Wednesday 21 October 2015

Serani-Poji - Boku no Mashuu (My own marshmallow)

This is very slowly becoming a Serani-Poji fansite.

Serani-Poji - 僕のマシュ…(gentle whisper) My favourite version
Serani-Poji - 僕のマシュ Original version

Serani-Poji - 僕のマシュ
Vocals: YUKI-ICHI
Instruments: Tomoko Sasaki

Japanese RomajiEnglish
太ったProgrammer Nice Guy
彼には男のこだわりがあった
Programがひとつできるたびに
サンデーズのマシュマロをほうばること
Futtota Programmer nice guy
Kare niwa otoko no kodawari ga atta
Program ga hitotsu dekiru tabi ni
Sandeezu no mashumaro wo houbaru koto  
A chubby programmer, nice guy
with a concerning fixation.
He's on the path to make a single program
that lets him fill his cheeks with Sunday's marshmallows
マシュマロないとProgramできないよ
でもマシュマロあるとマッハのスピードで
Mashumaro nai to Program dekinai yo
Demo mashumaro aruto maaha no spiddo de
Without marshmallows he cannot make the program
But with marshmallows he can go at mach speed
彼のMachineにはProgramした
Polygonのマシュマロが Monitor
で くるくるまわってる
Kare no Machine niwa Program shita
Polygon no mashumaro ga monitor 
de guruguru mawatteru
His machine is used for programming
The marshmallow polygons on the monitor are spinning round and round.
「僕のマシュ…」
Programmerはつぶやいたさ
(Boku no mashu)
Programmer wa tsubuyaitasa
"My own marshmallow"
the programmer mumbled...
僕のマシュ… 真っ白でSweet
僕のマシュ… ごほうびにひとつ
僕のマシュ… 幸せがふわふわ
サンデーズの Sマークが目印さ
Boku no mashu, masshiro de sweet
Boku no mashu, gohoubi ni hitotsu
Boku no mashu, shiawase ga fuwafuwa
Sandeezu no S maaku ga majirushisa
My own marshmallow, pure white and sweet
My own marshmallow, a single prize
My own marshmallow, a  happiness so soft
when Sunday's S mark is crossed off
太ったProgrammer Nice Guy
サングラスやCapにはこだわりないけど
マシュマロはサンデーズってきめてた
それが彼のCool!ゆずれないこと
Futtota programmer nice guy
Sangurasu ya cap niwa kodawari nai kedo
Mashumaro wa sandeezutte kimeteta
Sore ga kare no Cool! 
yuzurenaikoto 
A chubby programmer, nice guy
His cap and sunglasses are of no interest

But the marshmallows are being decided on Sunday
That is his cool way of not giving up
マシュマロないとProgramできないよ
でもマシュマロあるとマッハのスピードで
Mashumaro nai to Program dekinai yo
Demo mashumaro aruto maaha no spiddo de
Without marshmallows he cannot make the program
But with marshmallows he can go at mach speed
徹夜した朝にさみしくなった…
でもサンデーズのマシュマロがあれば
心がいやされる
Tetsuyashita asa ni samishikunatta
Demo sandeezu no mashumaro ga areba
kokoro ga iyasareru
After sleepless nights, morning brings loneliness.
Should he have Sunday's marshmallows, his heart can be mended.
「僕のマシュ・・・」
くちびるをそっとよせる
(Boku no mashu)
Kuchibiru wo sotto yoseru
"My own marshmallow"
Lips coming gently closer
僕のマシュ… Cuteな歯ざわり
僕のマシュ… 甘い恋人 
僕のマシュ… ころころ逃げないで
サンデーズの Sマークが目印さ
Boku no mashu cute na wazawari
Boku no mashu amai koibito
Boku no mashu korokoro nigenai de
Sandeezu no S maaku ga majirushi sa 
My own marshmallow, a cute texture
My own marshmallow, a sweet lover
My own marshmallow, unable to roll away
when Sunday's S mark is crossed off
太ったProgrammer 太りすぎで
お腹の肉がじゃまで手がのばせない
Keyboardに手がとどかなくちゃ
Programもなにひとつつくれない
Futtota Programmer furisugi de
Onaka no meat jama de ga nobasenai 
Keyboard ni te ga todokanakucha
Program mo nani hitotsu tsukurenai
A chubby programmer, overweight
His belly blocks the stretching of his hands that must reach the keyboard

The one program cannot be made.
太りすぎた
Doctor Stopでマシュマロは禁止
でもマシュマロないとProgramできないよ
Futorisugita
Doctor Stop de mashumaro wa kinshi
demo mashumaro nai to program dekinai yo
Rather overweight,
Doctor Stop has prohibited marshmallows
but without marshmallows he cannot make the program!
僕のマシュ・・・ とっても軽いんだ
僕のマシュ・・・ 今にも飛びそう
僕のマシュ・・・ 一緒に連れてって
誰もいないどこかの静かなビーチへ
どこかの静かなビーチへ
どこかの静かなビーチへ
Boku no mashu, totemo karuinda
Boku no mashu, ima ni mo tobisou
Boku no mashu, isshouni tsuretete
Dare mo inai doko ka no shizukana biichi he
Doko ka no shizukana biichi he
Doko ka no shizukana biichi he
My own marshmallow, so very light.
My own marshmallow,  will fly soon
My own marshmallow, headed together
To a quiet beach somewhere with no people
to a quiet beach somewhere
to a quiet beach somewhere

Another thanks to Steel from Saekano translations for help with some passages that I couldn't piece together well.

Sunday 18 October 2015

Serani-poji - Chikyuujin no Karada (An Earthling's Body)

A sweet and upbeat track from Serani-Poji's Ochamekan.

