Yadokari

Meiko Kaji's song 'Yadokari' delves into the transient nature of life, using the metaphor of a hermit crab (yadokari) to illustrate the impermanence and vulnerability of human existence. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of different seasons, each representing various stages and emotions in life. The song begins with the onset of summer, where the protagonist feels a growing sense of loneliness and melancholy, symbolized by the long summer rain. The imagery of sharing warmth like animals and staring at the ceiling while smoking a cigarette evokes a sense of aimlessness and introspection.

As the song transitions to autumn, it speaks of a friend who has passed away, with the protagonist donning black clothes and walking down a path covered in fallen leaves. The thin smoke from a chimney that they gaze at without being able to cry signifies a deep, unexpressed sorrow. This part of the song highlights the inevitability of loss and the helplessness that accompanies it. The recurring line 'shosen yadokari jinsei wa' (after all, life is like a hermit crab) underscores the theme of life's transient nature and the sorrow of losing one's 'shelter' or sense of belonging.

In the final verse, set in the early dawn of winter, the protagonist reflects on past memories, particularly the day they were forced to become a woman, symbolized by the fragility of a flower being plucked. This poignant moment captures the pain of forced transformation and the borrowed nature of life itself, as expressed in the line 'inochi hitotsu mo karita mama' (even life itself is borrowed). Through 'Yadokari,' Meiko Kaji masterfully conveys the ephemeral and borrowed essence of life, urging listeners to reflect on their own transient journeys.