手紙 // 8686m

This might be my favorite 8686m song.
Flan’s story often hits my heartstrings.

Title: 手紙 (Letter)
Circle: 8686m
Album: ワンルーム・パレード/TAKE TOO, TAKE TWO

眼を閉じても眼を開いても 怖くて
間隔が不揃いなまま10を数えてる
me wo tojite mo me wo hiraite mo kowakute
kankaku ga fuzoroina mama juu wo kazoeteru

No matter if I open or close my eyes, I am afraid
In uneven intervals, I count to 10

吐き出す言葉 あなたの名前はない
唇を噛む合図で生活は色褪せてく
hakidasu kotoba anata no namae wa nai
kuchibiru wo kamu aizu de seikatsu wa iroaseteku

Among the words I spew out, your name cannot be heard
I bite my lips, as a sign of a fading life

心を見せ合うことはできないから
誰もいない優しい記憶の中で 叫ぶ
kokoro wo miseau koto wa dekinai kara
dare mo inai yasashii kioku no naka de sakebu

Since we cannot open our heart to each other
In my nice memories, by myself, I scream:

「目を逸らさないで」
me wo sorasanai de

“Don’t look away from me!!”

綺麗なものだけ抱き締めて
どうか壊れないでと願った
kireina mono dake dakishimete
douka kowarenaide to negatta

Only clinging to what’s beautiful
Praying that somehow I won’t destroy it

そんな些細なことで
今日を昨日に変えていくことができたらな
sonna sasaina koto de
kyou wo kinou ni kaeteiku koto ga dekitara na

If only such a trivial thing could
Change today into yesterday…

揺り籠 溺れる姿
気の触れ合うまで 落ちてく
yurikago oboreru sugata
ki no fureau made ochiteku

A figure drowning in the cradle,
Before we made each other lose our minds, it fell down

大事なものだけ抱き締めて
いつか壊れてしまうとしても
寂しい事だなんて何一つないと思えたんだ
daiji na mono dake dakishimete
itsuka kowarete shimau toshite mo
sabishii koto da nante nani hitotsu nai to omoetanda 

Only clinging to what’s important
Even though I know I’ll end up breaking it
I managed to never, ever think that it would be sad

銀の匙で掬った明日に私の居場所はもうないから
景色は解け始める
もう何にもなれることなく微笑んでいて
gin no saji de sukutta asu ni watashi no ibasho wa mou nai kara
keshiki wa tokehajimeru 
mou nan ni mo nareru koto naku hohoendeite

There’s no place for me in the tomorrow scooped up with a silver spoon
The scenery begins to blur out
Even though I wasn’t able to become anything, in the end, I smiled

flandre_scarlet_touhou_drawn_by_yoshioka_yoshiko__d07acdb969c4d3f91505ed1ff59ad2ce

アリスのわすれもの // 凋叶棕

Who is Alice?
btw, it was my dream to one day write that kind of warning, so… enjoy! As for me, it’s certainly the best song of the album. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

I want to explain the last stanza more in detail, because I don’t think my words described well what 鏡合わせ is. I found it easier to show in a picture (here, the Flan side of the pic). Basically, instead of Flan there, it’s Alice. If there is any native English speakers (or just people with a better idea on how to put the original lyrics in words) I am absolutely open to any corrections.

Title: アリスのわすれもの  (What Alice Forgot)
Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)
Album: 音 (Feelings)

WARNING: THIS SONG CONTAINS SPOILERS. DON’T READ IF YOU AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH RD’S STORY OF ALICE

なにもこわがらないで
なにかをさがして
それがただしいことと
だれもがしっている
nani mo kowagaranaide
nani ka wo sagashite
sore ga tadashii koto to
dare mo ga shitteiru

Not fearing anything
I’m searching for something.
This is the right thing to do
Everybody knows that

なにかをしろうとして
なにかをくずして
それがただしいことと
だれもしらない・・・
nani ka wo shirou to shite
nani ka wo kuzushite
sore ga tadashii koto to
dare mo shiranai...

In order to learn something,
One should destroy it
This is the right thing to do
Yet no one knows that…

わたしをこわがらないでね。
別に悪いことをしてはいないのに。
たとえば魚達の――血に群がるのはどうして?
watashi wo kowagaranaide ne.
betsu ni warui koto wo shite wa inai no ni.
tatoeba sakana tachi no chi ni muragaru no wa doushite?

Don’t be afraid of me…
I’m not a person who does bad things.
Now, look at these fish- Why do they swarm around the blood…?

