Zansakura -zanka-

Zansakura -zanka- (残桜 -zanka- lit. Remaining Cherry Blossoms -zanka-) is a character song performed by Megumi Ogata as Nagito Komaeda.

It was released on August 3rd, 2016 as a B-side single alongside Zettai Kibō Birthday.

The song describes short-lived cherry blossoms, which are an enduring metaphor for mortality and the ephemeral nature of life in Japan. The Japanese also reckon the cherry blossom is the most beautiful not when it is in full bloom, but when it starts to wither and fall.

The lyrics appear to be Nagito's metaphorical descriptions of his own life and thoughts — his supposed terminal illness and short life-span, his luck which brings both good and hardships, and his views on hope.

Interestingly, Nagito keeps mentioning ordinary life, which he claims to dislike. In Super Danganronpa 2.5: Nagito Komaeda and the Destroyer of the World, it is indeed confirmed that he wishes to live ordinary life, as his imaginary world reflects this desire and one of the many possible outcomes his life could have taken. However, Nagito denies this and states he'll pass on that possibility, saying that what the world truly needs is immense hope born from equally immense talent.

According to Ogata, Zettai Kibō Birthday is how Nagito feels outside and Zansakura -zanka- is how he feels on the inside.

Lyrics
"I can see you again tomorrow, right?", I said with a smile, the ephemeral cherry blossoms in my heart
 * -|English=

seduced by the brilliant colors of the dusk cloud, finally reaching the destination shadow of the flower on the ripples, shuddering and falling under the water

cherry blooms, as if to convey the warmth the life of ordinary blooming and ordinary withering where would it fall

the hand of the unforgettable clock stops, my heart blooms fully, the rain of cherry blossoms

the storm of flowers, the sudden wind, I halt and open my eyes the flower petals on water like little boats, flowing away

cherry blooms, as if to cherish the vanishing spring, if I can live an ordinary life, and die with you together oh, if that could come true

if the northern wind and the sun treat everyone equally when there is a giant blossom (hope) after surviving the storm

the moment I realized, the withering branch has been left alone the old and decaying wound of the broken branch has not recovered, and is still yearning

cherry blooms, as if to fight the approaching winter until the day all of this ordinary life is devoted continue blooming on like crazy

「明日もまた会えるね」と　笑ってた心の　徒桜(あだざくら)
 * -|Kanji=

花霞　煙りたつ彩(いろ)　誘(いざな)われ　辿りついたら 花影は　水の紋に　揺れて堕ちた

温もりを　伝えあうように　開く　桜(はな)のように 平凡に咲いて　散りゆく人生(みち)は どこに落ちてるだろう

刻まれる　針　止まる　満開の心に　桜雨(さくらあめ)

花嵐　突然の風　立ち止まり　瞳(め)を開いたら 花筏　水面覆い　流れ去った

ゆく春を　惜しみあうように　開く　桜(はな)のように 平凡に生きて　共に逝くこと 叶うのならば　嗚呼…

北風と太陽が　皆　平等に降り注ぐものなら 嵐を乗り越えた先に　大輪(きぼう)が咲くと...

気がつけば　枯れゆく枝に　ひとり　残されてた 手折られて　朽ちゆく傷が　渇きゆくまま 来る冬を　迎え撃つように　開く　桜(はな)のために 平凡ないのち　注げる日まで 狂い咲き続ける…

"asu wo mata aerune" to waratteta kokoro no ada zakura
 * -|Romaji=

hana kasumi kemuri tatsu iro izana ware tadoritsuitara hanakage wa mizu no mon ni yurete ochita nukumori wo tsutaeau yō ni hiraku hana no yō ni heibon ni saite chiriyuku michi wa doko ni ochiterudarō.

kizamareru hari tomaru mankai no kokoro ni sakura ame

hanārashi totsuzen no kaze tachidomari me wo hiraitara hana ikada minamo ōi nagare satta

yuku haru wo oshimiau yō ni hiraku hana no yō ni heibon ni ikite 　 tomoni yuku koto kanau nonaraba 　 aah…

kitakaze to taiyō ga mina byōdō ni furisosogu mononara arashi wo norikoeta saki ni kibō ga saku to ...

kigatsukeba kareyuku eda ni hitori nokosareteta taorarete kuchiyuku kizu ga kawakiyuku mama

kuru fuyu wo mukaeutsu yō ni hiraku hana no tame ni heibon nai nochi sosogeru hi made kuruizaki tsuzukeru…

Trivia

 * The word "branch" (枝) in the song is the same word as "eda" (枝) in Nagito Komaeda's name.