未来へ (Mirai e) by Kiroro | Generated by AI
Below are the complete lyrics of the song “未来へ” (Mirai e) by Kiroro, presented in Japanese with each word broken down for pronunciation (using Hepburn romanization) and meaning. This song is a heartfelt reflection on a mother’s love and guidance, encouraging the listener to look forward to the future while cherishing the lessons learned along the way. It’s often associated with themes of growth and gratitude, making it a popular choice for graduation ceremonies in Japan.
Lyrics and Explanation
Verse 1
ほら 足元を見てごらん
(Hora ashimoto o mite goran)
- ほら (hora): Interjection meaning “look” or “see.”
- 足元 (ashimoto): “At your feet” or “underfoot.”
- を (o): Particle marking the direct object.
- 見て (mite): Te-form of the verb “見る” (miru), meaning “to see” or “to look.”
- ごらん (goran): Polite imperative form of “見る” (miru), meaning “please look.”
- Translation: “Look, look at your feet.”
これがあなたの歩む道
(Kore ga anata no ayumu michi)
- これ (kore): “This.”
- が (ga): Particle marking the subject.
- あなたの (anata no): “Your” (possessive form of “あなた” (anata), meaning “you”).
- 歩む (ayumu): Verb meaning “to walk” or “to step.”
- 道 (michi): “Path” or “road.”
- Translation: “This is the path you walk.”
ほら 前を見てごらん
(Hora mae o mite goran)
- ほら (hora): “Look.”
- 前 (mae): “Front” or “ahead.”
- を (o): Direct object particle.
- 見て (mite): Te-form of “見る” (miru).
- ごらん (goran): Polite imperative form.
- Translation: “Look, look ahead.”
あれがあなたの未来
(Are ga anata no mirai)
- あれ (are): “That” (referring to something distant).
- が (ga): Subject marker.
- あなたの (anata no): “Your.”
- 未来 (mirai): “Future.”
- Translation: “That is your future.”
Verse 2
母がくれたたくさんの優しさ
(Haha ga kureta takusan no yasashisa)
- 母 (haha): “Mother.”
- が (ga): Subject marker.
- くれた (kureta): Past tense of “くれる” (kureru), meaning “to give” (to the speaker or someone close).
- たくさんの (takusan no): “A lot of” or “many.”
- 優しさ (yasashisa): “Kindness.”
- Translation: “The many kindnesses my mother gave me.”
愛を抱いて歩めと繰り返した
(Ai o daite ayume to kurikaeshita)
- 愛 (ai): “Love.”
- を (o): Direct object particle.
- 抱いて (daite): Te-form of “抱く” (daku), meaning “to embrace” or “to hold.”
- 歩め (ayume): Imperative form of “歩む” (ayumu), meaning “walk.”
- と (to): Particle indicating quotation or instruction.
- 繰り返した (kurikaeshita): Past tense of “繰り返す” (kurikaesu), meaning “to repeat.”
- Translation: “She repeatedly told me to walk embracing love.”
あの時はまだ幼くて意味など知らない
(Ano toki wa mada osanakute imi nado shiranai)
- あの (ano): “That” (demonstrative adjective).
- 時 (toki): “Time.”
- は (wa): Topic marker.
- まだ (mada): “Still.”
- 幼くて (osanakute): Te-form of “幼い” (osanai), meaning “young” or “childish.”
- 意味 (imi): “Meaning.”
- など (nado): Particle meaning “such as” or “and so on.”
- 知らない (shiranai): “Don’t know” (negative form of “知る” (shiru), “to know”).
- Translation: “At that time, I was still young and didn’t know the meaning.”
そんな私の手を握り
(Sonna watashi no te o nigiri)
- そんな (sonna): “Such” or “that kind of.”
- 私 (watashi): “I” or “me.”
- の (no): Possessive particle.
- 手 (te): “Hand.”
- を (o): Direct object particle.
- 握り (nigiri): Stem form of “握る” (nigiru), meaning “to grasp” or “to hold.”
- Translation: “Holding my hand like that.”
一緒に歩んできた
(Issho ni ayunde kita)
- 一緒に (issho ni): “Together.”
- 歩んできた (ayunde kita): Past tense of “歩んでくる” (ayunde kuru), meaning “have been walking” (“歩む” (ayumu) + “来る” (kuru), “to come”).
- Translation: “We have been walking together.”
Verse 3
夢はいつも空高くあるから
(Yume wa itsumo sora takaku aru kara)
- 夢 (yume): “Dream.”
- は (wa): Topic marker.
- いつも (itsumo): “Always.”
