Kaze o Atsumete – Happy End | 1971 – Words in Japanese Song

風をあつめて [Kaze o Atsumete]
はっぴいえんど [Happii Endo]
Words : 松本隆 [MATSUMOTO Takashi]
Music : 細野晴臣 [HOSONO Haruomi]

Today, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite bands, “はっぴいえんど / Happy End.”
This rock band was considered somewhat avant-garde at the time of their activity and was not particularly famous musicians. However, when we explore each member’s work and relationships, it becomes clear that they are of great importance in the history of Japanese pop music.
Let me briefly explain the members.
Haruomi Hosono. He handled vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, and played a central role in the band’s songwriting. After the band’s dissolution, he formed Tin Pan Alley and produced artists like Yuming, as well as providing songs for many singers. He later formed the Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Eiichi Ohtaki. He was responsible for vocals, guitar, and composition. After the breakup, he thrived as a producer and composer. He was greatly influenced by American pop music, such as The Beach Boys.
Takashi Matsumoto. He was the drummer and lyricist, known for creating lyrics with a distinctive style. After the breakup, he focused on songwriting and became one of Japan’s leading lyricists.
Shigeru Suzuki. He handled guitar, vocals, and composition. He continued to work as a solo artist while also participating in numerous projects as a guitarist.

Their second album, “風街ろまん / Kazemachi Roman,” released in 1971, is regarded as Happy End’s masterpiece. It was ranked first in Rolling Stone Japan’s 2007 list of the “100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time.”

風（かぜ） [kaze] : wind
街（まち） [machi] : town

The album “Kazemachi Roman” contains themes such as the image of “Kazemachi = Wind Town,” an imaginary town, representing the old Japan and Tokyo that were rapidly disappearing due to development and modernization following the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The song “風をあつめて / Kaze o Atsumete,” which is featured in this article, was used in the 2003 American film “Lost in Translation,” set in Tokyo.

Since some of the words used in the lyrics are a bit literary and difficult, I’ve picked up only the simpler words. The omitted words are often unfamiliar even to Japanese people, so don’t worry.
Additionally, the lyrics sometimes use uncommon kanji, which may not match the words in the word list. It’s interesting to see how kanji are used to construct the world of the song, even though no one can understand them without reading the text. This can be seen in other artists as well, and it might be a unique feature of Japanese songs.

街のはずれの
machi no hazure no
背のびした路次を散歩してたら
senobi shita roji o sanpo shitetara

街（まち） [machi] : town
背伸び（せのび） [senobi] : stretching, overreaching
路地（ろじ） [roji] : alley
散歩（さんぽ） [sanpo] : walk

(translation) “At the edge of town,
Strolling through the alley, stretching up high.”

The word “背伸び / senobi” also has the meaning of trying to do something beyond one’s ability. Perhaps this is how they are expressing the alleys amidst modernization.

汚点だらけの靄ごしに
shimi darake no moya goshi ni
起きぬけの露面電車が
okinuke no romen densha ga
海を渡るのが見えたんです
umi o wataru no ga mieta n desu

路面電車（ろめんでんしゃ） [romen densha] : tram
海（うみ） [umi] : sea
渡る（わたる） [wataru] : cross
見える（みえる） [mieru] : see

(translation) “Through the stain-filled mist,
I saw the just-woken-up tram,
Crossing the sea.”

The phrases “汚点だらけの靄 (= the stain-filled mist)” and “起きぬけの露面電車 (= the just-woken-up tram)” are quite literary.
The setting is Tokyo, but seeing the tram crossing the sea seems more like a fantasy.

それでぼくも
sore de boku mo
風をあつめて風をあつめて風をあつめて
kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te
蒼空を翔けたいんです
aozora o kaketai n desu
蒼空を
aozora o

それで [sore de] : so
僕（ぼく） [boku] : I
風（かぜ） [kaze] : wind
集める（あつめる） [atsumeru] : gather
青空（あおぞら） [aozora] : blue sky
かける（翔ける） [kakeru] : soar

(translation) “So I too
Gather the wind, gather the wind, gather the wind,
And want to soar in the blue sky,
In the blue sky.”

