Once upon a time,
in a certain place, an old man and an old woman
lived humbly in a small house.
A large peach floating by when doing laundry by the river*, or
finding a shining bamboo stalk when cutting grass in the mountains**
...things like that never happened;
they spent their days peacefully.
Living in the same house, eating the same rice.
Although there wasn't a single dramatic event,
for the two of them, it was a wonderful story.
Good night. And they lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time,
in a certain place, an old man and an old woman
lived humbly in a small house.
Being lead by a turtle they'd saved to visit the Dragon King's Palace***, or
making flowers bloom beautifully from a dead tree in front of a feudal lord****
...things like that never happened;
they lived a mundane life.
They aged together, and the number of wrinkles they had also increased,
although even footprints did not remain, even when they looked back.
For the two of them, it was a wonderful story.
Good morning. Let's begin.
Without looking for what they'd lost, without seeking rewards;
splitting their simple, modest happiness with each other,
they began to walk.
Meeting on that day, loving each other;
although they did not wish for dramatic events,
please let the two of them spend their days quietly,
until the day they fall asleep for the last time.
Good night. And they lived happily ever after.
Translation notes:
This song references several Japanese fairy tales/stories:
*reference to Momotarou
**reference to The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari)
***reference to Urashima Tarou
****reference to Hanasaka Jiisan
--
Mukashi mukashi.
Aru toko ni, ojiisan to obaasan ga,
Chiisana ie de tsutsumashiku kurashite imashita.
Kawa de sentaku shite iru toki, ookina momo ga nagarete kitari.
Yama de shibakari shite iru toki, kagayaku take wo mitsuketari.
...nante koto mo naku,
Heion na mainichi wo sugoshite imashita.
Onaji ie ni sunde, onaji kome wo tabete.
Doramachikku na dekigoto nado hitotsu mo nai keredo.
Sore wa futari ni totte suteki na monogatari.
Oyasumi. Medetashi, medetashi.
Mukashi mukashi.
Aru toko ni, ojiisan to obaasan ga,
Chiisana ie de tsutsumashiku kurashite imashita.
Tasuketa kame ni tsurerarete, Ryuuguujou e itte mitari.
Tonosama no mae de utsukushiku kareki ni hana wo sakasetari.
...nante koto mo naku,
Arifureta mainichi wo sugoshite imashita.
Tomo ni toshi wo kasane, shiwa no kazu mo fuete.
Furikaette mo ashiato sae nokottenai keredo.
Sore wa futari ni totte suteki na monogatari.
Ohayou. Hajimari, hajimari.
Otoshimono wa sagasazu ni, mikaeri wa motomezu ni.
Honno sasayaka na shiawase,
Wakachiatte aruitekimashita.
Ano hi deaeta koto, tagai wo aishita koto.
Doramachikku na dekigoto nado nozondenai keredo.
Douka futari ni sotto odayaka na mainichi wo.
Saigo no nemuri ni tsuku hi made.
Oyasumi. Medetashi, medetashi.
--
むかしむかし。
あるとこに、おじいさんとおばあさんが、
小さな家でつつましく暮らしていました。
川で洗濯しているとき、大きな桃が流れてきたり。
山で芝刈りしているとき、輝く竹を見つけたり。
・・・なんてこともなく、
平穏な毎日を過ごしていました。
同じ家に住んで、同じ米を食べて。
ドラマチックな出来事などひとつもないけれど。
それは二人にとって素敵な物語。
おやすみ。めでたし、めでたし。
むかしむかし。
あるとこに、おじいさんとおばあさんが、
小さな家でつつましく暮らしていました。
助けた亀に連れられて、竜宮城へ行ってみたり。
殿様の前で美しく枯れ木に花を咲かせたり。
・・・なんてこともなく、
ありふれた毎日を過ごしていました。
ともに歳を重ね、しわの数も増えて。
振り返っても足跡さえ残ってないけれど。
それは二人にとって素敵な物語。
おはよう。はじまり、はじまり。
落し物は探さずに、見返りは求めずに。
ほんのささやかな幸せ、
分かち合って歩いてきました。
あの日出会えたこと、互いを愛したこと。
ドラマチックな出来事など望んでないけれど。
どうか二人にそっと穏やかな毎日を。
最期の眠りにつく日まで。
おやすみ。めでたし、めでたし。
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