Warabe - めだかの兄妹 (Medaka no Kyoudai) (English translation #2)

Warabe – めだかの兄妹

English translation

Japanese

Original lyrics

めだかの兄妹

すずめの兄妹が電線で

大きくなったら何になる

大きくなったらタカになる

大きくなったらペンギンに

チュンチュンチュンチュンチュンチュンチュンチュン

だけど大きくなっても

すずめはすずめチュンチュン

子猫の兄妹が陽だまりで

大きくなったら何になる

大きくなったらトラになる

大きくなったらライオンに

ニャンニャンニャンニャンニャンニャンニャンニャン

だけど大きくなっても

ニャンコはニャンコニャンニャン

めだかの兄妹が川の中

大きくなったら何になる

大きくなったらコイになる

大きくなったらくじらに

スイスイスイスイスイスイスイスイ

だけど大きくなっても

めだかはめだかスイスイ

English

Translation#1#2#3

The Killifish Siblings

The sparrow siblings are sitting on the power line

What will they be when they grow up?

When they grow up, they'll be hawks

When they grow up, they'll be penguins

*chirp...chirp...chirp...*

But even when they grow up,

...once sparrows, they'll always be sparrows

The kitten siblings are sunbathing

What will they be when they grow up?

When they grow up, they'll be tigers

When they grow up, they'll be lions

*meow...meow...meow...*

But even when they grow up,

...once kittens, they'll always be cats

The killifish siblings are swimming in the river

What will they be when they grow up?

When they grow up, they'll be kois (Japanese carps)

When they grow up, they'll be whales

*swish...swish...swish...*

But even when they grow up,

...once killifishes, they'll always be killifishes

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Feedeeri☆	2 years 4 months

Submitted by

RetroPanda on 2023-09-25

Author's comments:

Killifish look like this.

Koi fish look like this .

Audio-only video as backup:

Translations of "めだかの兄妹 (Medaka no ..."

English #1, #2, #3

Spanish

Transliteration

Comments

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 08:53

Warabe was a popular idol trio in early 1980s born from a variety show, with their members: Takabe Tomoko (born: August 25, 1967), Kurasawa Atsumi (born: April 20, 1967) and Takahashi Mami (born: September 20, 1967).

There was once a very popular variety show: "Kin-chan no Doko Made Yaru no!" aired from October 6, 1976 to September 24, 1986. When at its peak, its average ratings were around 30% with the highest ratings recorded reached 42%. The show was in the format like slice of life drama following the daily life of Hagimoto family. Hagimoto family have three daughters, previously played by dolls and child actors, but in 1982 the three sisters characters had grown up as high school students and they casted the three young actresses: Takabe Tomoko, Kurasawa Atsumi and Takahashi Mami to play them.

video with youtube id 3ErWvJ_JMwY was removed automatically due to unavailability

^ "Kin-chan no Doko Made Yaru no!", with Nakamori Akina appeared as guest in one of the episodes

Outside of their characters, the three girls also formed a real idol trio called Warabe and debuted on December 21, 1982 (which technically made them also one of the class'82 idols, the star-studded year that produced a lot of big idols with successful careers). They had a very promising start with their debut song exploded with very high sales.

^ left: Takabe Tomoko, middle: Kurasawa Atsumi, right: Takahashi Mami

About this song

Released on December 21, 1982 as their debut song, it reached #3 in Oricon chart with 885,120 sales. At the end of the year, it was ranked #3 in Oricon yearly chart of 1983. It was a big hit that soon became very popular among children and the popularity even spread to office workers. 13 companies have acquired commercialization rights related to this song, included the right of the anime character, the stuffed animals, and even the right to sell sandals wore by the Warabe characters.

It has an MV that shows anime version of Warabe

The song was used in Lotte cookies commercial:

Their live performances:

^ in "The Best Ten" that had their own ranking system different from Oricon chart; this song also reached #3

^ also in "The Best Ten"

^ in "The Best Ten" again

It was also used as ending theme in their variety show:

video with youtube id HXHCjTqebdU was removed automatically due to unavailability

Unfortunately in June 1983, one of the members: Takabe Tomoko involved in a certain scandal called "the nyan nyan incident". At first, she was expected to only be suspended for a certain period and came back after things calmed down, but two months later the scandal escalated into something tragic, Takabe Tomoko resigned from that show and from the group. Although to be fair, they only saw a boost of sales on their second single with just two members left.