興味の全てを。
思いのまま望むままに満たして。
だってあの猫だって――獲物で遊ぶじゃない?
shiritai koto no subete wo.
omoi no mama nozomu mama ni mitashite.
datte ano neko datte emono de asobu ja nai?

I am curious about want to know everything!
I satisfy myself with them as I please, as I wish
This cat for example- doesn’t it play with its prey…?

日が昇り――日が沈むのは。
何かが育ち――朽ちるのは。
誰の仕掛けた謎かけよ?
hi ga nobori hi ga shizumu no wa.
nani ka ga sodachi kuchiru no ha.
dare no shikaketa nazokake yo?

Sun rises – sun sets.
Things grow – then wither
Who’s challenging me to this enigmatic riddle?

ねえあなた
こんなにも広い空の下
何もかもすべて知らずに
nee anata
konnanimo hiroi sora no shita
nani mo kamo subete shirazu ni

Hey you,
You’re living under this vast sky
But you know nothing about it.

遊び場を
聖なるままの保護の手に
置いていていいはずないでしょう?!
asobiba wo 
seinaru mama no hogo no te ni
oiteite ii hazu nai deshou?!

As long
As my playground remains sacred within divine hands
Leaving it behind would be a bad idea, wouldn’t it?!

そうあなただって!
わたしとおなじで。このすべてを知りたいの。
sou anata datte! 
watashi to onaji dekono subete wo shiritai no

After all you
Are exactly like me! You want to know everything

だからあなたも!
わたしといっしょに。さあ、見つけ出してやりましょうね。
dakara anata mo!
watashi to issho nisaamitsukedashite yarimashou ne.

So you too,
Should join me. Come on, let’s find it!

おもちゃ箱をひっくり返して。
そのすみずみまで、どこまでも。
鳥籠の鳥の羽を毟るよに
――遺されるものなにもかも、捕まえて。
omocha bako wo hikkurikaeshite
sono sumizumi madedoko made mo.
tori kago no tori no hane wo mushiru yo ni
nokosareru mono nani mo kamotsukamaete.

I turn the toy box upside down.
I search thoroughly through its corners
Just as if I were plucking off bird’s wings
I’m going to catch whatever’s left!

はじまりのイロ おしまいのイロ
己の意思持つ人形
はじまりのクロ おしまいのシロ
“己の意思”持つ人形
hajimari no iro oshimai no iro
onore no ishi motsu ningyou
hajimari no kuro oshimai no shiro
onore no ishi motsu ningyou

First color, last color
A doll with her own will
First black, last white
A doll with her “own will”

――かくして、七色の魔法。
kakushitenanairo no mahou.

At last, the seven-colored magic!

何かが動き――止まるまで。
時が始まり――終わるまで。
一つの秩序を解き明かす!
nani ka ga ugoki tomaru made.
toki ga hajimari owaru made
hitotsu no ruuru wo tokiakasu!

From when something starts moving – until it stops
From when the time starts – until it stops
I shall declare this rule!

ねえあなた
あなたもきっとその心
高鳴って踊ってるでしょう?
nee anata
anata mo kitto sono kokoro
takanatte odotteru deshou?

Hey, you,
I’m sure your heart too
Is beating fast, as if dancing, right now

『幻想郷』は
わたしの遊び場なのだから
何だって許されるでしょう!?
‘kono basho wa
watashi no asobiba na no dakara
nandatte yurusareru deshou!?

After all, “Gensokyo this place”
Is my playground, so
Whatever you do, it’ll be forgiven, right?!

さあ踊りましょう!
この糸にそって。ああ憧れの姿を。
saa odori mashou!
kono ito ni sotteaa akogare no sugata wo.

Now, dance!
Tied onto my strings. Ah, this shape I desired-!

さああなたこそ!
この糸を繰って。そう、何度でも続けましょうね。
saa anata koso!
kono ito wo kutte. sou, nando demo tsudzukemashou ne.

Now, you too!
Take those strings. Yes, let’s continue, as many times as we want!

『アリス』という幻想は。
鏡を覗けばいるからね。
その全て、或いは忘れたってね
――新たな『わたし』を知りたいの、どこまでも!
watshi to iu gensou wa.
kagami wo nozokeba iru kara ne.
sono subetearui wa wasuretatte ne
arata na Arisu wo shiritai nodoko made mo!

The illusion known as “Alice me”.
If you look into the mirror, it’s there.
Even if I’m going to forget everything about it
I want to get to know this new “Alice me” – as much as possible!!

