autumnleaf16

I haven’t listened to that much character songs but I feel I have to talk about the character songs of Fushigi Yugi, because I feel they are the best character songs that is ever done regarding to animes. They are character song, not images songs, as in the voice actors did the performances themselves. Let’s see…X does not have character songs, which is a pity, while Inuyasha…I’m sorry, but I don’t really like Inuyasha’s character songs as…
1= Why didn’t Sango get one if Naraku gets one? There are so many people who got missed out in regard to the character songs.
2 = let’s not even mention how Inuyasha doesn’t sound like himself, the Naraku and Sesshomaru character song is just the voice actors singing, not the character.

Although the Miroku character song is pretty good, as you can feel that it is character singing, but I don’t think it’s that a good portrayal of his character. So that is why I love the fushigi yugi character songs as I feel that not only are most lyrics just really beautiful and good, the voice actors managed to sing them as if they are the characters. What I’ll do is that I’ll sort the songs by character, and talk about the songs and how I feel the performance is, and how I think it is a good portrayal of the characters etc etc. And I’ll do it in the order I did the characters.
I determined to post this up today because I want to post Christmas related stuff on Christmas day and I don’t want there to be a gap. This means there’ll probably be quite some typo but please don’t get discourage. I will correct them later.

Hotohori
I truly think he has the best character songs and that Koyasu Takehito sang the very best, but I am highly biased. But I really love his character songs, so I am going to post the translations of the lyrics up- don’t worry, I’ll only put his lyrics up. My sister say that Koyasu Takehito always sound the same but I feel that even though his voice doesn’t alter in pitch, what he does with his voice is absolutely amazing as just by the way he speak…his tone…he make you listen to him as different characters! For example, Ishida Akira sounds pretty much the same but for me, he is unable to do what Koyasu Takehito can do, when I hear something Ishida Akira voices, I tend to associate the voice with the voice actor more, instead of the character. But this problem just doesn’t happen with Koyasu Takehito. The way he speaks in Fushigi Yugi just makes me think: “Oh, Hotohori.” While I’ll watch Weiss Kreuz and even though his voice sounds the same, the tone just makes me go: “Ah, Aya speaking!”
But anyway…the lyrics. The lyrics will be in English, but the title will be in Japanese with the translation in brackets, if there is no bracket then it means that the title is actually in English.

Sadame no Hoshi (Star of Destiny)
Please shine,
Star of Destiny!
Now, it's fading
In my consciousness.

Wishes are far away.
Dreams are in vain.
Yes, erase them
at once.

And then it will all be over.
And then it can all be put aside:
the self-accusations,
worrying about the country,
and the days of
regret and sorrow...

Please shine,
Star of Destiny!
Now, in the sky
that's getting dark.

Please shine,
Star of Destiny!
I should love
the people.

But their sad condition
is not the only concern
that my inner heart
tells me of.

That was our first parting,
but then we'll meet again eternally.
I'll still exist.
The two of us will
always live on
in my memory...

Please shine,
Star of Destiny!
Release this body
into the heavens.

This is my favourite Hotohori character song, and sometimes listening to it really just make me want to grab a box of tissue and sob my heart out. I really like this one the best because I think this song shows him as both the emperor and a normal man. The song shows his responsibility- he expresses his concern for his people in the song, as well as talking about how he blames himself in regard to ruling the country, yet it also shows him as a normal man who is worrying about the one that he love as well as promising them that they will meet again, to be reunited in heaven. In my opinion this song should be played as he dies, because it actually suggests that he is dying in the first and last verse.

Dengon (Message)
A time of sorrow comes
whenever I seek the light.
The spirit of my words
shines in my subject's hearts.

The moon sinks behind the mountain peaks
just before the sun rises
A beautiful, lonely time passes by
There's a country I want to protect
And people I want to support
Prosper, oh fire of life
Sustain forever

Make the happiness of dreaming
into a strength needed for tomorrow,
convey the happiness of living to others,
that is love.

What kind of flower blossoms
from a seed one sows themselves?!
Build
a fruitful world

Remember once again
the pleasure of life,
convey the pleasure to children,
that is love.

Ah... Whatever sorrow or hardships...
I wanted to erase them from before you.

