My Personal Best 15: Kaze Edition – No. 8 “Ame no Monogatari (Rainy Story)”

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🎸 Kaze Best 15 – No.8 “Ame no Monogatari (Rainy Story)”

Ranked No.8 is “Ame no Monogatari.”

This song was written and composed by Shozo Ise and included on Kaze’s album Koto, released on June 25, 1977. While Iruka’s single version (released the same year) became widely known, the original Kaze version sung by the songwriter himself has a special stillness—its phrasing and imagery sharpen as the story unfolds. Set against delicate rain imagery, the song gently reveals how the emotional distance between two people changed, making it one of Kaze’s most narrative-driven works.

Summary

The protagonist recalls someone once important to them. Their relationship didn’t end with a dramatic breakup; instead, distance formed quietly over time. What resurfaces now are small fragments—the person’s back as they walked away, the look of the rainy street outside. By retracing these scenes, the protagonist tries to understand what was lost and when the feelings began to fade. The song follows this quiet replaying of memory.

First, please watch the official video

✅ Official Video Credit
Title: Ame no Monogatari (2021 Remaster)
Artist: Kaze
Label: PANAM / Nippon Crown
Writer & Composer: Shozo Ise
© Nippon Crown Co., Ltd.
YouTube format: Official Audio (PANAM Official)
📝 Two-line commentary
This remastered version is based on the original 1977 album recording from Koto.
Ise’s songwriting and delicate storytelling are captured clearly in this definitive Kaze version.

Song Information

Release & Album

“Ame no Monogatari” appears on Koto, released June 25, 1977. The song was written and composed by Shozo Ise. Many listeners know Iruka’s hit single from the same year, but the Kaze version—sung by the songwriter—has a more intimate tone and sharper emotional detail.

Official Video Credit (Iruka version)
Title: Ame no Monogatari (Single Version)
Artist: Iruka
Label: PANAM / Nippon Crown
Writer & Composer: Shozo Ise
© Nippon Crown Co., Ltd.
YouTube format: Official Audio (PANAM Official)
★Two-line commentary
Iruka’s 1977 single became the widely recognized version.
Her tender voice added a new dimension to Ise’s songwriting, turning it into a national hit.

The album Koto is filled with songs that portray subtle emotional shifts rather than dramatic moments. Among them, “Ame no Monogatari” stands out for its vivid scene-oriented storytelling.

One small detail—how the protagonist reacted after reading a short message written on a door—ties the track into the album’s broader world.

• Why the person’s back looked small
• The damp, heavy air of a rainy day

Charts & Historical Context

In 1977, many Japanese songs focused less on dramatic romance and more on depicting everyday scenes. Radio still played a major role, especially late-night programs featuring quiet, introspective songs that blended into listeners’ daily routines.

“Ame no Monogatari” belongs to this trend—a quiet, undramatic breakup song whose realism resonated with many listeners.

Themes & Worldview

The Protagonist’s Perspective

The protagonist remembers the other person’s back—a detail filled with emotional meaning. People recall someone’s back, rather than their face, when they no longer understand what that person is feeling.

The realism comes from how specifically the back is remembered: why did it look so small?
Although the song never states the reason, listeners naturally understand—it felt small because the emotional distance had already formed.

The song builds its entire narrative around that moment when the protagonist sensed the change from the other person’s back.

How the Story Begins

And then, there is the rain. What matters is not simply that it rained that day—the protagonist chooses to remember the rainy day.

Dim light, the sound on the umbrella, wet shoulders, the weight of a closing door—rain functions not as a symbol, but as a switch that brings the memory back with precision.

• Where each person was standing
• Their posture
• How the rain was falling

This level of detail gives the song its emotional depth. Without stating feelings directly, the scene itself conveys the mood.

Core Lyrics & Interpretation

One Scene Drives the Entire Song

The heart of the song lies in the order of remembered scenes: first the back, then the rain outside, then the moment by the door.

This sequence feels remarkably true to life.

When recalling an unforgettable farewell, we often remember not the words or the music, but what we were seeing in that moment.

This song mirrors that process: the back came first, then the rain, then the door.

The impressions are quiet but persistent—like scenes that stay with us long after feelings fade.

The Role of Rain—Not Symbolism, but Documentation

Unlike many “rain songs,” this one doesn’t use rain as a metaphor for sadness. Here, rain serves as a factual record of the day.

The rainy day explains why:

・shoulders were wet
・light was dim
・the room felt heavy with moisture
・the view beyond the door was blurred

Small facts that stayed with the protagonist for years.

The detail of the scene expresses the emotion—so the lyrics never need to state it directly.

The Door—A Physical Boundary

The door scene is the most vivid. It shows the relationship had already reached a point of no return.

The door isn’t symbolic; it’s a literal boundary. Seeing the other person standing on the other side, the protagonist understands—without words—that things will not return to how they were.

The small posture, the lowered gaze, the wet shoulders—these fragments alone convey the whole story.

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Sound & Vocal Expression

Shozo Ise’s Unique Sense of Distance

In the Kaze version, the vocal isn’t pushed forward. The distance between the voice and the listener is natural, almost like someone quietly recalling memories. Instead of volume, the placement of the voice matters.

It isn’t restraint—it’s the tone required for a song about memory.

The acoustic guitar supports the scenery, not the emotion. The arrangement leaves space for the protagonist’s gaze to remain the center of the track.

The Reserved Arrangement

The song never tries to “lift” or “move” the listener with dramatic shifts. Instead, the production preserves the integrity of the memory.

With no unnecessary sounds, details—like watching someone’s back or standing in silence at a door—remain vivid.

The emotional power comes from this restraint: lyrics and sound coexist quietly, allowing small scenes to carry meaning.

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Why It Ranks No.8

My Reason for Choosing This Song

I ranked “Ame no Monogatari” No.8 because it tells a breakup story without explaining the reason for the breakup. Instead, it conveys emotion entirely through four concrete images:

the back, the rain, the door, the wet shoulders.

Few songs capture an entire emotional story with just these fragments. Their clarity allows listeners to project their own memories onto the scene.

The appeal of this song lies in how concrete details reveal emotional change—without any heavy explanation.

For the Listeners

When you revisit this song, pay attention to which image feels like the emotional center for you.

Is it the back, the rain, or the scene at the door?
Different listeners are drawn to different elements—and that difference is part of the song’s beauty.

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