Come to November(My birthday month!:),
the smell of graduation is filling the air of this season.
Back to few year ago at 2009, one of Japanese pop songs《10年桜/ 10 years sakura》by AKB48(A Girls-music-group, see wiki) was famous for its meaning in celebrating high school graduation[btw, Japanese students start their academic year in April, instead of HK ours following British in September]. In the spring time when Japanese students graduate, there are always Sakura blossom, so there is a strong connection between this flower and the sentimental moment.
Most of us know that Sakura(cherry blossoms) is kind of a national flower to Japan, although it has never been officially stated by the Jp Government. The feature of Sakura is quite matching to the Japanese "Samurai spirit" too, from the long Yamato's history, they have a strong attitude of "Do or Die", putting ones name and honor before every thing. When they lost, they didn't just say sorry and sneak awayΣ(☉A⊙ｌ|ｌ)... In history, an ancient "true" samurai would even 腹切り(はらきり/ ritual suicide) to death to show their strength of character. Of course no body will end his life in a bloody way like this nowadays, but the admiration of "die a hero or become a villain" in the Japanese culture, (I think) it is somehow transformed into their people's prevalent love to Sakura. As we all know Sakura, this kind of flowers... really start to fall in their full blossom.
(●´∀｀●)ノ。.:*・゜*:.。.
Go back to the promotional video(PV), this is as joyful as it shows, I thought the same too... but wait. It actually is just not.
After I was told by the online fans group about the true meaning of this PV, I got chilled and watched it again in a complete different way, Ended up in sorrow. Sometimes you really impressed by their producers Mr. Yasushi Akimoto's<AKB48's main producer> twist. In the video it first looks like audience can see a bunch of girls are happy singing and looking forward to the reunion 10 years later(as the song tittle may suggested).
No....please, go back to the PV, in the story, there are indeed lots of signs that implying most of the teenagers die from the car accident at the tour coach(at the time they graduated); and only two girls(at the beginning of the PV) survives, they are then able to read the letter after 10 years and mourn for their friends.
Start rewinding(Hints):
<trans from a online fans group interpretation page>
The story starts off as flashback, two girls(short-haired: Atsuko, Pregnant: Yuko) after ten years are walking on the dam, saying that time flies and "it looks like just a dream".
Another three girls in a group(dead in the accident) ask each other "How come only three of us here?"
--------------------------
Main plot(back to years) as the school is getting crowded, they are about to start their graduation tour by a coach.
2:56
the flipping of screen, showing the coach crashes to upside down
3:00
A "Q4" mark of the backboard, the pronunciation of Q4 in Japanese is same as 「急死」(sudden death)
3:44
The pink car is upside down, implies a car accident
4:36-4:40
showing a car falling from a cliff
4:36
the real car is turning in direction,
with fences lining the road from the cliff
4:38
Someone is holding a toy car across a paper
4:39
The real car is heading to the fences.
4:40
The toy car is crashing to the flower petals (fences), implying the real coach does not make it. The decorative star stickers turn red.
4:48~5:03 The crowd is having their moment of life
5:06
The red umbrellas getting into the screen(bloody screen)
5:26
Start from then on, they become silent. The girls step from the coach to a wasteland one by one. The three girls group gets of the car too.
5:57
Only Mirami and sleeping Atsuko are left.
6:04
Atsuko reminds in the car, Mirami leaves and watching her(in the car) goes. Maybe Atsuko remains alive by Mirami's protection.
7:06 There is a reunion by the three-girls group with others, but not Yuko and Atsuko.
7:10
Yuko and Atsuko say "They are waiting for us", but seems not gathering arround, rumors saying that they may just go sweeping graves.
7:20
Mirami is looking down at Atsuko
7:26
Atsuko asks for the baby's name, Yuko say it will be "Sakura" if it is a baby girl. Atsuko looked shocked, just as in the story (Keeper)Mirami's name is "Sakura"
Lyrics Credits:
| Original / Romaji Lyrics | English Translation |
|---|---|
| dokoka de sakura no hanabi raga harari to kaze ni mau you ni dare ni mo habataku toki ga kite hitori kiri de arukidasu n da | Somewhere out there the cherry blossoms Are gently fluttering in the wind Now's the time for somebody to flap their wings And head out alone |
| kimi to aeta koto ga sugita kisetsu no imi sono egao ga mabushikatta issho ni ikenai kedo sonna ni nakanaide boku wa wasurenai | The fact that I met you Is why the seasons keep passing You had such a dazzling smile We can no longer go on together But don't cry I will never forget you |
| juunengo ni mata aou kono basho de matteru yo ima yori mo motte kagayaite sotsugyou wa PUROSESU sa saikai no chikai sugu ni moetsukiru koi yori zutto itosii kimide ite | Let's meet again in ten years I'll be waiting right here Shining brighter than I am now Graduation's just a process to renew our vows Even when this love's been burnt out You'll always be dear to me |
| ima made deatta dare yori mo honto ni kimi ga suki da kara jibun no sono yume taisetsu ni motto kimi wo mamoreru you ni | Up to now I've met a lot of people But because I love you the most I'll keep your dreams close to me And hope that I can keep protecting you |
| tsurai koto attemo umaku ikanakutemo sugiru haru wo kazoe nagara sabishiku naru keredo mirai wo sinjireba boku wa gambareru | There will be tough times ahead Things might not go the way I want And as I count each spring that passes I might become a bit lonely But if I just believe in the future I can keep fighting on |
| juunengo ni mata aou kono sakura saku koro nani ga attatte koko ni kuru sotsugyou wa SUTAATO sa eien no mitinori ima wa kanasimi ni kuretemo zutto te wo furu kimi de ite | Let's meet again in ten years When the cherry blossoms bloom No matter what happens, I'll be there Graduation's the start of an eternal journey Even though it's dark with sadness now You'll always be waving to me |
| Cherry blossoms! nando saitemo kyou to iu hi wo wasure wa shinai | Cherry blossoms! No matter how many times they bloom I won't ever forget What we knew as "today" |
| juunengo ni mata aou kono basho de matteru yo ima yori mo motte kagayaite sotsugyou wa PUROSESU sa saikai no chikai sugu ni moetsukiru koi yori zutto itosii kimide ite | Let's meet again in ten years I'll be waiting right here Shining brighter than I am now Graduation's just a process to renew our vows Even when this love's been burnt out You'll always be dear to me |
| dokoka de sakura no hanabi raga harari to kaze ni mau you ni dare ni mo habataku toki ga kite hitori kiri de arukidasu n da motto kimi wo mamoreru you ni | Somewhere out there the cherry blossoms Are gently fluttering in the wind Now's the time for somebody to flap their wings And head out alone I hope that I can keep protecting you |
| juunengo ni mata aou | Let's meet again in ten years |
Would those hints in the PV....
make you watch it in a different way as well?!
Let alone some of the online fans forum said they see something behind the classroom window at 3:08....real creepy.
....Happy graduation.
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