Introduction

Inabakumori - Relayouter play_circle

Relayouter was Inabakumori’s entry to the VOCALOID Collection 2023 Summer which is exactly what the name implies. It’s a competition/event to celebrate VOCALOID and adjacent music.

It got first place, surprisingly enough.

Shout out to CeVIO ROSE & POPY

Kaai Yuki

Wow look at all those Kaai Yuki’s

Being basically a celebration for vocaloid, this song is a bit different than Ina’s other songs. Well, the cover girl is different at least. It’s actually Kaai Yuki herself instead of his (and NKNK_NGRMS’s) OC Osage-chan.

Kaai Yuki being the actual voice bank Inaba used.

This is “Osage-chan”

She’s absolutely adorable. Probably one of my favorite Vocaloid Producer OC.

I usually don’t use Japanese suffixes when talking in english, but just “Osage” is a bit weird lol. As it just means “twintails”

For the laymen, you might’ve recognized Kaai Yuki’s character from the Yukopi’s Kyoufuu All Back Music Video

Me on my way to school like-

The lack of Osage-chan is a bit significant to me because up until this point, my headcanon is that (almost) all of Inabakumori’s lyrics are written from her perspective. A perspective of possibly a high school student maybe going through some Youth Complex. Ranging from being overwhelmed with homework to getting dumped.

The existence of Yuki on the cover might imply that this song was written from a different point of view.

Childlike Perspective

This song takes a few cues from Secret Elementary School Student where it’s about someone trying to understand their surroundings as if they were merely an elementary school student. A curious child that knows nothing. Trying to explore a new world.

This was also shown in how the lyrics are written. It only uses kanji a Japanese first grader could understand.

wait that character looks familiar…

Yep! That is Kaai Yuki! The song was made for Yuki’s 10th anniversary. So the song being about an “elementary school student” suddenly makes a lot more sense. And so too is Relayouter’s apparent theme.

For reference, Yuki is canonically 9 and is actually voiced by a grade schooler. Do what you will with this information.

In Relayouter, they didn’t use that “easy kanji’s for first grade japanese” thing. This could imply that Yuki has grown a bit since Secret Elementary School Student. But it still very much revolves around the idea of learning how the world works. This time it’s a bit more towards “human emotions”.

ぶつかり生まれる前線は

On the front of which was born…

喜怒哀楽の嵐を起こして

a plethora of human emotions,

These were said after describing what I can only guess is either a wild twitter argument or a chaotic text with an ex-partner.

The thought that “words clashing together” can inflict emotions on someone is kind of intriguing when you think about it. Words on their own doesn’t have any meaning. But put them together and you can communicate almost everything that comes to mind.

Yes that’s how language works…

The lyrics also talk about this someone learning how their own emotions work.

喜びも怒りもちょうど良く素敵にしてあげる

Giving you just the right amount of joy and anger.

Having just “happiness” isn’t really a desirable thing on its own. You don’t really want to inject dopamine forever and ever while being a vegetable. Life is all about hardships and overcoming them. Hence “the right amount of joy and anger”

Becoming Myself

あたしに無いエネルギー

An energy I don’t have,

僕になって叫んであげるから

Because I’ll become myself and shout

It’s repeated for every chorus and arguably the catchiest line in the song.

There’s two different “me”-s in the lyrics. あたし (atashi) which has a more feminine tone and 僕 (boku) which is more masculine. These two pronouns likely refers to a different “entity” in the singer’s character.

Inaba usually uses one or the other when it comes to his lyrics. For example Kimi ni Kaikisen and Float Play uses あたし (atashi) while Hello Marina and Kitai Avenue uses just 僕 (boku).

So the use of both and specifically in a way that treats them like different entities is definitely interesting.

In the other songs, 僕 (boku) is much more “mature”. Being able to even guide the significant other. While あたし (atashi) is a bit more floaty. It doesn’t know much and just wants to get it over with.

In Relayouter, the song goes that あたし (atashi) will become a 僕 (boku) and then shouts. If we’re going through the theory where both pronouns are referring to the two sides of the same person, it could mean that the character is indeed growing up. Leaving their past self behind for a brighter, and hopefully wiser future.

It could also mean the character finally ~found themselves~ amidst everything. Finally finding peace and content with whatever they have.

while we're here, this is not in any way shape or form sterotyping genders. they are merely linguistic features.

this disclaimer is targeted towards the average twitter user.

Parallels to other songs

To me, Inabakumori’s music always had that “connected feel” to it. Like they’re all part of the same story. This song is no exception.