Make the happiness of dreaming
into a strength needed for tomorrow,
convey the happiness of living to others,
that is love

Dengon means message and it actually refers specifically to being a verbal message. This is the song played in the anime when Hotohori died, and even though I think Sadame no hoshi is much more suitable, it is still a very good song. This song is from him as the emperor, it is like his last message to his people, and it deals with his kingdom and people, it is almost like him teaching the people- telling them what to do. Somehow this being played in the anime seem to remind us of his duty as the emperor even more, and suggest that even though he is dying, he still have to place his duty over his personal emotions.

Boku no Uchuu ni Kimi ga Iru (In My Universe, There is You)
In the heavens, the stars are twinkling.
In the ground, the flowers are blooming.
And now, in my universe,
my love for you is shining.

It won't stop.
It won't be stopped.
Love,
like breathing,
is irreplaceable.

I'm glad I was born,
because I exist for you.
I live with pain
as I fight with fate.

Even if you're far away,
whoever you may be with,
I have
only one wish:
your happiness.

Beyond the blue sky,
are the stars that watch over you.
My feelings that shine
for you
are eternal.

Looking up at the heavens with my arms spread wide,
like I'm a bit asleep,
alone, I force a smile,
my heart beating wildly.

It won't stop.
It won't be stopped.
Lovingly
holding you.
I saw it in my dreams.

In the sky, there are stars.
In the ground, the flowers are blooming.
And in my universe, there is you.

I always associate this song to his unrequited love for Miaka, which means I’m not taking into account of the second story arch, where the author decides to make him getting over Miaka, and end up loving Houki.
To me this song is the song where he is speaking only as a normal man in love, not as the emperor of a kingdom. Even though the tune of this song is actually very cheerful, and less regal then the other two, this song is still really sad because of the suggestion of unrequited love. It also shows what happen with him and Miaka quite well, he still wished her happiness despite her being with someone else, and he remained in love with her even as he died, as well as only being able to dream. One of the sweetest love songs I have ever come across.

Miaka
I don’t like Miaka, and I think her voice actor did her role too well in the fact that I don’t like her character songs because they remind me of Miaka. So I don’t like her character songs yet I really like the opening theme for the anime (Which is actually sung by the voice actor who voiced Miaka.) Also, the site I obtained the translations from doesn’t have all of the translations for her song, so I’ll just put the title and translations up.
Inoru you ni Aishite'ru (Loving you as if praying)
Still
Promise Love
Fushigi No Tobira -Open The Wonderland (mysterious door-open the wonderland)
Nanabiri No Uta (song of the seven bird)
Itsuka Aeru Kara (because we’ll see each other again someday)

Tamahome
Same thing, don’t have all the translations of his songs, and I don’t like him that much as to talk about his character songs, so I will only put the title and translations up.
Voice
Ai to Iu Na no Tatakai ni (Into the Battle Called Love)
Eien no Hikari (eternal light)
Kimi Ni Tadoru Michi (the difficult road that you’re on)
Kimi wo Mamoritai (I want to protect you)
Soshite, Yami no Saki ni (And, before the darkness)

Nuriko
Kaze no Uta (Melody of the Wind)
Apparently this song is really popular but I don’t like it that much, I don’t know if it is because I’ve never like Nuriko that much, but it is quite in character and this song shows how he start to feel for Miaka, as he talks about how he wants to protect her, and is determined to protect her. Although to be honest, I like the idea of Nuriko loving Miaka no more then how he loves Hotohori. But the voice actress sounds exactly like the way Nuriko speaks so it’s very in character- I can feel ‘oh, Nuriko singing.’

Perfect world
I don’t like this song much but it can just be because this song is so idealistic and all that, and I much rather we get to see some more detail of Nuriko’s character, instead of just him singing about how wonderful the world can be, how it can be perfect. This is one of the songs I have to complain of not really being in character in my opinion.

Otome Ranman (Maiden in Full Bloom)
This song would be cute if it isn’t for the fact that Nuriko is the one singing it, as he is singing as if he is a girl, talking about how he ‘monopolize all the guys' attention’ as well as how pretty he is. It’s just really weird if you know that the character is actually a guy. This song is also talking about how he feels for Hotohori, as there is mentioning of how his heart belongs to this one particular man. As I said, I don’t really approve of a Hotohori x Nuriko pairing, so I don’t like the lyrics that much as it…scares me? The song ends with Nuriko saying he’s determined to get Hotohori.

