Ai wa Kagerou (Love is a Day Fly)

Ai wa Kagerou (愛はかげろう) (English Title: Love is a Day Fly) is a song by a Japanese group called Gamu (雅夢), consisting of Miura Kazuto (三浦和人) and Nakagawa Toshikazu (中川敏一).  Music and lyrics were written by Miura Kazuto.  In May 1980, the song won the Award of Excellence in the 19th Yamaha Popular Song Contest, while both men were still university students.  By the way, Karashima Midori (辛島美登里) won the Grand Prize in the same contest 3 years later.

I discovered this song via Nakamori Akina's (中森明菜) cover album Utahime 3 (歌姫3).

There was a little incident around 2003 with regard to this song.  At that time, Korean TV drama Winter Sonata was showing in Japan.  Its theme song was accused of infringing Ai wa Kagerou because they sound very similar.  To be honest, I didn't realized that until I listened very carefully.  I don't think it's obvious.

Anyway, here's a YouTube video of a live performance of the song by Miura Kazuto.



Here's the original Japanese lyrics.

愛はかげろう

曲、詩：三浦和人

窓ガラス流れ落ちてゆく雨を
細い指先で　なぞってみる
くもりとかして　すべる指先に
伝わる冷たさ　心にしみる
忘れ去られた　部屋の片隅
貴方の影　今もゆれてる

愛はかげろう　つかの間の命
激しいまでに　燃やし続けて
別れはいつも　背中合わせに
人の心を　ゆれして

別れ言葉を　口にする貴方は
いつもとちがって　やさしすぎた
はき出すタバコの　煙の影が
教えてくれた　偽り言葉と
あつくいだかれた日々を
倖せと言えば　かなしい

愛はかげろう　さめきった愛の
過ぎ去る後に　残るものは
いつも　女の乾いた涙
さまよい歩く　迷い子
　
愛はかげろう　つかの間の命
激しいまでに　燃やし続けて
別れはいつも　背中合わせに
人の心を　ゆれして

And here's my English translation.  Enjoy!

Love is a Day Fly

Composer, Lyrics: Miura Kazuto

The flow of rain coming down the glass window

My slender finger attempting to trace its route

Turning into mist

Chilliness transmits through my sliding finger tip 

Permeates my heart

In the long forgotten corner in this room

Even to this day your shadow is still wavering

Love is a day fly

It continues to burn through to its climax

Departure always turns lovers against each other
Shaking our hearts

You who delivered the break up

Was unusually kind and tender

The shadows of cigarette smoke coming out from your lips
Are lies that you made up
Happiness were the days I passionately held you in my arms

When you say that it is sorrowful

Love is a day fly

A love completely cooled down

When everything is past and gone

What remains is always the dried tears of a woman

Like a lost child nervously wandering around

Love is a day fly

It continues to burn through to its climax

Departure always turns lovers against each other

Shaking our hearts