喜怒哀楽の嵐を起こして

a plethora of human emotions,

Is a reference to ANTICYCLONE and A flower waiting for the wind about the overwhelming emotions one might have.

記録的な降水量となる

alongside a record breaking downpour.

傘を差して覗いた

I peered from beneath my umbrella.

Likely a reference to Lost Umbrella. And it’s not just the “umbrella”, that song was about overcoming a storm so to speak. About how we should stick together even in the toughest of rainy weather.

あたしのこころにひらがなで

From the bottom of my heart in hiragana,

『愛を含んだ小学生』

“An elementary student full of love”

A not so subtle reference to Secret Elementary School Student. Which as we discussed prior, already has major connections to Relayouter. “Hiragana” being the most basic kind of Japanese letters.

It being “in hiragana” could mean the person is trying to express it in very simple terms, so that even a child could understand what they mean.

両手が塞がって何も得られない

Your hands are full, you can’t pick things up anymore.

Is connected to Lagtrain. Specifically the bit about “My occupied hands are holding you back” which to me sounded like a person holding someone elses shoulder as a “wait for me” gesture.

I stole this bit from this comment lol

It also mentioned the distinction between that あたし (atashi) and 僕 (boku).

(my) Translation

There is an official translation from Inabakumori, but it’s a bit rough to my liking. It’s not like my Japanese skills are better but I do still want to have a go at this. I need to practice my Nihongo anyways.

