Ghibli Animation OST Part 4 - Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke, or Mononoke Hime, is a 1997 Studio Ghibli animation film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I remember watching it long ago, but I do not really remember what happened. Looking back on the film now, I think it is safe to say that Princess Mononoke is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best films. It is not as recent as Ponyo on a Cliff or as famous as Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, but I think that Mononoke Hime definitely puts Ponyo on a Cliff behind. Whereas Ponyo on a Cliff is more appropriate for a younger audience, Mononoke Hime is definitely not a simple children's animation movie. It's master artwork (mostly done by hand) and clear and powerful theme touches people of all audiences. In fact, I think I would be able to appreciate the movie much more if I were to see it now. I plan to re-watch all of Hayao Miyazaki's films over the summer, starting with Princess Mononoke. Not only does the movie contain an incredible depth, it demonstrates a high standard of completion. This does not leave out the auditory aspects of the film.

The first video is the main theme from Princess Mononoke, The Legend of Ashitaka. The second video is the theme with lyrics (by Hayao Miyazaki) to Joe Hisaishi's music in Japanese. Yoshikazu Mera performed it. The last movie is the same theme, but in English, performed by Sasha Lazard.

Mononoke Hime

Lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki
Music by Joe Hisaishi

Japanese

Haritsumeta Yumi no Furueru Tsuru yo
Tsuki no Hikari ni Zawameku Omae no Kokoro

Togisumasareta Yaiba no Utsukushi
Sono Kissaki ni Yoku Nita Sonata no Yokogao

Kanashimi to Ikari ni Hisomu Makoto no Kokoro wo
Shiru wa Mori no Sei
Mononoke Tachi dake
Mononoke Tachi dake

English Translation (by Deborah Goldsmith and Ryoko Toyama)

The trembling string of a taut bow
Your Heart is unsettled by the Moonlight

The beauty of a sharp blade
Thy profile, very much like its edge

Thy true heart hides behind the sorrow and anger
The spirits of the forest know it
Only the Mononoke
Only the Mononoke

Thanks!! Lyrics from: http://www.nausicaa.net/wiki/Princess_Mononoke_(song)

In the moonlight I felt your heart
quiver like a bow string's pulse
in the moon's pale light
you looked at me
Nobody knows your heart
when the sun has gone I see you
beautiful and haunting but cold
like the blade of a knife so sharp so smooth
nobody knows your heart

All of your sorrow, grief and pain
locked away in the forest of the night
Your secret heart belongs to the world
of the things that sigh in the dark
of the things that cry in the dark.

Ghibli Animation OST Part 3 - Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle is another Hayao Miyazaki film based on the book of the same name. However, the book and the movie are a bit different. The theme song from the movie is also very famous. It is called The Merry-Go-Round of Life. I really like this song. It fits the movie well and it has a very calming effect. When put together with the pictures, the feeling that you get is indescribable. I must say, the chemistry between Miyazaki's film and Joe Hisaishi's music is indescribable.

I noticed that the ending themes of most of Hayao Miyazaki's films have a very unique style when looking at the voices of the singers. Some people say that they sound too "old granny-ish." However, I find the voices very soothing and homely. The ending theme for Howl's Moving Castle is called The Promise of the World, or Sekai no Yakusoku (世界の約束).

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

Namida no oku ni yuragu hohoemi wa
Toki no hajime kara no sekai no yakusoku

Ima wa hitori demo futari no kinou kara
Kyou wa umarekirameku
Hajimete atta hi no youni

Omoide no uchi ni anata wa inai
Soyokaze to natte hoho ni furetekuru

Komorebi no gogo no wakare no ato mo
Keshite owaranai sekai no yakusoku

Ima wa hitori demo ashita wa kagirinai
Anata ga oshiete kureta
Yoru ni hisomu yasashisa

Omoide no uchi ni anata wa inai
Seseragi no uta ni kono sora no iro ni
Hana no kaori ni itsumademo ikite

Translated English Lyrics

Beyond these tears, my flickering smile

holds the promise of love from the beginning of time.

Even though I'm along now, with our yesterdays this day is born aglow

like the first time we spoke.

Somehow I lost you among all my memories.

You brush past my face softly as the breeze.

Though we slipped apart like sunlight through the leaves,

the promise of love will live on eternally.

Even though I'm alone now, my tomorrows are boundless

like the kindness you showed me hidden in the night.

Somehow I lost you among all my memories.

In a brook's gentle song, in the depth of the sky,

in a scent of a flower, you will live on eternally.

This is the actual ending scene of Howl's Moving Castle.

Ghibli Animation OST Part 2 - Spirited Away

Spirited Away is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most renowned works. First, I attached the opening theme, called One Summer's Day (あの夏へ Ano Natsu e). Then, I attached the ending theme, Always With Me (いつも何度でも Itsu mo Nando demo).

