A song so nice I subbed it twice? Well, 線香花火が消えるまで (senkou hanabi ga kieru made / Until the Sparkler Goes Out) is my favorite Hiragana Keyakizaka46 / Hinatazaka46 song, so it deserves it. Actually considering that, I’m not sure what’s taken me so long to get to it.
This is off of their first album, 走り出す瞬間 (hashiridasu shunkan / The Moment We Begin to Run), back in 2018 when they were still a part of Keyakizaka. Since they had been limited to one or two B-sides per single up to that point, this was an opportunity to release a large number of new songs.
It’s sung by a 3-person unit of 2nd gens that I feel somehow exemplifies the youthful energy of Hiragana but also their insecurities (Tomita in particular). And Miku is up there with Kyoko for my favorite member, so it’s especially nice to see her in this.
Kanemura Miku 
Tomita Suzuka 
Matsuda Konoka
There’s no MV, but they did perform a very short in-studio version of it (actually just up to the first chorus) on their main variety show before the split, Hiragana Oshi (episode 28, aired October 21, 2018). So I decided to sub that performance just because it’s fun to get such clean shots of them, and the choreography really fits the theme of ephemeral summer love. The Japanese lyrics were burned in so I added my translations around them.
However I then made up a graphical sub of the whole song, too. It’s a lot of short, fast, choppy phrases, so I worry it’s a bit hard to follow… Also since all the ‘Fus’ and ‘Woos’ are in the official lyrics, I decided to keep them in.
In the end it’s a summer love song with a combination of happiness, wistfulness, and sadness. Ok, actually it’s pretty melancholy overall, but in a way I connect with somehow. Also it has a beautiful melody, and their three voices blend together really nicely. Enjoy!
けやき坂46 (Hiragana Keyakizaka46) 線香花火が消えるまで (senkou hanabi ga kieru made / Until the Sparkler Goes Out) Translation by SaitoWinterStar Fu Fu Fu Fu... Fu Fu Fu Fu... 掌で囲いながら 僕がマッチを擦ったら tenohira de kakoinagara boku ga MATCHI wo kosuttara When I struck the match while shielding it in my palm 闇の中に浮かんだよ yami no naka ni ukanda yo It was floating in the darkness 君が指先でつまむ 最後の線香花火 kimi ga yubisaki de tsumamu saigo no senkou hanabi You hold it in your fingertips Our final sparkler もう火を点けていいの？ Woo... mou hi wo tsukete ii no? Woo... Should I light it now? Woo... これが終わってしまえば 月明かりだけになって kore ga owatte shimaeba tsukiakari dake ni natte When this one is finished And we have only the moonlight 愛が見えにくくなる ai ga menikuku naru Our love will get harder to see だから 風の向きを気にしたりモタモタしながら da kara kaze no muki wo ki ni shitari MOTAMOTA shinagara So taking it slow and being careful with the direction of the wind 時間を稼いだんだ jikan wo kaseida nda We gained some time 2人 しゃがみこんで 小ちゃく小ちゃくなった夜には futari shagamikonde chitchaku chitchaku natta yoru ni wa With the two of us Squatting down It got smaller and smaller in the night どっちも どっちも 同じ視線 Woo... dotchi mo dotchi mo onaji shisen Woo... Both of us Both of us The same look in our eyes Woo... 気持ちがわかり合える kimochi ga wakariaeru We understand each other's feelings チリチリ燃えて チリチリ開く CHIRICHIRI moete CHIRICHIRI hiraku Sparkles burning Sparks spreading out 炎の花が心を照らす Woo... honou no hana ga kokoro wo terasu Woo... The blossom of flame illuminates our hearts Woo... ひと夏が過ぎ 陽灼けも醒めて hito natsu ga sugi hi yake mo samete That summer passed And baking in the sun we came to our senses Ah 何が変わったのか？ Ah nani ga kawatta no ka? Ah What was it that changed? 街に帰って 普通の暮らし machi ni kaette futsu no kurashi Returning to town And our normal lives そう戻ったらわかるよ sou modottara wakaru yo Seems it's when we look back that we'll understand 儚いものって 忘れられない hakanai mono tte wasurerarenai It was a fleeting thing Unforgettable Fu Fu Fu Fu... Fu Fu Fu Fu... 公園の古いベンチの前 ２人は向き合いながら koen no furui BENCHI no mae futari wa mukiainagara In front of the old park bench The two of us facing each other 目を凝らして眺めてた me wo korashite nagamete ta I was gazing intently into your eyes 君がやりたいと言った いつもの線香花火 kimi ga yaritai to itta itsumo no senkou hanabi You said you wanted to try them Our usual sparklers 何にも悔いはないの？ Woo... nani ni mo kui wa nai no? Woo... Is there anything you regret? Woo... 遠くで列車の汽笛が聴こえて来たからなぜか touku de ressha no kiteki ga kikoete kita kara naze ka Somehow I can hear the train whistle coming from far away 胸がキュンと切ない mune ga KYUN to setsunai And the pangs in my chest are painful だって 恋が永遠に続く そんな気になって datte koi ga eien ni tsudzuku son'na ki ni natte However This love will last forever That's how it felt 心が油断してた kokoro ga yudan shite ta My heart was unprepared 僕は変わらない 変わらない そんな君が好きだ 今でも boku wa kawaranai kawaranai son'na kimi ga suki da ima demo I won't change Won't change I liked you as you were Even now なぜだ？ なぜだ？ 誰のせいだ？ Woo... naze da? naze da? dare no sei da? Woo... Why is that? Why is that? Whose fault is it? Woo... 別れを選んだのは… wakare wo eranda no wa... We chose farewell... チリチリ熱く チリチリ揺れる CHIRICHIRI atsuku CHIRICHIRI yureru Hot sparkles Wavering sparks 真っ赤な玉が涙のように… Woo... makka na tama ga namida no you ni... Woo... The bright red drops like tears... Woo... 風が吹いたら落ちてしまうよ kaze ga fuitara ochite shimau yo Falling down when the wind blows Ah 一瞬の情熱 Ah isshun no jounetsu Ah The passion of the moment 時間はいつでも過ぎ去ってから toki wa itsudemo sugisatte kara Since that moment always passes on しあわせな日々 教える shiawase na hibi oshieru I'll tell you about those happy days 失ったものは 惜しくなるんだ ushinatta mono wa oshiku naru nda And come to regret what I've lost ふいに一瞬 パチパチと爆ぜて fui ni isshun PACHIPACHI to hazete For a unexpected moment It bursts with a crackle 線香花火は 美しく輝き出す senkou hanabi wa utsukushiku kagayaki dasu The sparkler It shines beautifully 消える前に もう一度 思い出させて kieru mae ni mou ichido omoidasasete Before going out Once more I'm reminded 楽しかった君と僕の八月 tanoshikatta kimi to boku no hachi gatsu Of that August and the fun I had with you チリチリ夏が チリチリ終わる Woo... CHIRICHIRI natsu ga CHIRICHIRI owaru Woo... Sparkles of that summer Those sparks are over Woo... チリチリ燃えて チリチリ開く CHIRICHIRI moete CHIRICHIRI hiraku Sparkles burning Sparks spreading out 炎の花が心を照らす Woo... honou no hana ga kokoro wo terasu Woo... The blossom of flame illuminates our hearts Woo... ひと夏が過ぎ 陽灼けも醒めて hito natsu ga sugi hi yake mo samete That summer passed And baking in the sun we came to our senses Ah 何が変わったのか？ Ah nani ga kawatta no ka? Ah What was it that changed? 街に帰って 普通の暮らし machi ni kaette futsu no kurashi Returning to town And our normal lives そう戻ったらわかるよ sou modottara wakaru yo Seems it's when we look back that we'll understand 儚いものって 忘れられない hakanai mono tte wasurenai It was a fleeting thing Unforgettable Fu Fu Fu Fu... Fu Fu Fu Fu...
1 Comment
Nasubencho · April 12, 2020 at 9:02 am
This is my favorite hiragana/hinatazaka46 song too!