NHK's "Classroom for Examining Masterpiece Songs" explores the lyrics of famous songs from the Showa and Heisei eras, offering a free-spirited and engaging viewing experience. The third episode, airing on NHK General on June 18th at 7:30 PM, will focus on Saki Kubota's "Ihoujin" (Foreigner). The program will thoroughly examine the lyrics of this memorable song, known for its exotic sound using ethnic instruments and its mysterious lyrics that defy specific location or time, and will create its own unique music video.
The lyrics and music for "Ihoujin" (Foreigner) were written and composed by Kubota himself, who was 21 years old at the time. The desert imagery used in the tie-in TV commercial perfectly matched the song's worldview, and riding the wave of the "Silk Road boom" at the time, it sold 1.4 million copies despite being his debut single.
Upon closer examination of the lyrics, it becomes clear that the song depicts a poignant misunderstanding between a man and a woman amidst a mysterious setting and time period, complete with references to "cobblestone streets" and "the sound of hooves."
The analysis will be handled by the comedy duo "Beni Shoga" and actor Daisuke Nakagawa. Tomochika will also appear as an advisor.
