Pushim, is of Korean ancestry and Japanese national. She is the top female Japanese reggae/R&B/rap & hip-hop star. Her birth name is Pak Pushin. As one may know, people of Korean ancestry have had a history of severe repression and invisibility in Japanese society. Many Koreans changed their names two to four generations ago in order to try and make it easier to navigate through jobs, finding housing, civil rights, etc. in Japan. There are many Koreans in Japan, like many oppressed peoples in many nations today around the world, who do not know they have Korean ancestry. Their parents had to have their children survive. Pak was lucky. Her family did not make her forget, although this came with hardships. It is much better nowadays, for Japanese of Korean ancestry, although prejudices still exist.
Pushim is my favorite and is considered the best of the ‘black’ singers in Japan.
The First video is a cover of Carol King’s big hit ‘It’s Too Late.’ She does it in smooth R&B style with a few word changes.
The second is a joyful song about being an empowered woman: “My Name is…” Lyrics below.
All Copyright & Credit goes to Ki/oon Records / NeOSITE DISCS and Space Shower TV (2007)
恋なんてもうしない」,ウソの誓い [I make a fake promise like: I’m not gonna love anymore]
夢を求め果てしない戦い [It’s a battle where there’s no end to chasing dreams]
雨をよけて守りたいハイヒールとプライド [To bypass the rain and protect my high-heels and pride]
My name is… “My name is”
My name is woman
たったひとつの出会いから予期せぬ運命に [To a life that can’t escape from the first meeting]
胸を痛めたり優しくなれたり [we can hurt, we can become passionate]
傷つく度にがむしゃらに走った道 [Each time there’s a scar from running wild on the path]
ずっと 一緒さ強気なmy heart [My heart is keeping a straight-line strength]
uh ah それぞれのdestiny [uh ah all different kinds of destiny]
uh ah かたく今決意し [Do things like keeping them closely abreast]
Yes, i am gonna be strong
Yes, i am gonna be strong
広い海のように [Like the wide ocean]
uh ah いたずらなdestiny [uh ah rascal-like destiny]
uh ah 試されるテストに [uh ah to the tests that try to betray us]
No, i don’t cry anymore
No, i don’t cry anymore
青い空のように [like the wide blue sky]
誰だって言えない悩みがあって [Everyone has some words they can’t express]
いつだって愛されたいだけがんばって [And always we try our best at wanting to be loved]
この体を支配する感情はcolorful [This body that is carried in feelings are colorful]
My name is… “My name is”
My name is woman
去ったばかりの恋にまださよなら言えない日々 [loves that just ran away that I can’t say ‘bye’ to yet]
過去を旅したり好都合なmake a story [The past continues ‘make a story’]
そんな私を私が信じてあげる [That kind of ‘me’ I’ll trust in]
ずっと 心配だらけのmy heart [and all this time a worrying ‘my heart’]
uh ah それぞれのdestiny
uh ah かたく今決意し
Yes, i am gonna be strong
Yes, i am gonna be strong
広い海のように
uh ah いたずらなdestiny
uh ah 試されるテストに
No, i don’t cry anymore
No, i don’t cry anymore
青い空のように
それぞれに違う人のdestiny [All kinds of people I meet with their destiny]
例えばママのあの子はtwenty-three [thinking about it, I was a Mom to your 23]
激しい恋が好きなshe’s a drama queen [she’s a drama queen that likes passionate love]
仕事に生きるよく似た友達 [To my friends who live for only working]
They are beautiful
They are beautiful
We are beautiful and even we are just women
Here we go
もっとずっと向こうに行こう [Let’s go way further]
きっとちょっと流浪の時も [Even if it’s not the right time]
もっとずっと向こうに行こう
uh ah それぞれのdestiny
uh ah かたく今決意し
Yes, i am gonna be strong
Yes, i am gonna be strong
広い海のように
uh ah いたずらなdestiny
uh ah 試されるテストに
No, i don’t cry anymore
No, i don’t cry anymore
青い空のように
uh ah それぞれのdestiny
uh ah かたく今決意し
Yes, i am gonna be strong
Yes, i am gonna be strong
広い海のように
uh ah いたずらなdestiny
uh ah 試されるテストに
No, i don’t cry anymore
No, i don’t cry anymore
青い空のように
AI NO KO 