Translation: The Huge Keyaki Tree (Chu Kosaka)

Chu Kosaka's vocal melodies are often simple and minimal, but even when they are, they sound so right. I don't know how he does it. There's a fine line between boring and meditative, and Kosaka (especially in this early period) likes to keep it in view, but always ends up on the "meditative" side, both feet planted firmly on the earth.

I don't know the context for the collaboration, but the words to The Huge Keyaki Tree (Kanzawa/Kosaka) are credited to Toshiko Kanzawa, a celebrated writer of Japanese literature. Wikipedia lists a book of the same title published in 1976. Perhaps this particular poem came out early, and Kosaka got permission through Mushroom to release the song...? An online search didn't turn up much.

:::

The huge keyaki tree —

the one out in

the open field —

is rustling in the wind.

Long ago,

ninjas used ninjutsu

to leap right over

huge keyaki like that.

"Hmmm. Did they now?"

rustles, rustles, rustles

the tree.

The huge keyaki tree —

the one out in

the open field —

is rustling in the wind.

Long ago,

ninjas used ninjutsu

to turn themselves into

huge keyaki like that.

"Hmmm. Did they now?"

rustles, rustles, rustles

the tree.

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