ゆめがまぼろし不思議のアリスは
鏡の国と彼方の国で鏡合わせの魔法のアリスと
小さくそっと微笑み交わす
ゆめかまぼろし魔法のアリスは
鏡の国と彼方の国で鏡合わせの不思議のアリスと
今日もきっと”遊び”続けている
yume ga maboroshi fushigi no arisu wa 
kagami no kuni to kanata no kuni de kagami awase no mahou no arisu to 
chiisaku sotto hohoemi kawasu 
yume ka maboroshi mahou no arisu wa 
kagami no kuni to kanata no kuni de kagami awase no fushigi no arisu to 
kyou mo kitto asobi tsudzuketeiru

Dream’s but an illusion – when the Wonderland Alice
Looks from the Mirror Land to the Other Land, the reflection of the Witch Alice
Exchanges a faint smile with her
Dream or an illusion? – when the Witch Alice
Looks from the Mirror Land to the Other Land, the reflection of the Wonderland Alice
Surely, to this day, keeps “playing” with her.

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curse upon me! // 凋叶棕

The demon girl Marisa Kirisame commits suicide!
Interpreting and discussing this song took… so long. You know a song is difficult, when Japanese people have a hard time understanding some of its part orz.
The 3rd person is more of a self-inflicted 3rd person.

Title: curse upon me!
Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)
Album: 音 (Feelings)
~

思い返せばこんな人生
何も思い遺すことはない
だから、私は、私を棄てて、私を始めるって決めたんだ
omoikaeseba konna jinsei
nani mo omoi nokosu koto wa nai
dakarawatashi wawatashi wo sutetewatashi wo hajimerutte kimetanda

Thinking back upon it, in my life so far
There wasn’t anything I’d regret
That’s why I decided to abandon my current self and start a new life!

運も不運もこぞって”そいつ”が持ちえたもので
それの多寡 嘆いてるよりも
新たな自分 始めるほうがいい筈だ
un mo fuun mo kozotte soitsu ga mochieta mono de
sore no taka nageiteru yori mo
aratana jibun hajimeru hou ga ii hazu da

Fortune and misfortune all together is what “they” can have.
Rather than lamenting about how much of it there is,
I’d rather create a new “me”!

何もかもが予定されて無い
その性質を決めるものたち
確かめるべきことの多さに、命を無駄遣いはできない
nani mo kamo ga yotei saretenai
sono seishitsu wo kimeru monotachi 
tashikamerubeki koto no oosainochi wo mudadzukai wa dekinai

Nothing ever goes according to my plans
There’s so much things I want to investigate
About those who chose their own personality – I cannot simply waste my life!

実証検証それで確証
動かないのが 確かだとしようにもそれも
何かを捧げたものだけにしか見られない
jishou kenshou sore de kakushou
ugokanai no ga tashika da to shiyou ni mo sore mo
nani ka wo sasageta mono dake ni shika mirarenai

I inspect my result and get a positive proof!
I want to assume what’s unmoving is certain
Yet, what doesn’t move can only be seen by those who sacrifice something.

この世界にひとりこうして生まれたのに
そのはじめから呪われてる―――そう名付けられたら!
kono sekai ni hitori koushite umareta no ni
sono hajime kara norowareteru sou nadzukeraretara!

Even though I’ve been born into this world completely alone
I’ve been cursed all this time – that’s how I’m named!

からっぽの存在だけ あとは何も無い
嗚呼―――疎ましき「きりさめまりさ」
遍く世界に絶望し
karappo no sonzai dake ato wa nani mo nai
aa utomashiki Kirisame Marisa
amaneku sekai ni zetsubou shi

After this shallow existence there’s nothing else!
Aah, the mean “Marisa Kirisame”
This world has driven her into despair!

―――だから、呪えよ、呪え、全部呪ってやれ!
誰の呪いよりも強く。
一人の少女の世界を変える。
dakaranoroe yonoroezenbu norotte yare!
dare no noroi yori mo tsuyoku.
hitori no shoujo no sekai wo kaeru

That’s why I’ll curse it, I’ll curse them, I’ll curse them all!!
With my curses stronger than anybody else’s
The world of this lone girl will change!

それが、はじめの魔法。
sore gahajime no mahou.

That is my first magic!

思い返せばこれまでけして
幸せに生きたわけじゃないが
だけど、誰かが、誰かを棄てる―――そんな軽はずみなものじゃない
omoikaeseba kore made keshite
shiawase ni ikita wake ja nai ga
dakedo, dareka ga, dare ka wo suteru sonna karuhazumina mono ja nai

When I think back, to this day
I haven’t lived happily at all
But it’s not like someone has abandoned me- it isn’t explained that easily.

