His real name is Masanori Takahashi (Kitarō is a stage name that means "happy"). He was born in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan and is a graduate of Toyohashi Commercial High School. After graduating, Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first synthesizer was analog, and he recalls having “just loved the analog sound that it made compared to today's digital sound”.
His parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a musical career. In an effort to maneuver him towards their vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local company. In return, he left home without telling them. He supported himself by taking on several part time jobs such as cooking and civil service work, while composing songs at night.
In the early 1970s, he changed completely to keyboards. He joined the Japanese music group Far East Family Band which was formed in 1965, and toured with them around the world. While in Europe, he met the German electronica and former Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze. Schulze produced two albums for the band and gave Kitaro some tips for controlling synthesizers. In 1976, Kitaro left Far East Family Band and travelled through Asia (China, Laos, Thailand, India)
Universally acknowledged as the founding architect of new age music, Kitaro has achieved global acclaim over a more than three decade long career with a signature sound and a pioneering fusion of cultures, techniques and spheres of consciousness.
As a Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning artist, this incredibly prolific composer and performer has continued his reign in the international spotlight and at the forefront of musical innovation ever since his critically acclaimed soundtrack to the Japanese NHK documentary, Silk Road.
Most fundamentally, at its heart, Kitaro's music is always about sending a profound message of peace that has inspired countless fans from around the globe. Kitaro's latest album release, "Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai Volume 4" was nominated at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, his 14th career nomination to date.
Official website: http://www.domomusicgroup.com/kitaro/index.php
Impressions of the West Lake
Kitaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
断 桥 绢 伞, 黑 白 了 思 念
谁 在 船 上, 写 我 的 从 前
一 笔 誓 言, 满 纸 离 散
雨 啊 站 在 湖 边
雨 啊 遥 望 北 岸
雨 还 在 下, 落 满 一 湖 烟
断 桥 绢 伞, 黑 白 了 思 念
一 笔 蝴 蝶, 满 纸 离 散
我 的 告 别, 从 没 有 间 断西 子 湖 上, 一 遍 一 遍
白 色 翅 膀, 分 飞 了 流 年
长 叹 一 声, 天 上 人 间
雨 还 在 下, 淋 湿 千 年
湖 水 连 天, 黑 白 了 相 见
谁 在 船 上, 写 我 的 从 前
一 说 人 间, 再 说 江 山
These lyrics are from Kitaro's song "Impressions of the West Lake" and describe a melancholic scene in which rain is falling heavily over a lake, enshrouding it in mist. The singer is observing a broken bridge and some people on a boat, perhaps contemplating it as a symbol of a past love, something that used to connect them but now is just a memory. The lyrics describe the frustration of being unable to rewrite or relive past moments, expressed by the metaphor of a butterfly leaving its mark on paper only to fly away and disperse. The song seems to evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost love or past memories that can’t be regained.
The song is inspired by the West Lake in Hangzhou, China and its surrounding landscapes, which are considered one of the most beautiful scenic spots in China. It is a tribute to the beauty and cultural significance of the place, which is referred to in the lyrics as "Xizi Lake". The song blends elements of traditional Chinese music and electronic music, setting a melancholy tone and creating a dreamy and introspective atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
雨 还 在 下, 落 满 一 湖 烟
The rain is still falling, covering the lake with mist
断 桥 绢 伞, 黑 白 了 思 念
The broken bridge, the umbrella made of silk, have turned black and white with memories
谁 在 船 上, 写 我 的 从 前
Someone on the boat is writing about my past
一 笔 誓 言, 满 纸 离 散
One oath, scattered across the paper
雨 啊 站 在 湖 边
Oh rain, standing by the lake
雨 啊 遥 望 北 岸
Oh rain, looking northward from afar
我 的 告 别, 从 没 有 间 断
My departure has never ended
西 子 湖 上, 一 遍 一 遍
At West Lake, one after another
白 色 翅 膀, 分 飞 了 流 年
White wings scattered and flew through the years
长 叹 一 声, 天 上 人 间
A long sigh, between heaven and earth
雨 还 在 下, 淋 湿 千 年
The rain is still falling, drenching thousands of years
湖 水 连 天, 黑 白 了 相 见
The lake water reaches the sky, and the meeting has turned black and white
谁 在 船 上, 写 我 的 从 前
Someone on the boat is writing about my past
一 说 人 间, 再 说 江 山
Once we speak of the mortal world, we speak of the rivers and mountains
Writer(s): Masanori Takahashi P/k/a Kitaro
Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@seyaichi256
yǔ hái zài xià ,luò mǎn yī hú yān
雨 还 在 下 ,落 满 一 湖 烟
The rain is still falling, mist covers the lake.
