This article offers cultural and emotional commentary on selected lyric excerpts, focusing on meaning, nuance, and context rather than literal translation.
Only short excerpts are quoted for commentary purposes; full lyrics are not provided, and all rights belong to the respective rights holders.
🌌 昴 Subaru by Shinji Tanimura
— Japanese Lyric Cultural & Language Room
Released in 1980, "Subaru" by Shinji Tanimura is not only a Japanese standard but a grand ballad beloved as a "spiritual anthem" throughout Asia, particularly in China.
The birth of this song involves an extraordinary spiritual background. Tanimura recounted that the phrase "Farewell, Subaru" suddenly descended into his mind while he was packing for a move. Later, Tanimura had experiences of direct contact from the presence of the Pleiades (Subaru). They answered his questions almost like a modern AI assistant, such as Siri or Alexa. However, regarding the meaning of the lyrics for "Subaru" that he himself had written, they eluded him, simply saying, "You are the one who wrote the lyrics," refusing to provide an answer.
After much research and contemplation, Tanimura reached a "satori" (enlightenment). In the "Twenty-Eight Mansions" of ancient Chinese astrology, Subaru is considered the "Star of Wealth." He realized that if Subaru is a symbol of material riches, then bidding it "farewell" (saraba) was a vital message to humanity: a resolve to leave behind the "material civilization" (visible wealth) and step into a new era seeking "spiritual richness."
Furthermore, the lyrics are heavily influenced by the poetry collection Sad Toys (Kanashiki Toyu) by the Meiji-era poet Ishikawa Takuboku. Takuboku passed away from pulmonary tuberculosis at the young age of 26, following years of malnutrition and extreme poverty. The profound loneliness he felt on the brink of death, fused with the cosmic perspective Tanimura received, gives this song its unparalleled depth.
Below are seven selected phrases from the lyrics, decoded with their deep linguistic nuances and the spiritual message they carry for English speakers.
1. 目を閉じて 何も見えず 哀しくて目を開ければ
Romaji: Me o tojite / nani mo miezu / kanashikute me o akereba
Cultural Nuance: Even when I close my eyes, nothing comes to mind due to despair. Escaping that emptiness, I open my eyes only to find an endless wilderness stretching before me.
🗣 Japanese Insight: This opening is a modern revival of a poem by Ishikawa Takuboku: "Though I close my eyes, nothing comes to mind. Lonely, I open them once more." "Nani mo miezu" (nothing can be seen) refers not just to physical vision, but to an extreme loneliness where one has lost all life direction or hope. The desperate view of Takuboku, who could only wait for death while ravaged by poverty and disease, provides the deep shadows at the start of this song.
2. 砕け散る宿命の星たちよ せめて密やかに この身を照せよ
Romaji: Kudakechiru sadame no hoshitachi yo / semete hisoyaka ni / kono mi o terase yo
Cultural Nuance: O stars, destined to shatter one day within the laws of the universe. At the very least, while I trek through this wilderness, quietly illuminate me with your light.
🗣 Japanese Insight: "Sadame" (宿命) refers to a fate given by heaven that cannot be resisted by human will. At its core is the concept of "Mujo" (impermanence)—the idea that both humans and stars are transient beings that will eventually fade. "Semete" (at least) carries the traveler's modest yet desperate wish: not for a grand miracle, but for the minimum guidance needed on a lonely journey.
3. 我は行く 蒼白き頬のままで
Romaji: Ware wa yuku / aoziroki hoho no mama de
Cultural Nuance: I go. Even if my cheeks are frozen pale with fear, cold, or the premonition of death, I will not stop my pace.
🗣 Japanese Insight: The expression "Aoziroki" (蒼白き) suggests more than just fair skin; it evokes an extreme state where the color has drained away, or as if facing death. It recalls the complexion of Takuboku, who suffered from tuberculosis, while visually emphasizing the "noble resolve" of one who shaves away their life for their beliefs rather than choosing an easy path.
4. 我は行く さらば昴よ
Romaji: Ware wa yuku / saraba Subaru yo
Cultural Nuance: I go. Farewell, Subaru—the symbol of "wealth" and "material prosperity" that humanity has obsessed over until now.
🗣 Japanese Insight: This is the song's climax. According to Tanimura’s interpretation, "Subaru" here represents the "visible richness" we have chased. By bidding it "Saraba" (farewell), he declares war on a new era: ending a life as a slave to materials and stepping into the unknown wilderness of spiritual freedom.
5. 呼吸（いき）をすれば胸の中 こがらし（凩）は吠（な）き続ける
Romaji: Iki o sureba mune no naka / kogarashi wa nakitsuzukeru
Cultural Nuance: Every time I breathe, a cold wintry wind rages violently inside my chest, and the sound of loneliness never ceases to howl.
