The "tranquility" that resides in Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics: A modern form of wabi-sabi
The "tranquility" that resides in Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics: A modern form of wabi-sabi
Introduction: Where does silence come from?
"How wonderful it would be if it were a dream."
The opening of Kenshi Yonezu's signature song "Lemon" seeps deep into the listener's heart, like a drop of water falling in silence.
His lyrics are different from flashy or overly emotional ones; they have a "tranquility" to them. It's like the wind blowing through a dry landscape garden, leaving an indescribable aftertaste.
This "tranquility" resonates deeply with the Japanese aesthetic of "wabi-sabi."
In this article, we will explore the form of wabi-sabi that lives on in the modern world, using the sense of "tranquility" that permeates Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics as a clue.
What is Wabi-Sabi? The Aesthetics of Silence
Wabi-sabi is a uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense, a sensibility that embraces imperfection, transience, and white space.
A philosophy that finds beauty in "imperfection" and "silence" rather than perfection, as seen in the tea ceremony, haiku, and gardens.
It is also a quiet philosophy that values spiritual depth over material wealth.
In modern society, where we are overwhelmed with information and emotions, quietness like wabi-sabi is beginning to take on new value.
["Modern Wabi-Sabi" seen in Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics]
Elements of wabi-sabi can be seen throughout Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics. Below are some of his representative songs.
■'Lemon' - Loss and the blank spaces of memory. Mourning for what has been lost and the serenity of memories that remain.
Rather than direct sadness, there is a blank space left over that contains "indescribable emotions."
■ "Eine Kleine" - The solitude and tranquility of the city "A secret buried without being told to anyone is breathing a little."
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, a solitude quietly thrives, unnoticed by anyone.
This "unnoticed presence" is what connects to the sensibility of wabi-sabi.
■'Canary' - The beauty of the voiceless voice, the trembling of emotion in silence.
The pauses and lingering echoes of the lyrics speak more than words themselves.
By weaving silence into his lyrics, Kenshi Yonezu gives the listener space to overlay their own emotions.
This is exactly the essence of wabi-sabi, "beauty that leaves it to the viewer."
[Where music and poetry intersect: Japanese sentiment in J-POP]
Kenshi Yonezu's serenity sets him apart from other J-POP artists.
For example, Utada Hikaru's "First Love" and Aimer's "Choucho Musubi" also have a wabi-sabi feel to them, but Yonezu's lyrics place more emphasis on "white space."
Overseas listeners have commented that the song evokes a quiet, mysterious feeling, and that it stays in your mind despite having few words.
This is proof that the uniquely Japanese beauty of "ma" and "silence" resonates with global sensibilities.
[Living the modern wabi-sabi]
In today's world, where social media and videos are everywhere, silence has become a rare commodity.
As Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics show, leaving space creates deeper empathy rather than cramming in too many words.
A wabi-sabi lifestyle involves taking a step back from the flood of information and taking the time to quietly face yourself.
for example:
・Compose one haiku using a seasonal word each day ・Keep a blank diary while listening to quiet music ・Enjoy spending time doing nothing in a room with plenty of space
Wabi-sabi is not just an aesthetic sense of the past, but also a sensibility of the future.
[Conclusion: Silence is within us]
Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics gently inject a sense of tranquility into the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Like wabi-sabi, it is the beauty that resides in imperfection.
Perhaps true emotions lie in the "space" and "silence" that we tend to overlook.
Wabi-sabi is both nostalgic and new.
And Kenshi Yonezu's lyrics are poems that speak to that tranquility in the modern age.