Let's study Japanese with "Koi no Uta" from Fly Me to the Moon. While there are fast-paced sections, the vocabulary is suitable for beginners.
A Guide to the Japanese Anime Song "Koi no Uta" from "Fly Me to the Moon"
The protagonist, Hoshizora Yuzaki (referred to as Nasa), an academically excellent student, falls in love at first sight with a girl named Tsukasa Tsukuyomi whom he accidentally encounters on a snowy day, just before his high school entrance exams. As Nasa attempts to talk to her and crosses the road, he gets hit by a truck. Tsukasa selflessly saves him and, without revealing her name, tries to leave. Despite being in a severely injured state due to the accident, Nasa is reminded of Kaguya-hime by her appearance. He chases after Tsukasa and confesses his feelings to her. When Tsukasa responds with, "If you'll marry me, then let's date," Nasa immediately agrees. Right after that, Nasa loses consciousness.
"Koi no Uta" was used as the opening theme for the first season of the anime.
The Japanese Lyrics of "Koi no Uta" from "Fly Me to the Moon"
あとどれくらいの 距離を月へ歩いたら あとどれくらいの 寒い夜を重ねたら あとどれくらいの さよならを流したら まぶたの奥の 泉が枯れ果てる, とか
Ato dore kurai no kyori o tsuki e aruitara Ato dore kurai no samui yoru o kasanetara Ato dore kurai no sayonara o nagashitara Mabuta no oku no izumi ga karehateru, toka
千年後もきっと続くだろう そう思ってた空洞を 満たしてあふれてしまうほどの この気持ちはなんだ?
Sennen-go mo kitto tsuzuku darou Sou omotteta kūdō o Mitashite afurete shimau hodo no Kono kimochi wa nanda?
新しい風を 春は運んでくれるだろう あぁ, 風が吹くのがきっと 還る場所なんだろう 変わらないでしょう 夏の暑さも, 金魚も 花火が消えたら 星を夜通し数えよう
Atarashii kaze o haru wa hakondekureru darou Ā, kaze ga fuku no ga kitto Kaeru basho nan darou Kawaranaideshou Natsu no atsusa mo, kingyo mo Hanabi ga kieta ra Hoshi o yodooshi kazoeyou
色褪せる木々, 凍てつく指先 重ねた日々の灯火 降り積もる雪に埋もれないような 消えない跡を残しに
Iroaseru kigi, itetsuku yubisaki Kasaneta hibi no tomoshibi Furi tsumoru yuki ni umorenai yōna Kienai ato o nokoshi ni
紙切れ一枚 手を伸ばしたドア たった一言の"はい"や ちっぽけな石ころ そんなもので簡単に変わる 未来は
Kamikire ichimai Te o nobashita doa Tatta hitokoto no "hai" ya Chippoke na ishikoro Sonna mono de kantan ni kawaru Mirai wa
単純だよ 毎朝の "おはよう" 映画みたいに青い夏の海を見て 遠いところで居場所を知り 今と今を重ねてく, フィルムのように 何回も撮り直しだ
Tanjun da yo Maiasa no "ohayō" Eiga mitai ni aoi natsu no umi o mite Tōi tokoro de ibasho o shiri Ima to ima o kasaneteku, firumu no yō ni Nankai mo torinaoshida
色褪せるより, 彩るより 君のいる景色が濃いな 直感でも咄嗟でもいい そう思ったんだ, ただ迷いなく 信じてもいいかと訊かれた たったそれだけの問いだ 考えてるんだ、どんな時も あの声がつきまといながら 押してる, ずっと背中を そうか, この気持ちが恋だ
Iroaseru yori, irodoru yori Kimi no iru keshiki ga koi na Chokkan demo tossa demo ii Sō omottanda, tada mayo inaku Shinjite mo ii ka to kikareta Tatta sore dake no toi da Kangaeterunda, donna toki mo Ano koe ga tsukimatoinagara Oshiteru, zutto senaka o Sō ka, kono kimochi ga koi da
単純だよ 毎朝の "おはよう" 映画みたいに青い夏の海を見て 遠いところで居場所を知り 今と今を重ねてく, フィルムのように 何回も撮り直しだ 色褪せるより, 彩るより 君のいる景色が濃いな
Tanjun da yo Maiasa no "ohayō" Eiga mitai ni aoi natsu no umi o mite Tōi tokoro de ibasho o shiri Ima to ima o kasaneteku, firumu no yō ni Nankai mo torinaoshida Iroaseru yori, irodoru yori Kimi no iru keshiki ga koi na
The English Translation of "Koi no Uta" from "Fly Me to the Moon"
How much farther do I have to walk to reach the moon? How many more cold nights do I have to endure? How many more goodbyes do I have to say until the spring in the depths of my eyelids dries up?
