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Translation into Japanese

Dear friends,

  Sometimes, I really wonder what Seiko thinks.  I discovered Seiko back in 1980 as a boy of 10 who happened to be in Japan and watched this phenomenal girl perform on TV variety shows (today, i still have one of the original not-for-sale promo posters from that era that i managed to charm off a japanese salesgirl).  But the euphoria and joy that was to follow came to an abrupt end with 9th wave and her first marriage.  What was she thinking then?

  Her resurgence after a two year hiatus brought with her some excellent music, as well as some forgettable albums.  I can say that pre 1988, her albums had 90% fantastic songs (even those never released as singles) but during her comeback albums, it was hard going to find more than 2 songs per album that I would listen to again and again.  What was she thinking then?

  As we entered the late 90s, my biggest moment of joy was watching the DVD of the 1999 ZEPP tour concert.  When she asked her fans what songs they wanted to hear and sang one stanza and the chorus of each selection, ad-hoc, it was mega-nostalgic for most of the choices were pre-1988.  The fans knew, and remebered, when it was the very best.  I wonder that day, what she was thinking.

  For me, the last song that had "heart", as eloquently put by one of the earlier messages was True Love Story with Hiromi Go.  My wife cant stnd his voice :) but when I heard that song (and I must have heard it more than five hundred times now), it brought me back to the years of old, the times whereby this phenomenal singer carried the song on the strength of her vocals and god-given voice, rather than funky techno beats and unhummable jarring "melodies".  Did she not think to continue in that style?

  When H.S came along, well.......the less said the better though I dont blame him too much cause deep down, I think Seiko is trying to break into a market segment that perhaps is alien to those like us , weaned on her pre-88 music.  For those who are looking for a moment to bring a tear to the eye, I can only recommend the Jewel Box 2002 concert when Seiko started the song for Sayaka and Sayaka then proceeded to sing a song that in a time not that long ago, would have been another number one hit for Seiko.

SQUALL