese ska-punk band formed in 1995. They have an upbeat sound with positive lyrics which they refer to as PMA (positive mental attitude). While the majority of the songs are in English, they do also sing in Japanese.

On December 12th, 2006, Kemuri posted a "break up message" on their web site. They said they had done much more than they expected as a band and that this break up would be the most positive conclusion to their band (keeping in line with their PMA message). Their last show was on December 9th, 2007 at the Zepp in Tokyo. In 2012, the band made their reunion tour in Tokyo and in the U.S. In 2013, they released their brand new album "All for This!" June 5th in Japan.

Band members:

* Fumio Ito (伊藤ふみお), vocals
* Noriaki Tsuda (津田紀昭), bass
* Hidenori Minami (南英紀), guitar
* Shoji Hiraya (平谷庄至), drums
* Ken Kobayashi (コバヤシケン), saxophone
* Ryosuke Morimura (森村亮介), former trumpet player who passed away in 2003.

Kirisame
Kemuri Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

川面に立ちこめる濃い霧の中
ただ立ち尽くす
流れる水そびえる岩肌眺め
空気を吸い込む
理解できぬ破壊だけが
この川を蝕み...

堰き止められた川の涙なのか

霧雨舞い降り
傲慢人間への怒りなのか
激しく流れて
破壊だけがまかり通り
この川を蝕み...
民が主たる国の
思想は風と共に...
民が主たる国の
理想は霧の中へ消え流れ...

憂え思う心だけが
この川を守るのか...
民が主たる国の
誇りは雲と流れ...
民が主たる国の
宝は星の中へ...
民が主たる国は
誰が守るのか...

民が主たる国は
誰のモノなのか...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kemuri's song "Kirisame" describe the scene of a river enveloped in thick fog. The singer stands motionless, observing the flowing water and towering cliffs. They are unable to understand the destruction caused to the river. It appears that the tears of the dammed-up river flow amidst the drizzle. The lyrics suggest that the overflowing water may be a manifestation of anger towards arrogant individuals. The destruction is rampant in the river, and the ideals and thoughts of society appear to vanish into the mist.

The singer ponders if only their worried and anxious heart is the one that can protect the river. The pride of the leader, which is like the wind and the stream, the treasure of the leader that flows to the stars, and the one who can defend the leader - all are subjects of concern expressed in the lyrics. The song ends with posing the questions of who the leader's protector is and who the leader's belongings belong to. Kemuri's song "Kirisame" paints a picture of a river that flows amid human ideas and ideals, which vanish as the fog lifts.

Line by Line Meaning

川面に立ちこめる濃い霧の中
Standing in the midst of thick mist on the river

ただ立ち尽くす
Just standing still

流れる水そびえる岩肌眺め
Gazing at the flowing water and towering rocks

空気を吸い込む
Breathing in the air

理解できぬ破壊だけが
Only destruction is incomprehensible

この川を蝕み...
Eroding this river...

堰き止められた川の涙なのか
Is it the tears of a dammed river?

霧雨舞い降り
Drizzle is falling

傲慢人間への怒りなのか
Is it anger towards arrogant people?

激しく流れて
Flowing strongly

破壊だけがまかり通り
Only destruction prevails