1. 彼のベッドの下に片方捨てた Ah…真珠のピアス

Romaji: Kare no beddo no shita ni katahou suteta / Ah... shinju no piasu

Cultural Nuance: On the morning of our breakup, I deliberately threw away one of my earrings under his bed.

🗣 Japanese Insight: This is the shocking opening that has become synonymous with the song. The word "Suteta" (捨てた - threw away) implies that this was not an accidental loss but a clear, intentional act of disposal, fueled by her pride. While pearls typically symbolize elegance and purity, throwing one into a hidden spot like "under the bed"—and leaving only "one half"—is a strategic move. It marks the beginning of a quiet revenge, leaving an indelible mark that says, "I was here," for him or whoever enters this room next.

2. 私はずっと変わらない 背中にまわす指の力とはうらはらな あなたの表情が見たい

Romaji: Watashi wa zutto kawaranai / senaka ni mawasu yubi no chikara to wa urahara na / anata no hyoujou ga mitai

Cultural Nuance: I remain unchanged in my feelings, but you are the one who has changed. Even as you wrap your arms around me in a show of affection, I want to calmly observe your face—the face of a man whose heart is no longer here.

🗣 Japanese Insight: "Urahara" (裏腹) refers to a situation where two things are complete opposites, or 

when one’s outward attitude contradicts their true feelings. While she remains consistent, he has drifted away, yet he still goes through the motions of affection by putting his arms around her. She seeks to coldly witness the moment of dissonance—where he embraces her while no longer loving her. It is a sharp observation of human behavior, capturing the emotional gap that exists even within an intimate embrace.

3. もうすぐかわいいあの女(ひと)と 引越しするとき気づくでしょう

Romaji: Mou sugu kawaii ano hito to / hikkoshi suru toki kizuku deshou

Cultural Nuance: When you move out of this room with that "cute girl" of yours, you’ll surely find the earring I left behind.

🗣 Japanese Insight: The brilliance of this lyric lies in the timing of the discovery. "Hikkoshi" (引越し - moving out) is a moment usually filled with hope for a new life. By hiding the earring under the bed—a place rarely touched during daily cleaning—she ensures her presence will physically manifest exactly when he tries to start fresh. The earring acts like a "time bomb" designed to throw a chill over his future happiness.

4. Broken heart　最後のジェラシー

Romaji: Broken heart / saigo no jerashii

Cultural Nuance: My heart is broken. But this is the final act of jealousy I will show you.

🗣 Japanese Insight: Here, "Jealousy" (Jerashii) is elevated from a mere ugly emotion to a refined aesthetic statement. Rather than baring her feelings through tears, she chooses a stylish act—leaving the earring—to bring closure to her "Broken heart." The word "Saigo" (final) carries a strong sense of self-affirmation, signaling her intent to cut ties while engraving her value into his memory one last time.

5. いつか住もうと云って微笑んだあの夢へ せめてヒラリと飛んでゆけ

Romaji: Itsuka sumou to itte hohoenda ano yume e / semete hirari to tonde yuke

Cultural Nuance: The future we once talked about when we were happy. To that dream that never came true, I send a paper airplane made of memories.

🗣 Japanese Insight: The onomatopoeia "Hirari to" (ヒラリと) describes something moving lightly, gracefully, and effortlessly. She takes an old advertisement for an apartment they once dreamed of living in together and folds it into a paper airplane. By using such a light, airy motion to let go of a heavy attachment, the song captures an urban sense of emptiness. Instead of resenting the unfulfilled future, she treats it as a piece of scenery to be released into the sky.

6. どこかで半分失くしたら 役には立たないものがある

Romaji: Dokoka de hanbun nakushitara / yaku ni wa tatanai mono ga aru

Cultural Nuance: There are things that lose all their value if you lose just one half.

🗣 Japanese Insight: The "Half" (Hanbun) here is interpreted as a metaphor for their relationship or love itself. An earring only functions as jewelry when you have the pair. The moment she throws one under the bed, that pearl ceases to be a gem and becomes a mere "foreign object" or "trash." Similarly, she asserts that a relationship where hearts have drifted apart is "useless" (valueless), even if the outward form remains. This is a cold, aphoristic observation of love's reality.

7. 蒼い心の海にひとつぶ投げた

Romaji: Aoi kokoro no umi ni hitotsubu nageta

Cultural Nuance: I threw this pain—a single grain—into the deep sea at the bottom of my heart.

🗣 Japanese Insight: The physical act of throwing the earring under the bed is ultimately transformed into a spiritual ritual. The word "Aoi" (蒼い) here is not just a standard blue; it implies a cold, unfathomable depth. The quiet image of throwing a single "Hitotsubu" (one grain/bead) into the sea represents the process of calming intense emotions and sealing the pain of this love away as a crystalline memory within her deepest self.

🎤 Emotional Summary

Yumi Matsutoya’s "真珠のピアス" is a definitive City Pop and J-POP classic that portrays a woman transforming her broken pride into a "stylish revenge" amidst the urban dawn.

Behind the upbeat 16-beat rhythm, the pearl earring hidden under the bed waits silently for the day he moves out. By leaving just one half, she plants a permanent seed of discomfort in his memory. This cold yet beautiful aesthetic is what continues to fascinate listeners worldwide, carrying the brilliance of the 1980s into the modern day.