In December 2009, they released an album 0. as a limited release of 500 copies in Aomori. Since the album created a lot of buzz and they were flooded with inquiries, they eventually released the album nationwide as 0.6.
As the intense worldview of their lyrics grabbed the attention of listeners with quick ears, they made a major debut with 爆弾の作り方 (How to Make a Bomb) released from Sony Music Associated Records in June 2010.
“a band led by Hiromu Akita from Aomori”
It was the only information officially shared about the band, but they have expanded their fan base by word of mouth, mostly through the Internet, to such an extent that their latest album ねえママ あなたの言うとおり (Hey Mom, It's Just as You Say) went up to number 8 in the Oricon weekly album chart.
When performing live, they have a unique style where they play behind a screen that covers the whole stage and projects various images to go along with the music. Their shows have been much talked about, and some say it gives the audience a sense of watching a film and enjoying live music at the same time.
They are also known as their music videos with CG animation and have won a variety of awards worldwide.
In 2010, their music video for 夏を待っていました ("Waiting for the Summer") won the Excellence Award at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival. amazarashi’s 夏を待っていました and サカナクション's アルクアラウンド were the only music videos that won the awards that year.
Furthermore, they have attracted interest throughout the world as they won prizes at Annecy International Animated Film Festival (originally a part of Cannes Film Festival) in France, SIGGRAPH ASIA 2011 (the world’s biggest computer graphics event), one dot zero 2011 (a digital animation festival in London), and more.
More info can be found on their official homepage at http://www.amazarashi.com.
令和二年
amazarashi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
情熱からおよそ遠い情熱
今日ならば晴れ 風はしわがれ
旅立つことない旅立ちの日
君の鼻歌 今日ばかりは この町のBGMみたい
頼りなさげなマスク越し
恨めしく睨む空 令和二年
封切りの映画 新譜のツアー
中止の入学式 令和二年
Oh, oh 令和二年
焦りと暇を持て遊ぶ歌
物理的でないからこそ痛む
悲しくないね 楽しくないぜ
感情は軒先で行き倒れ
歩道でキャッチボール 子供らの笑顔と不均衡
こんな時でもお腹だってすくもんな
買出しに行く 君を見送る
それだけで憂う 令和二年
カーテンを閉めるのに何故戸惑う
夕日に君の背中 令和二年
Oh, oh 令和二年
優しくすることもできる 傷つけることもできる
武器にも薬にもなるなら 僕はどちらを選ぶだろう
変わる 世界の隅っこで 分かつ 個々の小宇宙
繋がる術を持つ僕らの 心 応答せよ
封鎖の公園の桜 誰に見られずとも咲いた
残念だな 残念だな 約束したはずなのに
仕事がなけりゃ 先立つは金
見捨てられた市井 令和二年
先は見えない 「けど大丈夫」
僕に嘘をつかせた 令和二年
Oh, oh 令和二年
Oh, oh 令和二年
The lyrics to amazarashi's song 令和二年, which translates to "Reiwa 2nd Year," portray a sense of unease and confusion amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The first verse talks about hearing a voice calling out after finishing packing for a journey, but the passion that once drove the person has since faded away. It's a day for departing with no travels to embark on. The second verse describes the nostalgia of one's humming, reminding them of the town's background music. The lyricist also notes the discomfort of wearing a mask and how COVID-19 makes it nearly impossible to fulfill one's dreams or intentions.
