Fireworks (Translation of Post on 12th Sep, Part 2)

 - continued from yesterday

Spring is the season of birth, and summer is the time that lives born in spring enjoy their prosperity.
Plants, insects, and animals feel the spirit of each life to a great extent in a summer season.



If expressed in the life of a tree, it's the time of a "young tree".
It absorbs a lot of water and nutrition from the ground, and grows up high in the sky - tall and big.
The trunk looks glossy and fresh leaves grow thick showing its strong vitality.

It is probably something called "spirit" that we feel standing close to the tree.

When autumn comes, deciduous trees change the colour of leaves from green to red or yellow, and fall onto the ground.
Grasses fade its colour from fresh green to brownish dry green, and they are flown in a cold wind.
Insects finish their short season of love, and die quietly under grasses without anyone knowing it.



Autumn is the time that we have this helpless feeling of sadness and sorrow to the short-lives.

Even though autumn has a lot of aspects, and it is considered as a season of good harvests, book reading, and good appetite (there are many tasty food in autumn in Japan!), the feeling of sadness must be the common one among Japanese people, I believe.



Patrick Lafcadio Hearn (27 June 1850 – 26 September 1904), also known as Koizumi Yakumo (小泉八雲) wrote a beautiful essay on the cosmology of little lives, called "Insect-Musicians" (Exotics and Retropestives, 1898), "Mushi no Ongakuka"虫の音楽家 in Japanese.



The transition from the end of summer to autumn is described through insects gracefully and delicately by Hearn, and I strongly recommend this book to those who are willing for further reading.
Good for both Japanese and non-Japanese.

Exotics and Retropestives by Patric Lafcadio Hearn




This kind of feeling can naturally and sentimentally remembered when watching the last fireworks.

For children, fun-filled summer holiday is coming towards the end, and the new term will start soon in autumn.
We also remember a bit of sad feeling of childhood, too, maybe even we are already grown-ups.

And when the last of last fireworks are over, the night sky looks awfully dark and broad with white smoke floating in the air, and the clamour of impatient crowds rushing homeward bound and the feeling of sadness complicatedly mixed up.

This is merely my personal opinion, so it can't be said the feeling described above is a typical of Japanese people's when watching the last fireworks.
Each listener has his/her own personal memory coming up in mind, and listens to the song through his/her own projection.
But this is the truth that many of us have deeply moved by this song.



BANK BAND, one of rock bands which consists of top-flight musicians in Japan, copied this song, "Wakamono No Subete" (All About Youth) and released in June this year.
It recorded the 6th position in the Album Ranking of Oricon Chart (See this Wiki to find out what Oricon Chart is) in July 2010, and 120,000 CDs have been sold so far.

It is a very good news for Fujifabric fans as this simply means at least 120,000 people have listened to this song!

But, please remember, that was originally the song of Fujifabric's!!


I wish that people all around the world also get a chance to listen to this song, and share this feeling with us.

"Wakamono No Subete" (All About Youth) by Fujifabric
(English Lyrics is available in Lyrics on the right!)

Fireworks (Translation of Post on 12th Sep, Part 1)

Today's topic is fireworks, called "Hanabi" in Japanese language.



When talking about the background of Fujifabric's songs, we should never forget fireworks.

It is because Fujifabric has composed many songs which seem to have been inspired by firewroks - for instance, "Senkou-Hanabi" (Toy Fireworks) in the 1st Mini-Album, "A la Carte", "Uchiage-Hanabi" (A Sky-rocket Fireworks) in the1st Full-Album, "Fujifabric", and "Wakamono No Subete" (All About Youth) in the 3rd Album,  "Teenager".


Here in Thailand, we have quite a few occasions to see fireworks in big events like Looi Krathoong Festival (a festival thanking the god of water) the end of November, King Bhumibol's Birthday on the 5th of December, and so on, but for Japanese people, fireworks cannot be anything else but a word which signals a summer season.

Tracing back where this sense is derived from takes us back to the Edo Era (1603-1868) - in the opening ceremony of a river to swimmers in the beginning of summer, fireworks were used to praise the god of a river.



