"Dango Daikazoku" is a popular Japanese song that became well known for being the ending theme of the anime "Clannad". It is performed by Chata, a Japanese singer known for her contributions to several anime soundtracks. Let's delve a little deeper into this song, its history, and meaning beyond studying the song's lyrics.
Table of Content
History and Origins
"Dango Daikazoku" was composed and arranged by Jun Maeda and Shinji Orito, members of the music group Key Sounds Label. The song is part of the soundtrack of the visual novel game "Clannad", released by Key in 2004. Later, in 2007, "Clannad" was adapted into an anime series by the Kyoto Animation studio.
The song became iconic as the closing theme of the first season of the anime "Clannad" and is mainly associated with the character Nagisa Furukawa, one of the series' protagonists. The lyrics of the song talk about daily life and the importance of family, themes that are central to the story of "Clannad".
Meaning and Themes
"Dango Daikazoku" is a sweet and captivating song that talks about the importance of family and the bonds that unite us. The term "Dango Daikazoku" translates approximately as "the big family of dumplings" in Japanese. In this context, the "dumplings" symbolize family members, united and supporting each other.
The music conveys a feeling of warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. It evokes feelings of love, care, and family connection, something that resonates deeply with many viewers. The simplicity and tenderness of the melody perfectly match the message of unity and family affection that permeates "Clannad".
Reception and Legacy
"Dango Daikazoku" was met with great enthusiasm by fans of "Clannad" and anime in general. The song became extremely popular and is often remembered as one of the most remarkable and emotional anime ending songs.
In addition to its popularity as an ending song, "Dango Daikazoku" has also been re-recorded and reinterpreted by several artists and musicians over the years, highlighting its lasting influence on anime's musical culture.
Translating and Studying
だんご だんご だんご だんご だんご だんご 大家族 (2x)
dango dango dango dango dango dango daikazoku
Great Dango Family
- だんご = 団子 = Dango - Japanese Sweet;
- 大家族 - Big family;
やんちゃな焼きだんご 優しい餡だんご
yanchana yakidango yasashi andango
A mean naughty dango, a sweet and gentle dango
- やんちゃ - impertinent, mischievous, rascal, naughty boy
- 焼きだんご - Grilled dango
- 優しい - gentle, graceful, affectionate, kind
すこし夢見がちな月見だんご
Sukoshi yumemigachi na tsukimi dango
The dango that sees the moon is a bit dreamy
- すこし - little
- Dream - 夢見, to dream, to have a dream
- 月見 - to see the moon
おすましごまだんご ４つ子串だんご
Osumashi goma dango yotsu ko kushi dango
The right sesame dango, the four dango on the skewer
- おすまし - urgency, certinho, primed person
- ごま - 胡麻 - sesame seeds
- 4つ - four
- 子 - Child (4 small dango)
- 串 - Espeto
みんな みんな あわせて １００人家族
Minna minna awasete hyakunin kazoku
Everyone gets together and it becomes a family of one hundred
- みんな - people, everyone
- together - あわせて, total, collectively
- １００人家族 - family of one hundred
赤ちゃんだんごは いつも幸せの中で
Akachan dango wa itsumo shiawase no naka de
A dango baby is always being rocked in bliss
- 赤ちゃん - baby
- いつも - always
- 幸せの - happiness
- 中 - inside, in the middle
年寄りだんごは 目を細めてる
Toshiyori dango wa me o hosometeru
An old dango looks with his narrow eyes
- Elderly - 年寄, old - 年寄
- 目 - Eyes
- 細めてる - Narrow (is)
仲良しだんご 手をつなぎ 大きなまるい輪になるよ
Nakayoshi dango te o tsunagi ooki na marui wani naruyo
The dango friends will join hands and make a big circle
- 仲良し - close friends, close buddy, bosom friends
- 手 - mão
- つなぎ - tie, unite, connect, join
- 大きな- big
- まるい - circle
- 輪になるよ - Circle, loop, ring
町を作りだんご星の上 みんなで笑いあうよ
Machi o tsukuri dango boshi no ue minna de waraiau yo
They'll find a village on a dango planet and they all laugh together
- 町 - Town, city, village
- 作り - make, produce, build, manufacture
- 星 - star, celestial body, planet
- 上 - on top, above
- みんな - everyone, people
- 笑い - laugh, smile
- あうよ - invitation to action (together)
うさぎも空で手を振って見てる でっかいお月さま
Usagi mo sora de te o futte miteru dekkai otsuki-sama
The bunnies are waving from the big moon
- うさぎ - rabbit
- 空 - sky
- 手 - Hand (wave hands)
- 振って - to shake, to swing
- 見てる - seeing
- でっかい - Huge; big; gigantic
- お月さま - Moon (respectful way)
嬉しいこと 悲しいことも 全部丸めて
Ureshii koto kanashii koto mo zenbu marumete
Enjoy all things, happy and sad
- 嬉しい - happy, pleasant, cheerful
- こと - things
- 悲しい - Sad
- 全部 - everything, all
- 丸めて - roll up, coil, pile up (take advantage?)
From here, the music goes back to the chorus, so let's not explain, ending with:
lalala・・・・・ララララ。。。
だんご だんご だんご だんご だんご だんご 大家族 (4x)