BUMP OF CHICKEN releases ‘Nanairo,’ a reflective track from their album ‘Iris.’ The lyrics are penned by Fujiwara Motoo, who also collaborates with BUMP OF CHICKEN and MOR to compose the music. The song blends heartfelt storytelling with a melody that carries both hope and nostalgia.
Released: December 22, 2021
Nanairo
Bump Of Chicken • From “Iris”
Iris’s Nanairo Japanese Lyrics English Translation
The lyricist uses the image of puddles sparkling after rain to describe moments of clarity. One key line translates to, ‘The sun hides the old wounds that won’t heal, as if they never existed.’ This line shows how the song finds beauty in moving forward, even with lingering pain.
Yamakumo ni demo shinjita yo kichinto mae ni susundeiru tteI believed even in the mountain clouds, that I was moving forward properly
Yoku hareta asa ni wa tokidoki hitoribocchi ni sarechau karaBecause on clear mornings, I’m sometimes left all alone
Yajirobee mitai na tadashisa daIt’s a sense of rightness, just like a balancing toy
Ima kono keshiki no subete ga waratte kureru wake janai kedoEven though everything in this scenery doesn’t necessarily smile for me now
Sore demo ii kore wa boku no tabiThat’s still okay, because this is my journey
Yuube no ame no koto nanka oboeteinai you na ohisama woThe sun, acting as if it doesn’t remember anything about last night’s rain
Yuube dekita mizutamari ga utsushite kirakira kirakiraIs reflected in the puddles formed last night, sparkling so brightly,
Iki wo shiteiruAs if they’re breathing
Takaku tooku hirosugiru sora no shita ohayou boku wa kinou kara yatte kita yoBeneath a sky that’s far too high and wide, I say ‘Good morning,’ I’ve come all the way from yesterday
Nakusenai kioku wa kasa no you ni kaban no naka de deban wo matsuThe memories I can’t lose wait for their turn inside my bag, just like an umbrella
Teatari shidai de kyou wo aruku kyou no boku ga ano hi mita niji wo sagasu kono michi woI walk through today taking whatever comes, as the person I am today searches for the rainbow I saw back then along this road
Utagatte shimau toki wa oshieru yoWhen I start to doubt myself, I’ll remind you
Ano toki no kokoro no iroOf the colors my heart wore in that moment
Mune no oku kimi ga iru basho koko de shika aenai hitomiDeep in my chest, the place where you reside, with eyes I can only see here
Zutto kawaranai mama da kara hotto shitari tama ni me wo sorashitariSince you’ve stayed exactly the same, I feel relieved, though sometimes I look away
Omoidasu to sabishii kedo omoidasenai to sabishii kotoIt’s lonely when I remember, but it’s also lonely when I can’t
Wasurenai koto shika dekinai yoru wo koete tsuzuku boku no tabiMy journey continues as I cross through nights where the only thing I can do is not forget
Naoranai furui kizu wa nakatta ka no you ni kakusu ohisama gaThe sun hides the old wounds that won’t heal, as if they never existed
Hiruma no hoshi to onaji da ne hontou wa kirakira kirakiraIt’s just like the stars in the daytime, honestly sparkling and shimmering
Kono machijuu niAll throughout this town
Hamigaki shite kao aratte kigaetara itsumo to onaji ashi de dekakeyou zeOnce I’ve brushed my teeth, washed my face, and changed my clothes, let’s head out with the same pace as always
Aibawarazu no nekoze demo ii yo boku ga boku wo waraeru karaIt’s okay even if I’m still slouching, because I can laugh at myself
Namida no suna chirabaru ginga no naka tsukareta kutsu de doko made datte ikeruIn a galaxy where the sands of tears are scattered, I can go anywhere in these tired shoes
Tumazuite koronda toki wa oshieru yoWhen I stumble and fall, I’ll remind you
Okikata wo shitteiru kotoThat I know exactly how to get back up
Kawaite kieru mizutamari ga sore demo kirakira kirakiraThe puddles that dry up and vanish are still sparkling and shimmering,
Aoku yureruSwaying in blue
Takaku tooku hirosugiru sora no shita ohayou boku wa kinou kara yatte kita yoBeneath a sky that’s far too high and wide, I say ‘Good morning,’ I’ve come all the way from yesterday
Nakusenai kioku mo kasa no you ni kaban no naka de ashita e mukauEven the memories I can’t lose head toward tomorrow inside my bag, just like an umbrella
Teatari shidai de kyou wo aruku kyou no boku ga ano hi mita niji wo sagasu kyou no boku woI walk through today taking whatever comes, as the person I am today searches for the rainbow I saw back then
Utagatte shimau toki wa oshieru yo ano toki no kokoro no iroWhen I start to doubt the person I am today, I’ll remind you of the colors my heart wore in that moment
Itsuka mata au yo modorenai ano hi no nanairoI’ll see you again someday, those seven colors from that day I can never return to
Nanairo Music Video
‘Nanairo’ lyrics are about finding resilience in life’s journey. The song features BUMP OF CHICKEN and is part of the album ‘Iris,’ offering a mix of Japanese poetry and uplifting melodies.