Released on February 3, 2021, DIALOGUE+’s second single Jinsei Easy? (人生イージー？) quickly became iconic as the opening theme for the anime Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki. Far from being just a tie-in, the song’s lyrics resonate deeply with the anime’s theme: facing life’s unfairness while striving to grow.
In this article, we’ll dive into the lyrics meaning and analysis of Jinsei Easy?, exploring how its metaphors, music production, and live performances have turned it into one of DIALOGUE+’s defining tracks.
Song Overview
- Title: 人生イージー？ (Jinsei Easy? / “Is Life Easy?”)
- Artist: DIALOGUE+
- Release Date: February 3, 2021
- Anime Tie-in: Opening theme for Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
- Songwriters: Lyrics by Tomoya Tabuchi (UNISON SQUARE GARDEN), arrangement by Hidekazu Tanaka (MONACA)
- Style: Hybrid J-pop/anisong with jazz, EDM, and rock elements
- Theme: Life is not easy, but challenges, growth, and shared effort make it worthwhile.
Lyrics Breakdown
Intro / Opening Lines
Japanese: がんばって！ 君の時代だ！
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Ganbatte! Kimi no jidai da!
English: Go for it! It’s your time!
The song opens like a rallying cry, immediately framing life as a game where the listener is the player. It’s motivational, but not sugarcoated—the challenges ahead are real.
Verse 1 – The Unfairness of Life
Japanese: 平等じゃないね 僕もあいつも目には見えない数値が決まってるんだきっと
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Byoudou janai ne, boku mo aitsu mo me ni wa mienai suuchi ga kimatterunda kitto
English: It’s not fair, is it? For me and for him, invisible stats must have been decided.
Here, the lyrics confront inequality head-on. Life is compared to an RPG where characters start with different stats. The metaphor resonates with Tomozaki’s worldview, calling life a “crappy game.”
Pre-Chorus – Strategy and Effort
Japanese: 虎視眈々見極めろ (攻略法だらけだ) / 経験値あげちゃって強くなろうぜ！
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Koshitantan mikimero (kouryakuhou darake da) / Keikenchi agechatte tsuyoku narou ze!
English: Watch carefully (there are strategies everywhere) / Raise your experience points and get stronger!
The lyrics remind us that while life is unfair, growth is still possible through persistence and smart strategies—again echoing the anime’s message.
Chorus – Rejecting “Easy Mode”
Japanese: じゃあイージーモードってこと？ YES？ NO？ NO！！
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Jaa iijii moodo tte koto? YES? NO? NO!!
English: So, does that mean it’s easy mode? Yes? No? No!!
This refrain is the heart of the song. It answers the title’s rhetorical question—life is not easy. The rejection is playful but powerful, refusing to let difficulty become defeat.
Verse 2 – Struggle and Hope
Japanese: 生きるって難しいな それでも同じくらい素晴らしいな
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Ikiru tte muzukashii na, soredemo onaji kurai subarashii na
English: Living is difficult, but it’s just as wonderful.
This verse delivers the song’s paradoxical core: life is both hard and beautiful. It acknowledges suffering but refuses to reduce life to misery alone.
Bridge – Rewriting the Manual
Japanese: 上手くやらなきゃ 上手く笑わなきゃ それがマニュアルだって言うのなら
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
コツだけもらって 理想にアレンジして作り替えちゃおう？
Romaji: Umaku yaranakya umaku warawanakya sore ga manyuaru datte iu no nara / Kotsu dake moratte risou ni arenji shite tsukurikaechao?
English: If they say you have to do things right, smile right, and follow the manual / Then let’s just take the tips and rewrite it into our own ideals.
The bridge empowers the listener to challenge social “manuals.” Life may have rules, but rewriting them is part of finding personal freedom.
Climax / Final Chorus – Collective Victory
Japanese: がんばったその先で大笑いしてみない？ みんなで！
https://j-lyric.net/artist/a0608b9/l053a1d.html
Romaji: Ganbatta sono saki de oowarai shite minai? Minna de!
English: After all the effort, why don’t we laugh out loud? Together, with everyone!
The climax shifts from individual struggle to collective joy. Victory is not solitary but communal—a message reinforced by the group identity of DIALOGUE+.
Themes & Interpretations
- Life is Not Easy: The song answers its own question—life is hard, unfair, and full of trials.
- Game Metaphor: Life as an RPG provides both relatability and humor, while tying directly to the anime.
- From Individual to Collective: The narrative arc moves from personal struggle to shared triumph.
- Irony and Empowerment: The song uses playful banter (Yes? No? No!!) to deliver a serious message.
Connection to Artist’s Life / Previous Works
The collaboration between Tomoya Tabuchi and Hidekazu Tanaka is crucial. Tabuchi’s dense, energetic lyrics meet Tanaka’s genre-blending arrangement, creating a synergy greater than the sum of its parts. For DIALOGUE+, this song became a milestone—both musically and culturally—representing the group’s growth and artistic ambition.
Connection to Anime and Live Performances
As the OP for Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki, the song perfectly mirrors the protagonist’s worldview. But on stage, Jinsei Easy? grew into more: it became the thematic centerpiece of DIALOGUE+’s 2024 LIFE is EASY? tour. The audience’s call-and-response—especially the shouted “Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!”—turned the song into a communal ritual, embodying its message that while life is hard, no one faces it alone.
Jinsei Easy? Explained – Fan Questions on Lyrics and Meaning
What does “Jinsei Easy?” mean?
Literally “Is life easy?” The song answers with a resounding “No!”—life is full of trials, but worth living.
Is this just an anime tie-in song?
No. While written for Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki, it stands alone as a philosophical anthem about struggle and growth.
Why all the RPG references?
They tie directly to the anime’s theme, but also serve as a universal metaphor: life is like an RPG, where progress requires both effort and teamwork.
Conclusion
DIALOGUE+’s Jinsei Easy? is more than an anime opening. It’s a paradoxical masterpiece: playful yet serious, chaotic yet empowering, personal yet communal. By declaring that life is not easy, the song transforms struggle into solidarity and hardship into joy.
👉 What about you—do you see life as a game, a struggle, or a shared journey? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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