モノローグ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 秋山黄色

Lyrics & Translation

“モノローグ” (Monologue) by Akiyama Kiro is a compelling rock track that served as the theme song for the popular Japanese drama "10 no Himitsu." Through its poignant lyrics and powerful instrumentation, the song offers a deep dive into themes of regret, self-reflection, and the complexities of human relationships. Learning Japanese through this song allows you to explore rich emotional vocabulary and common expressions related to introspection and longing, while appreciating the unique blend of J-rock energy and thoughtful songwriting that makes Akiyama Kiro a remarkable artist.

[English]

That face I don't know

Did you hide it from the start?

...

I thought I understood a little after talking

The more I want to know what I don't know,

Is it because I can't truly believe anything?

We continue to carry our sadness,

What lies ahead, all scarred? Please tell me.

Sadness is twofold, joy is one,

Even though my open hands can grasp nothing,

Why do we still dream?

Even if I can pretend to forget,

I won't wither like a flower.

花のようには枯れないから

In my lonely room, I spit out "what ifs" hundreds of times,

I'm more troubled than when we were together.

I don't want to touch those memories anymore,

I even doubt the days we spent.

How foolish we are,

We simply lacked the courage to carry both happiness and sorrow.

まさになかっただけだ

...

Because even fate is filled with doubt and anxiety,

Blaming myself won't bring relief.

The phrase "You only realize after losing"

I heard it so much I grew tired of it, yet I still didn't realize.

Sadness is twofold, joy is one,

I was struggling even to do that.

We can only understand each other a little,

Yet the days don't fade away,

If I had hidden all my sadness,

I would know from the start we weren't drawn to each other.

May the number of scars we bear together

Transform into your days.

May they transform.

...

[Japanese]

僕の知らないその顔は

最初から隠していたの?

ほんの少し話をして分かった気になっていた

知らない事ばかり知りたくなるのは

本当は何も信じられないからなのか

僕たちは悲しみを背負い続けて

傷だらけのその先に一体何があるの？ 教えて

悲しみは2つに 喜びは1つに

ありふれた願いも零した手のひらが

掴めるものなんてもう何もないのに

僕らはどうして夢を見てしまうんだろう

忘れたフリをすることができても

花のようには枯れないから

一人の部屋 たらればを何百回吐き散らかして

二人で居たあの時より思い詰めている ずっと

思い出はこのままもう触れたくない

過ごした日々すら疑ってしまう

馬鹿だな僕らは

不幸も幸せも背負っていく勇気が

まさになかっただけだ

運命すらこんなにも疑惑と不安に満ちているから

自分のせいにしてみても楽になれるはずないよ

「失った後にしか気付けない」という言葉を

嫌になるほど聞いてなお気付けなかった ずっと

悲しみは2つに 喜びは1つに

それすら出来ずにもがいていたね

分かり合える事なんてほんの少しだけど

それでも日々が色褪せないのは

悲しみの全てを隠していたなら

最初から僕らは惹かれ合っていないと分かるから

二人でつけ合った傷の数が

あなたの日々に変わりますように

変わりますように

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
顔 /kao/ A2	noun - face
悲しみ /kanashimi/ B1	noun - sadness
喜び /yorokobi/ B1	noun - joy
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream
勇気 /yuuki/ B2	noun - courage
運命 /unmei/ B2	noun - destiny
部屋 /heya/ A1	noun - room
傷 /kizu/ B1	noun - wound
言葉 /kotoba/ A2	noun - word
日々 /hibi/ B1	noun - days
気 /ki/ A2	noun - spirit, feeling
時 /toki/ A1	noun - time
気付く /kizuku/ B2	verb - to notice, to realize
隠す /kakusu/ B1	verb - to hide
掴む /tsukamu/ B2	verb - to grasp, to seize
分かり合う /wakariau/ B2	verb - to understand each other

Key Grammar Structures

• 知らない事ばかり知りたくなるのは

  ➔ たくなる (takunaru) - expresses a desire to start or want to do something

  ➔ The suffix "たくなる" is used to express a **desire or tendency** to do something, indicating a change towards wanting to perform the action.

• 傷だらけのその先に一体何があるの？

  ➔ のに (noni) - conjunction meaning "despite" or "although"

  ➔ The particle "のに" is used to contrast two ideas, typically expressing **unexpected or contradictory** relationships, such as "despite" or "although".

• 僕たちは悲しみを背負い続けて

  ➔ を (wo) - accusative particle marking the direct object

  ➔ The particle "を" indicates the **direct object** of the verb, here marking "悲しみ" (sadness) as what they continue to carry.

• 最初から僕らは惹かれ合っていないと分かるから

  ➔ と (to) - quotative particle meaning "that"

  ➔ "と" is a quotative particle used to quote speech or thought, here indicating the speaker's realization that "we were not attracted to each other from the beginning."

• 「失った後にしか気付けない」という言葉を

  ➔ に (ni) - particle indicating a point in time or a target

  ➔ "に" marks the point in time or the target in the sentence, here specifying "after losing" as the time when the realization occurs.