たそがれマイ・ラブ (Tasogare My Love)

Junko Ohashi's song "たそがれマイ・ラブ (Tasogare My Love)" is a poignant exploration of love's fleeting nature, framed through the changing seasons. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a love that once brought immense happiness but is now tinged with sadness and longing. The song begins in the summer, where the presence of the beloved brings a sense of blissful immersion in dreams. However, this idyllic state is disrupted by a sudden evening storm, symbolized by white lightning, which transforms the day into a melancholic twilight. This shift represents the intrusion of sorrow into the narrator's life, shattering the once-perfect moments symbolized by the broken coffee cup.

As the song progresses, the narrative moves into winter, a stark contrast to the warmth of summer. The absence of the beloved is palpable, with the cold, snow-covered cobblestones mirroring the narrator's inner desolation. Despite the love being torn apart and reduced to fragments, the narrator's heart still retains its warmth, a testament to the enduring nature of true love. The imagery of reading a letter with trembling, frozen hands, and the burning red letters, evokes a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire. The narrator dreams of leaning on the beloved's back, a metaphor for seeking comfort and support that is no longer physically present.

The recurring theme of fate's cruel tricks, described as an 'itazura' (mischief), underscores the helplessness and inevitability felt by the narrator. This love, though seemingly destined to be torn apart, remains a powerful force within the narrator's heart. Junko Ohashi's soulful delivery and the evocative lyrics combine to create a deeply emotional experience, capturing the essence of love's bittersweet nature and the pain of separation.