Mr.Children or Misuchiru as they are known to their fans is a famous Japane… Read Full Bio ↴Mr.Children or Misuchiru as they are known to their fans is a famous Japanese pop/rock group formed in 1989 by Kazutoshi Sakurai, Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki.

Mr.Children is one of the most popular bands in Japan. They made their major debut in 1992 with the release of their first album, "EVERYTHING", but it wasn't until one of their singles was used as a drama theme song, like their fourth single "Cross Road", that they started getting noticed. They got their big break in 1994 with the release of their fifth single, "innocent world", which made record sales and earned the Japan Record Award in 1994. Their fourth album, "Atomic Heart", which was released in the same year, is still their top selling album to date. Since then, all their singles have been number one hits in the Oricon charts like "Tomorrow never knows" and "Namonaki-uta", and many of them became million sellers, and they've produced other noteworthy albums.

In 1997, they took a long vacation, and came back to the Japanese music scene the next year with the single "Owari-naki-tabi."

Their sound is essentially a blend of light pop and classic rock. But due to the band's inclination to experiment with various music styles, their sound is constantly evolving. They have delved into various types of rock as well as jazz, blues, folk, country, and dance. Despite this constant change, however, their music has progressed successfully, proving them to be a versatile band that can last.

The main force behind the band is their singer and songwriter, Kazutoshi Sakurai, who composes almost all of their songs. The rest of the band include Kenichi Tahara on guitar, Keisuke Nakagawa on bass, and Hideya Suzuki (Jen) on drums and backing vocals. They also have supporting musicians on keyboards, guitar, brass instruments (trumpet and saxophone), and computer programming for their tours because they usually embellish their recordings.

It must be noted that a good part of what makes Mr.Children's songs unique is Sakurai's remarkable vocal ability. His vocal range is higher than the typical male range, and he sings with a noticeable Western style. Also, it is because he is influenced by the great classic rock artists of the '60s and '70s (in particular, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones) that the band's music usually has a classic rock feel. But being the vocalist of the band doesn't prevent him from sometimes sharing guitar solos with Tahara, or playing them by himself. He also plays the piano and harmonica proficiently.

Tahara and Nakagawa are the quietest members of the group, often choosing to remain in the background when the band appears on TV shows. Jen seems to be the most extroverted member who takes his top off onstage at any opportunity. He also always matches Sakurai's sense of humor. They are all very talented musicians who make vital contributions to the band.

On December 31, 2004, their song "Sign," was again awarded the Japan Record Award, ten years after the first.

Mr. Children has a long-time association with the Toys Factory record label.

Fastener
Mr.Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

昨日君が自分から下ろした
スカートのファスナー
およそ期待した通りの
あれが僕を締めつけた
大切にしなきゃならない
ものがこの世には
いっぱいあるという
でもそれが君じゃないこと

今日僕は気付いてしまった

きっとウルトラマンのそれのように
君の背中にも
ファスナーが付いていて
僕の手の届かない闇の中で
違う顔を誰かに見せているんだろう
そんなの知っている

帰り際リビングで
僕が上げてやるファスナー
御座なりの優しさは
今一つ精彩を欠くんだ
欲望が苦し紛れに
次の標的を探している
でもそれが君じゃないこと
想像してみて少し萎えてしまう

もしもウルトラマンの
それのように
総ての事には
ファスナーが付いていて
僕が背中見せているその隙に
牙を剥ぐつもりでも
信じてみる値打ちは
あると思えるんだ

きっと仮面ライダーの
それのように
僕の背中にも
ファスナーが付いていて
何処か心の奥の暗い場所で
目を腫らして大声で
泣きじゃくってるのかも

きっとウルトラマンの
それのように
君の背中には
ファスナーが付いていて
僕にそれを剥がし取る術はなくても
記憶の中焼き付けて
そっと胸のファスナーに
閉じ込めるんだ ah

惜しみない敬意と
愛を込めてファスナーを

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr.Children's song ファスナー (Fasunaa) delve into the themes of expectation, realization, and the complexities of relationships. The song describes a moment when the singer realizes that something they held dear is not what they expected. It starts with the metaphorical image of a zipper on a skirt that the singer believes to be something significant, something that holds them tightly. However, they come to the realization that there are many important things in the world, but the person they were expecting it to be isn't one of them. This realization leaves the singer somewhat disappointed.

The song then introduces the imagery of Ultraman, a Japanese superhero known for his ability to fight monsters, with a zipper on their back. This metaphor suggests that even the person the singer thought they knew well might be showing a different side to someone else, hidden in the darkness that is out of their reach. Despite this awareness, the singer understands this reality and acknowledges that they are aware of it.

In the later verses, the song mentions Kamen Rider, another popular Japanese superhero, and the hint that the singer may also have a zipper on their back, concealing their own hidden emotions and pain. It suggests that even if they wanted to expose their vulnerability, they might struggle to do so. However, they believe in the value of trusting someone enough to reveal themselves fully, even if they may end up hurt or disappointed in the process.

Overall, the lyrics of ファスナー highlight the complexities of relationships, the expectations we have of others, and the need for vulnerability and trust to truly understand and connect with each other.

Line by Line Meaning

昨日君が自分から下ろした
Yesterday, you unzipped it yourself

スカートのファスナー
The zipper of your skirt

およそ期待した通りの
Exactly as expected

あれが僕を締めつけた
That tightened around me

大切にしなきゃならない
I must cherish

ものがこの世には
The things that exist in this world

いっぱいあるという
There are plenty

でもそれが君じゃないこと
But it's not you

今日僕は気付いてしまった
Today, I realized

きっとウルトラマンのそれのように
Surely, just like Ultraman

君の背中にも
On your back too