The chorus continues with the confusion and pain that comes with not knowing where one's future lies. The lyrics mention a song that can distract and relieve the boredom and anxiety. The verse relates to the fact that, although it may not be physical, the pain is still present. The second section of the chorus highlights the idea that people can choose to be kind or hurtful, and the lyricist ponders which path to follow. The bridge emphasizes the challenges of living in a world that is not connected as it once was. The final evening scene of the sunset reflects on the past of the year and the fear of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
旅支度終え 誰か呼ぶ声
Preparations for the journey done, a voice calls out to someone
情熱からおよそ遠い情熱
Passion that is far from being actual passion
今日ならば晴れ 風はしわがれ
If it's today it will be clear, the wind is hoarse
旅立つことない旅立ちの日
A day of departure without actually leaving
君の鼻歌 今日ばかりは この町のBGMみたい
Your humming seems like today's background music for this town
頼りなさげなマスク越し
Through the unreliable mask
とげられぬ夢 やむを得ぬ故
A dream that cannot be fulfilled, an inevitable reason
恨めしく睨む空 令和二年
Looking hatefully at the sky, Reiwa 2
封切りの映画 新譜のツアー
The premiere of the movie, the release of a new album, the tour
中止の入学式 令和二年
The cancelation of the entrance ceremony, Reiwa 2
Oh, oh 令和二年
Oh, oh Reiwa 2
焦りと暇を持て遊ぶ歌
A song that toys with urgency and boredom
物理的でないからこそ痛む
It hurts because it's not physical
悲しくないね 楽しくないぜ
It's not sad, but it's not fun either
感情は軒先で行き倒れ
Emotions fall over at the eaves
歩道でキャッチボール 子供らの笑顔と不均衡
Catch ball on the sidewalk, the smiles of children and the imbalance
こんな時でもお腹だってすくもんな
Even at these times, the stomach still doesn't feel full
買出しに行く 君を見送る
Going shopping, seeing you off
それだけで憂う 令和二年
Just that, and it causes anxiety, Reiwa 2
カーテンを閉めるのに何故戸惑う
Why do I hesitate to close the curtains
夕日に君の背中 令和二年
Your back in the sunset, Reiwa 2
優しくすることもできる 傷つけることもできる
I can be kind, I can hurt someone
武器にも薬にもなるなら 僕はどちらを選ぶだろう
If it can be both a weapon and medicine, which one would I choose
変わる 世界の隅っこで 分かつ 個々の小宇宙
In a corner of the changing world, we separate individual universes
繋がる術を持つ僕らの 心 応答せよ
Our hearts, which possess the technique to connect, respond
封鎖の公園の桜 誰に見られずとも咲いた
The cherry blossoms in the locked park bloom without being seen by anyone
残念だな 残念だな 約束したはずなのに
It's a shame, it's a shame, even though we had promised
仕事がなけりゃ 先立つは金
Without work, money is the one that precedes
見捨てられた市井 令和二年
The abandoned town, Reiwa 2
先は見えない 「けど大丈夫」
The future is not visible, but 'it'll be okay'
僕に嘘をつかせた 令和二年
Reiwa 2 that made me tell a lie
Oh, oh 令和二年
Oh, oh Reiwa 2
Oh, oh 令和二年
Oh, oh Reiwa 2
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hiromu Akita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kuudou
This year was awful, very far from ideal, and had many painful moments. But honestly, to me it felt like the final nail in the coffin because these past few years hadn’t felt good to me either, and it was like a big buildup to this. I don’t like being too personal online, but amazarashi has seriously been my source of comfort during these past few years. Resonated with how the world feels to me, and all that.
I first dicovered amazarashi some time in 2017, and really fell in love with them with 「地方都市のメメント・モリ」 until I entered high school. I’ve been in the same small school branch for so long, that I had the same circle of friends and environment, and while I found some comfort in staying in my safe bubble, it felt very constraining. I’m horrible at socializing, and the prejudice againts minorities in my country is quite horrible, so I’m really careful and self-preserving when I try to make friends, which is something I’m trying to handle better.
It’s kinda funny how I hated my comfort bubble as much as I longed to leave it, as I no longer felt comfort in it and actually found myself despising it. The world works in funny ways, because due to the current situation and its financial impact, I had to stop going to my current school, and was worried about being a dropout for a few agonizing months.
The situation has been slightly resolved, but I had to move schools on my senior year. Turns out, there’s so much I have to catch up on educationally, and it’s inevitable that I feel somewhat alienated in a school where everyone has known eachother for two years or longer. I am sad that I have to let go of some friendships, as we just drifted apart and I felt like I was the only one holding on. The pandemic hasn’t been helping with that either. But even with what I consider the hardest time in my life (even with the many bigger problems in the world), I am incredibly lucky that BOYCOTT had come out. amazarashi’s newer and older music has helped so much, in comfort, in reassurance, in validating my feelings, and so much more.
