Yume Okuribito (夢送り人)

[nebulancer]

English translation:

The moon of July elegantly lights the path

As the sound of geta sandals ring out, clicking and clacking

In the dusk, the lantern plants shine like flames

I shut my eyes against the blinding red lights

 

The swaying winds led me

To the horses that carry the deceased

A shadow nimbly alighted

And smoothly pulled my hand along

 

At the cycling waterfront of eternity,

I will dance as if crazed, with the moon at my back

Going beyond the shallowness of dream and reality

I dance at the horizon of natural order

 

Past the smoke, which stretches out further as if it were long thread

The hand's silhouette grew ever hazier

Basking in a sky full of stars, the field of bellflowers begins to sparkle

I nimbly alighted

And smoothly pulled the shadow's hand along

 

At the cycling shore of eternity

I will bloom as if crazed, clad in flowers

Going beyond the shallowness of dream and reality

I sing at the horizon of natural order

 

Hanging lanterns rise up from the dark of night

The sparks' voices do not cease

The shadow that quietly turned back to look at me

Forlornly let go of my hand

 

At the cycling edge of eternity

For whose sake do I sing and dance?

Is this dream or reality?

I continue to not know the name of natural order

 

Farewell, as I head to the dream's end

The boats that carry the deceased set off

Ringing out in a nostalgic color,

A voice calls out, "Good-bye."

 

As I shout out, "Good-bye,"

I will sing, dance, and cry for your sake

Going beyond the shallowness of dream and reality

At the boundary of natural order, eternally,

Please, may your soul rest in peace

[T/N: This song contains cultural references! I may be wrong here, but if so, please message me with the correct info!

• This song’s entire theme touches upon the custom and reunion holiday in Japan known as Obon. Though the tradition takes place in August, there are certain regions of Japan in which it takes place during July, Kai’s representative month.

• The "horses that carry the deceased," and "boats that carry the deceased" are known as 精霊馬 (shouryouba) and 精霊舟 (shouryoubune). The shouryouba, or spirit horses, are made out of certain vegetables, placed on an altar. The horses help carry the spirits home quickly and leisurely send off the spirits after Obon ends. Shouryoubune, too, are vehicles made (out of straw and the like) in order to help carry the family’s deceased spirits.

• Hoozuki (lantern plants) are nicknamed Japanese or Chinese lanterns, known by the scientific name Alkekengi officinarum. The bright papery covering over the fruit is orange-red, and they are used as offerings to help guide the dead during Obon.

• Kikyou (Chinese bellflowers) are also nicknamed balloon flowers due to their shape, also named Platycodon grandiflorus. They have a notable star-like shape to their petals as well, hence them being mentioned in the line following the sky full of stars.

• Tourou (hanging lanterns/stone lanterns) are exactly as the name implies. Stone lanterns. I just want to bring them up here because they look so cute. See, here’s the Wikipedia page for them.]

Romaji:

nanayo no tsuki ga hannari to terasu michi

karari korori to geta oto wo narashi iku

yoiyami no naka de hoozuki ni honoo ga tomoru

akaki hikari ga mabushikute me wo tsubutta

yurameku kaze ga hakobu

shouryouba ni michibikarete

hirari to oritatta kage ga

sururi boku no te wo hiita

meguru towa no migiwa de

tsuki wo seoi kurui mau

asaki yumeutsutsu wo koete

kotowari no kanata de odore

nagaki ito no you ni nobite yuku kemuri no saki ni

te no rinkaku ga bonyari hodokete yuku

manten no hoshi wo abite kirameki dasu

kikyou hata hirari to oritatta boku wa

sururi kage no te wo hiita

meguru towa no hotori de

hana wo matoi kuruizaku

asaki yumeutsutsu wo koete

kotowari no kanata de utae

yamiyo ni ukabu tourou

nakiyamanai hibana no koe

shizuka ni furimuita kage wa

sabishige ni te wo hanashita

meguru towa no migiwa de

dare no tame ni mai utau

kore wa yume ka utsutsu nano ka

kotowari no na mo shiranu mama

saraba yume no owari e

shouryoubune ga kogi dasu

natsukashiki iro de hibiita

“sayonara” to tsumugu koe…

“…sayonara” to sakebi nagara

kimi no tame ni mai utai naku

asaki yumeutsutsu wo koete

kotowari no kanata de eien ni…

douka yasuraka ni nemure

Kanji:

七夜の月が はんなりと照らす道

カラリ、コロリと 下駄音を鳴らし行く

宵闇の中で 鬼灯に炎が灯る

紅き光が 眩しくて 目を瞑った

揺らめく風が運ぶ

精霊馬 (しょうりょううま) に導かれて

ひらりと降り立った影が

するり 僕の手を引いた

廻る永久の汀 (みぎわ) で

月を背負い 狂い舞う

浅き夢現 (ゆめうつつ) を越えて

理の彼方で踊れ

長き糸のように 伸びてゆく 煙の先に

手の輪郭がぼんやりほどけてゆく

満天の星を浴びて 煌めき出す桔梗畑

ひらりと降り立った僕は

するり 影の手を引いた

廻る永久の畔で

花を纏い 狂い咲く

浅き夢現を越えて

理の彼方で歌え

闇夜に浮かぶ灯籠

鳴きやまない火花の声

静かに振り向いた影は

寂しげに 手を離した

廻る永久の汀で

誰の為に舞い、歌う？

これは夢か、現なのか

理の名も知らぬまま

さらば 夢の終わりへ

精霊舟が漕ぎ出す

懐かしき色で響いた

｢さよなら｣と紡ぐ声…

｢…さよなら｣と叫びながら

君のために舞い歌い泣く

あさき夢現を越えて

理の彼方で永遠に…

どうか、安らかに眠れ