Chichiri
The voice actor really scares me with the fact that he can sound really different when he sings as well as speaking really differently!

Mizu-kagami (Water-Mirror)
This is one of my favourite Fushigi Yugi character songs, as there is just something about the word and music that make is such a good song. This song is probably Chichiri’s most serious character song, showing how guilty he feels about what he did, as well as his regret. But it ends positively, as he mentions that he now believes once again, as well as accepting his actions instead of simply denying it. this is what happened in the story too. He had hid what he did until he was forced to say it, and once he did, he felt really guilty and depressed. But later on, due to accepting his actions, he was able to come to term with what happened. It is painful and it would hurt, but he could at least move on.

Ka Chou Fuu Getsu (Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon)
This song is rather cheerful and positive but there are hints of him referring to his past, but yet it shows how he accepts what he has done, although he would occasionally think about it and feel bad. In fact, this song really refers to how he become in the very end of the story..

Ochanoko Saisai Hengen Jizai (it’s a piece of cake to change my appearance)
I haven’t heard this song yet, but from the lyrics it is a very cheerful song, talking about how he will be happy and is part of the seven celestial warriors of Suzaku.


Aoi Jiyuu, Shiroi Nozomi (Blue Freedom, White Wish )
This is actually a character song for both Tasuki and Chichiri, it is a very nice song about how you continue living no matter what because of what is in your heart and because your friends are around you etc etc. To me, it seems very suitable for these two to sing together, as it is probably set after the end, where they are the only survivors out of everyone else. So I suppose it’s a sign of them continuing their lives happily. Although I have read some people complain that at one point Tasuki is not in character, this is because at one point he uses “Kimi” and “Boku”, the more polite version of “you” and “I/me”, where he normally uses “Omae” and “Ore.” But personally I don’t think this matter that much due to the fact that certain songs are different, I’m just happy that I can listen and think that it is from Tasuki’s view, instead of the voice actor’s.


Tasuki
I think Hayashi Nobutoshi (the voice actor) is one of the three that sang the best for the fushigi yugi character songs. The other two being Koyasu Takehito (Hotohori) and Tanaka Atsuko (Soi) and I suppose Tasuki’s songs contains my unbiased view, because I really like the other two. But apparently Hayashi Nobutoshi is a singer as well, and this really shows, because he sings really good.

setsunakutemo…zutto (Although it's Painful...Always)
I like this song because it is sung really nicely, and it is a nice song. But the only problem is that I don’t agree with the lyrics. This song suggest that Tasuki is realizing that he actually does love Miaka in a romantic fashion (which I don’t think that is true), but then he says that he can never speak of it. I don’t know. I don’t like the lyrics because I really don’t think that he feels for Miaka that way, but I find some of the lyrics rather interesting, I think this kind of shows him as really mature, maybe it’s showing him at the very end? I don’t know, personally I think he never really grew up. But this song has the best lyrics in regard to loving someone that you can not love, such a pity that I don’t agree with how it relates to Tasuki and Miaka. But otherwise, great lyrics.

heart ni kiraboshi sakashitare (Make Twinkling Stars Bloom in Your Heart!!)
This song is so different from the previous one, I think this song shows Tasuki’s daily character better, and how he is shown for most of the time. It’s a very in character song, he’s talking about how he’ll just fight for what is right no matter what, and just don’t simply give up. There are also specific references to his iron fan. When I first listened to this song I was cracking up, not due to the lyrics or anything, but due to how the song is sang. You first hear Hayashi’s singing voice (which still sounds like Tasuki, but it’s just not identical, minus Tasuki’s accent), then as the song get to certain bits we get to hear Hayashi’s speaking voice, which is very identical to his singing voice, at least for this song. Then his speaking voice kind of become Tasuki’s speaking voice, with his accents. Somehow that just cracked me up. Kind of like this= Hayashi singing, Hayashi speaking, Tasuki speaking.

Do=Be's ga Yatte Kuru (the Do=Be’s come)
I don’t have this song either but from the lyrics it seems much more like the above song, then the first one. It seems to be talking about just do what you want to do no matter what, and don’t give up.