*Trivia: The infamous "Sukeban Deka" series was originally planned to be filmed in 1983 with Takabe Tomoko playing the female lead but it was canceled because of her scandal. About 1.5 years later (early 1985), they finally filmed "Sukeban Deka" and cast a certain idol with ponytail as the main lead, and the rest is history.

July 1985, they decided to re-boot the show with the three sister characters played by entirely new casts. Following that, Warabe disbanded. The decision to replaced most of the casts was not well received by the audiences so the show itself also took a dive in their ratings.

^ Kurasawa Atsumi and Takahashi Mami last appeareance in the show before they were being replaced, which also marked the end of Warabe

Warabe had a short but successful career. They have released a total of 4 singles and 2 albums. Their total single sales are 2,031,410 but there's no information about their albums sales, so there's no data of their total sales.

As for their acting career, the group seems to be exclusively belong to that variety show since they never appeared in other movie or drama. As for the member, Takabe Tomoko has appeared in 18 dramas (1980-1989), 4 one-shot dramas (1989-2004) and 9 movies (1979-2005). Kurasawa Atsumi has appeared in 8 dramas (1987-1993) and 1 movie (1991).

...and decades have passed...

first, this seems to be from early 2000s (which is also almost retro itself, yeah, time flies!)

^ left: Kurasawa Atsumi, right: Takahashi Mami

Warabe in 2016:

^ left: Kurasawa Atsumi, right: Takahashi Mami

Takabe Tomoko in 2021:

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210702/k00/00m/040/438000c

Kurasawa Atsumi, around Christmas 2022

^ (15:05) she appeared in her daughter's Youtube video. Her daughter is a Youtuber.

Takahashi Mami in 2018

https://smart-flash.jp/entame/39035/1/1/

Still remember this video shot in June 2023?

^ although she wasn't in that video, but one of the woman / former 1980s idol: Hayami Yuu said "See you later" to the camera to a "Mami-chan" which was Takahashi Mami. Maybe she was also there but already left before they recorded that video.

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 08:54

Warabe seen with other idols:

video with youtube id a4s8OBI_VIw was removed automatically due to unavailability

^ Matsuda Seiko appeared as a guest in their show and at (2:41) one of the Warabe girl came out to bring her tea.

video with youtube id 3ErWvJ_JMwY was removed automatically due to unavailability

^ Warabe with Nakamori Akina

^ Warabe with (1:40) Kashiwabara Yoshie

video with youtube id SJaFjqKzZLQ was removed automatically due to unavailability

^ Warabe with The Checkers

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 08:55

Cover version by Matsuda Seiko, Koizumi Kyoko (Kyon2), Hayami Yuu

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 08:56

Super cute version made by a kid's show in 2021

video with youtube id jP8MgRPUYxk was removed automatically due to unavailability

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 08:56

North Korean version

^ somehow this song also reached North Korea!!!

Feedeeri☆

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 09:06

Despite being so big, not a lot of people talk about Warabe, at most they talk about Atsumi, wich I assume was the most successful solo carrer wise (But to be honest, I've heard sotsugyo by Atsumi but it didn't leave a strong impression on me (；´∀｀)). But I do think that if they released their solo songs while in Warabe, they popularity of the show + of their carrers could have soared. I mean, they were talented singers and actresses

Also, now I understand where the Nyan Nyan came from... but I did not expect it to be from a childrens nursery rhime (；´∀｀)

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 10:31

Maybe because their career was very short. Or they're fully associated with that variety show, once people forget that show, Warabe also forgotten.

I read that there were at least four "Sotsugyo" songs released around the same time including hers, Saito Yuki's, Kikuchi Momoko's, and a male singer. Graduation was a popular theme to make hit songs back then.