🗣 Japanese Insight: This is an homage to Takuboku’s verse: "When I breathe, there is a sound in my chest. A sound lonelier than the wintry wind!" The real suffering of Takuboku, who likely felt pain or abnormal sounds in his lungs due to tuberculosis, is sublimated here into spiritual solitude. The personified description of the "Kogarashi" (a sharp, cold wind signaling winter) "howling" (naki) inside the chest expresses a devastating desolation, as if inner loneliness is screaming like a hungry beast.
6. されど我が胸は熱く 夢を追い続けるなり
Romaji: Saredo waga mune wa atsuku / yume o oitsuzukeru nari
Cultural Nuance: However, no matter how much my body freezes or the wintry wind of solitude blows inside, the fire of my soul burns hot, and I will continue to pursue my ideals.
🗣 Japanese Insight: The vivid contrast with the "cold wintry wind" of the previous section stirs the listener's heart. The literary auxiliary verb "Nari" (なり) provides a solemn, archaic ring, conveying an unshakeable resolve that remains steadfast against all odds. It celebrates human dignity—the idea that even if the flesh perishes, the brilliance of the spirit can never be stolen.
7. 我も行く 心の命ずるままに
Romaji: Ware mo yuku / kokoro no meizuru mama ni
Cultural Nuance: I also go. Following the voice of my own soul, rather than the evaluations of others or material indicators.
🗣 Japanese Insight: "Kokoro no meizuru mama ni" (following the commands of the heart) is the ultimate "spiritual independence" that Tanimura wanted to convey. Humanity, which once ran as Subaru (the star of wealth) led it, will now walk trusting only the compass within. This dialogue with the self is the only path to true richness.
🎤 Emotional Summary
Shinji Tanimura’s "Subaru" is a grand epic that links the "individual loneliness" of Ishikawa Takuboku, who scattered amidst poverty and illness at 26, to a cosmic "salvation of the soul."
The figure of the traveler walking the wilderness with pale cheeks, bidding farewell to the "star of wealth," asks modern people exhausted by material civilization: "What is truly valuable?" The stance of never stopping, even with a howling wintry wind in one's chest, is why this song continues to cross borders and eras to give courage to people throughout Asia.
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📝 Q&A for "Subaru" by Shinji Tanimura
🌟 Q1. Why is "Subaru" specifically defined as the "Star of Wealth"?
A: This stems from ancient Chinese astrology (the Twenty-Eight Mansions), where the Subaru (Pleiades) cluster was associated with the harvest and material abundance. In the 1980s, during Japan's rapid economic growth, Tanimura used this metaphor to challenge the era's obsession with "visible riches." By saying "Saraba Subaru" (Farewell, Subaru), he wasn't rejecting the stars themselves, but the spiritual slavery to money and status, encouraging a transition into a "Spiritual Era" where true value is found within.
🌬️ Q2. What is the emotional weight of "Kogarashi" (Wintry Wind) howling inside the chest?
A: This is a chillingly literal homage to Ishikawa Takuboku, who died of tuberculosis. For a patient, a "sound in the chest" is a sign of approaching death. Tanimura sublimates this physical agony into a metaphor for existential loneliness. The "Kogarashi" (凩)—the cold, piercing wind that kills the leaves—represents the harsh reality of the world. By stating that this wind "howls" (naki) inside him even as he walks, the narrator admits that loneliness is an inseparable part of being human, yet he chooses to keep moving regardless.
🚶 Q3. What is the difference between "I go" (Ware wa yuku) and "I also go" (Ware mo yuku)?
A: This shift in the final lyrics is profound. "Ware wa yuku" (我は行く) is a solitary, individual resolve—a hero's lonely departure. However, the final "Ware mo yuku" (我も行く) suggests a sense of Universal Connection. It implies that the narrator is joining the ranks of all those throughout history—like Takuboku or the ancient sages—who followed their "heart's command" (kokoro no meizuru mama ni). It transforms a lonely trek into a grand, collective pilgrimage of the human spirit toward a higher plane of existence.
📘 Notes on Cultural & Emotional Context
This section explores selected phrases from the song to highlight their emotional nuance and cultural background within Japanese music and storytelling.
Rather than presenting a word-for-word translation, the focus is on how these expressions convey feeling, atmosphere, and narrative meaning.
The insights are intended for readers interested in Japanese songs, anime, and culture, offering interpretive context rather than formal language instruction.
📜 Disclaimer
This article provides cultural and emotional commentary on selected lyric excerpts for informational purposes.
Only short excerpts are quoted for commentary; full lyrics are not provided.
All rights belong to the respective rights holders, and no ownership is claimed.
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