I know there’s so much more problems out there, and so many people heavily impacted by this pandemic, many who lost loved ones, and I can’t imagine how much pain they’re going through. Everyone is impacted by this. Be it losing friends, losing the chance to go to events, losing jobs, and even losing a loved one, this year has been a year of loss. We had to give up so much. I think it’s unfair that we have to sugarcoat this year, like ‘this year is bad but there’s still hope next year!’, when there’s so much uncertainities thrown in the mix. I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t know where I will end up, and the thought keeps me up at night a lot.
That’s why I’m so glad for the existence for this song, and I am so grateful the frustrations, the bitterness I’ve felt throughout the year is expressed through it. amazarashi never fails to bring good music, the one that touches your heart, the one that brings you comfort, the one that is there for you when you need it. I can’t organize my throughts properly and this is probably very r/offmychest of me, but I just wanted to say that amazarashi means so much to me, and I’m very grateful for their music.
Thank you so much, amazarashi, for 「令和二年」, I hope everyone is able to feel comforted by this just as I am, I hope amazarashi will continue creating music for us, and most importantly, I hope the future holds something better for all of us whether we’re certain or not. <3
(And hopefully my Japanese becomes good enough to be able to express how I feel, but I still have a very long way to go! Seriously hoping JLPTs won’t get cancelled again, and I will get the chance to go to Japan and see amazarashi live. Best of luck to everyone and their lives!)
Edit: Thank you so much for the kind replies <3 I hope everyone’s 2021 is going well so far.
비정한세상
令和二年
레이와 2년
amazarashi 「令和二年、雨天決行」
旅支度終え 誰か呼ぶ声
타비시타쿠오에 다레카 요부 코에
여행 준비를 마치고 누군가 부르는 목소리
情熱からおよそ遠い情熱
조오네츠카라 오요소 토오이 조오네츠
정열에서 아주 멀어진 정열
今日ならば晴れ 風はしわがれ
쿄오나라바 하레 카제와 시와가레
오늘이라면 맑은 바람의 목소리는 쉬었고
旅立つことない旅立ちの日
타비다츠 코토 나이 타비다치노 히
떠날 일 없는 여정의 날
君の鼻歌 今日ばかりは
키미노 하나우타 쿄오바카리와
너의 콧노래 오늘만은
この町のBGMみたい
코노 마치노 비지이에무 미타이
이 마을의 BGM 같아
頼りなさげなマスク越し
타요리나 사게나 마스쿠고시
미덥지 못한 마스크 너머엔