And Takabe Tomoko could be idol actress as big Harada Tomoyo or Yalishimaru Hiroko if not for that one picture; the photo that won't go away even after decades, even being colorized and/or being made into YouTube Shorts.

This song was a hit big enough for Seiko, Kyon², and Hayami Yuu to sing a cover of it in "Let's Go Young" (and they look cute). 😆

Feedeeri☆

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 10:42

I guess it would make sense, they would have probably remained more in the publics mind if they didn't release singles so rarely/once a year or if they didn't get replaced

Its still circulating?? On YT shorts too?? Jesus Poor girl TT. Yesterday I had something similar happen with another idol, I really liked her song and the songs B-side, so I went to check her photos and jesus, her dress must have been made of paper mache, wet tissues and a dream because the first thing that popped up was her dress FLYING up to her mid-waist. I'll let her face speak for itself (If you can't find it there, just googling her name will do the trick TT. Its even been printed, poor Satomi)

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 12:11

When I was typing about what they look like now, I was about to use one video that showed her recent photos but saw her scandal photo among the slideshow so I didn't use it. It was even colorized (the original is black and white photo from magazine page). And I saw a video or YouTube Shorts with that photo as thumbnail.

They won't even leave the dead alone, let alone the living. There's hoax internet post about someone walked past a hospital (where Sakai Izumi died) at night and heard a beautiful but eerie voice singing "Makenaide" (debunked by YouTuber). And when you search "Okada Yukiko" on Google, one of the most search keywords suggested is "Yukiko Okada ghost". 😒

That's even worse! Scandal is one thing, but for wardrobe malfunction photo to haunt her for life... that's not even her fault at all. I just searched it up now, there's even people auction her wardrobe malfunction photo on internet for ¥4,000. These people are so twisted. 🤨

Feedeeri☆

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 12:24

Whats worse is when you type Yukkos name, one of the first pictures is that of her corpse...tabloids are really disgusting, exploiting a dead teen. Even for Izumi, who in their right mind would try to use a sadly accidental death as something "Scary" or "creepy"?! Do they forget that they are people just like them??

I kniw right! Satomi had everything to be a good idol, she was good at singing, she seemed like a sweet girl, but the fact that people are even selling the picture on amazon japan...like poor girl, if she tried to get a job now her employer could find that picture as soon as they type her name. Not even that, it appears even if you search for her single, truly poor Satomi

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 14:33

On the positive side, Okada Yukiko and ZARD are still well loved by people. Their songs and legacies are treasured. "Makenaide" is still encouraging people somewhere. 😄

Trivia: although their eras are almost 10 years apart, Warabe girls and Sakai Izumi (ZARD) are actually the same age. So are Nanno, Okada Yukiko, Honda Minako; they were all born in 1967.

Are her songs here yet? I should check her songs too. 😅

Feedeeri☆

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 14:52

Yes! Yukko and Zards songs still make people happy, and they are still remembered by new and old fans alike ♪(´▽｀)

I sometimes forget just how much idols can be related, just an hour ago I was reading Mayumi Moritas wiki page and realised she went to school with Nanno, Yukko and Minako Σ(っ °Д °;)っ. It surprised me, but if anything it showed me that their class was very talented!

Her songs aren't on here, actually since I finished the discography of Kanako, Eri and Kana I was thinking of starting the discoprahy of a new idol, but I was unsure on wich one I should, so I think I'll start hers tomorrow! But before that, heres the A and B side of her only single and a live performance!

https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm13518601

^ A side! (She sounds so angelic (´▽｀))

^ B-Side (This channel has a lot of "rare" idols/b-sides of mid level idols, ad example theres the debut single of the pop-rock idol, the one I was thinking of uploading before settling on Satomi, or the Metal idol (yes, thas a real thing!)

^ Live performance

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 17:37

At least there's one thing that connected most of these retro idols: Horikoshi High School. It's like anime but it's real; a school full of idols and young celebrities. There was video of Horikoshi graduation that showed Yukko and Nanno but it's gone (they keep deleting history for some stupid copyright). Warabe's Tomoko was also in Horikoshi before gotten expelled for her scandal. Maybe the PumpKin duo: Chao & Mikarin were from Horikoshi too.

