SMAP’s Yozora No Mukou

It has been quite some time since Yozora No Mukou has been played. I was rearranging some folders on my drive when this was retouched. Upon listening to the song last night, I recall how ecstatic I was when previewing it years ago and instantly fall in love with it again.

Yozora No Mukou is SMAP’s 27th single and ranked #1 in sales for 1998. It is a beautiful ballad with powerful lyrics and a peaceful melody. The angsty solo parts are sang beautifully by Kimura Takuya XO along with the harmonized chorus by the other SMAP members. Did I mention that the songwriter is fabulous Suga Shikao who had composed Aozora Pedal for Arashi? :)

Without further ado, here is the song that Japan raved about more than a dozen years ago:

Yozora No Mukou (Beyond The Night Sky)
by SMAP
Composed and written by Suga Shikao

Are kara boku tachi wa
Nanika wo shinjite koreta ka naa…
Yozora no mukou niwa
Ashita ga mou matte iru

Ever since then
I wonder if we could come to believe in something…
Beyond the night sky
Tomorrow is already waiting

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Arikawa Masaomi’s Gyakufuu no Toki ni Hitori

I have been fangirling this song for several days now. XO Gyakufuu no Toki ni Hitori is the ending theme to Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki (anime and otome game). This ultra-sexy voice belongs to Miki Shinichiro who voiced Arikawa Masaomi (one of the main characters to the series).

Miki-sama is the third most prolific seiyu in Japan and is well-known for his roles as Urahara Kisuke from Bleach, Hijikata Toshizo from Hakuoki, and James from Pokemon. The first two are my favorite btw. :D As of today, he has voiced over 230+, I’m sure a sampling or two of his have been heard before. ;)

Anyway, it is extremely rare to hear Miki-sensei’s singing as he has gradually stepped away from the performing character/theme songs now-in-days. :( Though, his ability is not top notch, his voice is still lovely and soothing. :D He certainly did a beautiful job hitting the notes for Gyakufuu and much emotion was expressed. The lyrics described his character (Masaomi) accurately along with his relationship with the heroine, Kasuga Nozomi. It is very Romeo-Juliet as they were fighting on opposing sides..yeah, I’m such a sucker of these. :P

Gyakufuu no Toki ni Hitori (Alone in the Headwind)
by Arikawa Masaomi (voiced by Miki Shinichiro)
ED theme for Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki

daremo ore no koto wo
shiru mono no nai sekai
hatenai yami no kanata no
mirai wo shinjiyou

I’m here in this world
where nobody knows me
but on the other side of the endless darkness
I believe that there is a future

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Stereopony’s Tsukiakari no Michishirube


I had finished watching Darker than Black (both seasons and OVA) over the weekend and became quite intrigued by the 2nd season’s opening theme, Tsukiakari no Michishirube.

The music is quite catchy and simply grows on you as time progresses. The vocals are strong and emotionally, blending well with the composition. The lyrics are amazing and extremely positive – moonlight which guides one’s path (away from darkness, evil, etc).

So without much ado, here is Tsukiakari no Michishirube by Stereopony:

Romanji and English Lyrics from Deciphered Melody:

kotae no nai mainichi ga
tada sugite yuku jikan ga
kore kara saki dounaru no darou?
wakaranai…

These [answerless] days and
this time that just passes by,
where will they lead me?
I don’t know…

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Tachibana no Tomomasa’s Kurenaino Namidano Hitoyo

So did everyone guess the right singer? It’s Inoue Kazuhiko, the infamous seiyū of Naruto‘s Hatake Kakashi. I’ve always been a fan of Inoue-sensei due to his beautiful and heavenly voice. I wouldn’t mind listening him all day. XO

The title of the song is Kurenaino Namidano Hitoyo, which is the character song for Tachibana no Tomomasa from the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de franchise. (It’s a otome video game and anime…and yes, I have gradually become a fan of. LOL) Doesn’t your heart melt after listening to !? ;) I went all giddy after the first sampling LOL. Inoue-sensei’s singing is quite sexy and emotional compared to his tranquil, monotonous speaking voice. Both of which are love. :D

Here are the lyrics:

Kurenaino Namidano Hitoyo (Dear Woman with Red Tears)
by Tachibana no Tomomasa (voiced by Inoue Kazuhiko)
Series: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de – Hachiyou Shou

Akai namida nagasu onnaga iruto iu
Donna koini kegarenaki mune itametanoka

It is said that there is a woman who sheds red tears
To what sort of love has her pure heart been broken?

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Kamenashi Kame’s solo – 1582

I have to admit that I’ve grown to adore Kame these past years, acting wise rather his idol persona. Though, I have sample some of his solos, none left an impression until now. By accident, 1582 was stumbled upon a few weeks ago, this is his solo for the KATTUN Break the Records album. It was certainly not love a first sight, but its historical attributes and intense lyrics were reasons to give the song another try. Eventually, the song become a must-listen-to.

You’re probably wondering what’s 1582 like I was. It’s actually an important date in Japan history…the year where the infamous Oda Nobunaga was defeated and had perished. Thus, many fans have speculated that the song relates to the battle at Honnouji temple as many outdated kanji were used. I have to agree since Kame’s solo performance had revolved around traditional clothing and battle metaphors, may I say it was one breathtaking production! Do a search on Youtube, I guarantee that you will be amazed. ;)

There are actually two version of the solo, CD version is from a woman’s point of view (as Kame had explained) while the concert one consist of both genders. Though, I enjoyed both edition, I found the concert one more interesting and intensifying – the desperate feeling of leaving a loved one and dying the next morning. It’s very much like Nobunaga heading to battle and never returning to his wife. Somehow I found this very fitting to Hakuoki Shinsengumi Kitan as well < -- my latest obsession. :D

Here is the fabulous concert version along with its lyrics:

Shihaisareru yubisaki made
Kuruoshi hodo shibirete
Atama no naka kowarete yuku
Watashi wa ima naze doko
Me no mae kara hikari ga kie
Towa no nemuri SHI demo

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