とげられぬ夢 やむを得ぬ故
토게라레누 유메 야무오에누 유에
이룰 수 없는 꿈 어쩔 수 없는 이유
恨めしく睨む空 令和二年
우라메시쿠 니라무 소라 레에와 니넨
원망스럽게 노려보는 하늘 레이와 2년
封切りの映画 新譜のツアー
후우키리노 에에가 신푸노 츠아아
개봉한 영화 신곡 투어
中止の入学式 令和二年
추우시노 뉴우가쿠시키 레에와 니넨
중지된 입학식 레이와 2년
令和二年
레에와 니넨
레이와 2년
焦りと暇を 持て遊ぶ歌
아세리토 히마오 모테 아소부 우타
초조함과 한가함을 가지고 노는 노래
物理的でないからこそ痛む
부츠리테키데 나이카라코소 이타무
물리적이 아니라서 아프네
悲しくないね 楽しくないぜ
카나시쿠나이네 타노시쿠 나이제
슬프지 않네 즐겁지 않아
感情は軒先で行き倒れ
칸조오와 노키사키데 이키다오레
감정은 집 앞에서 쓰러졌네
歩道でキャッチボール
호도오데 캬치보오루
보도에서 캐치볼
子供らの笑顔と不均衡
코도모라노 에가오토 후킨코오
아이들의 웃는 얼굴과 불균형
こんな時でもお腹だってすくもんな
콘나 토키데모 오나카닷테 스쿠 몬나
이런 때에도 배는 고파지는구나
買い出しに行く 君を見送る
카이다시니 이쿠 키미오 미오쿠루
장보러 가는 너를 보내는
それだけで憂う 令和二年
소레다케데 우레우 레에와 니넨
그것만으로도 걱정이 되네 레이와 2년
カーテンを閉めるのになぜ戸惑う
카아텐오 시메루노니 나제 토마도우
커튼을 치는걸 어째서 망설일까
夕日に君の背中 令和二年
유우히니 키미노 세나카 레에와 니넨
석양과 너의 등 레이와 2년
令和二年
레에와 니넨
레이와 2년
優しくすることもできる
야사시쿠 스루 코토모 데키루
상냥하게 대할 수도 있어
傷つけることもできる
키즈츠케루 코토모 데키루
상처입힐 수도 있어
武器にも薬にもなるなら
부키니모 쿠스리니모 나루나라
무기도 약도 될 수 있다면
僕はどちらを選ぶだろう
보쿠와 도치라오 에라부다로오
나는 어느 쪽을 고를까
変わる 世界の隅っこで
카와루 세카이노 스밋코데
바뀌네 세상의 한 구석에서
分かつ 個々の小宇宙
와카츠 코코노 쇼오우추우
나뉘는 각각의 소우주
繋がる術を持つ僕らの
츠나가루 스베오 모츠 보쿠라노
서로와 이어지는 수단을 가진 우리들의
心 応答せよ
코코로 오오토오세요
마음이여 응답하라
封鎖の公園の桜
후우사노 코오엔노 사쿠라
폐쇄된 공원의 벚꽃
誰に見られずとも咲いた
다레니 미라레즈토모 사이타
아무도 보지 않아도 피었네
残念だな 残念だな
잔넨다나 잔넨다나
아쉽구나 아쉽구나
約束したはずなのに
야쿠소쿠시타 하즈나노니
약속했을텐데
仕事がなけりゃ 先立つは金
시고토가 나케랴 사키다츠와 카네
일이 없으면 가장 필요한 건 돈
見捨てられた市井 令和二年
미스테라레타 시세이 레에와 니넨
버려지고 만 거리 레이와 2년
先は見えない 「けど大丈夫」
사키와 미에나이 「케도 다이조오부」
앞은 보이지 않아 「하지만 괜찮아」
僕に嘘をつかせた 令和二年
보쿠니 우소오 츠카세타 레에와 니넨
나에게 거짓말을 하게 한 레이와 2년
令和二年 令和二年
레에와 니넨 레에와 니넨
레이와 2년 레이와 2년
繭ほむら
心のモヤモヤやドス黒い感情…悲しみや憎しみを掃(吐)き出してくれるひろむさんホント好き。
｢頑張ろう｣｢大丈夫だよ｣
みたいな励ましじゃなく
｢もう限界｣｢大丈夫じゃない｣｢でも生きる｣
っていう…
現実と向き合い、折れて挫けながらも進む
散々踏みつけられても生えてくる雑草の様な、泥臭い生命の輝きを感じる。
心から大好きだ！ありがとう！
SHIL YOU
amszarashiさんの歌は、人生が調子いい時はなんとなく聞かなくなり
慢心で傲っている時にふと聞くと大切な何かにまた気付かされ
疲れて涙も流れない時には代わりに泣いてくれて
悲しいときには寄り添ってくれて
心が空っぽなときほどすっと入り込んでくれる
まるで詩集を読んでいるように心が静かになる気がします
はんぺん
辛い時はいつも必要で、なんとなく幸せな時は必要なくなる。まるで傘のよう。セカオワの曲のアンブレラっていう曲もそういうテイストだったなあ。
真夏
すごくわかります
あゆみ
すごくわかる
特に調子がいい時の部分
やればできるやっちゃん
わかります！人生のどん底って感じの時はいっぱい聞いて泣いて助けてもらって、、これからも秋田さんに支えていただきながら秋田さんを応援して支えていきたいと思うんですよねぇ、、
わーるしゅたっと
ほんとにたった今自分がそうだった。上京したときによく聴いた。
とんそく
この歌を聞いて「懐かしいなあ」と思える日を待っているし、この歌を聞いて「なんでマスク越しなんだろう」と疑問を抱けるような遥か未来を望んでる
小林大悟
俺はそんな日が来るって信じてるよ
Taro Uni
相変わらずマスクを着けてる未来しか見えて来ないんだけど・・・
ビーストキング先輩
コロナ歴史から抹消されておって草