Sparkling fireworks in the night sky are just splendid.

Round chrysanthemum-shaped ones and peony-shaped ones are typical of them, but a set piece of fireworks, forming a mountain, a fall and a pinwheel is getting now popular.

Recently, a heart-shaped one has been produced, there are people who propose in a fireworks display event, I heard.

This kind of event is the compilation of skills gained by Japanese fireworks artisans over hundreds of years.

There is another type of fireworks called "Temochi-Hanabi" meaning "fireworks holding in a hand", and these ones are available in ordinary supermarkets and retail shops.

Children playing fireworks holding in a hand is also a typical view of the summer time.


Fireworks display events showing a few thousands and millions shoots are very popular all around in Japan, and two hundred events or more are held in one summer.

In my hometown, Yamanashi Prefecture, there are 12 big firework display events in the summer as far as I recognise, and one of them is "Kawaguchi Lake Kojou-sai" (Festival at Lake Kawaguchi).



Lake Kawaguchi is the most famous of the Fuji Five Lakes located on the side of Yamanashi Prefecture.

In ancient times, lava flow from a volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji spread across the area, damming up rivers and resulting in the formation of these lakes.

Images of this lake are usually used in posters and commercials for the Fuji Five Lakes area.
They are all considered excellent tourist attractions and fishing spots.



"Sakasa Fuji", literally meaning "Mt. Fuji Upside Down" is the reflection of Mt. Fuji on the surface of the lake, and it can be seen in winter time.

Have a look in this web site for more information.
English language is available.
Tourist Information on Lake Kawagchi



Kojou-sai Fireworks Display at Lake Kawaguchi was held on the 4th and 5th of August this year.
Every year, about 120,000 people come from nearby cities and enjoy watching 10,000 shoots of fireworks.

Lake Kawaguchi is not far from Fujiyoshida City, where Mr. Shimura, a vocalist and a gutarist of Fujifabric comes from - less than 10 minutes by car, I guess.

When he was a young student, he occasionally got on a bike and visited this lake, according to his story.



"Wakamono No Subete" (All About Youth), considered to be one of the masterpieces of Fujifabric songs, was produced.
Mr. Shimura made this song remembering beautiful fireworks in Kojou-sai Fireworks Display.


"Time once again already, for the last fireworks of the year"


On the foot of Mt. Fuji in the northern part, a summer can last only for a short period of time, and around at the time of Rissyu (about 7th Aug), a cool wind starts blowing in the morning and evening.

Especially at night, we feel chilly staying outside and the sound of insects (crickets, bell-ring crickets, etc) in the grass can be heard here and there.
Click here for The sound of crickets




A season is quickly changing towards autumn, and eventually to winter.

It must be very hard for people in tropical countries to imagine, so it is rather unromantic for people from cold coutries, but please allow me to explain further in detail, tomorrow, where this 'sadness in the end of summer' really comes from.

Will be continued tomorrow!

花火

今日は、花火についてです。


フジファブリックの曲の背景を語る時、花火を忘れるわけにはいきません。
「線香花火」「打ち上げ花火」「若者のすべて」と花火の思い出からヒントをえて作られた（であろう）曲が何曲もあるからです。



タイにいると大きな行事ごとに（１１月下旬の「ロイカトーン」という水神様のお祭り、１２月５日のプミポン国王のお誕生日など）花火を目にしますが、日本人にとって花火は夏の季語以外にありえません。
古くは江戸時代、川開きの際に花火をあげたのが起源のようです。



夏の夜空を飾る花火は、それはそれは見事なものです。
円形の菊型や牡丹型が代表的なものですが、仕掛け花火といって夜空に山や滝、風車などを描き出すものもあります。
最近ではハート型のものまで出現して、花火大会でプロポーズの言葉をいう人も多いとか。



