Plus Minus
Original title: プラマイ
Original Japanese lyrics are preserved for listening and Japanese-language practice. The explanations below are in English.
ABOUT THIS SONG
About this song
Positive and negative numbers — and the space between us.
Facing the same way or different ways. Clashing, or multiplying together.
This song connects mathematical plus and minus signs with relationships between people.
“Turn it over and you can see the light” may sound different when you listen with maths in mind.
LYRICS
Romaji helps you sing the Japanese words. English meaning explains them, rather than matching the tune.
Japanese wordplay and memory tricks may sound unusual in English—that’s part of the fun! The sound clues work in Japanese.
ō and ū mark long vowels (oo and uu). Original English lines are kept as written.
Mieteru keshiki ga subete ja nai
Tōmei na kotoba de shirusareta
Bokura no “shinsekai” e no kippu sa
Naritai jibun o mitsuke ni ikō
Mukau yūki ga kasanariai
Nakama no kotoba ga senaka osu
Tatoe ima wa magyaku no aitsu to mo
Butsukari uchikeshi susunde ikeru
Gyaku no gyaku mo aru ura no ura mo aru
Hikkurikaeseba hikari ga mieru
Shinjiru koto sae akiramenai
Nita mono dōshi ga hibikiai
Musū no kotoba ga afuredasu
Chigau omoi o kakeawase
Ima mieteru mono sae kaete shimaō
Seikai mo machigai mo nai
Muki ga chigau dake
Itte minakya mienai keshiki
Gyaku no gyaku mo aru ura no ura mo aru
Hikkurikaeseba hikari ga mieru
Shinjiru koto sae akiramenai
Donna toki mo hitori ja nai
Nayami mo itami mo wakeatte
Bokura ni wa kimi ga hitsuyō de
Kimi ni mo bokura ga hitsuyō na n da
見えてる景色が すべてじゃない
透明な言葉で 記された
僕らの「新世界」への切符さ
なりたい自分を 見つけに行こう
向かう勇気が 重なり合い
仲間の言葉が 背中押す
たとえ今は真逆の アイツとも
ぶつかり打ち消し 進んでいける
逆の逆もある 裏の裏もある
ひっくり返せば 光が見える
信じることさえ 諦めない
似た者同士が 響き合い
無数の言葉が 溢れ出す
違う想いを 掛け合わせ
今見えてるものさえ 変えてしまおう
正解も 間違いも ない
向きが 違うだけ
行ってみなきゃ 見えない景色
逆の逆もある 裏の裏もある
ひっくり返せば 光が見える
信じることさえ 諦めない
どんな時も 一人じゃない
悩みも痛みも 分け合って
僕らには 君が必要で
君にも僕らが 必要なんだ
The view in front of you isn't everything.
Written in transparent words,
this is our ticket to a “new world.”
Let's go find the people we want to become.
Our courage to move forward comes together.
Our friends' words give us a push.
Even with someone who's my opposite right now,
we can clash, cancel out, and still move ahead.
There's an opposite of an opposite, another side of the other side.
Turn it over, and you'll see the light.
I won't give up on believing.
Like-minded people resonate,
and countless words come pouring out.
Let's multiply our different hopes together
and change even the things we see right now.
There's no right or wrong here,
just different directions.
Some views only appear when you go and see.
There's an opposite of an opposite, another side of the other side.
Turn it over, and you'll see the light.
I won't give up on believing.
Whatever happens, you're not alone.
We'll share our worries and our pain.
We need you,
and you need us too.
LOOK CLOSER · LOCK ON
What can you discover in this song?
違う想いを 掛け合わせ
“Multiply different feelings together.”
Has meeting someone who thinks differently ever changed the way you see things?
逆の逆もある 裏の裏もある
“There is an opposite of an opposite, another side of another side.”
How could you express “the opposite of the opposite” using positive and negative numbers?
LYRIC SHEET
Japanese lyric sheet
Download the lyrics and look a little deeper.
The lyrics hide words that connect with positive and negative numbers.
Underline a phrase that interests you, or add a mathematical expression beside it.
Leave your own discoveries on the lyric sheet.
FREE PRINTS
Free printables
