“Subaru” is one of those nostalgic, beautiful enka songs that I love most. Before you ask why there’s a song about a type of car, subaru is Japanese for the Pleiades constellation. Written and originally performed by Tanimura Shinji, it was also covered by the “Queen of Enka,” Misora Hibari:
I think I’ve said before that a lot of enka has down-to-earth, simple lyrics – this is not one of them. I’ve tried for a while to translate the lyrics to my satisfaction, but Tanimura-san loved using alternative kanji, which means this is even poorer than my usual attempts:
I close my eyes and see nothing, then I open them sadly.
From the road facing the wilderness I see nothing else.
Ah, you stars of shattered destiny,
At least shine quietly on this body.
I will go, with my cheeks pale.
I will go, farewell to the Seven Sisters.
If I breathe, the winter wind keeps howling in my chest.
Even so, my heart still feverishly pursues a dream.
Ah, you lively nameless stars,
At least vividly do away with this body.
I also will go, as my heart commands.
I also will go, farewell to the Seven Sisters.
Ah, someday, someone on this road -
Ah, someday, someone on this road -
I will go, with my cheeks pale.
I will go, farewell to the Seven Sisters.
I will go, farewell to the Seven Sisters.
If this song doesn’t make your heart ache a little I think you might need to have a doctor check that you have one.
More recently, I was delighted to hear my favorite Tsuyoshi singing it in the background of some special feature – if only the narrator would be quieter:
And last but certainly not least, a junior high school brass band performs their own rendition:
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