Tatsurō Yamashita (山下達郎, Yamashita Tatsurō, born February 4, 1953), occasi… Read Full Bio ↴Tatsurō Yamashita (山下達郎, Yamashita Tatsurō, born February 4, 1953), occasionally credited as Tatsu Yamashita or Tats Yamashita, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer, who is known for pioneering the style of Japanese adult-oriented rock/soft rock music. His most well-known song is "Christmas Eve", the best-selling single song released in Japan in the 1980s, appearing on the Japanese singles chart for over 35 consecutive years. He is known for his collaborations with his wife, singer Mariya Takeuchi, on many songs including "Plastic Love" as well as with American songwriter Alan O'Day with whom he wrote hit songs "Your Eyes," "Magic Ways," "Love Can Go the Distance," and "Fragile." Active since the 1970s, Yamashita is considered an important contributor to Japanese music, ranked by HMV Japan as sixth in the Top 100 Japanese Artists.

Yamashita was a member of the band Sugar Babe with musicians Taeko Onuki and Kunio Muramatsu, who released their only album Songs in 1975. After the group disbanded in 1976, Yamashita signed to RCA and launched his career, releasing the solo album Circus Town the same year. Also in 1976, he teamed up with Eiichi Ohtaki, the producer of Sugar Babe, and Sugar Babe member Ginji Ito to release Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 which was cited by MTV as one of the finest collaborative efforts of that period. His 1979 award-winning album Moonglow gained moderate success, but his 1980 song Ride on Time peaked at No. 3 on the Japanese Oricon and the same-titled album topped the chart subsequently, propelling him to stardom.

Tatsuro's music has been regarded as a symbol of Japanese outdoor music, as represented by Ride on Time and For You in the early 1980s. In 2011, Yamashita's newly-released album Ray of Hope topped the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, making him the fourth singer to have topped the chart at least once per decade for four decades running. He has been called a "sound craftsman" because of his commitment to music-making. In addition to the vocal backing chorus, he handles everything from guitar arrangement, computer programming, synthesizer, and percussion by himself. Some of his songs are performed entirely by himself. He is particularly good at guitar rhythm cutting. His music is heavily acoustic, but he also has a wide range of knowledge about analog and digital recording due to utilizing the latest technology in music.

"Christmas Eve," Yamashita's best-known song in Japan and the best-selling Japanese single of the 1980s first appeared on his 1983 album Melodies. It topped the charts in 1990 and has since ranked in the top 100 on the Japanese charts every Christmas season. The song was most famously a commercial song for JR Central's "Xmas Express." It has sold nearly 2 million copies since its release and continues to be sold in small quantities as a limited edition every Christmas season.

As a solo artist, Yamashita has released 13 original studio albums, five cover albums, two live albums, multiple compilations, and over 50 singles. He is the most commercially successful Japanese male solo recording artist in the history of the Japanese album chart, selling approximately 9 million albums in total. He has also composed for films and television commercials, and worked on records by other artists. Yamashita frequently collaborated with Alan O'Day, who wrote the English lyrics for some of his most popular songs. He has also collaborated with his wife Mariya Takeuchi, whom he married in 1982. They have one daughter.

Reborn
Tatsuro Yamashita Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

生きることを教えてくれた
あなたを忘れないよ
かけがえのない愛の形見に
さみしさは似合わない
そっと微笑む
にじむ夜を抱きしめ

あなたはいつだって

わたしのそばにいる
目に見えぬ力で
心を奮わせる
いつかまたきっとまためぐり会う時まで
少しだけのさよなら

触れることはもうかなわない
でもいつも感じてる
わたしたちが生きた証しを
くちびるに言葉を乗せ
あなたの代わりに
歌おう声の限りに

わたしたちはみんな
どこから来たのだろう
命の船に乗り
どこへと行くのだろう
あなたからわたしへとわたしは誰かへと
想いを繋ぐために

悲しまないで
うなだれないで
振り向かないで
怖がらないで
止まらないで
あきらめないで
生きて行きたい
あなたのように

あなたはいつの日か
ふたたびよみがえり
永遠のどこかで
わたしを待っている
たましいは決して
滅びることはない
いつかまたきっとまた
めぐり会う時まで
少しだけのさよなら

たくさんのありがとう
少しだけのさよなら

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from Tatsuro Yamashita's song "Reborn." The song is a heartfelt tribute to someone who has passed away but continues to have a lasting impact on the singer's life. It captures the emotions of gratitude, love, and longing for that person.

In the first paragraph, the singer expresses their gratitude to the person who taught them the meaning of life and assures that they will never forget them. The line "かけがえのない愛の形見にさみしさは似合わない" (The loneliness doesn't suit the irreplaceable memento of love) suggests that the singer finds comfort and strength in the memories they shared with this person.

The second paragraph reflects the everlasting presence of the person in the singer's life. Despite not being physically present, they feel the invisible power and influence of this person, which uplifts their heart. The line "いつかまたきっとまためぐり会う時まで少しだけのさよなら" (Until the time when we meet again someday, surely, it's just a brief farewell) conveys the belief in a future reunion.

The third paragraph contemplates the origins and destination of all individuals. Like ships in the journey of life, the singer wonders where they all come from and where they are headed. The line "あなたからわたしへとわたしは誰かへと想いを繋ぐために" (From you to me, for the sake of connecting my feelings to someone else) suggests that the singer wants to pass on the love and lessons they received to others.

The final paragraph shows a sense of encouragement and determination. The singer urges themselves not to be sad, discouraged, or afraid but rather to continue living with perseverance, just like the person they are referring to. The lines "あなたはいつの日かふたたびよみがえり永遠のどこかでわたしを待っている" (Someday, you will be reborn and be waiting for me in an eternal place) express a belief in a spiritual connection with the person even after their physical departure.

Overall, these lyrics encapsulate the deep love, gratitude, and hope one can feel towards someone who has left a lasting impact on their life. The song is a beautiful tribute to the enduring nature of love and the belief in the continuation of the soul beyond mortality.

Line by Line Meaning

生きることを教えてくれた
You taught me how to live

あなたを忘れないよ
I will never forget you

かけがえのない愛の形見に
As a cherished memento of irreplaceable love

さみしさは似合わない
Loneliness doesn't suit me

そっと微笑む
I softly smile

にじむ夜を抱きしめ
Embracing the hazy night

あなたはいつだって
You will always be

わたしのそばにいる
By my side

目に見えぬ力で
With an invisible strength

心を奮わせる
Stirring my heart

いつかまたきっとまためぐり会う時まで
Until someday, surely, we meet again