ドラマティック膝栗毛
doramatikku hizakurige
A Dramatic Journey by Shank’s Mare
Vocals: あやぽんず＊ (Ayaponzu*)
Lyrics: kaztora
Arranged by: kaztora
Album: シンクロ2 (Synchro 2)
Circle: 森羅万象 (Shinra-Bansho)
Event: Reitaisai 15 [RTS15]
Original theme: Hiroshige No.36 ~ Neo Super-Express [ヒロシゲ36号 ～ Neo Super-Express]
Requested by: Siti
Watch the official video on YouTube!
Update (25 April 2026): I revised my translation alongside the release of the official video (linked above). Watching it changed my approach to a few lines, and I wanted to make a few things a bit shorter, and a bit clearer.
Translating the title was a little frustrating since the phrase “Shank’s Mare” means absolutely nothing to me. However, the title is a specific reference to a famous Japanese book, 東海道中膝栗毛 (shortened to Hizakurige), and that’s been translated as Shank’s Mare so I used that term to preserve the literary reference.
There are some articles out there that reference the book and its translation if you’d like to know more.
Incidentally, Shinra-Bansho seems to have dropped the capitalised R from their official branding, so I might drop it too. I really want to translate more Shinra-Bansho stuff…
2026 version
非公式の英訳/Unofficial translation
The super express train departs leaving dreams in its wake.
Now, everybody show your tickets please.
This is the century’s greatest invention.
As long as I’m here by your side
there won’t be any walls in our way.
The trip is running to schedule.
Afterimages appear on the panoramic view.
I’ll dive right in
to the super-vivid blue sea.
The steam train travels with interlaced dreams on board.
I wonder who might be having those dreams?
‘Something certain’ advances on to the future.
I always find myself thinking
that life is like a train.
Immortality is a fantasy, so to speak—
you’ll arrive at the last stop in the end.
Splitting Tokaido
this madness goes on and on, endlessly, far into the distance.
“Ah, virtual princess
even your understanding of things is fake.”
I’m all dizzy now.
The train continues with a bump and a crash, carrying dreams.
The boundary line blurs, playing a lovely discord.
“Mad fantasy.” Travel, travel on.
There’s a mirage of fifty-three revolving lanterns.
Twinkle, twinkle. A parabola was sketched out in binary.
It was so beautiful I could sigh.
Those words, which you said some time long ago—
Now, I’m not sure
if they were real.
At some point, the steam train
went and leaped over everyone’s homes
and the dream’s end drew nearer.
Please, wait just a bit.
It’s too soon for the credits to roll.
A dramatic display is still to come from me.
But still, the steam train travels on.
Our journey by Shank’s Mare through the modern world
was over too all too soon. Like that, everything will end.
“Still, surely”
The journey the two of us took
“it’ll continue forever.”
It won’t end.
There’s more to come.
An announcement at the platform:
“Make sure to leave nothing behind.”
Perhaps this warmth is the only real thing.
2020 Version
非公式の英訳/Unofficial translation
The super express leaves dreams behind as its tracks.
Now, I will check everybody’s tickets.
This is the century’s greatest invention.
As long as I’m with you
there aren’t any walls in our way.
The journey is on schedule and going well.
Afterimages of the panoramic view are projected.
I will dive in
to the super-vivid blue sea.
The steam train runs with alternate dreams on board.
I wonder whose dreams they are?
‘Something certain’ advances toward the future.
I always find myself suddenly thinking
that life is like a train.
Immortality, so to speak, is an illusion—
we will arrive at the terminal station eventually.
Splitting Tokaido,
this madness continues. It stretches out forever, far into the distance.
“Ah, virtual princess
even your awareness is a fraud.”
I’m all dizzy now!
The train continues. With a bump and a crash, it carries dreams.
The boundary line blurs, playing a lovely discord.
“Mad illusion,” run, run!
There are 53 revolving mirage lanterns.
Twinkle, twinkle. A parabola was sketched out in binary.
It was so beautiful I sighed.
You said some words back then. When was it…?
Now, I’m not sure
if they were real.
One day, the steam train
went and leaped over all the lodgings.
It drew closer to the dream’s end.
Please, wait a bit.
It’s too fast for the credits to roll!
I haven’t shown you something dramatic yet!
Even so, the steam train runs along the tracks.
Our journey by Shank’s Mare through the modern world
was over too soon, to my surprise. Like that, everything will end.
“Still, surely”
The journey the two of us took
“will continue forever.”
It won’t end.
There’s still more to come.
There’s an announcement: we’re at the station.
Make sure to leave nothing behind.
Perhaps this warmth is the only real thing.
Releska 
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