“Hana wa Saku (花は咲く)," lyrics by Shunji Iwai and music by Yoko Sugano, contributed by Mana Tsuruta (2025)
“Hana wa Saku” was commissioned by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) to be used as the theme song for the NHK Great East Japan Earthquake Project, a disaster support initiative launched in 2011 following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Shunji Iwai wrote the lyrics, and the music was composed by his classmate, Yoko Sugano, from his hometown that was washed away by the disaster.
This song is in a major key, but there's a sadness to it. It acknowledges the regret that tends to accompany grief: “What did I leave behind?”, “There were dreams to be fulfilled,” “Got hurt, hurt them.” The lyrics then change to “Now I just feel a longing” and “Now I just feel love,” which accept how we can’t change the past, and how even bitter memories remind us of how much love there was. What I like about this song is the message of hope. The earthquake happened on 3/11, the start of spring. With the repeated line “flowers will bloom” we are reminded of the beauty we can find in the wake of suffering.
真っ白な 雪道に 春風香る
I can smell the spring breeze on the white snowy road
わたしは なつかしい
I feel a longing
あの街を 思い出す
I remember that town
叶えたい 夢もあった
There were dreams to be fulfilled
変わりたい 自分もいた
There was me who wanted to change
今はただ なつかしい
Now I just feel a longing
あの人を 思い出す
I think about that person
誰かの歌が聞こえる
I can hear someone's song
誰かを励ましてる
cheering someone on
誰かの笑顔が見える
I can see someone's smile
悲しみの向こう側に
beyond the sadness
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
いつか生まれる君に
for you who will one day be born
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
わたしは何を残しただろう
What did I leave behind
夜空の 向こうの 朝の気配に
In the hint of morning beyond the night sky
わたしは なつかしい
I feel a longing
あの日々を 思い出す
I remember those days
傷ついて 傷つけて
I got hurt, I hurt them
報われず 泣いたりして
Cried when things didn’t work out
今はただ 愛おしい
Now I just feel love
あの人を 思い出す
I think about that person
誰かの想いが見える
I can see someone's feelings
誰かと結ばれてる
They're united
誰かの未来が見える
I can see someone's future
悲しみの向こう側に
beyond the sadness
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
いつか生まれる君に
for you who will one day be born
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
わたしは何を残しただろう x 2
What did I leave behind
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
いつか生まれる君に
for you who will one day be born
花は 花は 花は咲く
Flowers, flowers, flowers will bloom
いつか恋する君のために
for you who will one day fall in love