The Island
Susan Osborn Lyrics

The song 知床旅情, or "The Island" in English, is a nostalgic and sentimental ballad that sings of the memories of the singer and their loved one in Cape Shiretoko. The opening line, "知床の岬に はまなすの咲く頃" sets the scene in Cape Shiretoko or Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan during the blooming of the "hamanasu" flower, or Rosa rugosa, in summer. The singer then asks their lover to remember them, from when they were younger and carefree, and to remember the times they drank, laughed, and climbed hills together. As they climb, they look out towards the Kuril Islands on the horizon as the white nights of the summer season shine through.

The second stanza continues the theme of wandering and travel, and how the singer has become intoxicated and lost in the memories of their love. They see the reflection of the moon on the waves in the beach, and wants to hold their lover tightly tonight. When they approach the shadows of the rocks, they see the "pikari" which can be interpreted as a type of firefly that only appears in Japan during the rainy season. It is said that the presence of the pikari indicates that someone is in love or that a love will blossom.

The third and final verse is about the impending separation between the singer and their lover. The "Laus" village in the song may be referring to Lausanne, Switzerland which is quite far from Japan. The singer expresses their reluctance to let go and to forget each other, and to not let the seagulls or the whimsical crows make them cry. The white seagulls, or "shiroi kamome", may represent the passing of time, and how memories can fade away just as the birds fly away. The lyrics are touching and poignant because it expresses the bittersweet feelings of love and loss, and the importance of cherishing memories and the people we love.