M-O-T-T-A-I-N-A-I, that's mottainai Mottainai is one way to say (What a waste!) Use only what you need
Nai, nai, nai, nai - No! Nai, nai No mottainai, no Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, no mottainai
Nai, nai, nai, nai - No! Nai, nai No mottainai, no Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, no mottainai
Daddy's doing it again today TV's on, he's sleeping away All the lights on, bright as day Mottainai, oh, what a waste
When we brush our teeth, you know When we wash our hands with soap Faucets flowing on and on and on, oh, mottainai!
What a treat! A bath with daddy Bathtub's full, OK, we're ready One and two, we both get in Ah, yes...oh, no! Tsunami warning! And that's exactly mottainai
Nai, nai, nai, nai - No! Nai, nai No mottainai, no Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, no mottainai
Ramen, fried rice, shao-mai, gyoxza You wanna eat it all but I say "no sir" Yes sir, I just pick one's 'cause wasted food? Oh, what a waste!
Tissue paper's overused it's too much, oh, let's reduce it Wipe your nose? Well, hold it, fold it Wipe it one more time, you know it, know it, know it Don't blow it!
Even the big, round, moon way up high in the sky Is drowning in the glare of the bright city lights A monster that gobbled up all he could see Could not eat all that he saw
M-O-T-T-A-I-N-A-I, that's mottainai M-O-T-T-A-I-N-A-I, that's mottainai M-O-T-T-A-I-N-A-I, that's mottainai Mottainai is one way to say (What a waste!) Use only what you need
Nai, nai, nai, nai - No! Nai, nai No mottainai, no Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, no mottainai
Nai, nai, nai, nai - No! Nai, nai No mottainai, no Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, nai Nai, nai, no mottainai