This cute song is based on the maneki neko 招き猫 found in stores throughout Japan. Store owners place these cat statues out to welcome customers (and encourage buying). If you are a Makoto+ Shogun or Lifetime member, you can read an intermediate story about the 招き猫 by clicking here. (Not yet a member, click here to learn more!)
This new Wednesday Campanella song is written from the cat's perspective.
Introduction
There are a few useful expressions and idioms in the song. It opens with 千客万来 which is used to show many customers coming and going. That is, business is good.
商売繁盛 is similar expression. It likewise means a thriving business.
But the best idiom in the song is – hands down (kind of pun intended) – 猫の手も借りたい which means, "(I'm so busy) I want a cat to lend me a hand."
If you aren't familiar with Wednesday Campanella (水曜日のカンパネラ), you can read about them on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wednesday_Campanella
A customer of ours introduced us to them a few years back and we've taken a liking to the music. It's weird—very weird—but fun.
The lyrics rarely make much sense, but the songs tend to be based on some topic of Japanese culture. This song is Maneki Neko, the Beckoning Cat, for example. There are other songs based on traditional Japanese folktales such as Momotaro and Ikkyuusan.
The lead singer recently changed from a lady named コムアイ (known as KOM_I in English) to 詩羽 (Utaha). Utaha has carried on the style and substance well, I think.
This song, 『招き猫』Maneki Neko, was just released on February 25th, 2022. We hope you both enjoy the song and learn a little from it.
While this lesson is free, Makoto+ and Patreon supporters have access to bonus content including a downloadable PDF and sound files. If you are a member, please click here for the bonus content.
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Video of the Song
Warning: The more you listen to it, the more addicting the weirdness becomes...
Sound File of the Lyrics
Here is a recording of all the lyrics spoken with pauses between lines. See below for breakdowns of every line with individual sound files.
Lyrics in Japanese with Furigana
Japanese Only Lyrics with Furigana
Line-by-Line with Vocabulary and Translation
Please note, in many cases, due to the poetic nature of songs, other translations are possible.
千客万来 千客万来
Business is booming
Vocabulary & Notes
右手あげりゃ 商売繁盛
When I raise my right hand, business prospers
Vocabulary & Notes
秒で客呼んでしまうこの肉球
By this paw, customers are called in a second.
Vocabulary & Notes
心をつかんでしまう白いボディ
(My) white body grabs the (customer's) hearts
Vocabulary & Notes
おかげで店は連日大繁盛
Thanks to me, the store is thriving day after day.
Vocabulary & Notes
忙しい猫の手も借りたいぐらい
I'm so busy I even want the help of a cat.
Vocabulary & Notes
姿は猫
(My) appearance, a cat
Vocabulary & Notes
中身はエリート経営コンサル
(But) my true self, an elite management consultant
Vocabulary & Notes
副業 猫
My side job, a cat
Vocabulary & Notes
本職の方が 経営コンサル
As for (my) day job, it is management consulting
Vocabulary & Notes
No 違法客引き
No illegal pestering people to buy aggressively
Vocabulary & Notes
合法手招き
(only) legitimate beckoning
Vocabulary & Notes
今はまだ 三流のこの店
Right now, this store is still third rate
Vocabulary & Notes
もっと客を増やすのだ
(We) need more customers.
Vocabulary & Notes
この右手上げた刹那
The moment (I) raise this right hand (paw)
Vocabulary & Notes
客を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ 我が
It is I who beckons and beckons customers to come in
Vocabulary & Notes
福を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ さらに
It is I who invites fortune to enter. In addition…
Vocabulary & Notes
厄を祓い祓い祓い祓い のけるのだ 我が
It is I who exorcises misfortune out of the way
Vocabulary & Notes
客を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ 我のこの肉球で
It is I who beckons and beckons customers to come in with this, my paw
Vocabulary & Notes
ただの普通の猫だったあの頃
Back then, when I was just an ordinary cat.
Vocabulary & Notes
皆のんびり気ままに暮らしてた
We were all just taking it easy, living life as we pleased.
Vocabulary & Notes
ある日天からの啓示を受けた我
One day, I received a revelation from heaven
Vocabulary & Notes
肉球に偉大な力宿す
A great power came to reside within (my) paw.
Vocabulary & Notes
姿は猫
(My) appearance, a cat
Vocabulary & Notes
中身はエリート経営コンサル
(But) my true self, an elite management consultant
Vocabulary & Notes
副業 猫
My side job, a cat
Vocabulary & Notes
本職の方が 経営コンサル
(My) day job is management consulting
Vocabulary & Notes
No 違法客引き
No illegal pestering people to buy aggressively
Vocabulary & Notes
合法手招き
(only) legitimate beckoning
Vocabulary & Notes
いつか一流になるこの店
Someday this place will be first class.
Vocabulary & Notes
もっと客を増やすのだ
(I will) increase customers more.
Vocabulary & Notes
この右手上げた刹那
The moment (I) raise this right hand (paw)
Vocabulary & Notes
客を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ 我が
It is I who beckons and beckons customers to come in
Vocabulary & Notes
福を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ さらに
It is I who invites fortune to enter. In addition…
Vocabulary & Notes
厄を祓い祓い祓い祓い のけるのだ 我が
It is I who exorcises misfortune out of the way
Vocabulary & Notes
客を招き招き招き招き入れるのだ 我のこの肉球で
It is I who beckons and beckons customers to come in with this, my paw
Vocabulary & Notes
千客万来 千客万来
Business is booming
Vocabulary & Notes
右手あげりゃ 商売繁盛
When I raise my right hand, business prospers
Vocabulary & Notes
千客万来 千客万来
Business is booming
Vocabulary & Notes
右手あげりゃ 商売繁盛
When I raise my right hand, business prospers
Vocabulary & Notes
秒で客呼んでしまうこの肉球
By this paw, customers are called in a second.
Vocabulary & Notes
心をつかんでしまう白いボディ
(My) white body grabs the (customer's) hearts
Vocabulary & Notes
おかげで店は連日大繁盛
Thanks to me, the store is thriving day after day.
Vocabulary & Notes
忙しい猫の手も借りたいぐらい
I'm so busy I even want the help of a cat.
Vocabulary & Notes
For upper beginners and above.
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