うたかた (吉本ばなな)

[Angy]

I'm trying to read a book うたかた (吉本ばなな), but I have problems with translating it. It doesn't seem to be hard text, but I don't understand anyway...
These are the first sentences:

嵐とは1回キスしただけだ。
ここが日本だからまだよかったが、外国だったらそんなのほとんど友達以前の範疇(はんちゅう)だ。そしてすぐに彼は遠いところに行ってしまった。だから、私にはまだこれが恋かどうかも本当にはわからない。さっぱり、わかっていない。
それでも嵐を好きになってから私は、恋というものを桜や花火のようだと思わなくなった。

嵐とは1回キスしただけだ。
I would translate it like: With the storm, there was only one kiss or I kissed only once with the storm?

ここが日本だからまだよかったが、外国だったらそんなのほとんど友達以前の範疇(はんちゅう)だ。
I don't understand the end of this sentence...友達以前 and 範疇...I understand what they mean, but I still can't make any logical sentence.

そしてすぐに彼は遠いところに行ってしまった。
And soon he(who? ) went far away..?

だから、私にはまだこれが恋かどうかも本当にはわからない。
Therefore, I haven't understand yet, was it really a love or not?

さっぱり、わかっていない。
I don't understand at all?

それでも嵐を好きになってから私は、恋というものを桜や花火のようだと思わなくなった。
And even I, who became fond of storm....love...seems like...cherry tree...firework..?

Uh..Really need some help...
(Sorry about my bad English)

 

[epigene]

The basic mistake is 嵐 (arashi), which in this case, is the name of a guy. The woman is talking about her experience kissing the guy who went far away soon afterward. That's why she's not sure whether it was love or not.
友達以前 means [relationship that doesn't even amount to being friends]
範疇(hanchu) is usually translated as "scope" or "range."
Translation: Although [a kiss] is something here in Japan, it would not even amount to friendship in other countries.

Fireworks and cherry blossoms are symbols of transience.

Hope this helps.

 

[Angy]

I thought that something was wrong with that 嵐 and my dictionary gave me that 範疇(はんちゅう) is category...uh, but now it makes sense,
Thank You!

But how would you translate that last sentence?

 

[CorDarei]

But how would you translate that last sentence?

"Even so, since I came to love Arashi, I've stopped thinking that love is something like the cherry blossoms or fireworks."

 

[Angy]

Thank You!
No more questions right now