Ai Kawashima 川嶋あい: Tabidachi no Hi ni 旅立ちの日に Lyrics + Translation

This is a song which brings back memories of school life. I have always liked it for its tune, although I was not too aware of the meaning of the lyrics at one point of time. I decided to translate the lyrics because I had been listening to it recently ... :P

[7 May 2023] Edit: I have decided to re-format this entry since it has been getting quite a number of views in general. It should be easier to follow the song and read the lyrics now.

Lyrics 歌詞 and Translation

桜舞う4月の教室で

sakura mau shi-gatsu no kyoushitsu de

In the classroom when cherry blossoms flutter in April

波打つ胸をはずませながら

namiutsu mune wo hazumasenagara

As my heaving chest leapt

出会った永遠の仲間達

deatta towa no nakamatachi

The eternal friends I had met

あどけない手交わしたね

adokenai te kawashita ne

We innocently joined our hands together

あの日かけまわった校庭

ano hi kake mawatta koutei

All day long we went around the school yard

笑顔によく映えた光る汗

egao ni yoku haeta hikaru ase

Shiny beads of perspiration appeared on smiling faces

時に素直になるの嫌って

toki ni sunao ni naru no kiratte

Sometimes I hate being docile

ぶつかり合ってケンカもしたね

butsukari atte kenka mo shita ne

We've been at loggerheads and fought, too

放課後行った常連の店

houkago itta jouren no mise

The regular shop we went to after school

いつもの駄菓子屋

itsumo no dagashiya

The usual sweet shop

忘れてないよ

wasurete nai yo

I won't forget it

指切りをして

yubikiri wo shite

We hooked our little fingers together

交わした約束

kawashita yakusoku

And exchanged pinky promises

みんなきらめく陽だまりの粒

minna kirameku hidamari no tsubu

Everyone is glittering like particles of sunlight

いつのまにか

itsu no ma ni ka

Without realising

時は流れ

toki wa nagare

Time flowed by

もう今日は卒業の日

mou kyou wa sotsugyou no hi

Today is already graduation day

人はいつか旅立つ者だけど

hito wa itsuka tabi tatsu mono dakedo

Although people are beings who will eventually leave one day

いつの日にか

itsu no hi ni ka

Some day

またどこかで

mata dokoka de

Again somewhere

会える気がするからね

aeru ki ga suru kara ne

I feel we will meet

輝く日々を忘れないで

kagayaku hibi wo wasurenai de

Don't forget our shining days

もう開けない教室のドア

mou hirakenai kyoushitu no do-a

The classroom door which I won't open anymore

向かい合えない机もいすも

mukai aenai tsukue mo isu mo

The tables and chairs which won't face each other anymore

週末にはよく遊んだね

shuumatsu ni wa yoku asonda ne

We hung out a lot on the weekends

時に夢中な恋も知って

toki ni muchuu na koi mo shitte

At times we also knew what crazy love was

絶えぬおしゃべり 怒られた朝

taenu oshaberi okorareta asa

The morning when we got scolded for constantly chatting

泣いたあの日も

naita ano hi mo

That day when we cried, too

覚えているよ

oboete iru yo

I remember them

あなたがくれた

anata ga kureta

You gave me

冷めぬこの熱は

samenu kono netsu wa

A passion which doesn't cool down

私の胸で生きづいている

watashi no mune de iki dzuite iru

It still continues to live in my heart

今始まる

ima hajimaru

Now it begins

希望の道

kibou no michi

The path of hope

今日までありがとうね

kyou made arigatou ne

Thanks for everything until today

思い出の校舎と別れを告げ

omoide no kousha to wakare wo tsuge

I bid farewell to the school building in my memory

今新たな 扉開き

ima aratana tobira hiraki

Now a new door opens

はるかな年月隔て

haruka na toshi tsuki hete

Separating me from the months and years of long ago

つぼみから花 咲かせよう

tsubomi kara hana sakaseyou

Let's bloom a flower from a bud

耳元で聞こえる別れの歌を

mimi moto de kikoeru wakare no uta wo

The song of parting which I can hear at my ears

あふれ出す涙こらえて

afuredasu namida koraete

Holding back overflowing tears

旅立ちを決めた仲間たちには

tabidachi wo kimeta nakamatachi ni wa

My friends who have decided to leave

はかない調べが降り積もる

hakanai shirabe ga furitsumoru

Make short-term preparations

いつのまにか

itsu no ma ni ka

Without realising

時は流れ

toki wa nagare

Time flowed by

もう今日は卒業の日

mou kyou wa sotsugyou no hi

Today is already graduation day

人はいつか旅立つ者だけど

hito wa itsuka tabi tatsu mono dakedo

Although people are beings who will eventually leave one day

いつの日にか

itsu no hi ni ka

Some day

またどこかで

mata dokoka de

Again somewhere

会える気がするからね

aeru ki ga suru kara ne

I feel we will meet

輝く日々を忘れないで

kagayaku hibi wo wasurenai de

Don't forget our shining days

今始まる

ima hajimaru

Now it begins

希望の道

kibou no michi

The path of hope

今日までありがとうね

kyou made arigatou ne

Thanks for everything until today

思い出の校舎と別れを告げ

omoide no kousha to wakare wo tsuge

I bid farewell to the school building in my memory

今新たな 扉開き

ima aratana tobira hiraki

Now a new door opens

はるかな年月隔て

haruka na toshi tsuki hete

Separating me from the months and years of long ago

つぼみから花 咲かせよう

tsubomi kara hana sakaseyou

Let's bloom a flower from a bud

つぼみから花 咲かせよう

tsubomi kara hana sakaseyou

Let's bloom a flower from a bud

Japanese Lyrics: Uta-Net