Blue Light Yokohama – Ayumi Ishida | 1968

ブルー・ライト・ヨコハマ [Burū Raito Yokohama]
いしだあゆみ [ISHIDA Ayumi]
Words : 橋本淳 [HASHIMOTO Jun]
Music : 筒美京平 [TSUTSUMI Kyōhei]

In response to a previous request in the YouTube comments, today I would like to feature this song. I refer to everyone’s opinions in the comments section.

“Blue Light Yokohama” is a representative song of the actor and singer Ayumi Ishida. The lyricist Jun Hashimoto has created many hit songs in collaboration with the composer Kyōhei Tsutsumi. Additionally, Junichi Yoda, who wrote the children’s song “Kotori no Uta,” which we previously covered, is his father.

街の灯りがとてもきれいね
machi no akari ga totemo kirei ne
ヨコハマブルー・ライト・ヨコハマ
Yokohama Burū Raito Yokohama

街（まち） [machi] : town
灯り（あかり） [akari] : light
とても [totemo] : very
きれい [kirei] : beautiful
横浜（よこはま） [Yokohama] : Yokohama

(translation) “The town lights are so beautiful, Yokohama,
Blue Light Yokohama.”

Yokohama ^wiki is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Tokyo and, excluding the specially treated Tokyo, is the most populous city in Japan. It flourished around the Port of Yokohama, which was opened when Japan lifted its national isolation in the late 19th century.
This “Blue Light” is said to be a description of a beautiful night view spot famous for the name derived from “Minato no Mieru Oka Park”(= The Hill Overlooking the Harbor Park) , another popular song from 1947.

あなたと二人幸せよ
anata to futari shiawase yo

あなた [anata] : you
二人（ふたり） [futari] : two people
幸せ（しあわせ） [shiawase] : happiness

(translation) “With you, just the two of us, I’m happy.”

いつものように愛のことばを
itsumo no yō ni ai no kotoba o
ヨコハマブルー・ライト・ヨコハマ
Yokohama Burū Raito Yokohama
私にくださいあなたから
watashi ni kudasai anata kara

いつも [itsumo] : always
のように [no yō ni] : like
愛（あい） [ai] : love
言葉（ことば） [kotoba] : words
私（わたし） [watashi] : me
ください [kudasai] : please give me
あなた [anata] : you

(translation) “As always, please give me words of love, Yokohama Blue Light Yokohama, from you.”

“ください / kudasai” means “please give me”, but it also means “please.” It is always used when speaking politely. Oboete kudasai (please remember).

歩いても歩いても
aruite mo aruite mo
小舟のようにわたしはゆれて
kobune no yō ni watashi wa yurete
ゆれてあなたの腕の中
yurete anata no ude no naka

歩く（あるく） [aruku] : walk
小舟（こぶね） [kobune] : small boat
揺れる（ゆれる） [yureru] : sway
腕（うで） [ude] : arm
中（なか） [naka] : inside

(translation) “Even as I walk,
I sway like a small boat,
swaying in your arms.”

足音だけがついて来るのよ
ashioto dake ga tsuite kuru no yo
ヨコハマブルー・ライト・ヨコハマ
Yokohama Burū Raito Yokohama
やさしいくちづけもういちど
yasashī kuchizuke mō ichido

足音（あしおと） [ashioto] : footsteps
ついて来る（ついてくる） [tsuite kuru] : follow
やさしい [yasashī] : gentle
くちづけ [kuchizuke] : kiss
もう一度（もういちど） [mō ichido] : once more

(translation) “Only the sound of footsteps follows
A gentle kiss once more.”

Nowadays, people don’t use the word “くちづけ / kuchizuke” in daily life. It’s too pretentious. Normally, people say “キス / kisu” (=kiss). It might be acceptable in song lyrics.

歩いても歩いても
aruite mo aruite mo
小舟のようにわたしはゆれて
kobune no yō ni watashi wa yurete
ゆれてあなたの腕の中
yurete anata no ude no naka

あなたの好きなタバコの香り
anata no suki na tabako no kaori
ヨコハマブルー・ライト・ヨコハマ
Yokohama Burū Raito Yokohama
二人の世界いつまでも
futari no sekai itsumademo

タバコ [tabako] : cigarette
香り（かおり） [kaori] : scent
世界（せかい） [sekai] : world
いつまでも [itsumademo] : forever

(translation) “The scent of the cigarettes you like
Our world forever.”

It seems to be especially famous in Korea. It’s a pleasant thing.

This song evokes the term “昭和歌謡 / Shōwa-kayō“. Shōwa refers to pop songs from the Shōwa era, Japan’s period from 1926 to 1989. Kayō means “pops” in Japanese, but it is a genre of popular songs.
Ayumi Ishida also has an album called “Our Connection” (1977), produced in collaboration with “Tin Pan Alley,” which features a completely different sound. It’s recommended for city pop lovers.