I would prefer utopia as well its more well known.

Thanks for the translation, Masa

yeap.. i love it~

Utopia is a little too ~perfect society~ for me, haha. It doesn't bring up images of a paradise on Earth for me, which is what Ayu seems to want to convey.

Shangri-la or Xanadu probably work best here.

If you don't understand it, then it's a new fact for you to learn! Woo~

well if Utopia = perfect society, wouldnt that be like a paradise as well? no problems everyone is happy ect

Its the fact that the other two sound strange to the typical person that turns me off from them but masa will do as he likes so...

Actually, the typical person should at least know of Shangri-la.

It's like a middle school-ish term, I think. They use it extensively in translations of Journey to the West / Saiyuuki.

I say if you don't know it, learn it. Become a little more cultured in the process, etc etc. I'm all for simplifying things so that others can understand them, but I think Ayu wanted to refer to either Shangri-la or Xanadu when writing her lyrics. Could've been utopia too, but tougengkyo's common translation seems to be either Shangri-la or Xanadu. It depends on the translator, I guess.

http://jisho.org/words?***=%E6%92%9E...=31&dict=edict
-- Tougenkyo -> Arcady, Eden, Shangri-la

I would personally go with "Shangri-la" as it's what I've seen 桃源郷 translated as most often. It also retains that Asian image you mentioned, which is a bonus. (The same could be said of "Xanadu", but I can't help but picture this when I hear it. :laugh) "Utopia" is the other popular choice, but to me it doesn't seem to carry the same nuance as "Shangri-la".

Thanks again for your wonderful translations. :)

ShangriLa is more of a place of natural beauty and scenery while 桃源 has a human-community spirit in it besides the nature.

I hit upon another word. How about "Dreamland"?

I still say Shangri-la, as that is what she was probably thinking of when she wrote "tougenkyou" in the lyrics.

^i'd suggest the 'Shangri-La' term and it has the asian feel as Utopia is more like to a perfect and ideal community.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia

AHHA did u just spoil something about the song O.O lol...interesting though

So..duty was hinting at the end of her career? Well, look where she is now.

Somehow, I think psychologically, whenever Ayu write such songs, she just becomes stronger..

OK. I change the word to "Shangri-la". Thank you.

Connecting it with the title gave me shivers! It has a "Duty" feel to it... I love it! Thanks, masa~

thx ^^

thanks!

wow these lyrics are so simple. :D I really enjoyed reading these.

masa, do you have any thoughts on the whole 'left-side' theme? apart from her ear...

does the left side have some significance in japanese language/culture? :/

anybody else have anything to contribute? besides the possible reference to her ear?

A friend of mine mentioned that the left side / the words Ayu used to describe your left side are used in Japan to mean "your heart" since the heart is on the left side as well.

It seems like an intentional double meaning.

yeah, that sounds more plausible.

It's not like Ayu to be so direct about something, or so specific in her meaning, or so self centred in her writing. I mean, she often sings about her feelings and emotions, but in a way that others can relate to, making the song a song that applies to everyone. singing directly about losing her hearing in her left ear completely goes against this. so I was expecting I'd missed something.

Thanks! :)