A song for the Tohoku disaster victims, by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi

Two years ago, on March 11 2011, a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami destroyed the Tōhoku region in northern Japan. Although two years have passed, the tragedy is still very much alive in Japan. Rebuilding the region, and more importantly, people’s lives, will take many more years.

In memory of that fateful day, I would like to introduce you to the song ひとつ (‘hitotsu’, or in English ‘one’) by Japanese artist Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi. He wrote this song in 2011 to express his feelings about the disaster. I think many people all over the world will be able to relate to this song, since it talks about living with sadness and losing a loved one.

I first heard this song on the annual Japanese New Year’s Eve show ‘Kōhaku Uta Gassen’ in 2011. Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi performed the song live on location in Tōhoku, in the Kadonowaki Primary School in Miyagi prefecture. The emotions coming through in his singing made a big impression on me. Of course the dramatic location and the beautiful light-up of the scene further enhance this effect. Please have a look for yourself:

I couldn’t find an English translation of the lyrics, so I had a go at it myself. I have to warn everyone: my Japanese is not that good. I apologize in advance for any mistakes I may have made. If you find a mistake, please post it in the comments section and I will correct it.

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Hitotsu (ひとつ) by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (長渕 剛)
Lyrics in Japanese and in English

Hitotsu	One
Hitoribocchi ni sasete gomen ne Mou nido to Hanasani hanarenai hanashitakunai	I am so sorry for having left you alone Never again I won’t let you go, I won’t leave you, I don’t want to leave you
Kimi ni yorisoi soba ni ikiru yo Mou nido to Wasurenai wasuresasenai wasuretakunai	Being close to you, living by your side Never again I won’t forget you, don’t let me forget you, I don’t want to forget you
Kanashimi wa dokoka yatte kite Kanashimi wa doko he yukundarou Ikura kangaete mo wakaranai kara Boku wa kanashimi wo dakishimeyou to kimeta	Where does sadness come from Where does sadness go to No matter how much I think about it, I still don’t know the answer So instead I decided to embrace the sorrow
Hitotsu ni natte Zutto issho ni tomo ni ikiru Hitotsu ni natte Kimi to ikiru tomo ni ikiru	Becoming one Forever together, we live together Becoming one I live with you, we live together
Hoshi no shizuku ga namida ni yurete Umi ni hikaru Aitakute aienakute soredemo boku wa sagashita Hoshi ga furu yoru kimi wo omoi Zuutto aruita yo Ashita kitto ashita kitto shiawase ni nareru ne	My tears make the stars flicker And the sea glisten Longing for you, unable to find you, I still kept searching On a starry night, thinking of you I kept walking on and on Surely tomorrow, surely tomorrow we shall find happiness
Eien no shiawase wa dokokara yatte kite Eien no shiawase wa doko he yuku ndarou Ikura kangaete mo wakaranai kara Boku wa kanashimi wo dakishimeyou to kimeta	Where does eternal happiness come from Where does eternal happiness go to No matter how much I think about it, I still don’t know the answer So instead I decided to embrace the sorrow
Hitotsu ni natte Zutto issho ni tomo ni ikiru Hitotsu ni natte Kimi to ikiru tomo ni ikiru	Becoming one Forever together, we live together Becoming one I live with you, we live together