Romaji Title: sebangou 1
Kanji Title: 背番号1
English Title: Number 1
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Lyrics & Music : Kuroda Shunsuke
| 作詩・作曲:黒田俊介
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"sebangou" literally refers to the "number on the back", in this case it is the number on the back of an athelete (found on a jersey/uniform). Koushien refers to Koushien Stadium, home of the Hanshin Tigers as well as two annual high school baseball tournaments. Believe it or not, high school baseball is followed more closely in Japan than you may think (at least at the tournament level). Also the "small hero" at the end of the song likely refers to the fact that the subject of the song now has a child that he plays baseball with. |
Nothing but shaved heads in the group photo; Yes, that was where we began
The winning pitch wasn't a powerfully thrown slider
They got a hit off of my pitch
My friends are decrasing little by little
With each seemingly seething day in this good old hierarchical society
The bright red setting sun that dyes my uniform number
Casts a long shadow on the school yard
Boys are growing up into men, step by step
Sweating and getting scrapes, together with their friends
At last we've come to the place that we've longed for! Koushien
We're already local heroes
I'm thinking about my interview after the winning pitch
I have a very clear image of it
When it's the bottom of the 9th with two outs and the bases loaded, come on! Slugger
God, be within the ball, pulling the strings
Disappearing in the cheering, in the fleeting dreams
A siren booms, and the summer comes to an end
The footprints that I've carved into the same mound that
The strong have stood on before me, will never disappear
The bright red setting sun that dyes my uniform number
Casts a long shadow on the school yard
Boys are growing up into men, step by step
Sweating and getting scrapes, together with their friends
Now I sweat with a small hero
One ball should have the power to change one's life
That should be the case for anyone, you too