JAPANESE MANNER

These lyrics are so uniquely Japanese that I could almost imagine Harada Ikuko knows about this site and specifically wrote a song to be as untranslateable as possible. Almost. For the first time, I was tempted to add a fourth column so that I could do a literal translation and a figurative one, but I ended up being able to strike some sort of balance. I won’t be surprised if I didn’t get some of the idioms quite right, so let me know if you spot any problems!

English

JAPANESE MANNER

All mixed up, ready to burst
Growing pale, quite the hard work

Not getting impatient, not getting flustered
That’s how you put on an air of calm
That is what they call Japanese manner
This world is not so harsh

Aiming for a resolution
Putting in all you have
We at our company
Truly thank you on this occasion (First party! Second party!)

It’s terribly unfortunate
There can be no excuse
Having made thorough acknowledgment,
We shall take it into consideration

Not complicating, not disrupting
Civilly making arrangements
That, precisely, is Japanese manner
Whatever is most appropriate

Not getting attached, not moving away, not getting close
The god you leave alone still makes a curse
Not knowing, not being, not interfering
The eyes say as much as the mouth

Father’s father, his mother’s mother,
And her father’s father, his mother’s mother’s Japanese manner

Warm consideration, tied together like a net
Delicate composition and rules, to avoid disrespect

Setting aside one’s own concerns for the time being

Not getting impatient, not getting flustered
That’s how you put on an air of calm
That is what they call Japanese manner
Pulling it together smoothly, tu tu

Not complicating, not disrupting
Civilly making arrangements
Yes, indeed, Japanese manner
Not to worry, don’t trouble yourself on my behalf

Japanese

JAPANESE MANNER

こんがらがって　てんぱって
顔面蒼白　お疲れさまです

焦らない　慌てない
って　平静を装いまして
いわゆるひとつの JAPANESE MANNER
世は苦しゅうない

問題解決に向けまして
全力を尽くして参ります
弊社と致しましても
誠にこの度は（甲!乙!）

たいへん遺憾にございますが
お詫びの言葉もございません
重々承知しております故
お察し致します

こじれない　こわさない
穏便に取り計らいまして
すなわちそれは JAPANESE MANNER
おあつらえむき

付かず離れず近づかず
障らぬ神にたたりあり
知らぬ存せぬ立ち入らぬ
目は口ほどにもの言う

父の父もまた母の母もそのまた
父の父もまた母の母も JAPANESE MANNER

細やかな気配り　網の目のようにはりめぐらされ
繊細な構図とルール　くれぐれも失礼なきよう

自分のことなど　とりあえずはさておいて

焦らない　慌てない
って　平静を装いまして
いわゆるひとつの JAPANESE MANNER
丸く収める tu tu

こじれない　こわさない
穏便に取り計らいまして
いみじくもええ JAPANESE MANNER
どうぞお気遣いなく　お構いなく

Karaoke

kongaragatte
ganmensouhaku otsukaresama desu

aseranai awatenai
tte heisei wo yosooimashite
iwayuru hitotsu no japaniizu manaa
yo wa kurushuunai

mondai kaiketsu ni mukemashite
zenryoku wo tsukushite mairimasu
heisha to itashimashite mo
makoto ni kono tabi wa (kou! otsu!)

taihen ikan de gozaimasu ga
owabi no kotoba mo gozaimasen
juujuu shouchi shiteorimasu yue
osasshi itashimasu

kojirenai kowasanai
onbin ni torihakaraimashite
sunawachi sore wa japaniizu manaa
oatsuraemuki

tsukazu hanarezu chikadzukazu
sawaranu kami ni tatari ari
shiranu sonsenu tachiiranu
me wa kuchi hodo ni mono iu

chichi no chichi mo mata haha no haha mo sono mata
chichi no chichi mo mata haha no haha mo japaniizu manaa

komayaka na kikubari ami no me no you ni harimegurasare
sensai na kouzu to ruuru kuregure mo shitsurei na kiyou

jibun no koto nado toriaezu wa sateoite

aseranai awatenai
tte heisei wo yosooimashite
iwayuru hitotsu no japaniizu manaa
maruku osameru tu tu

kojirenai kowasanai
onbin ni torihakaraimashite
imijiku mo ee japaniizu manaa
douzo okidzukai naku okamai naku