Music that speaks to the core.

This is a new series where I do my best to introduce something I, well, really like. They could be music bands, games – anything, really; the point is for me to just share. Worst case, you think my taste sucks. Best case, you learn about something cool.

First up: the Japanese three-piece band known as SHISHAMO.

I’ve been studying Japanese since 2014.

My maiden trip to Japan was in 2013. Having entered with zero expectations, I left with a newfound love for the country and its culture.

I took Japanese as a breadth subject when I started university the following year, and it’s gone on ever since.

I consumed my fair share of anime and manga prior to learning Japanese, but doing so opened up new avenues of understanding and appreciation of the language and its nuances.

It’s an ongoing thing – I’m never far away from coming across a new, amusing turn of phrase. For example, “I want to borrow a cat’s paw” ( 猫の手も借りたい ) means to be so busy that you’d like to get a cat to help. It makes sense in a tortured logic way, and the cute imagery helps to reinforce the memorization of the phrase.

Anyway, being able to understand Japanese lyrics (a little bit, anyway) opened up a whole new world of aural delights to me. I find myself discovering a new artist every couple months.

This journey more or less began with Perfume (who I’ll get into in a future edition of this series), but my favourite Japanese group is definitely SHISHAMO.

The members of SHISHAMO. From L to R: Matsuoka Aya (bass), Miyazaki Asako (guitar, vocals), Yoshikawa Misaki (drums)

A brief bio: SHISHAMO is a three-piece rock outfit from Kawasaki, a city located in the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. Miyazaki and Yoshikawa formed the band in high school in 2010, with original bassist Matsumoto Aya. Matsumoto eventually left due to a promise she made to herself that she would leave the band upon turning 20. She was replaced by Matsuoka Aya.

(I know, the two bassists have VERY similar names. Very confusing.)

Confessions

Here’s where I out myself as a “fake fan”: I don’t know a lot of their history, I don’t actually follow every single they put out, and it was only through some light research for this post that I found out they’ve released five albums (and one Best Of) so far.

The Japanese music industry does seem a little archaic and difficult for non-Japanese (and for those living outside of the country) to really keep up with. I mean, CD releases are still major events! The rest of the world has pretty much moved on to streaming!

Tower Records is still a thing!

Anyway, I’m no expert (and I’m happy to be corrected). But, coming from a lazy Singaporean’s point of view, it’s definitely not easy navigating the Japanese music maze.

Connections

What I DO know, however, is that most of what SHISHAMO has made readily available to worldwide audiences (through its YouTube channel) has carved out an indelible place in my heart.

Their sad songs align with the exact flavour of melancholy I experience every now and then, providing a sort of kinship and understanding that is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere.

As for their more aggressive tunes: the anger stems from a specific brand of spite and pettiness that’s evocative of the childish outbursts of a teenager. It’s a raw kind of hurt, expressed in a petulant-but-ultimately-ineffective lashing out.

And that’s what I think forms the emotional backbone of their music: they sing for, and from the perspective of, a high school student. Every song is laced with a dash of youthful brashness, a measure of (over)sensitivity, and a (insert measurement term here) of insecurity, even as they grow older (the members are all 24 years old).

That combination speaks to me, and works almost like a reflection – even though they largely come from the point of view of a teenage girl.

Top tracks

Here are my top three favourite songs of theirs:

[With honourable mentions to 「水色の日々」(“Mizuiro no Hibi” / “Light Blue Days”) and 「ねぇ、」(“Nee,” / “Hey,”)]

「BYE BYE」

「BYE BYE」

「BYE BYE」 was the first song of theirs that I put on an indefinite loop; I don’t have many songs that I would ever listen to over and over again, back to back to back, but this was one of them. I still have a great time listening to this one every time, even after the freshness has long worn off.

It left an immediate impression due to it being the first song I heard from them that had any kind of edge to it – it was the first time I actually heard Miyazaki sing from a place of anger and defiance.

(I’m no expert on describing the music itself, but the driving bass line doesn’t hurt either.)

The lyrics speak of a person angrily imploring themselves to move on from a breakup, throwing barbs both at the ex and themselves. Pretty standard breakup song material, but the cherry on top is this part (I apologize in advance for any mistakes in translating, but I believe it’s generally correct):

あーあ 最後まで君はね

Ah, the you at the end

あーあ 知らないままだったよ

Ah, didn’t know

本当の私 知った気でいたでしょう？

Did you know the real me?

