Akina Nakamori sings ‘Kazari Janai Noyo Namida Wa -Jazz-,’ a song about strength through emotional detachment. The vocalist pens verses about never crying, even in difficult situations. The track follows a path from independence to eventual emotional release.
Released: October 1, 2025
Kazari Janai Noyo Namida Wa -Jazz-
Akina Nakamori
Lyricist
井上陽水
Composer
井上陽水, Shinya Matsushita
Kazari Janai Noyo Namida Wa -Jazz- Lyrics English Translation by Akina Nakamori
Inoue Yousui describes a red scarf fluttering in the wind, showing the narrator’s outer calm. ‘Tears aren’t just for decoration,’ the lyricist states, rejecting the idea that sadness should be pretty. The writer tells of a woman who hides tears deep inside, waiting for true love to finally bring them out.
Watashi wa naita koto ga naiI’ve never cried once.
Akari no kieta machikado deOn a street corner where the lights have died,
Hayai kuruma ni nokkeraretemoeven when I’m whisked away in a speeding car,
Kyuu ni supin kakeraretemo kowaku nakattaor when it suddenly spins out, I wasn’t afraid.
Akai sukaafu ga yureru no woAs I watched my red scarf flutter,
Fushigi na kimochi de miteta kedoI felt a strange sensation, but
Watashi naitari suru no wa chigau to kanjitetaI knew that crying just wasn’t for me.
Watashi wa naita koto ga naiI’ve never cried once,
Tsumetai yoru no mannaka deright in the middle of a freezing night.
Ironna hito to surechigattariPassing by all sorts of different people,
Nage kiss uketometari nagekaeshitaricatching blown kisses and tossing them back.
Soshite tomodachi ga kawaru tabiAnd every time my circle of friends changed,
Omoide bakari ga fueta kedomy collection of memories only grew, but
Watashi naitari suru no wa chigau to kanjitetaI knew that crying just wasn’t for me.
Kazari janai no yo namida wa ha hanTears aren’t just for decoration, ha-han.
Suki da to itteru janai no ho hoI’m telling you that I love you, ho-ho.
Shinju janai no yo namida wa ha hanTears aren’t meant to be pearls, ha-han.
Kirei na dake nara ii kedoIf they were only pretty, that’d be fine, but
Chotto kanashisugiru no yo namida wa ho ho ho…tears are just a little too sad, ho-ho-ho…
Ho ho ho…Ho-ho-ho…
Watashi wa naita koto ga naiI’ve never cried once.
Honto no koi wo shite inaiI haven’t found true love yet.
Dare no mae demo hitorikiri demoWhether I’m in front of others or all alone,
Hitomi no oku no namida wa kakushite ita karaI’ve always hidden the tears deep inside my eyes.
Itsuka koibito ni aeru tokiWhen the day comes that I finally meet my lover,
Watashi no sekai ga kawaru tokiwhen my whole world begins to change,
Watashi naitari surun janai ka to kanjiteruI have a feeling that I’ll start crying then.
Kitto naitari surun janai ka to kanjiteruI’m sure that I’ll end up crying then.
Kazari janai no yo namida wa ha hanTears aren’t just for decoration, ha-han.
Suki da to itteru janai no ho hoI’m telling you that I love you, ho-ho.
Shinju janai no yo namida wa ha hanTears aren’t meant to be pearls, ha-han.
Kirei na dake nara ii kedoIf they were only pretty, that’d be fine, but
Chotto kanashisugiru no yo namida watears are just a little too sad.
Kazari janai no yo namida wa ha hanTears aren’t just for decoration, ha-han.
Kagayaku dake nara ii kedo ho hoIf they were only meant to shine, that’d be fine, ho-ho.
Daiya to chigau no namida wa ha hanTears are different from diamonds, ha-han.
Samishii dake nara ii kedoIf it was only about being lonely, that’d be fine, but
Chotto kanashisugiru no yo namida watears are just a little too sad.
‘Kazari Janai Noyo Namida Wa -Jazz-‘ offers a portrait of emotional resilience. If you want to understand this Japanese song, the lyrics show strength through emotional detachment.
