[Originally posted December 13, 2022]
Let’s take a break from novels and comics and instead listen to some late 1980s city pop! Part 3 of my TIME review is about Joy and Pain, a collection of Charma art inspired by the Satoshi Ikeda album of the same name.
This part covers pages 79 – 102
Joy and Pain
To start us off are the cover page and table of contents
After the cover page is a two page spread with art by Makoto Tateno (盾乃誡)
The text reads:
Chasing and drawing a spiral
On the same night, a painful puzzle
Now let’s get into the music. I’ll post each illustration in the order they appear, followed by the translated lyrics, and a youtube video of the song (if one exists).
Kの手帖 (K’s Notebook)
Art by 八手又蒲 (Matagama Yatsude)
A notebook found in a summer jacket
The secret initials
I’ve never forgotten your name
There are traces of erased black ink marks
Despite not being able to love, you are living with someone else
Don’t throw away the empty bottle of cologne
I thought I understood the tears of that day
It seems that I was just misunderstanding
Memories tighten my heart
I’m trying to see you just to get hurt
Even if the memories are broken
I want to know who I am without them
Once again
The page torn on the night of goodbye
A scar left behind on my finger
If I could find the words to start over
I wonder how you’d feel
The two of us are bound by memories
Believe in love that never ends
I can’t see my memories honestly
Even if I’m too lonely, I won’t lie
Forever and ever
Memories tighten my heart
I’m trying to see you just to get hurt
Even if the memories are broken
I want to know who I am without them
Once again
雨のフォーチュン Rain Fortune)
Art by 生方音子 (Otoko Ubukata)
Gold and silver China Quarter
The silhouette runs away
I had a dream about that you
Without even saying goodbye
If tomorrow is hard
You should come to like the things we forgot
Look only at me, love only me
Why can’t I live on?
Things moved on, but I knew you’d never change
Since time moves on
If you say you like this song
I could see right through your feelings
You’re still in your coat
I only trust you. I only protect you.
Why can’t I live on?
I walked on, knowing I’d never change
I’m looking up at you
Open the rain door
Going outside the dream, and now
Each fortune, here
The beginning and the end
Each fortune, here
Separating wipers
Look only at me, love only me
Why can’t I live on?
Things moved on, but I knew you’d never change
Since time moves on
I only trust you. I only protect you.
Why can’t I live on?
I walked on, knowing I’d never change
I’m looking up at you
Unforgettable
Art by 五月草子 (Soushi Satsuki)
If this is the end of the movie
You shouldn’t have to think about it
Even if you rearrange your lines
I’m not going back to meet you
Until boarding the airport bus
How many people take off?
A man and woman, wanting to show their sadness through the glass
You were smiling
It’s wonderful when coincidences overlap
Back then, I was in this place
You vanished into the darkness
without knowing my gaze was fixed upon you
If only I didn’t mistake
the meeting time with my friend
A gaze, a premonition, a moment I couldn’t afford to manipulate
If you want to pursue me, that’s fine too
I don’t mind if you remember
The story begins here
A word in my hand
Only you will unknowingly greet a different morning
You were smiling
It’s wonderful when coincidences overlap
Back then, I was in this place
You vanished into the darkness
without knowing my gaze was fixed upon you
螺旋パズル (Spiral Puzzle)
Art by 盾乃誡 (Makoto Tateno)
So much that I can’t sleep
Dreaming of white skin
Enough to be misunderstood
I wish we could understand each other
If I take everything from you
Invisible tears will trouble me
I can’t reach you; the closer you are, it’s exactly like footsteps in the water
Chasing and drawing a spiral
On the same night, a painful puzzle
Even if it’s sad
Sometimes it’s necessary
There’s no such things as a smile
that comes without warning
You’re at fault too for making a face
like you didn’t selfishly embrace another man
Someday, our chests with overlap
But today, the wind separates and watches over us
I want to break it; I want to jump over my heart
A maze where we stare too long and can’t see each other
I can’t reach you; the closer you are, it’s exactly like footsteps in the water
Chasing and drawing a spiral
On the same night, a painful puzzle
Someday, our chests with overlap
But today, the wind separates and watches over us
I want to break it; I want to jump over my heart
A maze where we stare too long and can’t see each other
サイレントステップ (Silent Steps)
Art by CP・ガーリック (CP Garlic)
Even when we were together
You looked far away
“You don’t understand”
That’s what you always say
You are chasing someone
Silhouette disappearing into the fog
I slow down, the silent steps of my feet echoing in the darkness
Wish upon Four Roses
Torn Superstition
Those who have gone –
I won’t be able to take their place
I hide out of sight of the street corner
Chinatown invites me to get lost
You turn around unexpectedly
Seeing right through me
Silent Steps
You arms swinging
Unreachable Distant Lover
Sorrow only for me
Show me honestly
You are chasing someone
Silhouette disappearing into the fog
I slow down, the silent steps of my feet echoing in the darkness
I hide out of sight of the street corner
Chinatown invites me to get lost
You turn around unexpectedly
Seeing right through me
Silent Steps
レクイエム (Requiem)
Art by Santaro
Overlooking the city, sleeping quietly
Someone…someone…sing me a requiem
Sleep now so everyone can forget
Even the things I loved are illusions
On a windy, blue night
I softly embrace your broken wings and close my eyes
Everything will disappear when it snows
Even the red blood will melt away
Someday I will erase the frozen pain
Let me sleep gently until that day
A sigh, a single petal, blurry glass
Someone…someone…sing me a requiem
Until I fall asleep
Until I fall asleep…
Night
Art by 潮藍 (Ai Ushio)
Just once, the kiss we exchanged
Just once, the reason for our breakup
It doesn’t mean much to you
From the beginning, we were supposed to be just friends, but my mistake…
over Night, Now take the curve through the last night
over Night, The two of us can’t go beyond this night
If your eyes see no one
If you don’t dream anymore
Even though the nightscape floating in the night sky is sparkling
I can hear the high-speed wind that brings us closer to goodbye
over Night, Now cut a curve through the last night
over Night, The two of us can’t go beyond this night
over Night, Now take the curve through the last night
over Night, The two of us can’t go beyond this night
ZONE
Art by 只野みか (Mika Tadano)
The silver sun shines
Desert in a duralumin costume
The old building collapses and the green disappears
A crowded café, a parade, the face of a stranger
Grasping dreams through the glass while chanting spells
People dance to get ahead
I can’t grasp your heart
Embracing the faltering sand
Memories are traveling in my days
Hands that don’t know where to go put pressure on the wound
Only seeming to shine, words that my heart forgot
That veil I threw away
If there is a scene where you shed tears someday
I want to be by your side and be a wall.