I thought it would surely continue even a thousand years later, that hollowness I believed in. What is this feeling that overflows and fills it up?
A new wind will surely bring spring. Ah, the blowing wind is probably the place to return to. It won't change—the summer heat, goldfish, and after the fireworks fade, let's count the stars all night.
Fading trees, freezing fingertips, the light of the days piled up. So that it won't be buried in accumulating snow, leave an indelible trace.
A single piece of paper, a door reached out to, a simple "yes" or a tiny pebble. Such things can easily change the future.
It's simple—every morning's "good morning." Like in a movie, looking at the blue summer sea. Knowing the place in the distance, stacking the present with the present, like a film, reshooting over and over again.
Rather than fading, rather than coloring, the scenery where you are is vivid. Whether by intuition or in an instant, that's what I thought, without hesitation. When asked if it's okay to believe, just that simple question, I'm always thinking. Even in any situation, that voice is always accompanying me, pushing me forward, always supporting my back. Indeed, this feeling is love.
It's simple—every morning's "good morning." Like in a movie, looking at the blue summer sea. Knowing the place in the distance, stacking the present with the present, like a film, reshooting over and over again. Rather than fading, rather than coloring, the scenery where you are is vivid.
A thousand years ago, two fingers stretched out to the light. It would be nice if, even a thousand years later, they were still shining over there. "Is it okay to believe?" I heard that. The full moon, gazing up, illuminated. In any era, indeed, this feeling is love.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Japanese N5 and N4 Vocabulary with "Koi no Uta" from "Fly Me to the Moon"
0:11~
あとどれくらいの 距離を月へ歩いたら あとどれくらいの 寒い夜を重ねたら あとどれくらいの さよならを流したら まぶたの奥の 泉が枯れ果てる, とか
How much farther do I have to walk to reach the moon? How many more cold nights do I have to endure? How many more goodbyes do I have to say until the spring in the depths of my eyelids dries up?
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| あと | あと | ato | after, later | noun |
| どれ | どれ | dore | which (of three or more) | pronoun |
| 距離 | きょり | kyori | distance | noun |
| 月 | つき | tsuki | moon | noun |
| 歩く | あるく | aruku | to walk | 1 verb |
| 寒い | さむい | samui | cold | i-adj |
| 夜 | よる | yoru | night | noun |
| 重ねる | かさねる | kasaneru | to pile up, to repeat | 2 verb |
| さよなら | さよなら | sayonara | goodbye | noun |
| 流す | ながす | nagasu | to let flow, to release | 1 verb |
| まぶた | まぶた | mabuta | eyelid | noun |
| 奥 | おく | oku | depth, inner part | noun |
| 泉 | いずみ | izumi | spring, fountain | noun |
| 枯れる | かれる | kareru | to wither, to dry up | 2 verb |
| 果てる | はてる | hateru | to end, to finish | 2 verb |
Related Word to 歩く
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 歩く | あるく | aruku | to walk | 1 verb |
| 走る | はしる | hashiru | to run | 1 verb |
Related Word to 寒い
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 寒い | さむい | samui | cold | i-adj |
| 暖かい | あたたかい | atatakai | warm | i-adj |
| 暑い | あつい | atsui | hot | i-adj |
Related Word to 奥
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 奥 | おく | oku | depth, inner part | noun |
| 奥さん | おくさん | okusan | wife (polite) | noun |
| 旦那さん | だんなさん | dannasan | husband (polite) | noun |
| 妻 | つま | tsuma | wife | noun |
| 夫 | おっと | otto | husband | noun |
Related Word to 果てる
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 果てる | はてる | hateru | to end, to finish | 2 verb |
| 果物 | くだもの | kudamono | fruit | noun |
0:36~
千年後もきっと続くだろう そう思ってた空洞を 満たしてあふれてしまうほどの この気持ちはなんだ?
