NINGEN ISU／Imomushi (The Caterpilar) (LIVE) 人間椅子／芋虫・ライブ映像 Reaction

[@tokyotessie]

Imomushi (Caterpillar) is story written Edogawa Rampo written in the 1920s. In a nutshell, it is about a married couple and the trials and tribulations faced by both the husband and wife when the husband returns from war as a quadruple amputee, having lost his hearing as well. Along the way, he loses his sight. The story is told from the wife’s point of view, but this song, written by Suzuki, so perfectly captures the absolute despair the war hero must’ve been feeling. It is one of NI’s masterpieces, if not their magnum opus.

[@MrLundkaer]

I love this trac, so good. Thanks for the reaction.

[@twoffo]

This is definitely not the song you use to introduce people to Ningen Isu, but it absolutely is one you appreciate once you are familiar with the band. It is quite often listed as one of the top NI songs by long time fans. If you know the story this song is inspired by, you understand why it is slow. The story by Edogawa Ranpo (who wrote the story "Ningen Isu" the band took their name from) is disturbing, and was even banned for a time in Japan (it was written in 1929). The Japanese wikipedia entry for the story has all the details. Thanks for coming back to Ningen Isu again.

[@tokyotessie]

Lyrics translated into English using Google Translate: Hiding all day long, devouring all day long, not understanding anything, leaving nothing behind, nothing... nothing... I'm a caterpillar, just devouring, I'm a caterpillar, just getting fatter, Writhing in the darkness, writhing in the darkness, gaining nothing, achieving nothing, nothing... nothing... I'm a caterpillar, just ugly, I'm a caterpillar, just vile, I'm a caterpillar, just disgusting, Ah, a slimy lump of flesh with blood and pus, ah, a lump of flesh with rotting guts, ah, rotting, rotting, ah, a simmering, boiling lust, ah, a simmering, empty, stagnant lust, ah, falling, falling, falling.