duàn qiáo juàn sǎn ,hēi bái le sī niàn
断 桥 绢 伞 ,黑 白 了 思 念
A broken bridge, a silk umbrella; I’ve been missing you for so long it’s faded into black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who’s on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī bǐ shì yán ,mǎn zhǐ lí sàn
一 笔 誓 言 ,满 纸 离 散
Our vows, broken.
yǔ ā ~~~ zhàn zài hú biān
雨 啊~~~ 站 在 湖 边
The rain… I am standing by the lakeside.
yǔ ā ~~~ yáo wàng běi àn
雨 啊~~~ 遥 望 北 岸
The rain… I am staring wistfully at the north shore.
yǔ hái zài xià ,luò mǎn yī hú yān
雨 还 在 下 ,落 满 一 湖 烟
The rain is still falling, mist covers the lake.
duàn qiáo juàn sǎn ,hēi bái le sī niàn
断 桥 绢 伞 ,黑 白 了 思 念
a broken bridge, a silk umbrella; I’ve been missing you for so long it’s faded into black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who’s on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī bǐ hú dié ,mǎn zhǐ lí sàn
一 笔 蝴 蝶 ,满 纸 离 散
The butterfly lovers, destined to part.
wǒ de gào bié ,cóng méi yǒu jiàn duàn
我 的 告 别 , 从 没 有 间 断
My farewells, unending
xī zǐ hú shàng ,yí biàn yí biàn
西 子 湖 上 ,一 遍 一 遍
On the West Lake, again and again.
bái sè chì bǎng ,fēn fēi le liú nián
白 色 翅 膀 ,分 飞 了 流 年
White wings, flying away the years
zhǎng tàn yī shēng ,tiān shàng rén jiān
长 叹 一 声 , 天 上 人 间
breathe a sigh of longing for heaven.
yǔ hái zài xià ,lín shī qiān nián
雨 还 在 下 ,淋 湿 千 年
The rain is still falling, dampening these thousand years.
hú shuǐ lián tiān ,hēi bái le xiāng jiàn
湖 水 连 天 ,黑 白 了 相 见
The lake waters to heaven, fading our meeting to black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who is on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī shuō rén jiān ,zài shuō jiāng shān
一 说 人 间 ,再 说 江 山
A story about love; it’s a story about the world.
@fanfy419
Translator @Nick Vargemezis:
雨还在下，落满一湖烟 Remaining the rain falls upon the steam like lake.
断桥绢伞，黑白(了)思念 The Broken Bridge, with the silk sunshade, my sighing for you paled into black and white.
谁在船上，写我(的)从前？ Who on the boat, is writing about my past?
一笔誓言，满纸离散 A line of vow, but on paper was all about parting.
雨啊~~站在湖边 Rain~~, ah~ Standing at the edge of the lake
雨啊~~遥望北岸 Rain~~, ah~ I look at the north bank in the distance.
雨还在下，落满一湖烟 Remaining the rain falls into a lake of steam.
断桥绢伞，黑白(了)思念 The Broken Bridge, with the silk sunshade, my sighing for you paled into black and white.
谁在船上，写我(的)从前？ Who is on the boat, writing about my past?
一笔蝴蝶，满纸离散 A drawing of the butterfly, but on the paper was all about dispersing. Dada.da. Wu.wu
我的告别，从没有间断 My word of farewell, has never been stopped,
西子湖上，一遍一遍 the Westlake, again and again
白色翅膀分飞了流年 With those white wings, fly away the fleeing years
长叹一声天上人间 Toss and sigh, (How I long for) heaven on earth
雨还在下，淋湿千年 Remains the rain, a thousand years all wet
湖水连天，黑白(了)相见 The lake connecting the sky, paled our meeting into black and white.