I’d like to take a moment to explain the word “です / desu,” which appears frequently in these lyrics. “です / Desu” is the polite expression that Japanese language learners are taught from the very beginning. It’s the first step in the complex world of keigo (honorifics), and since it’s always used in conversation, that’s likely why it’s taught.
However, unlike in conversation, using “desu” in poetry or literature is not very common. I think Matsumoto Takashi’s use of “desu” in Happy End’s songs might be influenced by the famous Japanese novelist, Kenji Miyazawa ^wiki.

とても素敵な
totemo suteki na
昧爽どきを通り抜けてたら
asaake doki o tōri nuketetara

とても [totemo] : very
素敵（すてき） [suteki] : lovely

(translation) “passing through the very lovely morning twilight.”

伽籃とした防波堤ごしに
garan to shita bōhatei goshi ni
緋色の帆を掲げた都市が
hiiro no ho o kakageta toshi ga
碇泊してるのが見えたんです
teihakushiteru no ga mieta n desu

防波堤（ぼうはてい） [bōhatei] : breakwater

(translation) “Through the desolate breakwater,
I saw a city with crimson sails,
Anchored there.”

It’s an unusual description to see a city anchoring rather than a ship. Perhaps this represents the new Tokyo.

それでぼくも
sore de boku mo
風をあつめて風をあつめて風をあつめて
kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te
蒼空を翔けたいんです
aozora o kaketai n desu
蒼空を
aozora o

人気のない
hitoke no nai
朝の珈琲屋で暇をつぶしてたら
asa no kōhī ya de hima o tsubushitetara

人気（ひとけ） [hitoke] : human presence
朝（あさ） [asa] : morning
コーヒー・珈琲（こーひー） [kōhī] : coffee
暇（ひま） [hima] : free time

(translation) “In the deserted morning coffee shop,
Killing time.”

ひび割れた玻璃ごしに
hibiwareta garasu goshi ni
摩天楼の衣擦れが
matenrō no kinuzure ga
舗道をひたすのを見たんです
hodō o hitasu no o mita n desu

ひび割れる [hibiwareru] : crack
ガラス（がらす） [garasu] : glass
摩天楼（まてんろう） [matenrō] : skyscraper

(translation) “Through the cracked glass,
I saw the skyscrapers’ garments
Brushing against the pavement.”

The word “摩天楼 / matenrō” brings to mind images of super skyscrapers like those in New York. Japan, being a seismically active country, surprisingly doesn’t have many super-tall buildings. However, during the rapid economic growth of the 1960s, many buildings sprang up in Tokyo. Incidentally, Tokyo Tower was completed in 1958, and until it was overtaken by the Tokyo Skytree in 2020, it was the tallest self-supporting tower in Japan.
The word “kinuzure” refers to the sound made when the hem of a kimono rubs together while walking, a very artistic word that’s been around for over a thousand years.

それでぼくも
sore de boku mo
風をあつめて風をあつめて風をあつめて
kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te kaze o atsume te
蒼空を翔けたいんです
aozora o kaketai n desu
蒼空を
aozora o

There is an interpretation that “風をあつめて / Kaze o Atsumete” is a homage to “風に吹かれて = Blowin’ in the Wind” and that “the city with crimson sails” represents America or perhaps the new rock music. However, I can’t agree with that. Additionally, the explanation that this is a lament for the loss of old towns doesn’t sit well with me either. It should be enjoyed more sensorially.
What matters most is the atmosphere that this word evokes. For the average modern Japanese person, it might be a bit difficult to understand, but the cool sound of the word, reminiscent of nostalgic melodies and subtle landscapes, makes it deeply meaningful.
Haruomi Hosono’s unpretentious, simple vocals are also great.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this song, so please feel free to leave a comment if you like.