I thought it would surely continue even a thousand years later, that hollowness I believed in. What is this feeling that overflows and fills it up?
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| きっと | きっと | kitto | surely, certainly | adverb |
| 続く | つづく | tsuzuku | to continue | 1 verb |
| だろう | だろう | darou | probably, I think | auxiliary |
| 思う | おもう | omou | to think | 1 verb |
| 満たす | みたす | mitasu | to satisfy, to fulfill | 1 verb |
| あふれる | あふれる | afureru | to overflow, to brim over | 2 verb |
| 気持ち | きもち | kimochi | feeling, emotion | noun |
1:00~
新しい風を 春は運んでくれるだろう あぁ, 風が吹くのがきっと 還る場所なんだろう 変わらないでしょう 夏の暑さも, 金魚も 花火が消えたら 星を夜通し数えよう
A new wind will surely bring spring. Ah, the blowing wind is probably the place to return to. It won't change—the summer heat, goldfish, and after the fireworks fade, let's count the stars all night.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 新しい | あたらしい | atarashii | new | i-adj |
| 風 | ふう | fuu | wind | noun |
| 運ぶ | はこぶ | hakobu | to carry, to transport | 1 verb |
| 吹く | ふく | fuku | to blow | 1 verb |
| 場所 | ばしょ | basho | place, location | noun |
| 変わる | かわる | kawaru | to change | 1 verb |
| 金魚 | きんぎょ | kingyo | goldfish | noun |
| 花火 | はなび | hanabi | fireworks | noun |
| 消える | きえる | kieru | to disappear, to go out | 2 verb |
| 星 | ほし | hoshi | star | noun |
| 数える | かぞえる | kazoeru | to count | 2 verb |
Related Word to 運ぶ
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 運ぶ | はこぶ | hakobu | to carry, to transport | 1 verb |
| 運動 | うんどう | undou | exercise, physical activity | noun |
Related Word to 金魚
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 金魚 | きんぎょ | kingyo | goldfish | noun |
| 金 | きん | kin | gold | noun |
| 魚 | さかな | sakana | fish | noun |
Related Word to 花火
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 花火 | はなび | hanabi | fireworks | noun |
| 火花 | ひばな | hibana | spark | noun |
| 花 | はな | hana | flower | noun |
| 火 | ひ | hi | fire | noun |
1:24~
色褪せる木々, 凍てつく指先 重ねた日々の灯火 降り積もる雪に埋もれないような 消えない跡を残しに
Fading trees, freezing fingertips, the light of the days piled up. So that it won't be buried in accumulating snow, leave an indelible trace.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 凍てつく | いてつく | itetsuku | to freeze, to be chilled | 1 verb |
| 指 | ゆび | yubi | finger, toe | noun |
| 日々 | ひび | hibi | every day, daily | noun |
| 降る | ふる | furu | to fall (e.g., rain, snow) | 1 verb |
| 積もる | つもる | tsumoru | to pile up, to accumulate (e.g., snow) | 1 verb |
| 雪 | ゆき | yuki | snow | noun |
| 埋もれる | うもれる | umoreru | to be buried | 2 verb |
| 消える | きえる | kieru | to disappear, to go out | 2 verb |
| 跡 | あと | ato | trace, tracks | noun |
| 残す | のこす | nososu | to leave behind | 1 verb |
Related Word to 凍てつく
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 凍てつく | いてつく | itetsuku | to freeze, to be chilled | 1 verb |
| 凍る | こおる | kōru | to freeze | 1 verb |
Related Word to 指
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 指 | ゆび | yubi | finger, toe | noun |
| 親指 | おやゆび | oyayubi | thumb | noun |
