Kaori

Another Enka singer who I enjoy listening to is Kozai Kaori. She's a native of Osaka and sang Japanese folk songs (minyo) when she was young, then switched to Enka. Kaori and fellow Enka singers Fuji Ayako, Sakamoto Fuyumi and Godai Natsuko are friends. They're also all about the same age (late 30's, early 40's). Kaori has a very beautiful song called Mugon Zaka (Silent Hill). It's also rather sad. Here are the lyrics (translation courtesy of the Mognet Japanese Translation Group).

Lights come on in that window, in this window
The warm happiness is visible
I planned to pile them each up, one by one
But we always just miss one another
This kind of painful love
If I speak of it, it will become a lie
I want to go home, but I can't go home, this is the silent hill
I want to go home, but I can't go home, I'm alone on the hill at twilight

That city and this city both show signs of rain
Where will I go? I'm alone, a stray dog
I don't need comfort or excuses
If there is an answer, I'll come up with it soon
This kind of painful love
I shut my mouth about it, and clam up
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, this is the silent hill
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, on the hill where the rain is lost

I want to go home, but I can't go home, this is the silent hill
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, on the hill where the rain is lost

This is the silent hill