日本の花火職人が、数百年の時間をかけて培ってきた技術の集大成といえます。

また「手持ち花火」といって、手に持つタイプの花火（スーパーや小売店で購入可能）もあり、子供たちが庭先で興ずる姿は、やはり夏の風物詩です。

数千から数万発の花火を打ち上げる「花火大会」という催しが全国各地にあり、その数は２００余りにのぼります。



私のふるさと山梨県にも、ひと夏に１２，３ヶ所で花火大会がありますが、その中に「河口湖湖上祭」があります。

富士河口湖は、富士五湖（山梨県側にある、富士山の噴火によってできた５つの湖）の一つで、「逆さ富士」の見える湖としても有名です。
詳しくはこちらをどうぞ。
富士河口湖 総合観光情報サイト



今年は８月４，５日に行われました。
例年１２万人の人が首都圏から集まり、１万発の花火を楽しみます。


この河口湖、ボーカル・ギターの志村正彦君の故郷、富士吉田市からほど近いところにあります。
車で数分程度でしょうか。
学生時代、志村君は河口湖によく遊びに行ったそうです。


そして、フジファブリックの曲の中でも名曲の誉れの高い「若者のすべて」が生まれました。
この曲は、志村君が湖上祭の花火を思って書いた曲です。


「最後の花火に今年もなったな」


富士北麓では短い夏が終わりを告げ、立秋の頃には（８月７日すぎ）朝夕涼風が吹き出します。
夜、暗くなってから外に出れば肌寒い空気を感じ、あちらこちらの草原で虫たちが鳴き始めます。

そして季節は足早に、秋へそして冬へと向かっていくのです。

常夏の国に住む人たちにとっては理解しがたい感情なので、野暮だとは思いますが、この「夏の終わりの物哀しさ」について、もう少し詳しく書きたいと思います。



春は生命の誕生の季節であり、夏はその生まれてきた命が全盛期を楽しむ季節であります。
植物も虫も動物も、夏の間はその命のもつ「勢い」を一番感じる時期なのです。



木の一生でいえば、「若木」の頃です。
ぐんぐんと栄養を吸い大きくなって、つやのいい幹には沢山の葉を茂らせ、生命力溢れています。
何にも負けないような「勢い」を、そばにいるだけで感じる気がします。



しかし秋になると、虫たちは短い恋の季節を終え、静かに死んで生きます。
落葉樹や草たちも、深く鮮やかだった緑色がだんだんと色褪せ乾燥し、しまいには茶色や枯れ草色になり冷たい風に吹かれています。

秋には、命の儚さ、寂しさを感じるのです。
もちろん「実りの秋」「読書の秋」「食欲の秋」など、いろいろな顔をもつ秋ですが、この「秋の寂しさ」は、日本人共通のものだと思います。


小泉八雲の名で知られるラフカディオ・ハーンの著作の中に、「虫の音楽家」という随筆があります。
夏から秋への情景が、虫たちを通してハーン独特の繊細なタッチで描かれている、見事な作品です。
もう少し詳しくお知りになりたい方、ぜひどうぞ。
日本の方にも外国の方にもお勧めできる作品です。
小泉八雲コレクション　虫の音楽家　




そのような感情が、「最後の花火」を見ると自然にわいてくるのではないでしょうか。

また、子供たちは楽しい夏休みが終わり、もうすぐ新学期が始まります。
子供の頃のそんなちょっぴり寂しい気持ちも、思い出すのでしょうか。

そして、最後の最後の花火が終わった時、白煙の漂う夜空がやけに暗く広く見えて、がやがやと帰り道を急ぐ気の早い観客のざわめきと自分の寂しい感情が複雑に絡み合って、あんな気持ちになるのかな、と思います。




これはあくまで私個人の意見なので、「一般的な日本人の最後の花火を見たときの感情」とはいえないかもしれません。
一人ひとり聴き手の個人的な思い出も蘇り、自分を投影して聴いていらっしゃる方も多いことでしょう。

でも、多くの日本人がこの曲をきいて深い感銘を受けたということは事実です。

一流音楽家が集まって結成したBank Bandが、この曲をコピーし今年６月発売、そして先月７月のオリコンチャートアルバムランキングで、第６位を記録しました。
１２万枚のCDが売れたということは、これ以上の数の日本人が「若者のすべて」を聴いたということです。
フジファブリックのファンとして嬉しい限りです。

でもね、皆さん、あれは元々フジファブリックの曲です！


「若者のすべて」を聴いて、ぜひ世界中の方々にも私達が受けた感動を感じていただけたらと、切に願ってやみません。

フジファブリック「若者のすべて」です。
どうぞ。

Rainbow (Translation of Post on 9th Sep)

Please find a photo of rainbows taken in the middle of Bangkok city.