Link: セラニーピジ 「地球人のカラダ」

Serani-Poji - 地球人のカラダ (An Earthling's Body)
Vocals: Tomoko Sasaki
Song Composer/ Writer: Tomoko Sasaki

Japanese RomajiEnglish
RISING RISING
暖かなORB 
FILLING FILLING 
血潮を満たして 
UP BEAT UP 
HIGHER HIGH 
FLOATING FLOATING 
重力を脱いで 
RUNNING RUNNING 
助走は地平線 
鮮やかな色、形描いて 
Rising, rising
Attakana orb
Filling, filling
Chishio wo metashite
Up, beat up
Higher, high
Floating, floating
Juuryoku wo meide
Running, running
Josou wa chiheisen
Azayakana iro, katachi ite
Rising, rising
A warm orb
Filling, filling
filling with fervour
Up, beat up
Higher, high
Floating, floating
being free from gravity
Running, running
Run-up to the horizon
Brilliant colours, taking form
tantan took to tantan ta to 
どうしていいのかわからない
tantan took to tantan ta to 
溢れるもの抑えられない
さぁ やみくもに足を動かし 
高まる気持ち解き放て 
tantan took to tang!
tantan took to tang!
tan tan took to tan tan ta to
Doushite ii no ka wakaranai
tantan took to tantan ta to
Afurerumono osaerarenai
Saa yamikomu ni ashi wo ugokashi
Tamimaru kimochi tokihanate
tantan took to tang!
tantan took to tang! 
tantan took to tantan ta to
Not knowing what to do,
tantan took to tantan ta to
and the flooding cannot be damned
Now your feet move randomly
and release the surging emotions
tantan took to tang!
tantan took to tang!
あのリズムが呼びかける 
生まれた時はあった羽 
今もあることを思いだすんだ 
地球人のカラダ
Ano riizumu ga yobikakeru
Umareta toki atta hane
Ima mo arukoto wo omoidasunda
Chikyuujin no karada
This rhythm calls out
At the time of it's birth there were wings
For now I couldn't remember of
an earthling's body
FLYING FLYING 
夢じゃないこれは 
SKY&SEA&・・・ 
こんなに近くに 
FIND MYSELF 
FIND MY WINGS 
WAKING WAKING 
野生に目覚めて 
GOING GOING 
成層圏を抜く 
パライソはここ 
地球にあった 
Flying, Flying
Yume ja nai, kore wa
Sky and Sea and
Konna ni chikaku ni
Find myself
Find my wings
Waking, waking,
Yasei ni mezamete
Going, going
Seisoiken wo meku
Paraiso wa koko
Chikyuu ni atta
Flying, flying,
this not a dream.
Here is sky and Sea and...
Being this close I
Find myself
Find my wings
Waking, waking
The wilds awaken
Going, going
Pulled from the stratosphere
Paradise is here on Earth
tantan took to tantan ta to
突然聴こえてきたリズム
tantan took to tantan ta to 
何の音か思い出せない
さぁとりあえず空を見上げて
欲望に耳を澄まそう
tan tan took to tang!
tan tan took to tang!  
tantan took to tantan ta to
Totsuzen kikoetekita rizumu
tantan took to tantan ta to
nano on ka omoidasenai
saa toriaezu sora wo miagete
yokubou ni mimi wo sumasou
tan tan took to tang!
tan tan took to tang! 
tantan took to tantan ta to
Suddenly you were hearing a rhythm
tantan took to tantan ta to
A song you can't remember
For now, looking to the sky
your ears expound your desires
tan tan took to tang!
tan tan took to tang! 
諦めていたMUTATION 
憧れていた白い羽 
忘れてたやり方思い出すんだ
地球人のカラダ
Akirameteita mutation
Akogareta shiroi hane
Wasureteta yarikata omoidasunda
Chikyuujin no karada
An abandoned mutation
And desired white wings
I couldn't remember the forgetful manner
of an earthling's body
RISING RISING
暖かなORB 
FILLING FILLING 
血潮を満たして 
UP BEAT UP 
HIGHER HIGH 
FLOATING FLOATING 
重力を脱いで 
RUNNING RUNNING 
助走は地平線 
鮮やかな色、形描いて 
Rising, rising
Attakana Orb
Filling, Filling
Chishio wo metashite
Up Beat Up
Higher High
Floating, floating
Juuryoku wo meide
Running, running
Josou wa chiheisen
Azayakana iro, katachi ite
Rising, rising
A warm orb
Filling, filling
full of fervour
Up, beat up
Higher high
Floating, floating
stripping free from gravity
Running, running
Run-up to the horizon
Brilliant colours, taking form
あのリズムが呼びかける 
生まれた時はあった羽 
今もあることを思いだすんだ 
地球人のカラダ
Ano riizumu ga yobikakeru
Umareta toki atta hane
Ima mo arukoto wo omoidasunda
Chikyuujin no karada
This rhythm calls out
At the time of it's birth there were wings
For now I cannot remember of
An earthling's body
FLYING FLYING 
夢じゃないこれは 
SKY&SEA&・・・ 
こんなに近くに 
FIND MYSELF 
FIND MY WINGS 
WAKING WAKING 
野生に目覚めて 
GOING GOING 
成層圏を抜く 
パライソはここ 
地球にあった 
Flying, Flying
Yume ja nai, kore wa
Sky and Sea and
Konna ni chikaku ni
Find myself
Find my wings
Waking, waking,
Yasei ni mezamete
Going, going
Seisoiken wo meku
Paraiso wa koko
Chikyuu ni atta
Flying, flying,
this not a dream.
Here is sky and sea and...
Being this close I
Find myself
Find my wings
Waking, waking
The wilds awaken
Going, going
Pulled from the stratosphere
Paradise is here on Earth
RISING RISING
暖かなORB 
FILLING FILLING 
血潮を満たして 
UP BEAT UP 
HIGHER HIGH 
FLOATING FLOATING 
重力を脱いで 
RUNNING RUNNING 
助走は地平線 
鮮やかな色、形描いて 
Rising, rising
Attakana orb
Filling, filling
Chishio wo metashite
Up beat up
Higher high
Floating, floating
Juuryoku wo meide
Running, running
Josou wa chiheisen
Azayakana iro, katachi ite
Rising, rising
A warm orb
Filling, filling
filling with fervour
Up, beat up
Higher high
Floating, floating
being free from gravity
Running, running
Run-up to the horizon
Brilliant colours, taking form
Red text: Thanks to the anonymous contributor who helped clear up a passage that was unclear for a time.

Question: do people want the Romaji to sing along or am I wasting my time here?

Circles within circles: I just really like this artist, okay?