Mitsukake
Hidarite no Kioku (memories of the left hand)
This song seems to relate with the relationship of he and his girl friend (Shoka). We sees his guilt for not saving her, although it end on a more positive note- he’ll continue living although he’ll never forget her.

Sora ga Mieru (I can see the sky)
Don’t have this song yet, but from the lyrics, it is a very sad song. If Sadame no hoshi is hinting that Hotohori dying, then this song it telling us that Mitsukake is going to die. In this song Mitsukake says that he is happy at what he had accomplished, and the only thing he regret is having to let Shoka die alone, but it does not matter that much because he will be with her soon.

Chiriko
Akai Iitsutae (Crimson Legend)
It is interesting that this is the song that is played when he died, because this is one of the most non-character related songs. In this song, he is really just telling the legend of the priestess of Suzaku, it doesn’t really show any of his character. I like this song, but I just have to say, it doesn’t really deal with his characters.

P.S.: Ai tte Eien Desu ka? (P.S.: Is love forever?)
To be honest, I think this song should be played at his death much more then the above one. This song deals with his character, it shows his revelation of his own character, kind of shows him realizing how he grew up. How he learnt stuff that he could not find in books, and how he became braver etc.

Ito Chiisaki Negai (the smallest wish)
This song is a bit like Nuriko’s perfect world, but it is not as long or as philosophical. I haven’t listened to this song before so I don’t know what it is like, but from how the voice actor sings in the pervious two songs, it will probably sounds very much like Chiriko singing.


Mecha hajikete gattsu Tobashite (Fired Up and Shooting Guts)
This is a really random song which Hotohori, Tamahome, Tasuki and Chichiri sing. It’s a song about being super positive and everything, and about how great they are! It’s a very joking and fooling around song and at four times during the song, you can hear the characters speaking. Well I am really glad that Hotohori get to be in this song instead of Nuriko, it is still really sad, as they still refers to Hotohori as ‘you majesty’ or as ‘Hotohori-sama’, that just makes me so sad as even in this fooling around song he is still not regarded as being one of them completely. I really want to know what was spoken in the very end, because I only found translation for the song, not the speaking bits. But you hear Tasuki saying something about Konan, and then Hotohori immediately replied, and I don’t know what he said, but he sounded really scary, so that is why I want to know what he said!!!


Finally…the celestial warriors of Suzaku are done, I can move onto the warriors of Seiryuu now- that will be shorter because unlike the characters related to Suzaku, not all of the characters related to Seiryuu got a song. Miboshi, Ashitare and Tomo all missed out. I can understand why the previous two would get miss out, but I am quite sad that Tomo didn’t get his own character song, because I think he definitely have enough character to have a character song. But then the character songs do relate to the anime I guess, and his role is very dehydrated in the anime.

Soi
Tanaka Atsuko really sings so beautifully. She sounds nice when she speaks, but I think she is one of these people who just sound so much more beautiful when they sing. As a result I love Soi’s character songs although I don’t really get one of them.

Koori-tachi no puraido (Pride of ice)
I actually don’t really get this song, although I just love it because it is just such a nice song due to the absolutely beautiful and amazing voice of the voice actor as she sings. I suppose this song shows how Soi presents herself, we see her determined to destroy her enemies, as well as taunting them. Her reference to Seiryuu is quite interesting as she seems to have great faith in Seiryuu, although I never had the impression that she was such a devoted person. Then in the second half of the song I think she addresses Nakago at one point by wishing that he’ll listen to her, before referring to her enemies. I’m not fully sure with this song because as I stated, I don’t really get it.

Furuete Kudasa (Please Tremble)
Lyrics wise, I like this song so much better. It is a very in character song as this is a song where Soi talks about her feelings for Nakago, she’ll do anything for him and she’ll even be happy to die for him, if that is how she can save him, which is what happens to her. It is a very beautiful and yet sad songs as she asks Nakago to just tremble and mourn for her for just a few second, as long as she have that, then she is content. I especially like the last verses. Ok…I really like this song, so I’m putting the lyrics up.

I would be able to say that I was happy
to sacrifice my life for him,
if it were the only way
to protect him.

I can show him a smile
even as my breath is fading far away.
This calmness can never be taken away from me,
not even by whatever destiny I have.

Since when have I been so strong?
Since the day I met him?
Since when have I felt so deeply?
No, since before I was born.

