Angela Aki - Tegami ~Haikei Jūgo no Kimi e~
TEGASONG - "Tegami ~Haikei Jūgo no Kimi e~" (手紙 ～拝啓 十五の君へ～, lit. "Letter: Greetings to My 15-Year-Old Self") is a poignant 2008 single by Angela Aki, originally composed as the compulsory song for the NHK National School Music Contest (Junior High Division). This emotional ballad takes the form of a letter from a struggling 15-year-old to their future self, sharing hidden worries and doubts, followed by a compassionate reply from the adult self offering encouragement, resilience, and hope. It became a massive hit in Japan for its relatable message of overcoming teenage hardships, self-doubt, and finding inner strength to move forward. Note: The full single version includes additional bridges and choruses compared to the shorter choir contest edition.
Kanji Lyrics
拝啓 この手紙読んでいるあなたは
どこで何をしているのだろう
十五の僕には誰にも話せない
悩みの種があるのです
未来の自分に宛てて書く手紙なら
きっと素直に打ち明けられるだろう
今 負けそうで 泣きそうで
消えてしまいそうな僕は
誰の言葉を信じ歩けばいいの？
ひとつしかないこの胸が何度もばらばらに割れて
苦しい中で今を生きている
今を生きている
拝啓 ありがとう
十五のあなたに伝えたい事があるのです
自分とは何でどこへ向かうべきか
問い続ければ見えてくる
荒れた青春の海は厳しいけれど
明日の岸辺へと 夢の舟よ進め
今 負けないで 泣かないで
消えてしまいそうな時は
自分の声を信じ歩けばいいの
大人の僕も傷ついて眠れない夜はあるけど
苦くて甘い今を生きている
人生の全てに意味があるから
恐れずにあなたの夢を育てて
Keep on believing
負けそうで 泣きそうで
消えてしまいそうな僕は
誰の言葉を信じ歩けばいいの？
ああ 負けないで 泣かないで
消えてしまいそうな時は
自分の声を信じ歩けばいいの
いつの時代も悲しみを避けては通れないけれど
笑顔を見せて 今を生きていこう
今を生きていこう
拝啓 この手紙読んでいるあなたが
幸せな事を願います
Romaji Lyrics
Haikei kono tegami yondeiru anata wa
Doko de nani o shiteiru no darou
Jūgo no boku ni wa dare ni mo hanasenai
Nayami no tane ga aru no desu
Mirai no jibun ni atete kaku tegami nara
Kitto sunao ni uchiakerareru darou
Ima makesō de nakisō de
Kiete shimaisō na boku wa
Dare no kotoba o shinji arukeba ii no?
Hitotsu shika nai kono mune ga nando mo barabara ni warete
Kurushii naka de ima o ikiteiru
Ima o ikiteiru
Haikei arigatō
Jūgo no anata ni tsutaetai koto ga aru no desu
Jibun to wa nani de doko e mukau beki ka
Toitsuzukereba miete kuru
Areta seishun no umi wa kibishii keredo
Asu no kishibe e to yume no fune yo susume
Ima makenai de nakanai de
Kiete shimaisō na toki wa
Jibun no koe o shinji arukeba ii no
Otona no boku mo kizutsuite nemurenai yoru wa aru kedo
Nigakute amai ima o ikiteiru
Jinsei no subete ni imi ga aru kara
Osorezu ni anata no yume o sodatete
Keep on believing
Makesō de nakisō de
Kiete shimaisō na boku wa
Dare no kotoba o shinji arukeba ii no?
Aa makenai de nakanai de
Kiete shimaisō na toki wa
Jibun no koe o shinji arukeba ii no
Itsu no jidai mo kanashimi o sakete wa tōrenai keredo
Egao o misete ima o ikite ikou
Ima o ikite ikou
Haikei kono tegami yondeiru anata ga
Shiawase na koto o negaimasu
English Translation
Dear you who's reading this letter,
Where are you now, and what are you doing?
At fifteen, I have worries
That I can't tell anyone about—
Seeds of doubt inside me.
If it's a letter addressed to my future self,
Surely I can open up honestly.
Right now, I feel like giving up, like crying,
Like I'm about to disappear—
Whose words should I trust to keep walking?
This one and only heart of mine has shattered
Over and over into pieces,
Yet I'm living in this pain right now,
Living right now.
Dear you, thank you.
There's something I want to tell my fifteen-year-old self:
Keep questioning who you are and where you should go—
The answers will come into view.
The stormy sea of youth is harsh, but
Sail on, dream boat, toward tomorrow's shore.
Right now, don't give up, don't cry—
When you feel like you're about to vanish,
Trust your own voice and keep walking.
Even as an adult, there are nights when wounds keep me awake,
But I'm living this bitter-sweet present.
Because everything in life has meaning,
Fearlessly nurture your dreams.
Keep on believing.
I feel like giving up, like crying,
Like I'm about to disappear—
Whose words should I trust to keep walking?
Ah, don't give up, don't cry—
When you feel like you're about to vanish,
Trust your own voice and keep walking.
In any era, you can't avoid passing through sadness, but
Show your smile and let's live the present.
Let's live the present.
Dear you who's reading this letter,
I wish for your happiness.
Indonesian Translation
Salam, kamu yang sedang membaca surat ini,
Kamu sedang di mana sekarang, dan sedang melakukan apa?
Di usia lima belas, aku punya kekhawatiran
Yang tak bisa kuceritakan pada siapa pun—
Benih-benih keraguan di dalam diriku.
Jika ini surat untuk diriku di masa depan,
Pasti aku bisa jujur terbuka.
Sekarang, aku hampir menyerah, hampir menangis,
Hampir lenyap begitu saja—
Kata-kata siapa yang harus kupercaya untuk terus melangkah?
Hati ini yang hanya satu ini sudah berkali-kali
Hancur berkeping-keping,
Tapi aku masih hidup di tengah penderitaan ini,
Hidup saat ini.
Salam, terima kasih.
Ada yang ingin kusampaikan pada diriku yang berusia lima belas:
Teruslah bertanya siapa dirimu dan ke mana harus pergi—
Jawabannya akan terlihat jelas.
Laut masa muda yang bergolak memang keras, tapi
Layarlah, perahu mimpi, menuju pantai esok hari.
Sekarang, jangan menyerah, jangan menangis—
Saat terasa hampir hilang,
Percayalah pada suaramu sendiri dan terus melangkah.
Bahkan sebagai orang dewasa, ada malam-malam luka membuatku tak bisa tidur,
Tapi aku hidup di masa sekarang yang pahit-manis ini.
Karena segala hal dalam hidup punya makna,
Tanpa takut, kembangkan mimpi-mimpimu.
Keep on believing.
Hampir menyerah, hampir menangis,
Hampir lenyap begitu saja—
Kata-kata siapa yang harus kupercaya untuk terus melangkah?
Ah, jangan menyerah, jangan menangis—
Saat terasa hampir hilang,
Percayalah pada suaramu sendiri dan terus melangkah.
Di era apa pun, tak bisa hindari melewati kesedihan, tapi
Tunjukkan senyummu dan mari hidup di saat ini.
Mari hidup di saat ini.
Salam, kamu yang sedang membaca surat ini,
Aku berharap kamu bahagia.