i am a bean-bean

There is a pretty good summary in English posted on Reddit (look for username Spiritual-Ad-6613.) I will vouch for the accuracy of that translation. Read that. Do not read the speculation/accusations that are floating around with no basis in what the group members have said. I think there are some accurate translations on X too, but I don't have an X account so I can't see them (lol) so please just stick to posts by people you trust to be diligent translators.

The simplest way to explain his decision is: He genuinely enjoyed his time in ROF-MAO, but when thinking about the future, he did not feel he would want to keep doing this for many years to come. Being in an official unit never really fit his personal goals as a VTuber.

Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: Tanabe Shunichi Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. Translation notes at the end. There are a few recurring lines in English that I did not type out every time.

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seijaku ni unasare mezameta yoake ame no oto ga mune no oku hibiite ita mado no soto shingō ga ao ni somaru tachidomaru riyū-tachi ga shikai o fusaida        

Awakened at dawn from a nightmare of silence * The sound of rain echoed deep in [my] heart Outside the window, the stoplight turned green Reasons to stop obstructed [my] field of view

_

I happened to see this within the first two hours it was posted and it is pretty big news... The auto-translated captions do a decent job, but still make some significant mistakes, so here is a short summary:

Kenmochi is leaving ROF-MAO after May 28, 2026. It sounds like the commitment as a member of ROF-MAO was limiting what else he could do, and after a long discussion that has been ongoing since last year, everyone agreed that this was for the best.

The group will do one final livestream with all four members on May 28 to send him off. Afterwards, ROF-MAO will take a break. Kagami, Kaida, and Fuwa intend to resume ROF-MAO group activities in the future.

Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: JIN Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. I gave up on keeping all the line breaks consistent with the original, as the grammar was not working out at all. Translation notes at the end, labeled by numbers. Jin’s lyrics are heavy on metaphors and so very hard to capture accurately… I hope I did an okay job.

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tatoeru nara bokutachi wa garasu de dekite ite mabushī  sekai no taion de warete shimattanda         

To offer a metaphor, we were created from glass And, by the heat of this dazzling world, shattered

『茜色の歌』 Artist: Kaida Haru Music and lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

The title means 'song of crimson.' Implied pronouns are in brackets. There are only second-person explicit pronouns throughout the lyrics, so I chose to put the whole thing in second-person as if the song is a direct message to "you."

『むてきのおうさま』 Artist: VΔLZ Music: Genzuki Tojiro Lyrics: Kaida Haru

Translation by Snowdust64

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The title means ‘invincible king(s)’ and is written with no kanji, which is how children would first learn to read it.

Implied pronouns are in brackets. There was a lot of leeway for interpretation, so replace them as you please. Additional numbered translation notes are at the bottom, plus Kaida's commentary on the lyrics.

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Artist: Tamanoi Nana Music and lyrics: Genzuki Tōjirō Translation by Snowdust64

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The original Japanese title is 『君の夢』 which can be translated as “your dream” or “a dream about you” and based on the lyrics, I think the latter is more accurate… but you can decide for yourself.

There is a clear “I” and “you” named in these lyrics, so I interpreted the song in first-person. However, some lines are still unclear about who is the subject vs object. Additional translation notes at the bottom.

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dōshite darou boku ga kimi o suki ni natte hajimete no kanshoku oboetanda        

I wonder why, when I fell in love with you I recalled a certain sensation for the first time

rikutsu de wa mada wakaranai kedo sore dake fuan ni omotteita no ka         

I still don’t know the reason, but Just for that, I felt uneasy

suki de shikatanai no

I love you so I can’t help it

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda boku hitori dake o oite itte sekai no chūshin wa boku ni wa hiro sugitanda nakiwameite mo koe ga todoku koto mo nai sekai no owari ni         

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving me all alone The center of the world is too vast for me Even if I cry and wail, it won’t reach anyone At the end of the world,

sotto kisu o shita kibun datta         

It felt like you softly kissed me *

itsukara darou boku ga kimi o suki ni natte nandome no o wakare mukaeru no mo ikutsu no yoru o koete iketara sore dake demo ī to omoeta noni         

When, I wonder, did I start to like you Though I’m faced with the parting countless times If I could endure that many nights, I thought that would be enough

kanashibari ni atte umaku waraenakute iki mo taedae ni ukabu wa kōkai bakarida itoshikiri naite wasurerareru nara dore dake raku ni nareta darou         

In sleep paralysis, I couldn’t smile properly What floats up on my gasping breaths is nothing but regret If I could cry for a while and forget about it, Wouldn’t that be so much easier?

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda kokoro o karappo ni shite oite shiawase ni natte ne tte oshitsukerunda myakuutsu uchi wa te o nigireru koto mo nai sekai-goto owatte shimae yo         

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving my heart empty I’m pressured to “find happiness” ** So long as mine has a pulse, I can’t even hold your hand Let’s put an end this world

kimi ga shinde shimau yume o mitanda boku hitori dake o oite itte sekai no chūshin wa boku ni wa hiro sugitanda nakiwameite mo koe ga todoku koto mo nai sekai no owari ni        

I saw in a dream that you were going to die Leaving me all alone The center of the world is too vast for me Even if I cry and wail, it won’t reach anyone At the end of the world,

sotto kisu o shita kibun datta         

It felt like you softly kissed me

===== translation notes =====

*  This line, which is repeated at the end, does not have an explicit subject or object. I put what flowed most naturally from the previous verse, but you could also choose: - “It felt like I was softly kissed” - “It felt like I had softly kissed you” - “It felt like we softly kissed”

Artist: ROF-MAO Original lyrics: OHTORA Translation by Snowdust64 ==========

About the title and refrain.  一丁上がり (icchō agari) is a common phrase indicating that something has been completed, solved, made better, etc. In the refrain, イッチョ(iccho) AGATTA sounds like the past tense of that. Meanwhile, ‘agari’ by itself literally means to raise something up. In the context of concerts, it’s used in phrases like ‘raise the excitement.’ So, along with the next line, ブチ (buchi) AGATTA, my understanding of the refrain is basically, ‘We did it! We raised it way up!’  And thus I'm leaving the verse without line-by-line translations. There’s not much else to translate.

Formatting: Implied pronouns are in brackets. If the text is in bold, then the words were originally written in English. I didn’t change any of the capitalization.

Scroll to the end for a few more footnotes.

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Excuse me?? Since when have I posted such misinformation?

I tried again today and it did a better job, but–

So now I'm the only linked reference, yet most of the AI Overview is stuff I've never written. I have not translated this song yet. (I do plan to.)

Artist: Kaida Haru Music, lyrics, arrangement: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

Title approximately means ‘journey of a voice.’ Implied pronouns are in brackets. Translation notes at the end.

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ima mo kikoeru kai * mahō oboeteiru kai

Can [you] still hear [it]? Do [you] still remember the magic?

daremo ga sugisatta rojiura ni kimi dake ga tatazumu hi ga kuru asahi wa tomurai, soretomo yume dōka omoidashite kono uta o

In the alleys that everyone passes by There comes a day when only you are standing there Is the morning sun a funeral, or perhaps a dream? Please, remember this song

nani mo motazu hate e mukau tabi wa munashikatta ka boku wa sō omowanai

Approaching the end empty-handed Is such a journey a waste? I don’t believe so

boku no koe o hanasazu ni ite kyō no hitori o akiramenaide boku mo kimi mo kore hodo ni yowai dakara soba ni   soba ni aritai

Don't let go of my voice Don’t give up while [you’re] alone today You and I are both so very weak That's why [I] want to stay by [your] side

doko kara o hajimari to yobu no ka nanji made tomoni waraeru no ka shizukanaru toki no ressha ga iku yasuragi ni nita obie o nose

From what point do [we] call the beginning? Until what time can [we] laugh together? The train of time goes on and turns quiet Carrying an apprehension that resembles peace

kokoro ni wa furubita hanataba kimidake ga kikoeru kowakatta ne, itakatta ne, zutto itsumade mo inoriaō sore wa mahō de sore wa omajinai sore wa tada, bokura no uta

In [your] heart is an old flower bouquet Which only you can hear It was scary and painful, wasn’t it? Always  ** Let's pray for each other forever That is the magic That is the charm That is, simply, our song

boku no koe o hanasazu ni ite kyō no hitori o akiramenaide kimi yo   hikari o yamenaide kure boku no koe o namenaide kure!

Don't let go of my voice Don’t give up while [you’re] alone today It’s you   Don’t stop shining Don’t underestimate my voice!

toki o koete   uta ni hisonde soba ni aru yo   mata au hi made

Transcending time, instilled into song [I am] at your side   Until the day we meet again

===== translation notes =====

*  The kanji used for ‘kikoeru’ or ‘hear/listen’ has the connotation of listening attentively, such as what one would do in the audience of a performance.

**  Here, the word ‘always’ (from ‘zutto’) could go with the line it is in, or it could be strung into the next. It is not clearly in past tense or future tense.

==========

Summary of Kaida’s commentary from his listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting from 2:52:07 in the YouTube archive video:

This song was made to be the grand finale, the final episode, etc. As he said earlier in the stream, he created the songs in this album with the intent of performing them in a live concert. With this last song, he wanted to capture that combination of ‘Wow, that was really fun!’ and the slightly lonely sadness of ‘Aw, it’s over.’ That feeling that concertgoers have on the train or bus or car, as they head home after an awesome concert and get ready to go back to work as usual the next day. “But that’s exactly how you know it was a good concert.”

Looking ahead to the live concerts still coming up within this year: “It’s my selfish wish, but […] I hope you’ll enjoy them enough that you feel this way afterward.”

For Kaida, it is similar to the feeling he has toward the release of this self-produced album being the completion of the project. But that makes it the best time to start looking ahead to the next project. The next album. It’s an ending, but it’s also a beginning. So, you can be a little sad after one concert ends, but you can also start feeling excited about the next concert to come.

Theme: magic of voice. “I hope my music, my songs, may be like magic for all of you. […] I hope you will believe that music is magic.”

Comments from Horie Shota (for all the songs he was involved in): “Congratulations on the release of Magic. As an album producer, I took a journey with Kaida-san in writing lyrics, composing and arranging music for a variety of songs. His love, devotion, and fervent hope for music are the real thing, so such a profound album title suits him well. The many thoughts I had were too numerous to write here, and I’ve written them in the album so I hope you may enjoy it along with his sincerity. I was very happy to have worked together on this, thank you!”

Artist: Kaida Haru Music, lyrics, arrangement: Shirokami Mashiro Translation by Snowdust64

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Yes, I did my own translation! I'm replacing the link in my translations directory with this one. It’s been months since I read anyone else's translation of this song, so I think I was able to start with a clean slate.

Not a line-for-line translation. Implied pronouns are in brackets and probably will differ from other people’s interpretations. Notes and song commentary at the end.

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kuchibiru o kandara me o tojite sore kara umaku ikanai riyū o kazoeteta mu kandō, rōhi shite iku kon'na hazu janai hibi no kōkai o shirime ni susumu aitsu no sei janai      

As [I] bit my lip And closed [my] eyes [I] started counting the reasons why it wasn’t going well Apathetic, wasting it all Only sparing a sideways glance for the regret that life wasn’t supposed to be like this As [I] continue – Isn’t it that guy’s fault? *

shujinkōzen to shita jishin ya kataru niataisuru sutōrī mottenai kara shikatanai demo akirametakunai toka jichō-gimi ni shika waraenai nanimo kamo īwake mitaide     

The confidence of a main character Or a story worth telling [I] don’t have either, can’t be helped But [I] can only laugh at myself For not wanting to give up and so on Everything sounds like an excuse

kioku ni nokoru yōni kotoba ni imi ga yadoru yōni yume no tō-sa ni me ga kurande omoidasu ano hi no koto ippo susunde wa modotte aikawarazu na hibi no sono, hajimari no koto o     

May [I] remain in memories May [my] words hold meaning When the distance to [my] dreams is dizzying Remember back to that day To how it all began These unchanging days of Taking one step forward and falling one step back

fugainai shōtai o satorarenai yōni kataru jiron mo seiron mo kokkei de kachimake janai toka itte oite are mo kore mo shōhai o kinishiten no ga shōbun da nante sa     

So that [my] pathetic true self Will not be revealed [I] speak opinions and ideologies that are ridiculous Insisting things like “it’s not about winners and losers” But it’s [my] nature after all To worry over winning or losing in everything

dakyō jōho issai shinaide ariamaru sainō o kakezute sore kurai janai to imi nai? demo akiramerarenai yo na `ima ni miteiro, kore kara' dare ni tomo naku koe ni shite     

Don’t make a single compromise or concession Spend [my] abundant talent as [I] go If [I] can’t do even that, isn’t it meaningless? But [I] still don’t want to give up “Just watch [me], from here on out” [I] declare to no one in particular

itsuka no yume ga sukoshi chikadzuku tabi hateshinai koto o shirazu ni irarenai aikawarazu sa kioku ni nokoru yōni kotoba ga todoku yōni tameiki o aiseru yōni     

Every time those dreams of someday Gradually draw closer [I] can’t possibly not know That it’s endless It’s unchanging May [I] remain in memories May [my] words be conveyed May [my] sighs be loved **

anata mo yume o kitto akiramezu iraremasu yōni yume no tō-sa ni me ga kurande furikaeru hi ga atte mo ippo susunde wa modotte aikawarazu na bokura no koto o tagai ni inorō     

May you also go on Without giving up on your dreams When the distance to [your] dreams is dizzying Even if there are days you have to start over Taking one step forward and falling one step back Let us pray for each other That we may remain our unchanging selves

kinō yori susundatte seizei rei-ten ichi pāsento kokoro ga ore-sō nante īzurai kedo tamani wa ī yo kitto ī yo wasure-yō mo nai deshō hajimari no wake o     

[I’ve] moved forward since yesterday But only by 0.1% Though it may be difficult to say [my] spirit is about to crumble Sometimes that’s fine Surely it will be fine After all, there’s no way [I’ll] forget it The reason for beginning

===== translation notes =====

*  Based on the MV, the speaker is blaming his peers for his own lack of success.

**  I kept the implied pronouns consistent and used first-person, but myself, I always end up hearing ‘May even your sighs be loved.’ (And this made me cry the first time I listened to the song.) So, substitute the pronouns as you prefer.

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Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting from 2:36:15 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of beginning

Directly opposite to “Oblivion,” this song is about trying with all your might to leave something behind and be remembered. “When I die, I’d like to leave something tangible behind. That’s what I was trying to say.” For Kaida, it’s the reason why he started making music.

Reflecting on his past self: At age 20 he was often blaming his lack of success on other people, and when he had these thoughts he also resented himself for it. There are still times he has thoughts that he feels guilty about, though they come much less frequently than before. But throughout it all, he kept reminding himself of the reason why he started making music in the first place.

2:39:40 – “So, ‘Though it may be difficult to say my spirit is about to crumble,’ and so on… there were lots and lots of moments like that.”

2:40:15 – “The theme was exposing your all. Your bare self. […] Not really forgiving yourself, but setting yourself free.”

Before Kaida became a Liver, there were plenty of things that didn’t go well for him. He did feel like he was counting the reasons why things weren’t going the way he wanted, and gradually his daily life became uninteresting. Every day seemed dull. For him, what changed everything was starting his career as a Liver. But he still thinks about other people who are living in that endless cycle of the same grind every day.

2:42:50 – “You all say a lot about me working really hard, […] how being in two units and doing solo activities is impressive. […] Treating me like some amazing person. Everyone says that. […] Recently I’ve come across some people who are saying, ‘I want to be like Kaida.’ But in the end, I don’t think of myself as that amazing of a person. You know? It’s like this: Maybe that’s how it looks right now, but if you turn back time just a little, it was actually like this. So, I’m the same as all of you. I really wanted to get that across in this song.”

In the days when you’re making tiny progress and taking a step forward and backward over and over, he hopes you will remember your goal, remember what you wanted to do. When you don’t see yourself as some amazing person, why was it again that you wanted so much to do that thing? When you forget your reason for continuing the daily grind, when you’re in a slump and have a low opinion of yourself, may this song lift you up.

Comments from Shirokami Mashiro: “Congratulations on the release of your new album! From the first time I listened to this album, I was moved both as a musician and a listener by the balance between earnest feelings, wishes, and humor, and the overflowing love for music that runs throughout. I am honored to have participated in this work in various ways, from providing an original song to (being involved in) recording. And, it was a rare and precious joy to get to see the MV for ‘Hajimari No Wakewo’ reaching so many people! Together, Kaida-san and I poured our hearts into every note, character, and sound. I believe this album, which is turning out to be a huge project, will show a whole new side of him. May everyone enjoy it.”

Mashiro-san was present for a lot of the recording sessions. He was super helpful. “Really, he’s like a big brother. […] Mashiro-san’s passion for music is incredible. That’s why I felt like I really wanted to make music with this person.”

Music and lyrics: Kaida Haru Arrangement: Genzuki Tōjirō and Natsume Yuki

Since this is a short song, I am separating the romaji and English. Implied pronouns are in brackets, and for this song, I think you could reasonably substitute them with just about any perspective.

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sakamaku tsuchikemuri ni koboreta ase kawaite kieteiku semishigure to sairen no oto ni kono natsu e omoi o hasete

nando mo yume mite kuzurete koko ni iru shinji tsudzuketa jibun ga

moyase bukkakō demo oresō demo hitomi dake wa sorasenai michisuji no saki ni hikari o mite sā futeki ni warae makeru shiai janai gyakkyō de koso susumu saikō no keshiki o tsukame

= = = = = = = = = =

The sweat spilled into the swirling dust Dries and disappears Sounds of droning cicadas and sirens Bring a rush of thoughts of this summer

So many times over [I] chased dreams and they collapsed, but here [I] am [Myself], who continued to believe

The context for this random thing? I, um, posted a violin cover of "Shiny Sunny Step" to my YouTube channel and these paper decorations were in the backdrop.

It was recorded with my phone, the quality is crap... but I'm happy that I actually worked up the courage to do it, so —

Artist: Kaida Haru Music & lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets; I used first- and second-person singular. Notes and commentary at the end.

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ai no kansei to wa   sore o wasureru koto boku ga itta ka   anata datta ka yoru no mukō ni   futari de ikenai koto o itsukara ka kidzuiteita no deshō    

Love is complete when it is forgotten Did I say that, or was it you? The two of us cannot go beyond the night together At some point, [you] must have realized that

dakara anata ni mahō o kakeru yo me ga sametara   waratte     

So [I’ll] cast a spell on you When you wake up, smile

anata o omoeba   kinō ga aru anata wa sotto   aruki hajimeru sore o boku no shiawase to shita mune ni itetsuku itami no naka no kodokuna uchū ni anata ga iru sayonara no naka ni anata ga iru son'na himitsu o chikatta      

If [I] think of you, there is a yesterday * You softly begin to walk I made that my happiness Inside the freezing pain in my chest In that lonely universe, you are there In the goodbye, you are there On that secret [I] made a vow **

onaji kimochi to jikan chikadzukeba atataka na hi boku wa mō sugu kiechau kedo anata no shiawase ni narezu tomo kanashimi o hitotsu ubai sareru to shitara sore ga hokorashī   ureshī      

Shared feelings and time, if [you] draw close, they’re a warm fire Though I will disappear soon Even if [I] can’t become your happiness If [I] can take just one sorrow away [I] would be proud and glad for it

anata no mukō ni ashita ga aru soko ni boku mo irareta nara son'na hanashi o umarekawattara anata to shitai      

On the other side of you, there is tomorrow If I could be there If I were reborn, I’d like to talk about that with you

mienaku natte mo furerarenaku natte mo kikoenaku natte mo anata ni mahō o tonaeru yo waratteite    

Even if [you] can no longer see [me] Even if [you] can no longer touch [me] Even if [you] can no longer hear [me] I’ll keep reciting this spell for you Keep smiling

anata o omou kinō ni naru anata no shiranai hajimari ni naru sore o boku no shiawase to shita mune ni itetsuku itami no naka no kodoku na uchū ni anata ga iru sayonara no naka ni anata ga iru boku ga ita    

I think of you, and it becomes yesterday Unknown to you, it becomes a beginning I made that my happiness Inside the freezing pain in my chest In that lonely universe, you are there In the goodbye, you are there And I was there

===== translation notes =====

*  In place of ‘there is a yesterday,’ I considered writing ‘then yesterday existed,’ but it felt too strongly worded for some reason. After all my revisions, the word 'exist' does not appear anywhere in my translation, and this stays faithful to the original lyrics so I am satisfied.

**  As in, ‘I vowed to keep that secret’

==========

Summary of Kaida’s commentary from his listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 2:22:43 in the YouTube archive video:

theme: magic of memory (but also the magic of oblivion, as the title says)

Kaida asked Horie Shota to make this song like telling a story. The speaker is gradually fading away.

2:26:46 – “Well, it is sad, but ‘please forget about me completely and live on in happiness’ is what it’s saying. ‘That would be the happiest thing for me, or so I made it to be.’ Of course it’s bitter, being forgotten and disappearing. […] even so, still wishing for the other person’s happiness, for them to not feel sad over it.”

2:27:32 – In the first chorus, the lines ‘On that secret / I made a vow’ have a long pause in the middle. The flickering instrumentals that fill the space represent restless thoughts, lingering regrets, in the speaker’s mind.

2:25:05 – “Lately, I’ve been feeling more afraid of death… haha, what do you mean, this is too sudden?”  (note: in an earlier stream he talked about how, after turning 30, he suddenly felt like death was a lot nearer.)  “For example, tomorrow, something could suddenly happen and cause you to die. Is that not scary? Suddenly getting struck by lightning, or… suddenly falling from a cliff, etc. Things like that can’t be helped.” In the midst of accumulating more and more precious things – getting to work with fellow creators, growing a listener base, enjoying what he does – “the idea of reaching the end of one’s life is extremely scary.”

Naturally, he would prefer not to outlive the people around him because it’s sad to be the one left behind. On the flip side, if he had to die first, he wouldn’t like to be forgotten, but if being forgotten would allow someone to be happy then maybe it would be better that way. “Rather than forgetting, I would prefer to be forgotten. Maybe that’s the way to put it.”

Artist: Kaida Haru Music & lyrics: H△G Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets. Line counts do not match for this one, and while I tried to preserve the original punctuation, it didn’t always work in English. Pardon the differences. Scroll to the end for Kaida’s songwriting commentary.

==========

kakurenbo shita machi no koto natsukashimu yōni hanasu boku no shigusa o mite kimi wa, kawaranai ne to waratteita    

Watching me speak nostalgically about the town where we played hid-and-seek, you said ‘You haven’t changed’ with a laugh

makkura de nani mo nai yoru. kirei na yakei mo kirameki mo nai. saredo kawari ni hoshi no kagayaki o shiru.    

The night is pitch black and empty. No pretty nightscape and nothing sparkling. But instead, [we] get to know the brilliance of the stars.

natsu no mahō ga bokura no koto o, isogiashi de otona ni shite mo. surimuita hizakozō wa ima mo, kawarazu ni kizuato o nokoshita mama.    

Even if the magic of summer makes us grow up in a hurry Unchanging, the scars on our scraped kneecaps have remained even now

hoshi uranai bakari kimi wa kinishiteru keredo, kitto mirai ya asu no koto nante, jibun de kiri hiraku mono.   nē, sōdaro?    

You're always paying close attention to your horoscope, but Surely the future and tomorrow are things that [we] have to carve out [ourselves.] Hey, isn’t that right?

“kawarenai” no dewa naku, “kawaranai” to kimeta kono yoru noni to, kore kara mo wasurenai yo.    

It’s not that “[I] can’t change,” [I] decided that “[I] won’t change” this night, And neither will [I] ever forget it from now on.

natsu no mahō ga bokura no koto o, isogiashi de otona ni shite mo. surimuita hizakozō wa ima mo, kasabuta no manma da.    

Even if the magic of summer makes us grow up in a hurry The scrapes on [our] kneecaps are still just scabs.

hoshi no shashin ga umaku torezu, shikametsura o shiteiru kimi ni. toke hajimeta aisukurīmu ga, hora natsu no hajimari tsugeteru yozora no shita de.    

To you, who frowned because you couldn't take a good photo of the stars. Under the night sky, the ice cream starting to melt is signaling the start of summer.

==========

Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 2:09:47 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of light. Instead of a bright beaming light that purifies everything, it’s a warm and sparkling light that illuminates your surroundings. 2:10:42 - live chat: “Like lumos?”   Kaida:  “… Not quite.”

In Kaida's opinion, the phrases ‘our scraped kneecaps’ and ‘the ice cream starting to melt’ are super nostalgic on their own. The song flows sort of like a conversation.

Keywords for the songwriting process: sparkling, brilliance of youth, feels like we could even fly in the sky, refreshing, hope, facing forward, starry night sky, dazzle, constellations

To the young people who are waiting for some special moment to happen, he would like to say that the moment is right now. Like during summer break, when your friends come over to play and it’s turned into nighttime, and the ice cream you bought on the way home is melting. Or you’re going home after club activities, eating ice cream together, and the ice cream starts to melt. This is the moment!

2:15:39 – “But… I’m already a grown-up. And there are probably many grown-ups among my listeners. Lots of grown-ups for whom that moment has passed. Those people, when they remember back to those times, will think, ‘ah, those were really nice memories.’ […] ‘Those moments were truly like lights shining inside me’ but they’re never going to come back again, those moments! That is how they dazzle.”

“Remembering a bit and chuckling, and thinking ‘Ah, those were fun times. Let’s do our best tomorrow too.’ That feeling.” With your heart warmed by those memories, maybe it will be a little easier to go to work again tomorrow.

2:19:13 – This summer, Kaida would like the grown-ups among his listeners to go out on a veranda and eat ice cream and listen to this song. “Grown-ups who have gotten worn out by society, do this.”  Also, for those who are parents, you can include your kids in this activity. Please take some time to feel nostalgic about your childhood.

To the listeners who are still in their teenage years: Listen to this song again ten years from now and the meaning will probably change for you. “You’ll think, oh, this is what Kaida was talking about.”

Artist: Kaida Haru Original lyrics: buzzG Translation by Snowdust64

Implied pronouns are in brackets; I used first- and second-person to fill them in. Translation notes and commentary at the bottom.

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shīkyūshīkyū   ano koro no hoshi mo “sainō ga nai.” to hikutsu na egao mo heichūheichū   nanimokamo norotta boku ga boku o sagasenai yōni    

CQ CQ  The stars back then * And the submissive smile saying, “[I] don’t have the talent.” Hate you, hate you – [I] cursed everything So that I wouldn’t search for myself

son'na ikuji nashi ga tomosu aoi honō ga kimi no te o gyutto nigitteiru    

The blue flame lit by someone so timid is Holding on to your hand tightly

utai tsunaida hi ga  hibi ga ** nibi iro no kōkai ga shinzō o ugokashiteite mahō hitotsu te ima kimi no honogurai sekai-goto kaerareya shinai kedo soba ni iru  nē  sono te o nobashite yo

The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and Dim regrets are causing [my] heart to stir A single spell won’t change the entirety of the dark world you’re in now, but [I’m] at your side, hey, reach out [your] hand

mēdēmēdē   kimi no yobu koe ga hikūtei de tabi ni deru to shiyō

Mayday mayday, your voice calls out Let's go on a journey by airship

kitai-gayoi ni ikanai koto ga kitai-dōri-sugi de waraeru ne seikaiju wa kare  hakujitsu wa kakure  ankoku no saki o susumō ze     

Isn’t it laughable how things not going as expected is exactly what’s expected The world tree has withered, the bright sun is hidden, let's continue on past this darkness

yowasa datte kakusanakute ī yo boku ni sotto misete  sono kagayaki    

[You] don’t have to hide [your] weaknesses Just softly show me [your] radiance

mahō mo nai  kiseki mo nai  risetto botan mo nai kono hoshi ga suki da yo kimi ga kimi o sagashidaseru yōni omajinai o kaketa yo    

There's no magic, no miracles, and no reset button, but [I] love this planet [I've] cast a spell so that you can find yourself

aoi mama no boku de katarō  mikan no shinwa o kono mama saishū-ban made    

Let’s talk while I’m still in my youth,*** all the way to the final episode of this unfinished mythology

utai tsunaida hi ga  hibi ga asagi-iro no tenmei ga  shinzō o ugokashiteite kodō futatsu de hora  kimi no honogurai sekai demo dōshiyō mo naku itoshī yo hibikiau  ekō  itai kurai saewatare    

The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and A light blue destiny are causing [my] heart to stir With two hearts beating together, see? Even your dark world Is so hopelessly dear Resonating together, echoes, so clear and pure that it hurts

osore nagara  kudake nagara  seiza o yubi de nazorō mayoi nagara  tomadoi nagara  bokura dake no shinwa o egaite   

Even as we’re feeling afraid and broken, let’s trace constellations with our fingers Even as we get lost and confused, we’ll paint our own mythology

===== translation notes ====

*  CQ CQ is an abbreviation used in radio signaling. (Look up ‘cqcq ham radio’ for more info.) It is basically a call out to anyone listening, in hopes of getting a reply.

** The original kanji of this line is 歌い繋いだ灯が ヒビが and it is sung here with the same pronunciation as 歌い繋いだ日が 日々が. 日 (hi) refers to a single day and 日々 (hibi) is more like a time period of daily life. These words are replaced with ‘light’ and ‘cracks.’

***  ‘aoi’ literally is blue or a blue-green color, but it is also used to describe youth, or the associated naivety or inexperience. Also in this line, ‘katarō’ does translate to ‘talk’ but it implies more of a free-flowing conversation.

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Commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 1:56:33 in the YouTube archive video.

Theme: magic of fire/flame

Music, lyrics, and arrangement by buzzG

“Ever since he provided VΔLZ with ‘Moonwalkers,’ a certain idea took shape in my mind. I want to sing a solo song by buzzG like this! – is what I thought, and straight from that feeling, this song came out.”

2:00:52 – “I initially wanted to convey endurance, willpower, and so on… tough situations as well as opportunities. A down-to-earth, unbreakable spirit. Those were the words I came up with at the beginning. So, in my mind, it was a searing hot flame. You get what I mean? It was a red fire.”  He draws a comparison to the blazing fires of intense anime characters when they make a comeback in a hard battle, for example Endeavor (from My Hero Academia), when everything is flaring up and exploding. “But in buzzG’s mind, it was a flame that was blue and quiet, yet super high temperature.” Kaida thought that was really cool way to conceptualize it, so they went with buzzG’s version.

2:03:52 – “This part, ‘There’s no magic, no miracles, and no reset button, but I love this planet,’ this sentence had a lot of care put into it. […] This being a song about magic and all, saying that there is no magic within a song about magic felt like it had a deeper meaning.”  “No miracles, no reset button. No do-overs. Even so, I love the present moment. So, even if magic does not exist in this world, music is magic. That’s how I felt in regard to this song. This song is magic, in a magic-less world.”

2:05:36 – “I might just be selfishly making presumptions here, but…” The two lines from the song, ‘The light that was connected by singing, the cracks, and / A light blue destiny are causing [my] heart to stir’ really, really resonated with him. “I thought, this is… my song! [...] I really superimposed myself onto these two lines.”

Comments from buzzG: “Kaida-san, first, congratulations on your album release. In this project, I was in charge of ‘Blue Mythology.’ I felt that if Kaida-san and I were to create ‘magic,’ it would not be some supernatural phenomenon, nor a miracle that overturned everything in an instant, but like a quiet flame that, in the middle of the day-to-day, someone suddenly notices is softly warming them. May Kaida’s songs, which are spun together like dropping ink into clear water, or like reading a story, gently bring color to someone’s days.”

「雷命」 Artist: Kaida Haru Original lyrics: Horie Shota Translation by Snowdust64

The title approximately translates to ‘thunderous life.’ However, when 命 is read as ‘mei’ it can also mean ‘fate’ or ‘command.’

Implied pronouns in brackets with my best guesses. The repeating phrase, ‘rai rai rai rai’ is just ‘thunder’ x4, and I left it out to save space. Translation notes and commentary at the bottom.

==========

kiyari-goe   tsuranare tada karidashite uta ni natte bikabika ni mazariau enrō ze     

In kiyari voice, unite * Just rush out and make song Flashing brightly, blend together [Let’s] live it up **

ikiatari battari nayandeiru ka yonabe  kubete   asa ni shikararete sono kodoku ni ibasho wa naku nakedo nakedo   kasure-goe    

Haphazardly feeling worried Eating hotpot at night, getting scolded in the morning Within that loneliness is no place to belong Though [your] hoarse voice cries and cries

saredo itamu no da kitte hatta yōna shin'no zō ga mada itamu no da   ikiteitai kotodama ga pachipachi to kusuguttai uchinaru koe sō da   itai no da omae to onaji doshaburi ni mimi fusai da   sono riyū wa    

Even so, it still hurts As if it was slashed and strained, [my] heart Still hurts   The words "I want to live" Crackle and tickle, an inner voice That’s right, [I] want to be there In the same downpour with you The reason [I] covered my ears was —

inabikare,  tōboe o kasanete kyō,  hitotsu no sakebi to narō aiso waratte koroshita ikari yasashiku akirameta hikari inabikare,  ienai koto tabanete kyō,   todoroku hitotsu ni narō donten ni saku no wa   hajimari sono hitomi ni harema o takushite      