The silver sun shines
A love clad in duralumin
微風 (Whispering Wind)
Art by 千葉志生 (Shio Chiba)
High pressure winds across the signal
Both our farewell and meeting were coincidences
A bench for a nap, on the lawn in front of the fountain
An early afternoon picnic
The lovers flew away on their motorcycle towards the ocean
Handling the handle
Embracing the air conditioning,
In my unmatching sunglasses
and formal white shirt
Walking alone in the town where you disappeared
I don’t know why it’s so hot
Why did you disappear in the middle of our date without waiting until autumn?
Sabrina shoes dance above the lights
Future career girl
If you go against the path that was decided when you were born
Love is wonderful too
In one second, a forklift
Can change the city, but –
The same face from yesterday
Stopping time on the asphalt without you
High pressure winds cut across the signal
Both our farewell and meeting were coincidences
I don’t know why it’s so hot
Why did you disappear in the middle of our date without waiting until autumn?
High pressure winds cut across the signal
Both our farewell and meeting were coincidences
I don’t know why it’s so hot
Why did you disappear in the middle of our date without waiting until autumn?
センチメートルの涙 (Centimeter Tears)
Art by 黒川あづさ (Azusa Kurokawa)
Rush hour at dusk
Our fingers unlocking
Your drifting shadow
Photos taken last year
And burnt to the same color
You told a lie while smiling
In tears, Once Again
I’ll ask you
True feelings
That I can’t lose
In tears, Once Again
Because I can’t go back
to my memories
I chased after your eyes
Our goodbye merely left behind
our time together
A hand without a ring
made from blue gemstones
Engraved in memory
Every time I blink,
Even though I move past you
The warmth doesn’t fade
In tears, Once Again
Let me ask you something
It’s an important matter
Do you miss me more than you love me?
In tears, Once Again
As I am now
In order to survive
Tell me what’s missing
Saying goodbye with a compassionate smile
Only to be replaced by pain
In tears, Once Again
Let me ask you something
It’s an important matter
Do you miss me more than you love me?
In tears, Once Again
As I am now
In order to survive
Tell me what’s missing
Saying goodbye with a compassionate smile
Only to be replaced by pain
濡れた髪のLonely (Lonely with Wet Hair)
Art by 盾乃誠 (Makoto Tateno)
Lonely, afraid of love
Lonely, my dreams tremble
I wish I could run away from my heart
So Lonely I can’t hear your voice
Lonely, I can’t stare
The more I think of you
The door of dawn
Closes quietly
You took off your shoes
I’ll soon figure out
where you stayed
from the smell of your hair
So Lonely, I can’t ask again
Lonely, I don’t want to know
If it’s just a moment’s doubt
So Lonely, that smile
Lonely, that kindness
I want to hate them both
As if tired
of clever lies
You took off your clothes
In the small bed
If you turn over
We have no choice but to embrace each other
But Lonely, afraid of love
Lonely, my dreams tremble
I wish I could run away from my heart
So Lonely I can’t hear your voice
Lonely, I can’t stare
The more I think of you
So Lonely, I can’t ask again
Lonely, I don’t want to know
If it’s just a moment’s doubt
So Lonely, that smile
Lonely, that kindness
I want to hate them both
But Lonely, afraid of love
Lonely, my dreams tremble
I wish I could run away from my heart
So Lonely I can’t hear your voice
Lonely, I can’t stare
The more I think of you
オルフェの後身 (Orpheus’s Successor)
Art by やぎざわ梨穂 (Riho Yagizawa)
When the shadows of dusk hide secrets
A woman with suntanned skin
I was swept away into the bustling weekend with her
A swinging intersection in the crowd
With you in white clothes
We pass each other unexpectedly
Eye to eye, just solidify the time
Passing by, pretending not the notice each other
Only I, who felt something at my back and turned around
Ever since that day, I mistook your kindness
I was running away without a single word of goodbye
In my ambiguous heart, there’s regret
And that’s selfish, too.
Your uneven bangs and gaze
The tightrope walk of sorrow
I want you to throw it at me
If you turn around across the road, it’s just me
Like Orpheus, I’ll end up being left behind
