Every once a while there’s a single released that resonates in the abysses of my heart, a single so beautiful that I believe our readers will definitely appreciate it. Today, I am bringing you Fukui Mai’s Ikutabi Sakura.

Fuikui Mai isn’t very popular at the first glance, but she definitely belongs to the industry where solid vocal and musical talents shine. Long before her first debut when she was in her eighth grade, she listened to her brother’s CD “Hanson” and became interested in music. By the time she graduated middle school, she was the drummer of a band that her friends formed. It was around this time when she decided to pursue a professional singer career. Soon as a composer and lyric writer she wrote her first song “Lucky.” Unable to concentrate on music and schoolwork at the same time, she quit university to become a more active musician. At the end of 2004, she joined an independent band called “Poplar” as a vocalist in Kyoto. After releasing two albums, she left the band and began her own career. In 2008, she debuted with her first single, “Love Song,” which was used as the theme song for TBS TV drama “Koizora,” and had over 500,000 downloads. Given that she is only a newcomer to the J-Pop industry, Mai has shown quite a lot of potential. She also reportedly writes in English, and then translates into Japanese in order to complete a piece. Interesting.

Track 1 – Ikutabi no Sakura (いくたびの櫻) – Sakura that Blooms Timelessly

Ikutabi no Sakura rolls in with a powerful grand piano and smoothly transitions to Fukui Mai’s soft, pure and soothing vocal. “This year Sukura bloomed early, both of us walk together on this road” leads into a romantic story. Then the theme settles with: “during this short cherry blossom season, everyone is living to the brightest.” The entire track plays consistently with soft and touching instrumental style, slow-paced tempo and simple rhythm. A little nostalgia, a little sentiment, and a whole heart of love, topped with this incredible lyric “gazing at the sakura that blooms only once a year, I want to live with this love together with you until we die.” In conclusion, this is a highly sentimental song of romantic nature.

今年の櫻は 早めに咲いた, 二人は肩寄せ この道歩くよ
This year Sukura bloomed early, both of us walk together on this road
櫻の咲いてる わずかなこの時, 誰もが束の間 花やぎ生きてる
During this short cherry blossom season, everyone is living to the brightest
これから何年, 二人して櫻を見るのでしょう
今年も大事にして 散るまでの花を見る
I wonder how many years since then, we have seen this sakura blossom together.
This year too we carefully observed the blossom until the last pedal falls.
一年一度の 櫻をながめて
あなたと死ぬまで, この愛に生きたい, あなたと
Gazing at the sakura that blooms only once a year
I want to live with this love together with you until we pass away
あなたと櫻の 並木道歩いて
おもわず見あげた 梢と青空
Walking with you on the road of sakura trees
I looked up into the sky, and the sakura branches
春がめぐれば 櫻は咲くもの
今まで私も そう思っていたけど
As spring comes every year, sakura blooms
Until now, I always believed so
一年生きてた, 証だと 今では感じる
花びらひとひらさえ 大切なその命
Now I finally feel the evidence that I lived an entire year
Even every single piece of falling pedal is an important life.
一年一度の 櫻をながめて
あなたと死ぬまで, この愛に生きたい
Gazing at the sakura that blooms only once a year
I want to live with this love together with you until we pass away
あなたと死ぬまで, この愛に生きたい
I want to live with this love together with you until we pass away

Track 2 – Kanashimi yo, Konnichiwa – (悲しみよ　こんにちは) – Hello, Sadness

“Hello Sadness” is rather lightheartedly sad. You can feel strength, determination, weakness and love simultaneously from her sentimental and powerful voice. Faster tempo and simple rhythm set this song apart from its A-side cousin. Overall A and B sides mingle together to make a perfect combination of love, nostalgia, sadness and hope.

Track 3 – Ikutabi no Sakura (Instrumental track)

Don’t be misled by its parenthesized “Instrumental track” because this piece is nothing like a regular karaoke bonus song. I would prefer to name track 3 “remix” or “jazz version.” You didn’t hear it wrong, track 3 rearranged the instrument setup a little bit and brings you quite a bourgeoisie-esque feel of wine party love, more western it is. From piano to classical guitar, from vocal and bass to saxophone, track 3 is another evident example to prove that a great piece of music is great however you rearrange it.

This great jazz piece is setting a time for my recommendation. I love this single so much. It makes me ponder: while we take everything as granted, think that love, care, and relationships come naturally like sakura blooms year after year, shouldn’t we use our hearts to express our gratitude and show that we care about them just as much as they do?

Extra

Ikutabi Sakura ~ Acoustic Version ~