Ara mottainai gozansu (Oh, it's mottainai)
Ara mottainai gozansu

Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!
Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!

Remember what Baa-chan used to say?
What a waste, what a shame
What you throw away!
Every piece of paper
Every grain of rice
Every drop of water
She would use it twice

Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!
Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!

We laughed, we lost what Baa-chan taught
We ran away and we forgot
Running to the future
Running from the past
Running on empty
And it just can't last

Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!
Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!

Mottainai! It's an ancient wisdom
Mottainai! That everyone can use
Mottainai! Don't waste what nature gives you
Take the old and make it new

We take, we use, we throw away . . .

Remember what Baa-chan used to say:
What a waste, what a shame
What you throw away!
Every piece of paper
Every grain of rice
Every drop of water she would use it twice

Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!
Oh, mottainai! Oh mottainai!

Mottainai! It's an ancient wisdom
Mottainai! That everyone can use
Mottainai! Don't waste what nature gives you
Take the old and make it new . . .
Oh Mottainai!