She only has one single in her career? Poor girl. She was remembered for something shouldn't be remembered instead of her songs. Her voice and her song are good indeed.

I just checked the channel you said, indeed they have a vast songs collection of less known idols. I keep scrolling down, and except Hidemi and Tomomi, I don't know who those people are. Maybe they're not even mid level, but a bunch of low level / C-list idols. But there's so many of them.

Feedeeri☆

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 17:56

Now that you mention it, they should make a slice of life anime with horikoshi high school or nakano high school students, that would be very cool to see!

Sadly yes, she just has that single. Its sad that there are so many good idols that only released one single and went. Most times, we don't even get to know what happened to them or how they are. But that also happens to mid-level idols too, like Mayumi Morita (last seen around 2003 circa), Mayumi Hara (alleged sightings in the early 2000's), Kana Wakabayashi (Last seen 1986/1987) and many many more. It sometimes amazes me how people that were atleast mid-level singers can just up and vanish. Do they ever look back on their carrers? Did they start families? If so have they ever told them they were singers? I guess unless there was an interview that asked these question, we won't get answears TT

Yes! I checked some of the songs yesterday and went on a short binge, I think the most known were Tomomi (As soon as I saw the video I thought "Wow, this girl looks like Momoko Kikuchi!"), Hidemi, Ryoko Sano and Junko Tokumaru. Actually, Im pretty sure that all of those singles are from their collection! Since usually they upload the B-side of songs that are already out there. They even have another channel for live performances! Thats really impressive honestly ^^

RetroPanda

Mon, 25/09/2023 - 23:18

I'll definitely watch if they make one. lol (ノ ^ ∇ ^)

Actually there's some reality shows like that, like when the went to find retired idols like Matsumoto Noriko or Sagara Haruko, or even Yokoyama Chie (from Yamadakatsutenai Wink, the WInk parody group). Some of them work normal jobs, some become normal housewives, some move abroad, some still active on TV, etc.

It's not just mid-level, but all of them, even once the biggest ones with millions of sales (*it's sad to say this) are no longer big now. Some of them will eventually forgotten. But at least I'm happy to see: Hikaru Genji can still dance on roller skates at their 50s, Hayami Yuu and Iyo still appear here and there, Toshi looks energetic in his Youtube Channel, Kudo Shizuka only getting better and better at singing, Saito Yuki still appears in dramas, Yakkun-Hidemi celebrated their 33th wedding anniversary, Hori Chiemi can sing again, Ito Kazue driving around with her idol friends in her 1990 car, Kikuchi Momoko still looks cute in her age, Kashiwabara Yoshie hosts her own talkshow, Nishimura Tomomi still gets entertainment jobs here and there - even gets to work together with Sakai Noriko - and still hangs out with fellow 1980s idols in her day off,.....even Kuroyanagi Tetsuko (who reaches her 90 last month) still looks healthy. It's nice to see all these people are doing well.

Yeah, they have rare collections there. And since those are audio-only videos, it might be safe from copyright purge. I should check their other channel too.

Feedeeri☆

Tue, 26/09/2023 - 12:08

Oh, that show! I know of it since they went to find a "phantom" idol, Maki Edo! Maki debuted in 1986, her first single reached the middle of the charts, and she was loved by idols fans for her peculiar name and super cute appearence and mannerism. Makis story is, tho, a very sad one, I won't tell it here but it shows how dark the idol industry could be, since the singers were all teens. But in 2018 they went and found Maki! Shes now much better and living happily with her children （*＾＾*)

Their channels and another one are my go-to for audio only idol videos (I've discovered some very interesting idols, I've already uploaded Satomis first song and tomorrow I'll finish her discograhy with the B-side), but I've also found a bilibili channels that uploads both audio singles and super rare performances! The bilibili channel is especially interested in late 1970's, early 1980's idol (1980 to 1984ish), and their collection even includes possibly the first performance of Lou Fin Chaus Star Tanjo on the 24th of december ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