Japanese	Romaji	Translation
あたしに無いエネルギー	atashi ni nai ENERGY	An energy I don’t have,
この声だけにそそぎ込んでくれ	kono koe dake ni sosogikonde kure	pouring it all just for this voice.
喜びも怒りもちょうど良く素敵にしてあげる	yorokobi mo ikari mo choudo yoku suteki ni shite ageru	Giving you just the right amount of joy and anger.
僕になって叫んであげるから	boku ni natte sakende ageru kara	Because I’ll become myself and shout.
♫
一人ぼっちのエネルギー	hitori bocchi no ENERGY	An energy so lonely,
こころに拍を打ち　飛ばしてくれ	kokoro ni haku o uchi tobashite kure	it stroke my heart and made it fly.
悲しみも楽しみもちょうど良く素敵にして	kanashimi mo tanoshimi mo choudo yoku suteki ni shite	Giving you just the right amount of melancholy and joyous times.
愛を含んだ中毒性	ai o fukunda chuudokusei	An addiction full of love.
あなたは見失わないで	anata wa miushinaunaide	Don’t you lose sight of it.
♫
ひしめき合う言葉と言葉が	hishimekiau kotoba to kotoba ga	Those crowded words that clash together.
ぶつかり生まれる前線は	butsukari umareru zensen wa	On the front of which was born…
喜怒哀楽の嵐を起こして	kidoairaku no arashi o okoshite	a plethora of human emotions,
記録的な降水量となる	kirokuteki na kousuiryou to naru	alongside a record breaking downpour.
♫
傘をさして覗いた	kasa wo sashite nozoita	I peered from beneath my umbrella,
昨日には無い感情を	kinou ni wa nai kanjou wo	the feelings that weren’t there yesterday.
あたしのこころの糧にして	atashi no kokoro no kate ni sashite	A nourishment for my heart and soul,
想い秘めた愛を証明しよう	omoi himeta ai wo shoumei shiyou	I’ll prove this love which I’ve been hiding.
♫
あたしに無いエネルギー	atashi ni nai ENERGY	An energy I don’t have,
この声だけにそそぎ込んでくれ	kono koe dake ni sosogikonde kure	pouring it all just for this voice.
喜びも怒りもちょうど良く素敵にしてあげる	yorokobi mo ikari mo choudo yoku suteki ni shite ageru	Giving you just the right amount of joy and anger.
僕になって叫んであげるから	boku ni natte sakende ageru kara	Because I’ll become myself and shout.
♫
めぐりだしたエネルギー	meguridashita ENERGY	The energy I’ve been looking for
張り裂けそうならぶち込んでくれ	harisakesou nara buchikonde kure	is about to burst so spend it on me.
悲しみも楽しみもちょうど良く素敵にする	kanashimi mo tanoshimi mo choudo yoku suteki ni suru	Giving you just the right amount of melancholy and joyous times.
愛を含んだ再構成	ai o fukunda saikousei	A reconstruction full of love.
あなたは見失わないで	anata wa miushinaunaide	Don’t you lose sight of it.
♫
超　超　超　超大切　大慎重に	chou chou chou chou taisetsu daishinchou ni	Something super, super important. Be very, very careful.
並べて飾った星屑が	nabete kazatta hoshikuzu ga	The stardust that you lined up,
面白いほど丁寧に連れていかれる	omoshiroi hodo teinei ni tsurete ikareru	is being politely taken away.
憂いが奏でるのはこの声だ	urei ga kanaderu no wa kono koe da	It brings out the sorrow in this voice.
♫
追いかける過程での出会い	oikakeru katei de no deai	Encounters during a pursuation.
振りかざして生まれたグレーと愛	furikazashite umareta guree to ai	Encountering this gray love I’m flourishing.
世界が選んでくのは愛とAI	sekai ga erandeku no wa ai to AI	This choice between love and “love”
僕をぐちゃぐちゃにしてく憂いと哀	boku o guchagucha ni shiteku urei to ai	Is about to mess with my own genuine love.
♫
視界に入る新天体	shikai ni hairu shintentai	A new celestial body entered my field of view.
僕は知っているそこまでの過程	boku wa shitte iru soko made no katei	That much, I know how it works.
それはどこで拾った武器なんだい	sore wa doko de hirotta buki nandai	About that weapon, where did you get it from?
両手塞がって何も得られない	ryoute fusagatte nani mo erarenai	Your hands are full, you can’t pick things up anymore.
♫
そんな気持ち晒してもつまらない	sonna kimochi sarashite mo tsumaranai	You keep showing the same feelings, It’s getting tiring.
愛を籠めた遷移を知ってほしい	ai o kometa sen’i o shitte hoshii	I want to know how your love evolves.
君もこんな苦しさだったのかも	kimi mo konna kurushisa datta no kamo	Maybe you felt this sorrowful feeling before.
今更わかってもどうしようもない	imasara wakatte mo doushiyou mo nai	Well it’s not like it matters now anyways.
♫
寝たふりで誤魔化せば	netafuri de gomakaseba	I pretended to be asleep…
消えて無くなる感情を	kiete naku naru kanjou o	As to hope my feelings of yesterday will be gone.
あたしのこころにひらがなで	atashi no kokoro ni hiragana de	From the bottom of my heart in hiragana,
流し込んで愛を証明しよう	nagashikonde ai o shoumei shiyou	I’ll explain the love I’ve been pouring out.
♫
魅力的な可能性	miryokuteki na kanousei	An attractive possibility.
この声をどこか遠くへ	kono koe o dokoka tooku e	Take this voice somewhere far away.
模様替えで疲れた僕を少し楽にさせて	moyougae de tsukareta boku o sukoshi raku ni sasete	As I will rearrange this feeling to make myself a bit happier…
♫
あたしに無いエネルギー	atashi ni nai ENERGY	An energy I don’t have,
この声だけにそそぎ込んでくれ	kono koe dake ni sosogikonde kure	pouring it all just for this voice.
喜びも怒りもちょうど良く素敵にしてあげる	yorokobi mo ikari mo choudo yoku suteki ni shite ageru	Giving you just the right amount of joy and anger.
僕になって叫んであげるから	boku ni natte sakende ageru kara	Because I’ll become myself and shout.
♫
歌いだしたエネルギー	utaidashita ENERGY	An energy I just sang,
こころに拍を打ち　飛ばしてくれ	kokoro ni haku o uchi tobashite kure	stroke a beat in my heart and made it fly.
悲しみも楽しみもちょうど良く素敵にする	kanashimi mo tanoshimi mo choudo yoku suteki ni suru	Giving you just the right amount of melancholy and joy.
『愛を含んだ小学生』	“ai o fukunda shougakusei”	“An elementary school student, full of love.”
あたしにずっとついてきて！	atashi ni zutto tsuite kite!	Please, stay with me forever!
♫
繰り返した　愛の中の憂いの中の	kurikaeshita ai no naka no urei no naka no	Repeatedly, in love and in sorrow.
愛に気づけたことへの	ai ni kizuketa koto e no	With love, I started to realize.
どうしようもない僕の嬉しさは	doushiyou mo nai boku no ureshisa wa	Despite everything I’m still content.
あたしを愛している証しだ	atashi o aishite iru akashi da	That is definite proof that you still love me.
♫

This translation was made by constantly checking words with Yomichan, and also constantly crossreferencing DeepL and Inabakumori’s translation. Alongside checking thesaurus for more “poetic” words… Uh, If you saw any fuck ups my twitter dm’s are open. Feel free to use this translation if you want/if it’s actually good enough.

As a closing note, here’s inabakumori singing his own song.

Inabakumori - An image in the making (Inabakumori Cover) play_circle

Thank you for reading <3