Sunday 27 September 2015

Sorongo - Watashi no Furusato (My Hometown) [Japanese version]

My Hometown (Japanese version - the one I've translated)
My Hometown (Mongolian version) - Titled "Minni nutag"

Sorongo - Watashi no Furusato
Vocals/Lyrics: Sorongo

Japanese RomajiEnglish
花が咲き始める
地平線に
青い空と雲が
いつもあります
Hana ga saki hajimeru
chiheisen ni
Aoi sora to kumo ga
Itsumo arimasu
The flowers begin blooming
on the horizon
Blue skies and clouds
are always there.
天幕は白い家
草原に見えます
ふるさとの春は今
素晴らしい輝き
Tenmaku wa shiroi ie
sougen ni miemasu
Furusato no haru wa ima
subarashii kagayaki
The tent is a white home where
grasslands can be seen
My hometown spring now
shining brilliantly
水が湧き出ている
泉には
祈りを誰もが
捧げています
Mizu ga wakideteiru
izumi niwa
Inori wo dare mo ga
sasagete imasu
The water gushes forth
as a fountain
Who will pray forth
As an offering
ナーダムのお祭りは
賑やかな歌声
ふるさとは 夏のなか
素晴らしい輝き
Naadaam1 no omatsuri wa
nigiyakana utagoe
Furusato wa haru no naka
Subarashii kagayaki
The Festival of Games1
is a lively song
My hometown in the middle of spring
shines brilliantly
馬の毛の弓をひく
伝説の音楽
ふるさとはそして冬
銀色の輝き
Uma no ke no yumi wo hiku
densetsu no ongaku
Furusato wa soshite fuyu
Giniro no kagayaki
The horses, hair and bows all play
play a song of legend
My hometown is now in winter,
and shines a brilliant silver.

[1] Naadaam (lit. games) is an annual traditional festival of Mongolia. It consists of three "male" sports which are horseback riding, archery and wrestling, though females participate in the first two.

Circles within circles: I heard this from the same playlist as "EVE" where the version was in Mongolian (which is all French to me.) This may not be heart-rending as Mongolian is a rather harsh/coarse language, it still is rather enjoyable. 

Monday 31 August 2015

FLiP - 「GIRL」

A translation request, hoorah! Sorry to Alecat for taking so long with this request, I just haven't been able to keep on top of stuff right now.

A JPop song by a JRock all-girls band.
FLiP - 「GIRL」(short radio edit)
full version
Looking at other tracks from this band, this single is a departure from their regular raw and jamming style.

About the artist: Flip is a female Okinawan band mainly focusing on J-Rock. They were self-published from their highschool to college years, and in the past few years have released several studio productions.

Circles within circles: This song is requested by a friend and it seems to suit their energetic personality. It's also another way of getting to know them.

FLiP - Girl 
Singer/Lyricist: Sachiko

Japanese Romaji English
La La La…
鳴り響く Telephone
これが最後のTalk?
もうこんなEndingなんて
Oh my god!
La la la....
nari hibiku Telephone
kore ga saigo no talk ?
mou konna Ending nante
Oh my god!
La la la...
Vibrating telephone
Is this our last talk?
This is already ending, what?!
Oh my god!
本当は分かっていたの
一人静かな one room
このまま朝なんて Feel so bad!
hontou wa wakatte ita no
hitori shizukana one room
kono mama asa nante Feel so bad!
The truth is I knew
Alone in this quiet one room
As morning is here I Feel so bad!
寝れない夜に
I want to talk my friends
今、何してるの?
I am a troublemaker
笑えない もう限界
不甲斐無い様だわ Feel so sad!
nemurenai yoru ni
I want to talk my friends
"Ima, nan shiteru no ?"
I am a troublemaker
waraenai mou genkai
fugainai sama dawa Feel so sad
On sleepless nights
I want to talk to my friends
"What are you doing now?"
I am a troublemaker
Unable to laugh any more
Looking hopeless feels so sad!
でもね
声が聞こえてきた途端
崩れるくらいに泣きそうよ Oh
こんな夜から抜け出そう
I need you
このまま Flyaway
demo ne
koe ga kikoete kita koto
kuzureru kurai ni nakisou yo oh
konna yoru kara nuke-dasou
I need you
kono mama Flyway
Even so
I can still hear your voice calling
Breaking to the point of crying oh
Bursting into tears tonight
I need you
At this rate I'll fly away
Don't stop tonight
踏み出して 愛に恋に惑わされずに
Don't stop my life
不器用に 過ごした日々も許して
Don't stop tonight
踊って 今日の最後のこの気持ちで
Don't stop my life
明日は 新しい私なれるのかな?
Don't stop tonight
fumi dashite ai ni koi ni madowasarezu ni
Don't stop my life
fugyou ni sugoshita hibi mo yurushite
Don't stop tonight
odotte kyou no saigo no kono kimochi de
Don't stop my life
ashita wa atarashii atashi nareru no kana?
Don't stop tonight
Following love, romance
and confusion
Don't stop my life
Forgiving bad manners and past days
Dont stop tonight
Dancing with the feeling that today's the last day
Don't stop my life
What will the new me become tomorrow?
もういらない Birthday card
薬指の Promise ring
好きだった写真なんて I don't care
Mou iranai Birthday card
kusuyubi no Promise ring
sukidatta shashin nante I don't care
Don't want another Birthday Card
A ring finger's Promise ring
Favourite photos are things I don't care
でもまだまだ消せない
1,095 Days
ふとした瞬間決まって Flashback
Demo mada mada kesenai
1,095 Days
Futoshita shunkan kimatte
flashback
But it still hasn't extinguished
for 1.095 days
Unexpected moments always
flashback
やけに、沁みる
I want to talk my friends
「今日、何してるの?」
感情論が止まんない
右から左へ
御託並べては Talk and talk
Yake ni, shimiru
I want to talk to my friends
"Kyou, nani shiteru no?"
Kanjourun ga tomannai
Migi kara hidari he
Gotaku nabete talk and talk
Desperately, painfully
I want to talk to my friends
"Today, what are you doing?"
Can't stop heated arguments
From the right to the left
Ordinary chatter is just talk and talk
電話切っていつもの場所に さぁ
Run Run Run
気ままに Fadeaway
Denwa kitte itsumo no basho ni saa
Run Run Run
Ki mama ni Fadeaway
Come now to the usual place, cutting off your phone
Run Run Run
In my own way I'll fadeway
Can't stop tonight
指先で 描く未来 私のもの
Can't stop my life
何度目の 別れも心に刻んで
Can't stop tonight
強がった 過去でも愛おしく思うわ
Can't stop my life
いつだって 新しい私出会えるから
Can't stop tonight
Yubisaki de egaku mirai atashi no mono
Can't stop my life
Nandome no wakare mo kokoro kiginde
Cant stop tonight
Tsuyogatta kako demo ai oshiku omou wa
Can't stop my life
Itsudatte atarashii atashi deaeru kara
Can't stop tonight
With these fingers, I'll draw the things in my future
Can't stop my life
Every passing has been etched into my heart
Cant stop tonight
Tried to be tough but hung up on heartbreak
Cant stop my life
The new me is always reaching out
La La La…
Don't stop tonight
踏み出して 愛に恋に惑わされずに
Don't stop my life
不器用に 過ごした日々も許して
Don't stop tonight
踊って 今日の最後のこの気持ちで
Don't stop my life
明日は 新しい私出会えるから
Can't stop tonight
強がった 過去でも愛おしく思うわ
Can't stop my life
今から まだ見たことない私になろう
La La La...
Don't stop tonight
fumi dashite ai ni koi ni madowasarezu ni
Don't stop my life
fugyou ni sugoshita hibi mo yurushite
Don't stop tonight
odotte kyou no saigo no kono kimochi de
Don't stop my life
ashita wa atarashii atashi deaeru kara
Can't stop tonight
Tsuyogatta kako demo ai oshiku omou wa
Can't stop my life
Ima kara mada mita koto nai atashi ni narou
La La La
Don't stop tonight
Following love, romance and confusion
Don't stop my life
Forgiving bad manners and past days
Don't stop tonight
Dancing with the feeling that today's the last day
Don't stop my life
The new me is always reaching out
Can't stop tonight
Tried to be tough but hung up on heartbreak
Can't stop my life
From now on,  I choose to become something I haven't seen.

