のぼれ! すすめ! 高い塔 (nobore! susume! takaitou) (Climb! Advance! To the Tall Tower)

Kikuo's song "のぼれ! すすめ! 高い塔 (nobore! susume! takaitou) (Climb! Advance! To the Tall Tower)" is a haunting exploration of ambition, desire, and the pursuit of happiness. The lyrics describe a towering structure that reaches above the clouds, symbolizing an ultimate goal or aspiration. People line up with smiles, eager to climb, each level promising greater pleasures—from amusement parks to earthly paradises. However, the song takes a dark turn as it reveals the grim reality behind the construction of this tower.

As the tower ascends, it becomes a construction site of hell, where men fall under the harsh treatment of demons and are buried to fortify the structure. This metaphor suggests that the pursuit of lofty goals often comes at the expense of human suffering and exploitation. The song's imagery of a mysterious, sweet-tasting rain that brings happiness and pleasure further complicates the narrative. The higher one climbs, the more of this rain they can consume, creating an insatiable desire for more. This rain can be seen as a metaphor for fleeting pleasures or addictive substances that offer temporary happiness but ultimately lead to ruin.

The song culminates in the collapse of the tower, a fragile structure made of blood and flesh, symbolizing the inevitable downfall of pursuits built on exploitation and false promises. The survivors, now broken and disillusioned, find nothing but ruins and remnants of their once-sought happiness. The discovery of a fossilized "rain of happiness" suggests that the cycle of ambition and desire will continue, as new generations seek to build their own towers. Kikuo's song serves as a poignant commentary on the human condition, the dangers of unchecked ambition, and the elusive nature of true happiness.