(Thank you for your beautiful photo, AIKO!)

If you look closer, do you notice this is a double-rainbow?

There are only three seasons in Thailand where I live - midsummer, rainy season and dry season.

We are in a rainy season right now.

A rainy season in Japan, called "Tsuyu" lasts for about a month, but here in Thailand, it can last more than 6 months (from May to the end of October).

Half of a year is taken away by a rainy season!

It does not mean that it rains for long hours a day under the dark cloudy sky.

Very different to rains in UK.

We don't get too annoyed by a long-lasting rainy season because it rains heavily at once, and then stops.

After minutes, the city is full of sunshine again.

But once it starts raining, it can rain very very HARD.

The description of rain is very precise in the short story  called "Rain", written in Bangkok by Willliam Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), an English novelist.

Heavy rain falling in a rain forest can have its own charm, but a large area of rain forests in Thailand is destroyed  these days, and as a result, a flood is a serious problem in here now.

In a big city like Bangkok, as drain system is not working well, seeing rain water flooding on roads is our daily experience.

This is what it is like in Thailand in a rainy season.

But we don have something depressing only - we also have something happy nice, too.

A beautiful rainbow in the sky !!

Probably due to frequent rains, we have more chance to see rainbows, and a double-rainbow is not something too surprising to see.

It is maybe a gift from God to the people living in a country with a long-lasting rainy season.

Fujifabric released the 5th single, "Rainbow" on 1st June 2005.

It was my first impression that "all the sound of instruments and vocalist's voice has a root in a supernatural sphere" somehow. 

It is also overlapped , in my mind, with the magical feeling of a rainbow in nature.

Surprisingly or not, this song is so popular among children.

Lyrics do not seem to have been written targeting for young children (surely not like nursery rhymes!) as you can notice, but children around me simply love this song very much.

There must be something hitting children's pure and innocent heart, I believe.

We do get excited at watching a rainbow by nature, no matter grown-ups or not grown-ups!

"Rainbow" is the song that Fujifabric themselves evaluated as "a positive unprecedented song aiming at a different direction".

On a summer day we found a rainbow just after a rain, walking on a street...

That memory flashes back clearly.

Enjoy listening.

”Niji" ("Rainbow"） by Fujifabric

虹

これは先日、バンコクの都心に現れた虹の写真です。（AIKOさん、お写真提供ありがとう）
よく見ると二重なのが、お分かりになりますか？


私の住んでいるタイでは、真夏、雨季、乾季と３つの季節しかありません。
そして今は雨季です。

日本の梅雨は１ヶ月ほどですが、タイの雨季はなんと６ヶ月（５月から１０月下旬）も続きます。
一年の半分が雨季！なのです。



しかし、どんより曇り空の下長雨がしとしと降り続くというわけではなく、短時間にザーッと降って止むため、雨季が長くてもそれほど苦にはなりません。

ただ、降る時には猛烈な勢いで降ります。
サマーセット・モームの「雨」は、タイのバンコクで書かれた小説ですが、まさにあの雨の描写のままとお考えください。




熱帯雨林に大雨が降るのもまた風情があっていいのでしょうが、残念ながらタイでは近年、森林破壊が急速に進んでいるため、雨季になると洪水の被害が各地から寄せられます。

特にチェンマイのある北部では、深刻な問題となっています。

大都市バンコクでも、排水溝がきちんと整備されていないためか、道路に水が溢れ出すことも日常茶飯事です。



そんなタイの雨季ですが、神様からのごほうびでしょうか。

雨の多い分、虹を見かけることも多い気がします。
初めて２重の虹を見たときには、とても感動しました。



フジファブリックの曲の中にも、「虹」という曲があります。
５枚目のシングルとして、２００５年６月１日にリリースされました。

初めてこの曲を聴いた時、なんだか「すべての楽器や歌声が神懸っている」と、いう印象をもちました。
まさに「虹」のもつ、あの不思議な神秘的な雰囲気とダブります。


また、不思議なことに子供たちにも大人気の曲です。
歌詞自体はご覧の通り、子供向けの童謡とは無縁のように見えるのですが、私の周りの子供たちからは絶大な人気を誇っています。