This was fun to translate, but the casual style of Japanese in songs requires a mind like a corkscrew to draw out what it means. That or I'm bad at this. 

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Soil and "Pimp" Sessions ft. Bonnie Pink - Hey tagger I'm here

"This is a journey into jazz"

Now I absolutely adore jazz in almost all its forms and Circles as an album is all about exploring the expression of jazz. It doesn't all have to be saxophone solos and irregular improvisations.
So to do that, Soil and Pimp Sessions met up with various artists and made a jazz album with entirely genre defying tracks. Some of it combines rap, techno,  hip hop or just honey sweet vocals.

Soil and "Pimp" Sessions ft. Bonnie Pink - Hey tagger I'm here

If you want to see different tracks to this album and see how different jazz can be, further linked here are two more tracks on that album. The album has rather inconsistent quality however but I think it holds up.

S&PS ft. RHYMEMASTER - Jazzy Conversation (only a preview)
S&PS ft. Ringo Sheena   - An Assassin's Assassin (The literal translation is actually "Close-Call Assassin")
About the artists: S&PS are a self proclaimed "Death jazz" band hailed from Tokyo's jazz club scene.
Bonnie Pink is an upcoming Japanese singer, trying to not be just a pop idol.

Circles within Circles: I actually got the idea of this concept from this album and another one of their tracks called "A wheel within a wheel." I heard this band from a friend of mine on a road trip to another's birthday.

Instruments: S&PS
Vocals/lyrics: Ringo Sheena

Japanese English
See what a girl can do
少年少女のhide and seek
割り切れないことばかり
数えて夜を明かす
See what a girl can do
A boy and girl's hide and seek
Spending countless nights passing the time
朝焼け game is over
乾く喉 足りない勇気
微かな炎 plastic lighter
始まりの音が聞こえた
少女がリード
With the colour of sunrise, game is over
A parched throat, insufficient courage
A faint flame, plastic lighter
The start of a sound could be heard
The girl will lead
君の心に仕掛けたい play cat and mouse
明日の約束が欲しい訳じゃない
今夜は少年少女 言葉でtouching you
誰にも内緒 let's play the fool tonight
Challenging your heart, play cat and mouse
Tomorrow's promises are not wishes
This evening is a boy and girl's language touching you
Anyone's secret, let's play the fool tonight
夕暮れ the game has started
照れてないで 心ほどいて
Come evening, the game has started
Don't be shy, show your heart
Let's see what a boy can do
少女のスカート追いかけて
気まぐれに手を染めた悪戯に火がつく
Let's see what a boy can do
A girl's skirt is chased
Provoked by a whimsical prank of the hand
朝焼け The game ain't over
手を繋いで どこへ行こうか
Why don't you take me to your heaven?
With the colour of sunrise, the game ain't over
Shall we go somewhere while holding hands?
Why don't you take me to your heaven?
いつも いつの時代も
少年少女は 真っ直ぐで 無防備で 傷だらけ 休む間もなく
Always, eternally
Boys and girls are honest, defenseless, scarred with no time to rest.
いつか いつか少年は
少女の背丈を追い越して抱き寄せて 大人びる
Hey tagger, I'm here 手の鳴る方へ
One day, some day boys will surpass a girl's height, embracing and maturing.
Hey tagger I'm here, getting caught.

もういいかい まだだよ
won't you let me catch you baby
追って逃げてのリピート 手の鳴る方へ
もういいよ まだまだね
I will catch you in a minute
平行線なboys and girls 交わるまでのゲーム
One more time, not just yet
Won't you let me catch you baby
caught again
Repeat of chasing and escaping. getting caught
One more time, not just yet
I will catch you in a minute.
A game where boys and girls are parallel until their lines cross
Hey tagger, I'm here
Why don't you take me to your heaven
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey hey tagger, I'm here 
Hey tagger, I'm here
Why don't you take me to your heaven
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey tagger, I'm here
Hey hey tagger, I'm here

This song was already half English, so that's half my work done. It was pretty fun to translate.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Comiket 88 - Indie Games

 BIG NOTE: This is only an informative blog. There are no download links here. The links here are only to the C88 game trailers video released from the official Comiket site. Please support the developers if you can (and god help you if you want to.) Some of these might get you disparaging/worrying looks from your friends, families and peers, but none of them seem to be ADULT ONLY. In fact, consider my blog to be a total M rating and include a "**** you, mother******!"

I understand that I've missed many days. Too much stuff to do already. Still got some songs lined up and no requests.

Anyway, to the subject. Indies! Japan based indies. Not all of them are Touhou based surprisingly, but no circle wants to compete with ZUN's own Touhou title being released this year.

The convention in mind is Comiket or Comic Market, a convention where people sell self published original and fan content. These things include music (mainly Touhou remixes), artwork, novels, magazines (sometimes naughty), manga (mostly naughty) and video games. Think like AVCon's artist alley but so much bigger. And crowded and sweaty and all those other things I associate with summer in Japan.

