Toshishita no Otokonoko – Candies | 1975

年下の男の子 [Toshishita no Otokonoko]
キャンディーズ [Kyandīzu]
Words : 千家和也 [SENKE Kazuya]
Music : 穂口雄右 [HOGUCHI Yūsuke]

“Candies” was a Japanese female idol group active in the 1970s, consisting of three members: Ran, Miki, and Sue. Many idols emerged during the 1970s, but Candies stood out as pioneers in shaping many of today’s idol trends, such as the concept of a “center” member and the use of image colors for each member.

“Toshishita no Otokonoko” was released in 1975 as their fifth single.

年（とし） [toshi] : year
下（した） [shita] : under
年下（としした） [toshishita] : younger
男（おとこ） [otoko] : man
男の子（おとこのこ） [otokonoko] : boy

“年下の男の子 / toshishita no otokonoko” means “a boy who is younger (than me).”
There was a member who had a slightly mature and charming vibe, which gained popularity especially among male students, and that’s why this song was written. While there are countless songs with the word “女の子 / onnanoko” (girl), the use of “男の子 / otokonoko” (boy) is rare and interesting.

The composer, Yūsuke Hoguchi, wrote and arranged many of Candies’ songs. He once ran a music school, and I had the chance to ask him a few questions. Let’s listen to this masterpiece, which hides a surprisingly technical musical structure behind its catchy melody.

真赤な林檎を頬ばる
makka na ringo o hōbaru
ネイビーブルーのTシャツ
neibī burū no T-shatsu

真っ赤（まっか） [makka] : bright red
りんご　 [ringo] : apple
頬張る（ほおばる） [hōbaru] : to bite into
ネイビーブルー（ねいびーぶるー） [neibī burū] : navy blue
Tシャツ（てぃーしゃつ） [T-shatsu] : T-shirt

(translation) “Biting into a bright red apple,
a navy blue T-shirt.”

This line refers to a person wearing a T-shirt. It’s an example of personification.

あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko

あいつ　 [aitsu] : that person (casual)
可愛い（かわいい） [kawaii] : cute

(translation) “That guy, that guy is a cute younger boy.”

“あいつ / aitsu” is a somewhat rough way of referring to someone. While it fits better when used as an insult, in this case, the roughness reflects affection, used to refer to a beloved person. It can be used for both men and women. “可愛い / kawaii” not only means cute, but also conveys a sense of endearment.

淋しがり屋で生意気で
sabishigariya de namaiki de
憎らしいけど好きなの
nikurashii kedo suki na no
LOVE 投げキッス
LOVE nagekissu

淋しがり屋（さびしがりや） [sabishigariya] : a person who dislikes being alone
生意気（なまいき） [namaiki] : cheeky
憎らしい（にくらしい） [nikurashii] : annoying
好き（すき） [suki] : like, love
投げキッス（なげきっす） [nagekissu] : blowing a kiss

(translation) “He’s someone who gets lonely easily, cheeky,
and annoying, but I love him.
LOVE, blowing a kiss.”

“寂しがり屋 / sabishigariya” means someone who easily feels lonely or someone who dislikes being alone. Is this a word unique to Japanese?

私のこと好きかしら
watashi no koto suki kashira
はっきり聞かせて
hakkiri kikasete

私（わたし） [watashi] : I
はっきり　 [hakkiri] : clearly
聞かせる（きかせる） [kikaseru] : to let someone know

(translation) “I wonder if he loves me,
tell me clearly.”

The phrase “私のこと好き？ / watashi no koto suki?” (Do you love me?) is worth memorizing. It’s not commonly used outside this context.

ボタンの取れてるポケット
botan no toreteru poketto
汚れて丸めたハンカチ
yogorete marumeta hankachi
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko

ボタン [botan] : button
取れている（とれている） [torete iru] : loose, missing
ポケット（ぽけっと） [poketto] : pocket
汚れる（よごれる） [yogoreru] : to get dirty
丸める（まるめる） [marumeru] : to roll up
ハンカチ（はんかち） [hankachi] : handkerchief

(translation) “A pocket with a missing button,
a dirty rolled-up handkerchief.
That guy, that guy is a cute younger boy.”

デートの時間に遅れる
dēto no jikan ni okureru
いつでもけんかをしかける
itsudemo kenka o shikakeru
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko

デート（でーと） [dēto] : date
時間（じかん） [jikan] : time
遅れる（おくれる） [okureru] : to be late
いつでも　 [itsudemo] : always
けんか　 [kenka] : quarrel, fight
しかける [shikakeru] : to start (a fight)

(translation) “Late for dates,
always starting fights.
That guy, that guy is a cute younger boy.”

忘れん坊でわがままで
wasurenbō de wagamama de
意地悪だけど好きなの
ijiwaru dakedo suki na no
LOVE 投げキッス
LOVE nagekissu
私のこと好きかしら
watashi no koto suki kashira
はっきり聞かせて
hakkiri kikasete

忘れん坊（わすれんぼう） [wasurenbō] : forgetful person
わがまま　 [wagamama] : selfish
意地悪（いじわる） [ijiwaru] : mean

(translation) “He’s forgetful, selfish,
and mean, but I love him.
LOVE, blowing a kiss.
I wonder if he loves me,
tell me clearly.”

片方なくした手袋
katahō nakushita tebukuro
ほどけたまんまの靴ヒモ
hodoketa mamma no kutsuhimo
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko

片方（かたほう） [katahō] : one (of a pair)
無くす（なくす） [nakusu] : to lose
手袋（てぶくろ） [tebukuro] : glove
ほどける　 [hodokeru] : to come undone
まま　 [mamma] : as it is
靴ひも（くつひも） [kutsuhimo] : shoelace

(translation) “A glove with one missing, shoelaces left undone. That person, that person is a cute younger boy.”

So many complaints! It’s true that people with such flaws can seem even more “kawaii.”
The “swear words” used in this song are not harsh at all, but let’s add the tag this article with “Swear Words”.

淋しがり屋で生意気で
sabishigariya de namaiki de
憎らしいけど好きなの
nikurashii kedo suki na no
LOVE 投げキッス
LOVE nagekissu
私のこと好きかしら
watashi no koto suki kashira
はっきり聞かせて
hakkiri kikasete

ボタンの取れてるポケット
botan no toreteru poketto
汚れて丸めたハンカチ
yogorete marumeta hankachi
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko
あいつはあいつは可愛い年下の男の子
aitsu wa aitsu wa kawaii toshishita no otokonoko

As a side note, in 1977, when Candies were at the height of their popularity, they suddenly announced their breakup. Ran’s tearful exclamation, “普通の女の子に戻りたい! / futsū no onna no ko ni modoritai” (=I want to go back to being a normal girl!), became very famous and even turned into a popular phrase at the time.

This song continues to be used in covers and commercials to this day. As of 2024, it’s even been turned into a parody song used in a car commercial.