なにか純粋無垢な子供たちに、伝わるものがあるのでしょう。

子供たちは元来、虹を見ると大興奮しますからね。
大人も同様ですね。



フジファブリック自身が、「前向きな、今までとは方向性が違う曲」と位置づけた「虹」。
雨上がりの街で虹を見かけた夏の情景が、鮮やかに蘇ります。

お聴きください。

Galaxy (English Translation of Post on 7th Sep 2010)

Well, I have been writing about "Season of Cherry Blossoms","Shimmer of Heat" and "Reddish Yellow Osmanthus"...then, what's coming up next?

That's right!
Today, I will write on "Galaxy (Ginga)", which came to the last of the first four singles released in every season.

When talking about Galaxy, it always reminds me the story of "Night Train To Stars" written by Mr. Kenji Miyazawa, as being a big fan of his.



In the story, The Star Festival was held in the town and children walk around holding lanterns, made from snake gourds, in their hands.
Snake Gourd is a word that signals the autumn season.

By the way, this Star Festival is not related to "Tanabata Festival", which is one of the biggest summer festivals in Japan.

"Galaxy", where the most part of the story takes a place, is also a word that signals the autumn season.

From the day of Rissyu till a day before Rittou (normally from 7th of August till 7th of November, every year) is categorized as so-called "Autumn" in Japan.
(This year in Japan, the weather stays ever so hot even in September, not sure if this is due to global warming or not...)

Giovanni and Campanella leave the town where people are making merry in the Star Festival, and get on a fantastic night train to go on a journey to stars.


This story is one of the most famous children's stories in Japan, so please have a look if you are interested in.

The English-translated version is also available
.Night Train To Stars (English Translated Version)

Let's go back to the topic of Galaxy.



People in old days thought that Milky Way looks the most beautiful and clear in autumn, but I totally agree with Mr. Shimura, who chose Galazy to signal the winter season, as knowing what it is like in Japan in modern days.

He's got a good sense of seasons!


The stars in the sky look most fabulous in winter time.
From my experience, air is cleaner, fresh and clear in winter compared to the other seasons.

Especially on the day after snows, Milky Way looks fantastic.






Snow flakes get rid of dust in the air, so air is clearer, and the snow on the ground absorbs sounds.
We feel chilled to the bone, but we also feel so nice to stand at unusual quiet place on such a day.


Now, look up the starlit sky!
How beautiful that is !
Please come to visit us in Yamanashi Prefecture to watch stars with your own eyes sometime!!


Let me, please, explain little bit more in detail as some parts of lyrics in Fujifabric's "Galaxy" are quite difficult for people in Tropical countries to understand.


"Looking down from the top of the hill     the two breathed out white breaths"
Because in Japan, the outside temperature is so cold in winter that breath becomes white mist when breathing out in the air.

This is more like steam from a kettle rather than smoke from a chimney.

By the way, to the Thai readers,
Ice and snow are completely two different things, and ice is not formed with snow.
Water, at the temperature under the 0C, becomes ice, so it does not matter if it snows or not.
Ice can be formed wherever water is!

"Sparkling sky"
In winter in Japan, a strong wind often blows.
Due to a strong wind up in the night sky, starts twinkle beautifully.



Masahiko Shimura was born and brought up in Fujiyoshida City, where Mt.Fuji is.
He had watched the beautiful starlit sky over Mt. Fuji since little.
He, himself, must have become the most beautiful shining star among all up in the high sky over Mt. Fuji.

Now, here it is.
Fujifabric's "Ginga" (Galaxy).