What we're interested here is the video games, so lets get to it.
 This one being the 88th event that has happened is C88 and two days ago, a trailer was released of all their indie games. I try to summarise the best/fastest I can while I'm watching on the second monitor because I have very little free time.  These are merely first impressions or some things I know from translating their titles/playing some other version and are by no means the final say in product quality. If you like the blurb, check the links to the game trailer and see if it piques your interest.
If you want to try some of these, I can help you find it. Or I may ask you to help me.

Touhou Games

幻走スカイドリフト 
Phantom Race Sky Drift - Touhou Kart Double Dash minus the Kart. One character literally rides the other. There appear to be speed boosting gates and items. Backgrounds are 3d rendered. Waiting to see whether it has netplay. Will try, probably recommendation.

幻想戦略譚~Age of Ethanols III
Age of Ethanols III - Literally age of empires where there is much less unit diversity (basic fighting units are ranged/melee/spellcasters) but includes heroes who have very strong powers. Kaguya remains the slowest character but literally throws a castle at you.Noted that this is now on a rendered terrain and it will dent according to the damage done on it.
Will try, but would rather figure out how to SupGuys.

『東方カードモンスターズ2 -TAG DUELIST-』
Touhou Card Monsters 2 - Tag Duelist - RPG with card elements. Will give it a shot but cannot recommend due to JP language barrier.

幻想夢
Phantom Dream - Literally rips off the black silhouette design of LIMBO but you're a little girl instead. Unsure what spooks there will be. I didn't enjoy LIMBO anyway. No signs of spider leg pulling here.

すぷりんぐふぃ~るど
Spring Field - 3D isometric Tactics game where you break/create trees? Trailer is not good at telling me what it does. Again, wouldn't recommend due to language barrier.

東方PANG!
Touhou Pang - PANG but you're a Touhou and you also get boss fights and different characters. Boss fights might be fun, I'll get back to you on that if you want.

射命丸文の事件簿
TRAILER IS A SPIRALING MESS. Doesn't really tell you what it's about but the cover art has a nice look at Aya's legs so its probably about her.  Might be an Adventure Visual novel of some kind. I don't think this will ever get an ENG patch so I don't recommend. Plus it is hard to recommend these sorts of character driven based games from an established franchise if you are unfamiliar with the series which comes as an array of shoot em ups, fighting games, much more unique shoot em ups and weird novels. /rant

INDIES

ありすのマカロン
Alice's Macarons - A puzzle game where you try to write MA-KA-RO-N in katakana, bonus points for same colours. Looks like a DS game but its actually for OS X/ Windows. It's cute I guess but looks more suited for a phone game.

国立オタク学院
National Otaku Academy- A quiz game. Bosses are based on their japanese culture (otaku) knowledge (anime, arcade games, history, etc) Entirely in japanese so wouldn't recommend.

 白桜ガールズファイト!
White Cherry Blossom Girls Fight! - Not as misogynistic as you thought.  You're a coach in a girls fight club. Its a simulation game so expect it to be like an RPG. If you can brute force learn the mechanics, I guess you could play it without english? Same could be applied for all the rest of the games though.

WWII英雄列伝 最強の虎 クルト・クニスペル
WWII Heroic Biography of the Final Panzer Kurt Kunisperu - A grid based tactics game with tanks that have range. Not much else I can see from the trailer here but you lead a batallion of tanks for Germany. God help you with the Japanese though. Seems to be an airstrike mechanic and terrifying 3d rendering on attack animations.

宝石皇女-EMBRYO-粋
Gem Princess chic Embryo  - A tower defense game with cute girls and plot. Take it as you will. I don't play tower defense games.

ガーデンテイル
Garden Tale - Sort of Disgaea. If you can get past the Japanese pineapple, it could be fun.

四季の狂剣・神無絶景・後編
 Four Seasons of Enlightened Blades -  Kannazuki (October) View - Sequel
A sword fighting game based on distance. You and your opponent are measured by distance from each other and he who strikes first deals damage. Its a constant sea saw of advantage and disadvantage. I've been meaning to try the other versions of this game. If you can find me a copy, tell me please. LOOKS COOL/FUN.
Wow, its only 21 minutes into trailer (RIP Sleep)

もえくり2~イルセの魔法書~
 Moecurie 2 ~ Iruse's Sorcery Book - Cute girls doing cure things? Grid based puzzle/strategy/rpg.
I don't think I'd have the time to learn this game myself, but if you find it fun, tell me.

 ダンジョンズ&ダークネス
Dungeons and Darkness  - HERE THERE BE DRAGONS - A real time 3d dungeon crawling game. Reminds me a bit of King's Field. I hope there's the same kind of engine/plot fidelity in this game.

ZANGEKI WARP
A shoot em up where the gimmick is that some patterns are unavoidable unless you choose the right timing to warp past enemies. Made by Astro Port who are the same guys who did Satazius, Vulkaiser and Armed Seven (available on steam).

重竜騎兵ドラグアームズ
Armed Dragoons  -  A 3d mecha shooting mecha game where you glide around bases shooting tanks and stuff. Has a shoot em up feel to it. Very high paced. Gonna try it out myself, you?

虚夢の乙女 (NSFW)
Maidens of Heavenly Dreams -Past stills of scantily clad maidens, we see a shoot em up with them, with waves of other female enemies. Theres a duo tag in mechanic and a vocaloid sound track. I've already got a back list of shmups (is there a better word for this?) to play so I might give it a pass. The bosses seem rather unique so have a go if you want. The girls also kiss each other for bombs.

Snow Gem - A shmup with colourful patterns and bosses. Resembles the 2hus. Give it a try if you have time, some of the patterns look cool or seem completely ripped off from 2hu. Suddenly SKELETONS. Very fast paced. I might try it.

Lethal Operation Chapter Rei - A shoot em up. It might be easier to get you people to watch these links than describe them because they are all different in their own way.

 A collection of games. Vague. Hard to tell what games are in it.

 Biblinthus
Dungeon/puzzle exploring game. Cool BGM I guess.

ころころぼっくす
Korokoro (Rolling) Box - Those FX sound familiar. A puzzle game where you move your box according to painted colours on the floor and can only move on same colour/blank tiles.
Try it if you have the time.