Please, tremble.
If even for a moment.
Embrace me
with shaking arms,
with the eyes of a fatherless child
who has just learned love
after being slapped by someone.

Please, tremble.
I'd be happy
if only one teardrop
could pass through
his glass heart.
Then the agony I've been through
would be cured.

When the pain reaches to the very heart of me,
I'll be looking at you.
My love for you will remain eternally
even when my entire body dies out.

Since when have I been so strong?
Since when have I carried my heart with me,
and felt so deeply?
Since the day I was born once again.

Please, tremble.
Come on, without hiding anything,
reveal all
your weaknesses,
with the face
of a motherless child
crying quietly.

Please, tremble.
If you show me
even a bit of regret,
I will not ask you
anything more.
The dream a young girl had one day
will now be fulfilled.

Please, tremble.
I'd be happy
if only one teardrop
could pass through
his glass heart.
Then the agony I've been through
would be cured.

Yui
As mentioned before, I really don’t like Yui, but on the other hand I think her voice actor sang the song too well, because I actually like her character songs!!!

Aoi Arashi (Blue Storm)
This is my favourite character song of Yui’s although it still shows her as quite a nasty person, as she mentions how she is determined to have her revenge no matter what, as well as showing how vindictive she is, then to have her moan about being betrayed once again. But on the other hand, this song is such a nice song, so I like this song even though it’s Yui’s character song.

I wish
This song talks about Yui’s feelings in regard to Tamahome, I’m not sure if I have mentioned but she actually love him, so part of her vindictiveness came from being jealous of Miaka. In this song she is talking about how much she wants to be loved even though she knows that it is a hopeless cause.

Best friend
I guess this is quite a sad song if you think about it as it deals with her friendship with Miaka. She expresses worry for Miaka, although she is jealous of Miaka getting all the good deal. She also reveals that she is feeling a bit guilty at what she would do, although personally I don’t think she was. It ends quite sad, as she decided that even though she wants to abandon all this and just go with Miaka, she won’t.

Nakago
Houkou (Roaming/wandering)
I often see this song with the title being roaming or wandering. But any way this song really impresses me, because it sounds very much like Nakago. I remember how my sister was saying we can’t expect the Sesshomaru character song to be in character, because he is not the type of the character to sing. At the time my immediate thought was, ‘If Nakago could do it, then so can Sesshomaru.’ But anyway, they played this song when Nakago dies and it is really suitable, this shows what Nakago is like, what he becomes, how he will show no mercy, and the only thing he want is victory by fighting.

Blue Eyes...Blue
I don’t like this song that much due to it having a bit of a jazz like background. But as always, lyrics are absolutely well done. He’s remembering what had happened long ago, but says that he is unable to remember. It shows what he feels about love and loneliness, which he claim to not feel, because he has neither loved, or even be closed to someone. At the end of the song there is a verse of him wandering whether things might have been different, if he managed to save his mother.

Amiboshi
Nokutan (Nocturne)
This song is very gentle and slow paced, quite like Amiboshi’s character, as opposed to his brother’s character song, fast paced and loud. There is the theme of forgetting this song which I don’t think is accidental, it reflects his wish of forgetting everything, and even him being of a slight coward but refusing to fight. But in a way, not fighting is the real strength. So a very nice song in more then one way.

Suboshi
Never Get Away
I think this song deals with what Suboshi feels for Yui. He doesn’t care what he do as long as it is for her, it also shows how vindictive he can get, as there is a verse where he is saying that he will never forgive the one hurt Yui, and he will avenge her through whatever means. Kind of scary, because Soi is more the ‘oh, poor woman…this is so sad, what you are willing to do for him.’ Where as Suboshi is getting to ‘ok…I think I’m getting ga bit scared’ stage. But I like this song as it is really catchy.


Futatsu no Kodou (two beats)
This is actually a Suboshi/Amiboshi character song and without hearing it and just by looking at the lyrics I am kind of confused, I don’t know if it is them both singing, or just one or someone singing about them. But the lyrics look quite good. 


Finished for now, there are actually two more character songs but they deal with people I haven’t talk about in my review so I can’t be stuffed doing them. But please a comment about what I wrote, because it took me ages to do so if you read it and enjoyed then please leave a comment! At any rate, it’s going to be a pretty long time before I post up the next manga/anime review.