[Article] Story Behind 'Yoshiwara Lament' Composed by Asa Wagakki Band

Hi, guys. From yesterday post of Japanese Wagakki Band Yaeryu fanclub, there’s someone posted about the story behind the song of “YoshiwaraLament”. As we know, the song actually has been converted into a light novel with the main character Kasane Teto-san. Personally, I never read the book, but once I read the summary and connecting with the lyric, I think I need to share this, because it is a very touched story wrapped up by a good song :D and I wanna let you know…
this article posted under permission to https://wgbif.blogspot.co.id/

Wagakki Band's Yoshiwara Lament. credit: avex

So, the story was taken place in Yoshiwara, a famous red-light district in Edo (I’m sure you’ve already known about the place). Or check it out on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiwara (today known Nihonbashi)

There was a fifteen years old girl, named Kasane Teto. She was sold to a brothel to become a courtesan in Yoshiwara (you can imagine this if you have had watched the movie of ‘Geisha’). She was actually has a childhood friend, named Akasaka Tetsu who spent a pleasure childhood together with her. She tried to still hope that someday she can reach his beloved, but eventually, she has lost all hope and became indifferent to whatever happens. Despite that, it seems, she still had her hope to meet her lover even in Yoshiwara.

Book cover of Yoshiwara Lament Light Novel

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First part shows what happen to Kasane-san in Yoshiwara as a courtesan:

Edo no machi wa kyou mo fukaku Tonight, Edo is once more [1]
Yoru no tobari kaketeiku Wrapped in a veil of profound darkness
Kagami muite beni wo hiite Drawing a line of red as I face a mirror
Oujiru mama ukeireru mama In order to receive, in order to satisfy
Daidai kagayaita hana I used to desire and long for
Akogareteta nozondeita A glittering orange flower [2]
Itsu no mani ka aiiro no hana Before I knew it, I've become an indigo flower [3]
Keredo watashi yasukunai wa But still, I don't come cheap

[1] Edo is the former name of Tokyo.
[2] The orange flower here is depicted as a sunflower in the PV. Sunflowers in flower language (hanakotoba) is a sign of devotion and loyalty, attachment to a person and ardent love.
[3] The indigo (or blue) flower here is depicted as hydrangeas in the PV. Hydrangeas in hanakotoba mean pride, beauty, femininity, as well as cruelty and indifference.
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Part 2 shows how she loves her childhood friend so much. She wanted to give all the love to him, but the fate stole away her freedom, and she was sent to Yoshiwara and could do nothing.

Makoto wa tada hitori no At first, I had wanted
Donata ka no tame dake ni To blossom only for one person
Saiteitakatta no da keredo But...
Unmei wa wacchi no jiyuu wo ubai, Fate stole away my freedom
Soite haguruma wo And so, the wheels
Mawashiteiku no de arinsu Continued to turn

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Part 3. Reff. Once she was bought, she had to satisfy the customer with no pure love in that.

Itsuwari darake no ren'ai Even if it's just a false love,
Soshite watashi wo idaku no ne Can you embrace me?
Kanashii kurai ni kanjita Right now, rain falls on Yoshiwara
Furi no yoshiwara kyou wa ame A sad feeling trembling through
Anata-sama douka watashi wo Please, sir, if possible,
Katte itadakenai deshouka? Will you be willing to buy me?
Sakidasu kasa no mure ni In the flock of blooming umbrellas
Nureru watashi wa ame I am drenched, I am rain

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Part 4: She was still hope that someone who she loves coming to her and release her from the cage.

Yukikau mure nigiwaru koe ga The bustling crowd comes and goes
Hishinuki ai mo tsureai Flocking around, going about
Negau koto wa douka itsuka My only wish is that someday
Torikago no soto tsuredashite Someone will release me from this birdcage [5]

[5] Birdcage here refers to the "harimise" or the viewing cage courtesans are placed in, very much like a display in a shop. Courtesans are made sit in the display the whole day until someone "buys" them.
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(Book version) One day, she got a customer, a young samurai named Kei, who was gentle and strong, and seems she fall for him. But at the same time, she’s remembering Tetsu when she saw the young samurai. Well, she still wait to meet Tetsu again.

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Part 5: Everything that she hopes seems to be useless, that what happened in the Yoshiwara. Customer came, she should what what she should : “Welcome, please enter”

Ureiwoobita hana nozomu hateru The sorrow-tinged flowers, with my hope, withered away
"Youkoso oidekunnamashi" "Welcome, please enter."

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Part 6:

Koibito gokko no yoru ni In a night for lovers,
Toiki "aahh" to nakasete I can only purr and sigh

Kanashii kurai ni kanjita Right now, rain falls on Yoshiwara
Furi no Yoshiwara kyou mo ame A sad feeling trembling through

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In the end of the PV, we can see that Teto was surprised by seeing someone she really wanted to meet. And the story ended by a happy ending ^^

---Good job Asa-san!---

==Wagakki Band covered this song in their first album Vocalozanmai in their music way. It turns really beautiful played with some Japanese traditional instruments. And we can see when this song is brought live, Yuuko’s singing style, gestures, the umbrella, and everything creates a beautiful atmosphere that show the scene of the song’s story. What do you think?===

More photos of Yoshiwara Lament being live by Wagakki Band (singer: Suzuhana Yuko, Asa-composser-)