ゆりかごのそら
Cradle of the Sky - Action RPG with cute girls, sword fighting, combos, magic and team tactics.
I liken it to Fortune Summoners. Might give it a go once I beat FS first.

箱庭の彼女
Her Small Garden - Done on Unreal Engine 4 of all things. A Virtual reality action game. THere seem to be multiple cameras. Requires Oculus Rift. While I like that Oculus Rift is getting development from indie developers, I dont actually own one.

 アスタブリード
Astebreed OST - Just the sound track being released with artwork. Also a note that the PS4 version of Astebreed is getting patched.  Ignore the artwork of scantily clad little girls I guess, it's just side stuff.
Would recommend playing this game, it's on steam and its as Mecha as you can get in a shoot em up.

On a side note, I regret starting this to finish it being 3 hours so far of writing, but it surely makes up for the days of content that I haven't done


 少女戦記パンツァーガール
Panzer Girl - 3d mecha girl vs game. looks kinda bland.

Flyers -  side scrolling shmup where you're a chick on a hover board and the world is abnormally large. Looks generic despite being on Unreal 4 and using Direct X11.

『BLACK MARIA OVERDRIVE』 
Gives me a feel of Mega Man Zero if he were a Lancer on steroids. Looks fun. Gonna try this out myself.

Hekatoncheir 
Pixel 3D world, 2D sprite action RPG. Think of paper mario with a gun and 90 degree world rotation. Seems unremarkable but the main girl is cute I guess and rendered a 3d model from time to time.

YohjoSimulator
A young girl walks around and interacts with the world by head butting it. Seems to be a demonstration of the engine and/or a copy of Goat Simulator.
 
MAGICAL×SPIRAL
 You run up a spiral, platform, fight bosses and fire spells. Magical. Looks okay.

Ace Of Seafood
This is where I stop putting in effort. You are a fish that fires lasers at boats other fish in a 3d underwater environment. Or a Lobster. Or a Crab, Or a Boat I guess.

SkyLens
3D Girl with a Sword, hits stuff including bosses. Nice rock music. Might try.

東方英雄夢想
Touhou Heroic Vision - I thought we were past all these Touhou things*,  Staged arena gauntlets filled with enemies and bullets. You try to avoid them all and clear them out. I might try it.
HAS PATCHOULI. TEN OUT OF TEN. 
* This is actually sold during the Indie games day not on the Touhou games day.* 

りばりば
Reverse X Reverse - a plaformer where you control two characters navigating an asymmetrical level. Seems hard but I'm a filthy casual so take that as you will.

巫女学校物語~楓編
 Shrine Maiden School Story- Maple Chapter- A mystery adventure RPG with 3d models. Entirely in Japanese so god help you.

CAVYHOUSE再録集 夜あそそび
CAVYHOUSE Compilation - Evening Play
Collection of Adventure stories, puzzle games (+ tetris), Japanese game but has some fairly interesting puzzle games.




月華月閃
Moon Flower, Moon Flash - A visual novel game about the moon, cute girls with 3d models, slice of life and romance. All in Jap, don't even bother.


 新入社員ってこんなにゲキテキッ!!? 第二部
 Too long, not even gonna bother to translate that name. They translate it themselves as "What a wonderful life of the guy is it!!? Second Division" Romance Visual/Adventure novel in Japanese.

ノナプルナイン被験体:999999999
Test Subject Nonuple Nine -Nine hundred ninety nine million Nine hundred ninety nine thousand Nine hundred ninety nine.
The world is in ruin with murder, emergencies, a disaster zone and no tea. I'm not sure what you do in this game but it says Scrolling Adventure. 
Forgive the wordiness, it's two in the morning. Its also all in Japanese so it's moot point.

ファタモルガーナの館 -Another Episodes
Fata Morgana's House- Another Episodes. Clearly the sequel to something. Murder(?) Visual Novel Game all entirely in Japanese.
Vertical shoot em up. Not much more to say.

SMALL TRAILERS - These games might be big or small, who knows. All we get is a screenshot and a word synopsis.

Patchouli's Atelier (typo as NonetSympathia) - Action RPG with CG, Isometrical view and lots of maids. Also Patchouli. I know I'm playing it,

マリ★サナ 共闘劇 - Mari Sana Battle Royale - Action game where you dodge bullets and hit things.

IKUSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! Rocking BGM. A shoot em up where you are Iku from Touhou's Scarlet Weather Rhapsody. I'd just stick to the fighting games if anyone wants to play those with me.

NonetSympathia.: Action RPG in a medival fantasy setting with skill trees.

うらくさい 織田長益物語 - Urakusai (Smelly bottom?) Oda Katsu Story - An RPG maker game set in Feudal Japan.

L.U.X. A vertical shoot em up. Sci-Fi techno aesthetic,

ガンナーオブドラグーン - Gunner of Dragon - 3D scrolling shooting game where you're a dragon. Requires Oculus Rift.

 TorqueL for Windows (Steam Key)-  What it says on the box. Also works on windows 10. Torquel is a Unity based game with an interesting box you're stuck in. Won the Nico Unity award. Check it on steam if its your thing.

And so ends my long tl;dr/w of Comiket Games so far. Only a few interesting titles that catch my interest but if you have an hour 20 minutes, you could check the trailer, starting from Touhou Sky Drift at the top if you want.  This also took 4 hours when I need to finish work, so there's also that.

Signing off,
AristoWan




Monday 3 August 2015

Serani-poji - EVE

Serani-poji - EVE
Song writer/composer: Tomoko Sasaki
Vocals: YUKI-ICHI

Link from a youtube upload here: Serani-poji - Eve  (セラニポージ - EVE)
Link to a piano/male cover : http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm24786976


