Flavor of Life - Utada Hikaru

I am not a fan of J-Pop, but I do have a few favourite singers such as Mika Nakashima and Utada Hikaru.

I was just listening to Utada Hikaru's latest single "Flavor of Life" and reflecting the lyrics, I can't help but wonder did she write this in light of her recent divorce from her husband Kazuaki Kiriya. Or perhaps she found her troubled marraige an inspiration to write this theme song for Hana Yori Dango Season 2 (The Japanese version of Meteor Garden, which coincidentally is a remake of the popular Japanese manga called Hana Yori Dango!!)



English Translation (credits to akaiyubi)

when you say thank you to me,
for some reason it hurts,
Like a magic spell that doesn’t
get undone even after the good bye.
the faintly burning pain.
The flavor of life


Neither friends nor lovers, in uncertain terms
like an un-riped fruit dreaming about the day of harvest
because of being unable to just move one more step forward
It’s just so frustrating


when you say thank you to me,
for some reason it hurts,
Like a magic spell that doesn’t
get undone even after the good bye.
the faintly burning pain.
The flavor of life

Sweet talk and tasteless conversations.
i have no interest in them
even when things do not go the way I want them
you make me believe that there is still something in life

When asked ‘ whats wrong?’
i answer ‘its nothing’
The smile that disappears after goodbye
I’m not like myself anymore

the more i wish to believe in you,
for some reason it hurts even more
‘i like you’ instead of ‘i love you’ is more like the person I knew
the flavor of life

I wish I could cherish the white color of the falling snow like I used to
by the time I would remember the scent of the person I’ve nearly forgotten
A future tender and warmer than a diamond
I want to grasp it, in this limited time we have, i want to live it with you.

when you say thank you to me,
for some reason it hurts,
Like a magic spell that doesn't
get undone even after the good bye.
the faintly burning pain.
The flavor of life


Japanese Lyrics (romanised version can be found here)

※ありがとう、と君に言われると
なんだかせつない
さようならの後も解けぬ魔法
淡くほろ苦い
The flavor of life※

友達でも恋人でもない中間地点で
収穫の日を夢見てる　青いフルーツ

あと一歩が踏み出せないせいで
じれったいのなんのってbaby

(※くり返し)

甘いだけの誘い文句
味っけの無いトーク
そんなものには興味をそそられない

思い通りにいかない時だって
人生捨てたもんじゃないって

どうしたの?と急に聞かれると
ううん、なんでもない
さようならの後に消える笑顔
私らしくない

信じたいと願えば願うほど
なんだかせつない
「愛してるよ」よりも「大好き」の方が
君らしいんじゃない?
The flavor of life

忘れかけていた人の香りを　突然思い出す頃
降りつもる雪の白さをもっと　素直に喜びたいよ

ダイアモンドよりもやわらかくて
あたたかな未来　手にしたいよ
限りある時間を　君と過ごしたい

(※くり返し)