本当はいつも寂しかったし

I was always lonely

本当はもっと私笑えるし

I could really stand to smile more

空を飛んでる姿だって知らないでしょ？

You don’t know that you’re flying in the sky, do you?

なにも、知らないでしょ？

You don’t know anything at all, do you?

The drums and bass also cut out for this part, leaving just the guitar to howl out the greatest regret of the dead relationship – a lack of any real connection to begin with.

「私の夜明け」 (“Watashi no Yoake” / “My Dawn”)

「私の夜明け」

「私の夜明け」is more in line with most of their songs: soft, emotional, and containing a lot of self-criticism.

It’s perfect music for when you’re feeling sad and want to just dive deep into the gloom. That might not sound like it’s healthy, but I think it allows one to fully explore the misery and understand it. No feelings are buried and left to fester.

The song is basically a lamentation. Some unknown trigger brings about the self-hatred again, and every insecurity and dissatisfaction the author has with themselves is brought up:

もっと上手になりたいな

I want to be better

大切にしたりされたりとか

Or cherished

戦うことも逃げることも

Whether it’s fighting or running away

上手じゃないから後悔するんだろうな

I’ll regret it because I’m no good

As with 「BYE BYE」 , there is a highlight verse:

「なんで私ばかり」心のどこかでいつも思ってる

“Why is it only me,” I always think, somewhere in my heart

それでも人は言う 「辛いのはあなただけじゃない」

People say, “You’re not the only one who has it bad”

そんな言葉が聞きたいわけじゃない

I don’t want to hear such words

分かってるくせにな

Even though I know they’re true

Sometimes, who gives a shit that you’re not the only one who’s feeling down, or that there are people worse off. You’re unhappy, you need help; that’s all you care about in that moment.

But still, the song ends with a glimmer of hope:

それでも朝は来る

Still, when the morning comes

息をして、時々笑う

Breathe, laugh a little

ああ、まだ歩ける 歩いていける

I can still walk… I can still walk

Dive in, face your demons, and realize you can keep going after all.

「ほら、笑ってる」 (“Hora, Waratteru” / “Look, Laughing”)

「ほら、笑ってる」

We’ll end on a hopeful note.「ほら、笑ってる」is similar to 「私の夜明け」in that there are strong elements of insecurity and oversensitiveness. In this case however, they’re used as jumping off points to a more positive mindset.

いつもどこかで間違える

I’m always making mistakes somewhere

そんな自分が嫌だった

I hate that me

でも こんな私でも

But even for the me that is like that

ほっといてくれない人がいて

There are people who won’t abandon me

そんな人のために

For the sake of those people

笑っていたくて 走っていたくて

I want to smile and carry on running

This song reminds you that even in the times when you can’t seem to do anything right, there are people who’ll stick by you. Your closest friends, your family, your significant other – whoever they may be, you’re never alone, and you have much to continue to fight for.

I suppose it’s a bit of a cliched and sappy idea, but I don’t think that makes it any less true. It’s especially important to remember that when you’re feeling really alone in the world.

Also, the chorus:

奇跡なんて起きない

Miracles don’t happen

そんなことはもう分かってる

I know that well

でも 悲しくなんてないよ

But I won’t be sad

小さな幸せ あなたと数える

I’ll count all the small happiness with you

奇跡なんていらない

I don’t need miracles

そんなものよりキラキラしたもの

There are things that shine brighter than that

もう私はたくさん持ってる

I already have a lot

ほら、空も笑ってる

Look, the sky is smiling too

We shouldn’t always be looking for the next big break or a windfall of good luck. Miracles simply don’t happen; it’s more important to celebrate the blessings you already have.

What I like the most about SHISHAMO is that their songs don’t shy away from the selfish, petulant emotions we all feel when things aren’t going well. I think getting to understand those things about ourselves, rather than burying it deep inside, makes for better long term mental health.

As someone who’s always constantly dealing with loneliness, their music encourages me to see the bigger picture, but without invalidating or denying the emotions I feel, self-centered and narrow-minded as they may be.

They let me be me, while also helping me be better.