Japanese RomajiEnglis
あの人は最後の日
ワタシを完成させた
そして名前という音をくれて
優しく唇にのせた
Ano hito wa saigo no hi
Watashi wo kanseisaseta
Soshite, namae to iu on wo kurete
yasashiku kuchibiru ni noseta
On his last day, I was completed
And my name and its sound was given,
sung by kind lips
突然吹いたぬるい風
時の渦に呑み込まれた
Totsuzen fuita merui kaze
Toki no uzu ni nomikomareta
Suddenly a warm wind had blown
The whirlpool of time was engulfed
あの人は目を閉じて
最後に会えて良かったと
そして、あと少しここにいて
と言った
きり深く落ちてった
Ano hito wa me wo tojite
Saigo ni aete yokatta to
Soshite, ato sukoshi koko ni ite
to itta kiri fukaku ochitetta
As his eyes eyes were closing
A chance meeting one last time
as he said "come closer"
while a deep fog rolled over.
この荒れ果てた終末に
ひとり残された
Kono arehateta shuumatsu ni
Hitori nokosareta
In this desolate ending,
I had been left alone
ここにサボテンを植えよう
花が千年に一度咲く
ここにいた最後の人類
生きてた証
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Hana ga sennen ni ichido saku
Koko ni ita saigo no jinrui
Ikiteta akashi
Let's grow a cactus here
Which blooms once a thousand years
Here a the sign that humanity once lived
ここにサボテンを植えよう
そして毎日ここに来よう
この下に最後のアダム
ワタシに口づけをした
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Soshite mainichi koko ni koyou
Kono shita ni saigou no ADAM
Watashi ni kuchidzuke wo shita
Let's grow a cactus here
and I will come here everyday
Down to where the last Adam
had kissed me
あの人のつけた名は
チップの中に刻み込んだ
今は、名前を呼ぶ人もなく
人類が目覚めるのを待ってる
Ano hito no tsuketa na wa
CHIP no naka ni kigimi konda
Ima wa namae wo yobu hito mo naku
Jinrui ga mezameru wo matteru
The name attached to that person
is etched into a chip
Now I also call out that name
waiting for mankind's awakening
いくつ千年がおとずれて
咲いた花はいくつ散った?
Ikutsu sennen ga otozurete
Saita hana ga ikutsu chiita?
How many millennia have passed and how many blossoms have scattered?
あの人の唇は
柔らかくそっとしてた
深い喪失の悲しみは
孤独よりずっと痛かった
Ano hito no kuchibiru wa
Yawarakaku sotto shiteta
Fukai soushitsu no kanashimi wa
kodoku yori zutto itakatta
His lips were so soft and gentle
The sorrow of great loss ached more
than the loneliness.
この荒れ果てた終末に不死のワタシだけ Kono arehateta shuumatsu ni fushi no watashi dakeIn this desolate ending,
the immortal me is left.
ここにサボテンを植えよう
地球(ほし)をただみつめていよう
またくる最初の人類
進化はまわる
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Hoshi wo tada mitsu meteiyou
Mata kuru saishou no jinrui
Shinka wa mawaru
Let's grow a cactus here
that simply watches over the Earth
The beginning of humanity has come again
Evolution revolves on
ここにサボテンを植えよう
戻る場所がわかるように
どこからか最初のADAM
おかえりと声をかけたい
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Modoru basho ga wakaru youni
Doko kara ka saishou no ADAM
Okaerito koe wo kaketai
Let's grow a cactus here
so the place we can return to can be found
Where the first Adam comes from
I want to call out "welcome home"
ここにサボテンを植えよう
花が千年に一度咲く
ここにいた最後の人類
生きてた証
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Hana ga sennen ni ichido saku
Koko ni ita saigo no jinrui
Ikiteta akashi
Let's grow a cactus here
which blooms once a thousand years
Here was a sign that humanity once lived
ここにサボテンを植えよう
地球(ほし)をただみつめていよう
またくる最初の人類
進化はまわる
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Hoshi wo tada mitsu meteiyou
Mata kuru saishou no jinrui
Shinka wa mawaru
Let's grow a cactus here
that simply watches over the Earth
The beginning of humanity has come again
Evolution revolves on
ここにサボテンを植えよう
戻る場所がわかるように
どこからか最初のADAM
おかえりと声をかけたい
Koko ni SUPOTEN wo ueoyou
Modoru basho ga wakaru youni
Doko kara ka saishou no ADAM
Okaerito koe wo kaketai
Let's grow a cactus here
so the place we can return to can be found
Where the first Adam comes from
I want to call out "welcome home"

Again, a huge thanks to Steel from SaeKano translations for making me realise half my translation was wrong (and that maybe I'm in the wrong business).

About the artist: Serani-poji is a fictional Shibuya-kei artist actually composed of two female members. They were formed to make exclusive songs for SEGA's Roomania #203 game.
Their songs are as quoted: "made from happiness, miracles, mystery, cake, strawberry, candy, funny, sweet drinks, twinkle-star, perfume, teenagehood, youth, love, lover, milk tea, cafe au lait…and many many wonderful things!”

Circles within circles: I found this listening to premade playlists, a video called 

"切なくなる BGM" or Heart Moving Songs. Tell me if does as prescribed for you, I can link you the whole thing.
When I heard it I had to find its source and my own copy of it. 
Circles within circles also means sharing music with others I guess.

ACID MAN - FREE STAR

The second song is ACID MAN - FREE STAR from their 2008 album "Life."

Official youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGZBzcClsFQ
Cute music video: FLAN STAR