「だぜ」ってすまして「うふっ」って感じに笑ってみても
それだけじゃ何も変えられぬ
そもそも全てそのはじめから変えること
da ze tte sumashite ufu’ tte kanji ni waratte mite mo
sore dake ja nani mo kaerarenu
somosomo subete sono hajime kara kaeru koto

Ending sentences with “da ze~”, and laughing, like “ufu~”
I do that, but nothing changes
In the first place, I should change everything from the start!

不思議なことに世界は広く
然るにこの手かくも小さく
だからその差を埋める力は何よりも強力なエネルギー
fushigina koto ni sekai wa hiroku 
shikaru ni kono te kakumo chiisaku 
dakara sono sa wo umeru chikara wa nani yori mo kyouryokuna enerugii

This whole, mysterious world is so wide
But my hands are just so small…
If I were to bury the energy of the differential of those 2 thing, it’ll be more powerful than anything!

重要なのは効率変換
必要あれば なんであって実現てみせる
使えるのならこの身体も使うべきで
juuyou na no wa kouritsu henkan 
hitsuyou areba nande atte kanaete miseru
tsukaeru no nara kono karada mo tsukau beki de

Conversion efficiency is the most important!
If necessary, I’ll grant anything!
If I am to use it, I should put my body into use as well

恋という力 それに恋せよ私
なら「普通」の私を見てよ―――さあ『必要条件』!
koi to iu chikara sore ni koiseyo watashi
nara futsuu no watashi wo mite yo saa ‘itooshiki hito! 

I should fall in love with force known as “love”
Now look at the “ordinary” me, come on, you “necessary conditions Beloved people”!

からっぽの存在だけ 何かで包んで
幸運の星 不幸の星
世界はお前を嫌っている
karappo no sonzai dake nani ka de tsutsunde
kouun no hoshi fukou no hoshi
sekai wa omae wo kirawatteiru

I wrap my shallow existence around something
A lucky star, an unlucky star
Even if the world hates you-

けれど、笑えよ、笑え、全部笑ってやれ!
誰の声も笑いとばせ。
己の全てを忘れた先に。
keredowarae yowaraezenbu waratte yare!
dare no koe mo waraitobase.
onore no subete wo wasureta saki ni.

Laugh at it, laugh – laugh everything off!!
Laugh off whatever someone says to you!
After I forget everything about who I am

それが、続きの魔法。
sore gatsudzuki no mahou.

This will be the continuation of my magic.

部屋の片隅で何かに怯えていたあの日々
抗えぬ理不尽に涙を流したあの日々
その呪われた名前ごと忘れるんだ―――消し去るんだ!
heya no katasumi de nani ka ni obieteita ano hibi
aragaenu rifujin ni namida wo nagashita ano hibi
sono norowareta namae goto wasurerunda keshisarunda!

The days when I curled up in the corner my room, terrified
The days when I cried over the unreasonability I couldn’t fight off
That’s why I want to forget this cursed name! -I want it to disappear!!

からっぽの存在だけ はじまりはいつも
嗚呼―――力強き「きりさめ魔理沙」
今日この場所に生まれた私は
karappo no sonzai dake hajimari wa itsumo
aa chikaradzuyoki Kirisame Marisa
kyou kono basho ni umareta watashi wa

There’s just this this shallow existence; the beginning is always
Aah, the powerful “Marisa Kirisame”
Today, I who was born in this place, should-

―――呪えよ、呪え、全部呪ってやれ!
誰の呪いよりも強く。
一人の少女の世界を変える
noroe yonoroezenbu norotte yare!
dare no noroi yori mo tsuyoku.
hitori no shoujo no sekai wo kaeru

Curse it, curse them, curse them all!!
With my curses stronger than anybody else’s
The world of this lone girl will change!

それが、はじめの魔法!
sore gahajime no mahou!

That is my first magic!

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Comiket 92 – Review

The time has come! If I were to give a name to this edition of Comic Market, it would be a… Diao ye zong event! Why, you ask? Read till the end, and you shall find out!

If you want to refresh your memory, here is my review post from a year ago, regarding Comiket 90.

I’m sorry for this short review, I’m going to update it tomorrow because today I’m way too tired to think of anything so see you tomorrow!!