| 人差し指 | ひとさしゆび | hitosashiyubi | index finger | noun |
| 中指 | なかゆび | nakayubi | middle finger | noun |
| 薬指 | くすりゆび | kusuriyubi | ring finger | noun |
| 小指 | こゆび | koyubi | little finger | noun |
1:48~
紙切れ一枚 手を伸ばしたドア たった一言の"はい"や ちっぽけな石ころ そんなもので簡単に変わる 未来は
A single piece of paper, a door reached out to, a simple "yes" or a tiny pebble. Such things can easily change the future.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 紙 | かみ | kami | paper | noun |
| 一枚 | いちまい | ichimai | one sheet, one piece | noun |
| 伸ばす | のばす | nobasu | to stretch, to extend | 1 verb |
| 一言 | ひとこと | hitokoto | a few words, a brief comment | noun |
| 石 | いし | ishi | stone | noun |
| 簡単 | かんたん | kantan | simple, easy | na-adj |
| 未来 | みらい | mirai | future | noun |
Related Word to 紙
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 紙 | かみ | kami | paper | noun |
| 髪 | かみ | kami | hair | noun |
| 神 | かみ | kami | god, deity | noun |
2:00~
単純だよ 毎朝の "おはよう" 映画みたいに青い夏の海を見て 遠いところで居場所を知り 今と今を重ねてく, フィルムのように 何回も撮り直しだ 色褪せるより, 彩るより 君のいる景色が濃いな
It's simple—every morning's "good morning." Like in a movie, looking at the blue summer sea. Knowing the place in the distance, stacking the present with the present, like a film, reshooting over and over again. Rather than fading, rather than coloring, the scenery where you are is vivid.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 単純 | たんじゅん | tanjun | simple, uncomplicated | na-adj |
| 映画 | えいが | eiga | movie | noun |
| 海 | うみ | umi | sea | noun |
| 居場所 | いばしょ | ibasho | place to stay, whereabouts | noun |
| 撮る | とる | toru | to take (a photo) | 1 verb |
| 直す | なおす | naosu | to fix, to repair | 1 verb |
| 景色 | けしき | keshiki | scenery, view | noun |
| 濃い | こい | koi | dark, deep (color) | i-adj |
Related Word to 単純
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 単純 | たんじゅん | tanjun | simple, uncomplicated | na-adj |
| 複雑 | ふくざつ | fukuzatsu | complex, complicated | na-adj |
Related Word to 濃い
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 濃い | こい | koi | dark, deep (color) | i-adj |
| 薄い | うすい | usui | thin, light (color) | i-adj |
2:12~
直感でも咄嗟でもいい そう思ったんだ, ただ迷いなく 信じてもいいかと訊かれた たったそれだけの問いだ 考えてるんだ、どんな時も あの声がつきまといながら 押してる, ずっと背中を そうか, この気持ちが恋だ
Whether by intuition or in an instant, that's what I thought, without hesitation. When asked if it's okay to believe, just that simple question, I'm always thinking. Even in any situation, that voice is always accompanying me, pushing me forward, always supporting my back. Indeed, this feeling is love.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 迷う | まよう | mayou | to lose one's way, to hesitate | 1 verb |
| 信じる | しんじる | shinjiru | to believe, to trust | 2 verb |
| 問い | とい | toi | question, inquiry | noun |
| 考える | かんがえる | kangaeru | to think, to consider | 2 verb |
| 押す | おす | osu | to push, to press | 1 verb |
Related Word to 問い
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 問い | とい | toi | question, inquiry | noun |
| 質問 | しつもん | shitsumon | question | noun |
| 問題 | もんだい | mondai | problem | noun |