- 空 (sora): “Sky.”
- 高く (takaku): Adverbial form of “高い” (takai), meaning “high.”
- ある (aru): “To be” or “to exist.”
- から (kara): Conjunction meaning “because.”
- Translation: “Because dreams are always high in the sky.”
届かなくて怖いね
(Todokanakute kowai ne)
- 届かなくて (todokanakute): Te-form of “届かない” (todokanai), meaning “cannot reach” (negative of “届く” (todoku), “to reach”).
- 怖い (kowai): “Scary” or “frightening.”
- ね (ne): Sentence-ending particle seeking agreement or adding emphasis, like “right?”
- Translation: “It’s scary because I can’t reach them, right?”
だけど追い続けるの
(Dakedo oitsuzukeru no)
- だけど (dakedo): “But” or “however.”
- 追い続ける (oitsuzukeru): “To continue chasing” (“追う” (ou), “to chase” + “続ける” (tsuzukeru), “to continue”).
- の (no): Nominalizer, turning the verb into a noun phrase for emphasis.
- Translation: “But I will continue to chase them.”
自分の物語(ストーリー)だからこそ諦めたくない
(Jibun no sutōrī dakara koso akirametakunai)
- 自分 (jibun): “Oneself.”
- の (no): Possessive particle.
- 物語 (sutōrī): “Story” (written in katakana as a loanword).
- だからこそ (dakara koso): “Precisely because.”
- 諦めたくない (akirametakunai): “Don’t want to give up” (negative form of “諦める” (akirameru), “to give up”).
- Translation: “Precisely because it’s my own story, I don’t want to give up.”
不安になると手を握り
(Fuan ni naru to te o nigiri)
- 不安 (fuan): “Anxiety” or “unease.”
- に (ni): Particle indicating change or result.
- なる (naru): “To become.”
- と (to): Conjunction meaning “when.”
- 手 (te): “Hand.”
- を (o): Direct object particle.
- 握り (nigiri): Stem form of “握る” (nigiru).
- Translation: “When I become anxious, holding my hand.”
一緒に歩んできた
(Issho ni ayunde kita)
- Translation: “We have been walking together.” (Same as in Verse 2.)
Bridge
その優しさを時には嫌がり
(Sono yasashisa o toki ni wa iyagari)
- その (sono): “That.”
- 優しさ (yasashisa): “Kindness.”
- を (o): Direct object particle.
- 時には (toki ni wa): “Sometimes” (“時” (toki), “time” + “に” (ni), “at” + “は” (wa), emphasis).
- 嫌がり (iyagari): Stem form of “嫌がる” (iyagaru), meaning “to dislike” or “to be averse to.”
- Translation: “Sometimes I dislike that kindness.”
離れた母へ素直になれず
(Hanareta haha e sunao ni narezu)
- 離れた (hanareta): Past tense of “離れる” (hanareru), meaning “to be separated.”
- 母 (haha): “Mother.”
- へ (e): Particle indicating direction.
- 素直 (sunao): “Obedient” or “honest.”
- に (ni): Particle indicating manner.
- なれず (narezu): Negative form of “なれる” (nareru), meaning “cannot become.”
- Translation: “I cannot be honest to my mother who is separated.”
Chorus (Repeated)
The chorus repeats the lines from Verse 1:
ほら 足元を見てごらん
これがあなたの歩む道
ほら 前を見てごらん
あれがあなたの未来
Ending
未来へ向かって ゆっくりと歩いて行こう
(Mirai e mukatte yukkuri to aruite yukou)
- 未来 (mirai): “Future.”
- へ (e): Particle indicating direction.
- 向かって (mukatte): Te-form of “向かう” (mukau), meaning “to face” or “to head towards.”
- ゆっくりと (yukkuri to): “Slowly” (“ゆっくり” (yukkuri) + “と” (to), adverbial particle).
- 歩いて (aruite): Te-form of “歩く” (aruku), meaning “to walk.”
- 行こう (yukou): Volitional form of “行く” (iku), meaning “let’s go.”
- Translation: “Let’s walk slowly towards the future.”
Cultural Context
“未来へ” (Mirai e) is a deeply emotional song that reflects on the enduring influence of a mother’s love and guidance. The lyrics trace a journey from childhood—where the speaker didn’t fully grasp their mother’s lessons—to adulthood, where they strive to pursue their dreams while carrying those teachings forward. The song’s themes of gratitude, resilience, and hope make it a fitting anthem for life transitions, which is why it’s frequently performed at graduation ceremonies in Japan, symbolizing the step from childhood into the future.