Love Letter to Japan…

Love Letter to Japan by The Bird and The Bee

From the west to the east, I have flown to be near you
I have come all this way to be close, to be here with you
And now, all my heart I will lay down precisely at your feet

My beloved, oh my sweet, all the gifts you have given me
The patience and the peace, cherry blossoms and the candy
I am yours, I am yours for as long, for as long as you will have me

Dearest one, I had a dream, I mouthed the words
The sound came out, I spoke to you in Japanese
Oh my love, I cannot see, I heard your name
I know at once there was no place I’d rather be
All at once there was no place that I would rather be

From the west to the east, I have flown to be near you
I have come all this way to be close, to be here with you
And now, all my heart I will lay down precisely at your feet

My beloved, oh my sweet, all the gifts you have given me
The patience and the peace, cherry blossoms and the candy
I am yours, I am yours, for as long, for as long as you will have me

I packed my bag, I’m on my way
I am prepared for any season, I am prepared to stay
Here is my heart, my beating heart
Oh, how I’m longing for this love affair to start
How I’m longing for this love affair to finally start

From the west to the east, I have flown to be near you
I have come all this way to be close, to be here with you
And now, all my heart I will lay down precisely at your feet

My beloved, oh my sweet, all the gifts you have given me
The patience and the peace, cherry blossoms and the candy
I am yours, I am yours for as long, for as long as you will have me

西から東へと (Nishi kara higashi heto)
あなたのところにとんできたの (anata no tokoro nitondekitano)
遠い道のりをあなたのそばにいたくて(touimishinori oh anatanosoba ni itakute)
この思いをすべて(kono omoi oh subete)
あなたにささげます(anata ni sasagemasu)

From the west to the east, I have flown to be near you
I have come all this way to be close, to be here with you
And now, all my heart I will lay down precisely at your feet

My beloved, oh my sweet, all the gifts you have given me
The patience and the peace, cherry blossoms and the candy
I am yours, I am yours for as long, for as long as you will have me

West to the east, all this way to be close, all my heart
My beloved, oh my sweet, peace
I am yours, I am yours

☆★☆

It’s that time of year here in Japan when lots of gaijin are leaving and new ones are coming. Despite the recent disaster in north-eastern Japan, I know a number of newbies who have arrived in this area and are (thankfully) not put off by the over-the-top foreign media who have all but reported that the whole of Japan is doomed (it’s not, by the way).

I’m so happy to see the bright, young, smiling faces of people who have just arrived in this wonderful country. People who have, perhaps, had a life-long dream of coming to Japan – a dream which has finally been realised.

I’ll admit that I am also just a teeny bit jealous because, as these people are arriving and starting their love affairs with Japan, I have to say “sayonara” to Japan for the time being. I hope Japan will remember me, and I hope I manage to keep up this long-distance relationship that I’m planning. My heart will always be in Japan, even if I’m not…