Japanese Lyrics (Kanji)

いつも何度でも
作詞／覚和歌子　
作曲・歌／木村　弓

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で
いつも心踊る　夢を見たい

悲しみは　数えきれないけれど
その向こうできっと　あなたに会える

繰り返すあやまちの　そのたびひとは
ただ青い空の　青さを知る
果てしなく　道は続いて見えるけれど
この両手は　光を抱ける

さよならのときの　静かな胸
ゼロになるからだが　耳をすませる

生きている不思議　死んでいく不思議
花も風も街も　みんなおなじ

ラララララララララ・・・・・・・・・
ホホホホルルルル・・・・・・・・

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で
いつも何度でも　夢を描こう

悲しみの数を　言い尽くすより
同じくちびるで　そっとうたおう

閉じていく思い出の　そのなかにいつも
忘れたくない　ささやきを聞く
こなごなに砕かれた　鏡の上にも
新しい景色が　映される

はじまりの朝の　静かな窓
ゼロになるからだ　充たされてゆけ

海の彼方には　もう探さない
輝くものは　いつもここに
わたしのなかに　見つけられたから

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Okude
Itsumo Kokoro Odoru Yume wo Mitai

Kanashimi wa Kazoekirenai kedo
Sono Mukou de Kitto Anata ni Aeru

Kurikaesu Ayamachi no Sonotabi Hito wa
Tada Aoi Sora no Aosa wo Shiru
Hateshinaku Michi wa Tsuzuite Mieru keredo
Kono Ryoute wa Hikari wo Dakeru

Sayonara no Toki no Shizukana Mune
Zero ni Naru Karada ga Mimi wo Sumaseru

Ikiteiru Fushigi Sinde Iku Fusigi
Hana mo Kaze mo Machi mo Minna Onaji

Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Oku de
Itsumo Nando demo Yume wo Egakou

Kanashimi no Kazu wo Iitsukusu yori
Onaji Kuchibiru de Sotto Utaou

Tojiteiku Omoide no Sono Naka ni Itsumo
Wasure takunai Sasayaki wo Kiku
Konagona ni Kudakareta Kagami no Ue nimo
Atarashii Keshiki ga Utsusareru

Hajimari no Asa Shizuka na Mado
Zero ni Naru Karada Mitasarete Yuke

Umi no Kanata niwa Mou Sagasanai
Kagayaku Mono wa Itsumo Koko ni
Watashi no Naka ni Mitsukerareta Kara

Japanese Lyrics (English Translation)

Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart
May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart

So many tears of sadness, uncountable through and through
I know on the other side of them I'll find you

Everytime we fall down to the ground we look up to the blue sky above
We wake to it's blueness, as for the first time

Though the road is long and lonely and the end far away, out of sight
I can with these two arms embrace the light

As I bid farewell my heart stops, in tenderness I feel
My silent empty body begins to listen to what is real

The wonder of living, the wonder of dying
The wind, town, and flowers, we all dance one unity

Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart
keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part

Why speak of all your sadness or of life's painfull woes
Instead let the same lips sing a gentle song for you

The whispering voice, we never want to forget,
in each passing memory always there to guide you

When a miror has been broken, shattered pieces scattered on the ground
Glimpses of new life, reflected all around

Window of beginning, stillness, new light of the dawn
Let my silent, empty body be filled and reborn

No need to search outside, nor sail across the sea
Cause here shining inside me, it's right here inside me

I've found a brightness, it's always with me

Ghibli Animation OST Part 1 - Laputa: Castle in the Sky

Studio Ghibli has released many of my favorite movies. The soundtrack incorporated into these movies is also phenomenal. I have yet to hear a melody that does not dazzle me, lyrics that do not make me smile. This week, I would like to upload some famous songs that play a big part in Ghibli's movies.

Part One -- The Castle in the Sky

Today I'll post the ending song of Laputa: The Castle in the Sky

Song: 君をのせて Kimi wo Nosete (Carrying You)

Composed by Joe Hisaishi (<-- incredible composer)

Performed by Inoue Azumi

Japanese Lyrics (Kanji)

あの地平線 輝くのは
どこかに君をかくしているから
たくさんの灯がなつかしいのは
あのどれかひとつに 君がいるから
さあ でかけよう ひときれのパン
ナイフ ランプ かばんにつめこんで
父さんが残した 熱い想い
母さんがくれた あのまなざし
地球はまわる 君をかくして
輝く瞳 きらめく灯
地球はまわる 君をのせて
いつかきっと出会う ぼくらをのせて

父さんが残した 熱い想い
母さんがくれた あのまなざし
地球はまわる 君をかくして
輝く瞳 きらめく灯
地球はまわる 君をのせて
いつかきっと出会う ぼくらをのせて

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

ano chiheisen kagayaku no wa
doko ka ni kimi o kakushite iru kara
taku-san no hi ga
natsukashii no wa
ano dore ka hitotsu ni
kimi ga iru kara

saa dekake you
hitokire no PAN
NAIFU, RANPU kaban ni tsume konde
do-san ga nokoshita atsui omoi
ka-san ga kureta ano manazashi

chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o kakushite
kagayaku hitomi kirameku tomoshibi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o nosete
itsuka kitto deau
bokura o nosete

do-san ga nokoshita atsui omoi
ka-san ga kureta ano manazashi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o kakushite
kagayaku hitomi kirameku tomoshibi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o nosete
itsuka kitto deau
bokura o nosete

English Translation (Warning: The translation may contain some inconsistencies with the original Japanese lyrics.)

The horizon shines because it is hiding you somewhere.

I long for the many lights because you are there in one of them.

So, let's leave.

A piece of bread, knife, and lamp stuffed in a bag.

My father gave me his passionate heart, my mother gave me her eyes.

The earth turns, hiding you.

Shining eyes, twinkling lights.

The earth turns, carrying you.

Carrying the both of us, who will meet someday.

My father gave me his passionate heart, my mother gave me her eyes.

The earth turns, hiding you.

Shining eyes, twinkling lights.

The earth turns, carrying you.

Carrying the both of us, who will meet someday.