1) 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong) – 音
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There is… a lot to say about this album. The main theme is “Forgetting”, so the album will deal with the forgotten stories of the girls, also Marisa commits suicide. RD really plays with the title and its meaning, if you’re able to find it, you might find something very… though provoking, I’d say.
Favorite tracks: curse upon me!, emergence, 嘔吐、又。

2) FELT – Rising Nebula
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Not as good as the previous album, still JOURNEY delivers the standard FELT quality. I believe it has a great potential and might sound better in the final release. We can also see that AO went in a completely different direction choosing the palette for the album cover, this time focusing on dark colors and bright orange. Also, finally we get a LoLK arrangement (Pure Furies when ;;)
Favorite tracks: JOURNEY,  Ethereal,  IN THE RAIN (BYPT Deep Drop Remix)

3) 豚乙女 (BUTAOTOME) – CHILD HOOD’S END
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FINALLY, we get a strong BUTA album!! As much as I hate to say it, previous album really sucked, C91 album was… okay, but I got bored of it rather quickly – this time, I think BUTA will create something more “lasting”, ahah. It might not be the best BUTA can do (which is Shoujo Rengoku series ww), but definitely something to await! if I had one complaint, it would be about the cover art. I understanding where Paprika was going with it, but, it doesn’t get me completely.
Favorite tracks: イニシエ, 滴る汁, 生育つ青空

4) Feuille-Morte – タビノウタ
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An EP album from the original circle of RD-Sounds! The first track really grew on me, and since it’s RD, I’m absolutely sure the rest of the CD won’t disappoint me! I really like the theme they went for.
Favorite track: であいのうた

5) ZYTOKINE – 50/50
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I see what you did, Linjin, merging two albums into one so even if you don’t like remixes/the new Cd, you have to pay for both!! Not like it affects me, because I like both discs! The design of the album’s logo is very smart, I love it ♥
Favorite tracks (disc 1): hARUKA kANATA, signal lost, DOWN DOWN DOWN
Favorite tracks (disc 2):  JUST ON TIME, Changeability, Asterope

6) 魂音泉 – THE SELECTED WORKS OF TAMAONSEN 4/WORLD’S END PARADISE
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THE COVER ARTWORK KILL ME AAA ♥
I absolutely love the direction TAMAONSEN took, both the compilation albums as well as the new keep their usual level, they’re both on my to-buy list ♥
And…
…ROMO-CHAAAAAAAN!! (this killed me lol)
Favorite tracks: Q feat. Romonosov? (Piano “Mono-chrome” Ver), SAKURA Days feat. Ginryu, モノクロームレインボー feat. ytr
Favorite tracks: firesway (feat. RainyBlue), Someday In Summer (feat. ytr, Romonosov?), こんな最低で最高な夜は (feat. 抹, らっぷびと)

7) Yonder Voice – 星月トラジコメディー
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Another wonderful surprise at this Comiket! While YV RTS14 album was… mediocre, their Hifuu album shines brightly! But on the othre hand, how can an album conataining an arrangment of Last occultism be bad? Haha, I enjoy YV albums also because of the wonderful illustrations that come in their booklets. They must be learning from the best, aren’t they?
Favorite tracks: さよならさよなら, S to R, 玻璃の揺籠 -yoo Version-

8) 発熱巫女〜ず – INNER VOICES
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2 EL.J tracks =  successful album. Only thing I don’t like about it is the number of the songs :/ Honestly, 1000 JPY for a 5 song album? Tim Vegas, I expected more from you! ON the pother hand, the lacking number of tracks is compensated with the high song quality ♥
Favorite tracks: VAGRANT feat. EL.J (2017 reinterpretation), 聲ナキ詩

9) AdamKadmon – ミラージュ
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A… fine album. It’s definitely better than their last one, but it’s still not the same quality as Moon… I don’t know if AK will ever come back to their Moon style arranges, I do hope they will. This album also introduces a new vocalist. her voice strongly reminds me of other doujin vocalist’s voice, but I cannot put my finger on who…
Favorite tracks: 月夜絵x刹華, Lunar Control ~Name is J~ , 桜、儚く、美しく…

10) ナイフ – Story
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If you didn’t know yet, Wani created a mini circle that mostly creates original arrangements centered around Hifuu club. The song is decent, nothing special. I miss Sally btw…

11) Pizuya’s Cell – スタンドアローン/Liquid&Splash
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Hifuu albums AGAIN. I don’t really feel like saying much about them, I’m waiting for something fresh.
Favorite tracks: NOiSE -ノイズ-,  Stay by my side, Return to the day
Favorite tracks: 月面トキメキツアー, F.A.S.S., The Journey of 53 minutes

12) Alstroemeria Records – POP | CULTURE 6/Nachtansicht

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Woo, finally a P|C album!! I think I missed them! There’s also a Pure Furies arrange by Nhato. Nachtansicht contains nachi-only tracks.

13) Various doujinshi!

Hanada Hyou is releasing another artbook, this time filled with illustrations from motome to utsutsu! Shimensoka is selling 2 new books; one of them will have an extra track arranged by RD together with vocals by Meramipop. Harshen releases another Diao ye zong based book, this time with only one story about “Die Lorelei”.