Flash like lightning, overlapping howls *** Today, they become a single cry The anger that was killed by an amicable smile The light that gently gave in Flash like lightning, bind together what cannot be said Today, roaring, [let's] become one Bursting open in the cloudy sky is a beginning Entrusting the piercing sunlight to those eyes †

(same as 1st verse, minus the last line)

koko ni wa nai ze   darekare mo onaji-iro no doro ni magirete koroge asobeba wakaru darō koko ga,   omae ga matsuri dato      

There’s none of that here  Anyone and everyone Blends into the same-colored mud Roll around and play, you’ll understand That in this place, the festival is you

soshite itamu no da kishimi ugoita shin'nozō ga tada itamu noda   `ikite iru' o hokoru yōni pachipachi to tobidashitai uchinaru koe sō da   itai no da kitto ima   deau tame    

And so it hurts Creaking as it moves, [my] heart Just hurts, as if to proudly say “I’m alive” An inner voice, crackling, wanting to leap out That’s right, it hurts Surely, it was all so [we] could meet now

gōgō   sawagasetai kusubutten no wa nō   nō gōgō   sawagasetai hajiratten’no ka nō   nō gōgō   sawagasetai omae ga dare toka nō nō ashita ga dō toka kankeinē kara    

Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus What’s smoldering is – No, no ‡ Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus Feeling embarrassed? No, no § Roar, roar, want to raise a ruckus Whoever you might be, no, no Whatever is tomorrow, it doesn’t matter

inabikare,  tōboe o kasanete kyō,  hitotsu no sakebi to narō aiso waratte koroshita ikari yasashiku akirameta hikari inabikare,  ienai koto tabanete kyō,   todoroku hitotsu ni narō donten ni saku no wa   hajimari sono hitomi ni harema o chikatte      

Flash like lightning, overlapping howls Today, they become a single cry The anger that was killed by an amicable smile The light that gently gave in Flash like lightning, bind together what cannot be said Today, roaring, let's become one Bursting open in the cloudy sky is a beginning Promising the piercing sunlight to those eyes

(same as 1st verse, minus the last line)

mata asobō ze   doshaburi de

Let’s play again in the pouring rain

===== translation notes =====

Wow, I had to use Weblio so much. There’s a lot of traditional or archaic vocabulary in these lyrics. Still feel like I might be getting some of the grammar wrong.

*  ‘kiyari’ refers to traditional songs that were sung by laborers as they worked in unison. They are now often associated with festivals and Shinto rituals. The singing style is somewhat higher-pitched and nasal, and involves a lot of long, held notes. You can find lots of examples by searching “木遣り” on YouTube.

**  宴 is read ‘utage’ or ‘en’ and means ‘to have fun by eating, drinking, singing, dancing, etc.’

***  ‘inabika’ is specifically the light from lightning; it doesn’t include the sound of thunder that accompanies it. (Consider how, in English, we say ‘firelight’ to mean the light of the fire, while excluding the cracking, popping, and whooshing noises that fires usually make.)

†   晴れ間 (harema) specifically means when a small patch of clear, sunny sky appears amidst dense clouds or during a rain/snow shower.

‡  ‘kusubutte’ – Smoldering like small fire that doesn’t go out, but also is not growing; stuck in an unimpressive state.

§  The repeating ‘no, no’ is alliteration, but the first two times, the syllable is actually coming from the kanji for ‘brain’ (脳). So, if I were to strictly translate the text: ‘[Your] brain is what’s smoldering’ and ‘Feeling embarrassed, brain?’

心の臓 (shin’no zō) which appears a few times is an older word for ‘heart,’ which nowadays is shortened to 心臓 (shinzō). 

土砂降り (doshaburi) – I want to point out a cool word! The translation is ‘downpour’ (referring to rain) but the kanji actually means ‘reduction of soil and sand’ and does not contain any character related to rain. It comes from the idea that the rain is so heavy, it washes away the soil and sand.

 ==========

Summary of commentary from Kaida’s listen-along stream on 6/14/25, starting at 1:44:55 in the YouTube archive.

Lyrics by Horie Shota, music by Mitusyo who did the opening BGM for VΔLZ’s live concert series last year.

The repeating line ‘rai rai rai rai’ is a mix of Kaida, Horie, and Mitsuyo’s voices.

Keywords: festival, raise the tension, go crazy, run riot, become one, lend your strength and I’ll lend mine

1:51:03 – “Just for today, forget about all the unpleasant things and let’s be crazy. Don’t care what’s happening tomorrow, whether it's work or vacation doesn’t matter. Man or woman, old or young, none of that matters. […] So, with everyone becoming one, let’s fire up this festival of music.”  For people who are attending a live concert for the first time and aren’t sure how to cheer on the performance – “Doesn’t matter! We’ll show you how!”

The feeling of being stronger, like you’re capable of anything, when you’re working in unity with other people is what he wanted to capture in this song. As examples, participating in a club or a tournament. Kaida also relates it to the VΔLZ live concerts, where the team was not just the three members onstage, but everyone involved in making the show happen.