Apparently he's not the original singer so this means it is a cover version of someone else's song. Someone in youtube comments wrote the original singer is Iruka, a very famous and renowned Japanese female folk singer. Can't find her wikipedia page though. But she can really sing, very melodic. I can't decide if I like hers or Masha's more since there's an element of softness to her feminine voice whilst Masha gave a masculine interpretation. Did more digging and found out this is a 30 year old song (counting from 2009) and is a classic in Japan that has been covered by many artistes. Did more digging and found the translation (which I hope is somewhat accurate) & the video of the original singer way back in 1975!! All after Read More link. I tried the Google translator to know what Nagoriyuki or なごり雪 means and it says quite confidently "Lion's Mane". I seriously don't think that's the title or is it?! I tried a different website, taking a long shot that the title is 2 words, Nagori and Yuki and I found out Nagori means remains, traces, memory and Yuki means snow or going. Frankly I have no idea what it means so I give up on interpreting it. Ok, one last shot. Traces Of Snow? Remains Of Snow? Memory Of Snow? So this song celebrates the coming of Spring? And dig more digging and someone says it means "Unseasonable Snow" [Source]. Is that a word?? Did more digging and yes indeed! Traces Of Snow! [Source] I will use that as the English translated title. It makes more sense. I am reverting back to Unseasonable Snow thanks to an explanation by Morgan which you can read after Read More link! (09.07.2010) The above video is from his concert in 2000. I believe this song was never released in an album. After Read More you will find the romaji, kanji and English translation!




ORIGINAL SINGER
Iruka. Song written by Shouzo Ise.



ANN LIVE REQUEST VERSION
I love this version so much I am posting it here! Great singing, live during his radio show. I am not sure when he sang this though.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

MEANING OF THE TITLE
Thanks to Morgan Kelly as posted in the comments below! Now I understand the title and the English translation thereof (that is the 1st interpretation below).

Nagori yuki means literally unseasonable snow.

It is the snow that falls after the spring has started. In Japan, the Spring is a new start. New jobs or School starts and many people separate from loved ones. This could include family or others we have relationships with. these days of separation cause the unseasonable snow to seem sentimental or nostalgic.

one could say Nostalgic snow and it would have a deeper meaning. Each person has a Nagori Yuki time in their life. It might not be when snow is falling or when it's change of season, however, it usually has a sentimental feeling as two people separate, even for a short time.

So, the meaning of the song is found not in the title of the song, but within the words of the young boy speaking to his young girl as he sends her off on her new beginning and his reminiscing of how he realizes that she's not so young and he completely missed it all while they were together.

ENGLISH
1st INTERPRETATION
Thanks to this website, Coolcuts who translated the title as Unseasonable Snow.

I sneak a look at clock hands
while we are waiting for your train
Unseasonable snow falling in town
"This might be the last snow for me to see in Tokyo"
She whispered with her lonely smile
It seems like that snowflakes know when to fall on us
After all silly days that we all of us went thru

The spring has come, You're blooming.
You are so beautiful
More and more than the last year
you are so beautiful

Put your face crosser to the window of the train
You are trying to say something,
but the carriage started move, and I looked down
I could not let you finish your words
cause I was so scared to see that your lips will describe "saying good bye"

We never knew that the little girl would grown up so first
Now my babe leaving me, knowing I can't forget you

The spring has come, You're blooming.
You are so beautiful
More and more than the last year
you are so beautiful

Now you left me alone on the Platform covered with snow
Looking at unseasonable snow melting and dripping down

The spring has come, You're blooming.
You are so beautiful
More and more than the last year
you are so beautiful

2nd INTERPRETATION
Thanks to Chigusairo who also translated the title as Traces of Snow. Kinda same, but not quite. The rest is kinda same but now quite.

You're waiting for the train, as I'm next to you
Paying attention to my watch
Snow is falling out of season
You whisper sadly,
"So this is the last snow we'll see in Tokyo"
I know it's time for the traces of snow to fall
After this season we fooled around in too much
Now spring comes and you've become beautiful
You're much more beautiful than the year before

Pressed up against the window as the train starts to move
You try to say something to me
I look down
Afraid of your lips forming the word "goodbye"
As this time comes, I still haven't noticed
That even you, who were so very young, have grown up
Now spring comes and you've become beautiful
Much more beautiful than the year before

You're left behind as the train leaves the platform
I watch the snow fall and melt
Now spring comes and you've become beautiful
Much more beautiful than the last year
You've become much more beautiful than the year before

KANJI
Thanks to this website, Coolcuts.

汽車を待つ君の横で
ぼくは時計を気にしてる
季節外れの雪が降ってる
「東京で見る雪はこれが最後ね」と
さみしそうに君がつぶやく
なごり雪も降る時を知り
ふざけ過ぎた季節のあとで
今　春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった


動き始めた汽車の窓に
顔をつけて
君は何か言おうとしている
君のくちびるが「さようなら」と動くことが
こわくて下を向いてた
時が行けば　幼い君も
大人になると　気付かないまま
今　春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった



君が去ったホームに残り
落ちてはとける　雪を見ていた
今　春が来て君はきれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった

去年よりずっときれいになった
去年よりずっときれいになった

ROMAJI
Taken from lyricstime.

Kisha o matsu kimi no yoko de boku wa
Tokei o ki ni shite 'ru
Kisetsu hazure no yuki ga futte 'ru
Tokyo de miru yuki wa kore ga saigo ne to
Samishisou ni kimi wa tsubuyaku
Nagori yuki mo furu toki o shiri
Fuzake sugita kisetsu no ato de
Ima haru ga kite kimi wa kirei ni natta
Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta

Ugoki hajimete kisha no mado ni
Kao o tsukete
Kimi wa nani ka iou toshite 'ru
Kimi no kuchibiru ga sayounara to ugoku koto ga
Kowakute shita o muite 'ta
Toki ga yukeba osanai kimi mo
Otona ni naru to kizukanai mama
Ima haru ga kite kimi wa kirei ni natta
Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta

Kimi ga satta HOOMU ni nokori
Ochite wa tokeru yuki o mite ita
Ima haru ga kite kimi wa kirei ni natta
Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta
Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta
Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta