NMB48 – Jugon wa Jugon. Lyrics Meaning: That Mermaid is Definitely a Dugong
What’s the most unbelievable excuse someone has tried to give you? NMB48’s hilarious song “Jugon wa Jugon” dives into one of the wildest lies you’ll ever hear. It’s a story about a guy caught red-handed who tries to spin an insane fantasy to get out of trouble.
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- AKB48 – Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby | A Bold First Kiss at the Bus Stop
- AKB48 – LALALA Message | Connecting the World with a Simple Song
The ‘Mermaid’ Sighting in NMB48’s ‘Jugon wa Jugon’
The song drops you right into a super awkward situation. The narrator spots her boyfriend with another woman. When she confronts him, he doesn’t just deny it—he comes up with a story that’s completely out of this world.
A Very Unconvincing Story
His excuse? The woman he was with wasn’t just some girl; she was a mermaid. Yeah, a literal mermaid. The narrator is, understandably, not buying it for a second. In her mind, she’s looking at the situation for what it is. He sees a mystical mermaid, but she sees a “jugon,” which is Japanese for dugong—a large, lumpy sea mammal. It’s a hilarious and blunt comparison.
Dugong, dugong, dugong, dugong
Niteinai yo ne? Ningyo
They don’t look alike, do they? Mermaids
Jugon jugon jugon jugon
Dugong, dugong, dugong, dugong
A dugong is, after all, a dugong
She’s basically saying, “Nice try, but I have eyes.” He’s trying to sell her a fantasy, but she’s sticking to reality. A dugong is a dugong.
The Excuses Get Worse
When the mermaid story doesn’t work, he tries another classic excuse: “That was my sister!” But our narrator is way ahead of him. She remembers him saying he was an only child. His lies are just getting more tangled and obvious. You can practically picture his panicked expression as she calls him out.
Chittomo nitenai jugon
A dugong that looks nothing like you
The song even gets to a point where she feels like a detective. She knows he’s guilty, and the song’s chant-like chorus feels like she’s building her case against him.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty
Nee nee nee nee
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Auto auto auto auto
Out, out, out, out
She’s pretty much saying, “Game over, buddy. You’re caught.”
So, What’s ‘Jugon wa Jugon’ Really About?
This whole song is a super fun and cheeky takedown of a terrible liar. It’s about a girl who trusts her own eyes over her boyfriend’s ridiculous stories. The contrast between his fantasy “mermaid” and her down-to-earth “dugong” is the entire joke. He’s trying to make his cheating sound magical and excusable, but she’s just calling it what it is: ugly and obvious.
The Lesson: Trust Your Eyes, Not His Lies
If there’s a takeaway from this quirky track, it’s to trust your gut. Don’t let someone try to confuse you with wild stories when the truth is right in front of you. “Jugon wa Jugon” is a funny anthem for anyone who’s ever been handed a lame excuse. The song celebrates seeing things clearly and not being afraid to say, “Nope, that’s not a mermaid. That’s a dugong.” It’s an empowering message wrapped in a really catchy and silly package.
NMB48 really nailed the feeling of hearing a completely absurd lie. What’s your take on this song? Do you find the “dugong” comparison more funny or savage? Let me know what you think!