PDF UNAHQ 2025 2Y’S ALBUM INFO
Yuko: Composer and pianist inspired by the nature creates sounds
Yoko: Vocalist projecting the culture and traditions of her Ainu roots—a people who coexist with nature—into the modern era
The album 2Y's was woven together through the resonance of Yuko and Yoko sharing a common vision of symbiosis with nature.
Yuko:自然の生み出す音に触発された作曲家・ピアニスト
Yoko:自らのルーツであるアイヌ民族の自然と共生する文化・伝統を現代に投影するボーカリスト
自然との共生という共通の思いを持つ２人が共鳴しあって紡ぎ出されたのが本アルバム2Y’sである。
MUSIC LIST
M-01 Kasorap------4’48
M-02 Lotus --------4’51
M-03 Bunun song---4’38
M-04 Acikara---------4’33
M-05 Sinrici hawehe---3’30
M-06 Ikomososo----3’59
M-07 Wind ripple---2’14
M-08 Pehe utar rimse---5’04
M-09 Tsutau----5’05
M-10 Korpokkur----2’32
1 Kesorap 4’48
Lyrics Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation Masashi Kawakami
Composition Yuko Yabe
Kesorap is an imaginary spirit bird of the Ainu. It resembles a peacock. The poem draws inspiration from Yukie Chiri's sacred song “The God of Kesorap.” In the iomante (spirit-sending) ritual, it departs, embracing an inaw (wooden sacred banner), to journey to the land of the kamuy (gods) where its mother awaits.
2 Lotus 4’51
Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yuko Yabe
Lyrics questioning the meaning of life and one's own existence.
Suffering from society's notions of correctness, lamenting one's own weakness, yet singing “Who am I?” while still living strongly in the present.
3 Bunun — Sacred Ascent 4’38
Composition: Bunun Tribe, Yuko Yabe
We offer our deepest respect and gratitude to the Bunun Tribe Cultural Foundation of Taiwan, who provided the eight-part choir.
We offer our deepest respect and gratitude to everyone at the Bunun Tribal Leisure Farm.
This music was born from the experience of encountering their prayers and resonant sounds.
4 Acikara 4’33
Lyrics Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation Masashi Kawakami
Composition Yuko Yabe
This song depicts searching for a lost treasure within a Cise (traditional Ainu dwelling).The final lyrics are: “Something precious. My treasure. What is it? Sitopera (a wooden paddle for stirring dumplings).”
5 Sinrici hawehe〜Voices of Our Ancestors〜 3’30
Lyrics Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation Masashi Kawakami
Composition Yoko Toyokawa
Long ago, when the Ainu gathered, they would begin singing by tapping the lid of the sintoko (cooking pot) beside the hearth to keep the beat. This would start the ukouk (round singing), and as the mood grew more and more lively, they would begin to dance. These lyrics were created imagining such scenes of our ancestors.
6 Ikomososo 3’59
Composition Yuko Yabe
7 Wind Ripple 2'14
Lyrics: Rintaro Uchida
Composition: Yuko Yabe
This piece was composed inspired by the poem “Wind Ripple” found in the latest picture book “Friends” by picture poet Rintaro Uchida.
8 Pehe utar rimse 5’04
Composition Yoko Toyokawa Satoshi Kawamoto Yuko Yabe
Rimse means dance.
The sound of the droplets seemed to be joyfully feasting within the cave. I add my voice as if to be quietly included in that feast.
9 Tsutau 5’05
Lyrics Kiyu
Composition Yuko Yabe
10 Korpokkur Under the Butterbur Leaves 2’32
Lyrics: Yoko Toyokawa
Ainu Translation: Masashi Kawakami
Composition: Yuko Yabe
The lyrics tell of an old man korpokkur (a being dwelling under butterbur leaves) who, unable to leave his shelter because the rain won't stop, grumbles about it, and eventually just says, “Guess I'll sleep.”
Total time:41m06sec
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