SEKAI NO OWARI brings a poetic touch to ‘Zukan,’ a track from their album ‘Kohaku / Zukan.’ The band mixes their signature style with a heartfelt story about searching for belonging. Saori and Nakajin write lyrics that mirror the struggles of creatures out of place.
Released: July 16, 2025
Zukan
Sekai No Owari • From “Kohaku / Zukan”
Zukan Lyrics Translation Sekai No Owari | Kohaku / Zukan
The songwriter compares humans to a polar bear in summer and a flower in the dark. Lines like ‘We’re just creatures like that, searching for a place to belong’ highlight the universal quest for purpose. The tune blends vivid metaphors with a melody that echoes the yearning in the words.
Mizu wo shiranai sakana no you niLike a fish that doesn’t know what water is,
Ima aru mono ni wa donkan na bokuraWe’re oblivious to the things we have right now.
Arinomama ja irarenakattaWe couldn’t just stay the way we were,
Jibun dake chigau zukan no ikimono mitai niLike we’re creatures from a different ‘illustrated guide’.
Karete itte hiza wo tsuitaWithered and worn, we fell to our knees.
Soredemo hibi wo tsuzukeru bokura marudeBut we keep pushing through the days, just like…
Udarunatsu ni ikiru shirokumaA polar bear living in the sweltering summer,
Yami ni saku hanaA flower blooming in the dark,
Kokyuu suru tame no kuuki ga meberi suru naka deWhile the air we need to breathe slowly thins out,
Ibasho wo sagashite iru sonna ikimono nandaWe’re just creatures like that, searching for a place to belong.
Zukan ni wa inai boku to kimi waYou and I, we aren’t in any ‘illustrated guide’.
Ginsekai kakeru raionA lion racing through a silver world,
Suichu no sabotenA cactus underwater,
Kokyuu suru tame no kuuki ga sukunai ndattaraIf there isn’t enough air for us to breathe,
Azami no watage no you ni tonde yuke dokomademoThen fly away like thistle down, go as far as you can,
Ne wo haru basho wo sagashi motometeSearching for a place to finally take root.
Hikari wo shiranai hana no you niLike a flower that doesn’t know what light is,
Te ni shita mono ni wa gouman na bokuraWe’re arrogant about the things we’ve grasped.
Arinomama de anata wa juubun da wa“You’re perfect just the way you are,”
Sonna giman ga kono machi wo utsukushiku kazatta kedoThat kind of deception decorated this city beautifully, but…
Uete itte kawaite ittaWe grew hungry and we grew thirsty.
Soredemo yoake wo matsu bokura marudeBut we keep waiting for the dawn, just like…
Kaminari no sora tobu koumoriA bat flying through a lightning-filled sky,
Entenka no penginA penguin under the scorching sun,
Kokyuu suru tame no kuuki ga meberi suru naka deWhile the air we need to breathe slowly thins out,
Ibasho wo sagashite iru sonna ikimono doushiWe’re just fellow creatures searching for a place to belong.
Deatta no kana boku to kimi waIs that how you and I found each other?
Densen ni tomatta perikanA pelican perched on the power lines,
Daitokai no hotaruFireflies in the great metropolis,
Kono machi de kurasu bokura no kokyuu wo suru otoThe sound of us breathing as we live in this city,
Tashika ni sonzai shiteru koko ni iru tte sakanderuIt’s proof we exist, screaming out that we’re right here.
Zukan ni wa inai boku to kimi waYou and I, we aren’t in any ‘illustrated guide’.
Udarunatsu ni ikiru shirokumaA polar bear living in the sweltering summer,
Yami ni saku hanaA flower blooming in the dark,
Kokyuu suru tame no kuuki ga meberi suru naka deWhile the air we need to breathe slowly thins out,
Ibasho wo sagashite iru sonna ikimono nandaWe’re just creatures like that, searching for a place to belong.
Zukan no peeji ni kaze ga fuite ikuThe wind blows through the pages of the ‘illustrated guide’.
Azami no watage no you ni tonde yuke dokomademoFly away like thistle down, go as far as you can,
Ne wo haru basho wo sagashi motometeSearching for a place to finally take root.
Zukan Music Video
What does ‘Zukan’ mean? The lyrics describe the struggle to find your place in a world that feels foreign. SEKAI NO OWARI’s ‘Zukan’ is a powerful anthem for anyone feeling out of sync.