谁在船上，写我(的)从前？ Who is on the boat, writing about my past?
一说人间，再说江山 Saying about the real world, then about the mountain and waters
@ywetasukeltova1580
Krásná hudba,krásný zpěv.Jste nádherné bytosti a vynikající umělci.Děkuji❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹🍀🍀🍀
@ovedlevi3438
Kitaro and Jane Zhang toogethre are complitly amazing.She can singing even opera perfect.And her beauty ho my god.
@rawi707
First time to know about Kitaro was in Nanjing (PR-China) in 1998 during my one year Chinese course... I was buying one of their CDs back then, called Kitaro - The essential Collection ... I asked the seller to give me a taste of their music; when he put Mandala (was third track) I told him ... stop and hand me the CD. Never stopped listening to Kitaro since then ....
@gueronva
Jane is so beautiful...her voice is too!
@larinber
Wow! This is what I call music composed, and sung with feelings. I don't have a clue what the girl is singing but it doesn't matter a thing. Kitaro is awesome, is a real master. Their musicians are fabulous too, and the girl is superb. Don't get tired of hearing this. Really, really superior. Another level of music!
@eve517
I couldn't agree more !!!
@markonah5298
Jane zhang
@seyaichi256
yǔ hái zài xià ,luò mǎn yī hú yān
雨 还 在 下 ,落 满 一 湖 烟
The rain is still falling, mist covers the lake.
duàn qiáo juàn sǎn ,hēi bái le sī niàn
断 桥 绢 伞 ,黑 白 了 思 念
A broken bridge, a silk umbrella; I’ve been missing you for so long it’s faded into black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who’s on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī bǐ shì yán ,mǎn zhǐ lí sàn
一 笔 誓 言 ,满 纸 离 散
Our vows, broken.
yǔ ā ~~~ zhàn zài hú biān
雨 啊~~~ 站 在 湖 边
The rain… I am standing by the lakeside.
yǔ ā ~~~ yáo wàng běi àn
雨 啊~~~ 遥 望 北 岸
The rain… I am staring wistfully at the north shore.
yǔ hái zài xià ,luò mǎn yī hú yān
雨 还 在 下 ,落 满 一 湖 烟
The rain is still falling, mist covers the lake.
duàn qiáo juàn sǎn ,hēi bái le sī niàn
断 桥 绢 伞 ,黑 白 了 思 念
a broken bridge, a silk umbrella; I’ve been missing you for so long it’s faded into black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who’s on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī bǐ hú dié ,mǎn zhǐ lí sàn
一 笔 蝴 蝶 ,满 纸 离 散
The butterfly lovers, destined to part.
wǒ de gào bié ,cóng méi yǒu jiàn duàn
我 的 告 别 , 从 没 有 间 断
My farewells, unending
xī zǐ hú shàng ,yí biàn yí biàn
西 子 湖 上 ,一 遍 一 遍
On the West Lake, again and again.
bái sè chì bǎng ,fēn fēi le liú nián
白 色 翅 膀 ,分 飞 了 流 年
White wings, flying away the years
zhǎng tàn yī shēng ,tiān shàng rén jiān
长 叹 一 声 , 天 上 人 间
breathe a sigh of longing for heaven.
yǔ hái zài xià ,lín shī qiān nián
雨 还 在 下 ,淋 湿 千 年
The rain is still falling, dampening these thousand years.
hú shuǐ lián tiān ,hēi bái le xiāng jiàn
湖 水 连 天 ,黑 白 了 相 见
The lake waters to heaven, fading our meeting to black and white.
shuí zài chuán shàng ,xiě wǒ de cóng qián
谁 在 船 上 ,写 我 的 从 前
Who is on the boat, writing my once upon a time?
yī shuō rén jiān ,zài shuō jiāng shān
一 说 人 间 ,再 说 江 山
A story about love; it’s a story about the world.
@anya9232
Thank you so so much for translating this amazing song. KItaro's music is heavenly.
@raymondlai4656
Dear Kitarotv, I would like to say, thank you, very much, to you, for putting in the time, energy and effort to both upload and share this video with the youtube family. Have a lovely day, Kitarotv.