ACID MAN - FREE STAR
Lead guitar/vocalist: Ohki Nobuo
Japanese RomajiEnglish
月光のない きれいな夜
小さな光を売る声
儚くて 美しくて
狂いそうに きれいな夜
gekkou nonai kireina yoru
chiisa na hikari wo uru koe
bou kute utsukushi kute
kurui souni kireina yoru
On a lovely moonless night,
A voice which sells a small light
Fleeting and beautiful
A lovely night resembling chaos
太陽無くした千年前
まだ目が見えなかった頃
騙されて 可笑しくて
振り返れば手遅れで
taiyou naku shita sennen mae
mada me ga mie nakatta goro
damasa rete okashi kute
furikaere ba teokure de
The sun was gone a thousand years
A time where eyes had not seen
Being tricked and ridiculed
It's too late to look back
あの星に向かう 船に乗り
あの光を探しに君は行く
ano hoshi ni muka u fune ni nori
ano hikari wo sagashi ni kimi wa yuku
That star goes onward and boards a ship
That light's search will go to you
Free star だんだん遠ざかる
Free star 世界を止めて
いつか見た流星を 追いかけてゆくように
Free star dandan tooza karu
Free star sekai wo tome te
itsuka mita ryuusei wo oi kaketeyukuyouni
Free star that fades gradually
Free star stopping on this world
Always seen a falling star chasing a wish
Free star たった一秒で
Free star 世界は変わる
僅かに残された光を集めに行こう
Free star tatta ichibyou de
Free star sekai wa kawa ru
wazuka ni nokosa reta hikari wo atsume ni iko u
Free star in just one second
Free star the world had changed
The remaining light gathering as it goes
少年はいつも集めていた
残り僅かな光を
一欠片 独りきり
笑い合えた目々を思い
shounen wa itsumo atsume teita
nokori wazuka na hikari wo
ichi ketsu hen hitori kiri
warai ae ta me wo omoi
The boy was always gathering
the remaining light
A small fragment all to himself
and imagines it has smiling eyes
月が点火した最後の夜
戦争なんて忘れそうな
ただきれいで 美しくて
gatsu ga tenka shita saigo no yoru
sensou nante wasure souna
tadakireide utsukushi kute
The moon was alight the last night
War was somehow forgotten
by its ordinary pure beauty
あの未来を染めに君は行く ano mirai wo some ni kimi wa yukuThat future is going to you
Free star 何億と響く
Free star 世界に寄せて
Free star 最期の夜は
聴かせて欲しい歌がある
Free star nan'oku to hibiku
Free star sekai ni yose te
Free star saigo no yoru ha
kika sete hoshii uta gaaru
Free star some hundred million resonate
Free star coming close to the world
Free star the last night hearing the song of the star
あの星に向かう 船に乗り
あの光を探しに君は行く
ano hoshi ni muka u fune ni nori
ano hikari wo sagashi ni kimi wa yuku
That star goes onward and boards a ship
That light's search will go to you
Free star だんだん遠ざかる
Free star 世界を止めて
いつか見た流星を 追いかけてゆくように
Free star だんだん遠ざかる
Free star 世界を止めて
いつか見た流星を 追いかけてゆくように
Free star that fades gradually
Free star stopping on this world
Always seen a falling star chasing a wish
Free star たった一秒で
Free star 世界は変わる
僅かに残された光
Free star たった一秒で
Free star 世界は変わる
僅かに残された光
Free star in just one second
Free star the world had changed
The remaining light gathering as it goes

Again a bit of help from Steel (@ saekanotranslations.wordpress.com) and a bit from Sam over a term I thought was an idiom but was just really damn weird.

About the artist: Acidman is a four member Shibuya based Alt rock group (notice a theme here?)
based in Shibuya. They incorporate an awful lot of styles and 
idiosyncracies that "alt rock" as a term does not do it justice

Circles within circles: I found this one band and song from an adorable music video
I have linked above. Watch it as well for random Japanese comedy at the end.

To further iterate, circles within circles is my belief that if I keep following some artists I like, 
I might find even more artists I like. This hasn't failed me yet.

Saturday 1 August 2015

Yamazaki Masayoshi - Benjamin

album: HOME
singer/artist: Yamazaki Masayoshi
song writer: Yamazaki Masayoshi


Japanese RomajiEnglish
いつも僕はそうだった
君の素直さに憧れた
色づく季節に 心 動かされ
泣いている 惜しみなく
Itsumo boku wa soudatta
Kimi no sunao sa ni akogareta
Irozuku kisetsu ni kokoro ugoukasare
Naiteiru, oshiminaku
I always followed
admiring your honesty
Your heart changing
with the season's colours
crying freely and openly
時が経つにつれて増えてゆく
世迷い言ばかり
何が歯止めをかけているの?
解き放て…
Toki ga tatsu ni tsurete fueteyuku
Yomai goto bakari
Nani ga hadome wo kaketeiru no?
Toki funa te...
As time passes,
our sorrows only increase
What can stop them growing?
Only release

頭じゃわからないから
胃腸に負担がくる 毎度のこと
正直になるだけじゃ 愛せない
それだけは わかっている
Atama ja wakaranai kara
Ichou ni futan ga kuru maido no koto
Shoujiki ni narudake ja aisenai
Sore dake wa wakatte iru
My stomach is weighed down with confusion each time.
Mere honesty cannot become love
I know at least this much.
弱さを認める それだけが
何故に今 難しいのか
僕は本気で笑ってますか?
Yowasa wo mitomeru sore dake ga
Naze ni ima muzukashii no ka
Boku wa honki de warattemasu ka?
Only recognising this weakness
and how difficult it is now
am I able to truly smile?
幼い頃 夢つめこんだ
閉まりそうな扉 開いて…
Osanai koro yumetsume konda
Shimari souna tobira hiraite...
As a child filled with dreams,
seemingly closed doors can open.
時が経つにつれて増えていく
世迷い言ばかり
何が歯止めをかけているの?
Toki ga tatsu ni tsurete fueteyuku
Yomai goto bakari
Nani ga hadome wo kaketeiru no?
As time passes,
our sorrows only increase.
What can stop them growing?
猫が風のないベランダから
過ぎて行く 冬を見てる
僕は焦げたトーストかじって
君のいる 春を待つ
Neko ga kaze no nai VERANDA kara
Sugite yuku fuyu wo miteru
Boku wa kogeta TOASTER kajitte
Kimi no iru haru wo matsu
From a veranda without wind
the cat watches winter pass by.
I chew on burnt toast
while you stand waiting for spring.

J木漏れ日もらったベンジャミン
ゆっくりと 育て
伝えたいよ 精一杯
心から... 心から… 心から……
Komorebi moratta BENJAMIN
Yukkuri to sodatte
Tsutaetaiyo seippai
Kokoro kara...kokoro kara...kokoro kara..
Benjamin was raised with care,
with sunlight filtered through trees.
Walking along as best he can
from the bottom of his heart (x3)

And if anyone in the future wants to host/post this translation, I don't care, its not my property.
Any corrections/feedback is greatly appreciated as I'm aware that this is a sort of word for word translation and that I cannot do it any poetic justice.

Thanks to Steel for helping translate some of these parts. Check out his actual fan translation work at https://saekanothetranslation.wordpress.com/

Also thanks to Radiea for some quality check and making it not sound as insane.

It's also a good way to get people to listen to songs I like I guess.

One criteria I'd like to you to keep in mind is that the songs I want to translate shouldn't have any existing English translation that can easily be found.

First song is by Yamazaki Masayoshi - Benjamin from his debut album HOME
Link here since it is almost impossible to find this song anywhere.
 ( 山崎まさよし - HOME - ベンジャミン).

A little about the artist: A blues/alt rock artist who you may know from his breakout song "One more time, one more chance," the ending song for the movie "5 Centimetres per second.
Good movie, go watch it. 

Circles within circles: This track is on the same album of "Home" which I found looking for "One more time, one more chance" and the opening song of Romancing Saga on the PS2 called "Minuet."