RAG Music - Quote The artist's na...n's lovely words Quotes by artists. Wonderful words from Japanese musicians. 10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminder kepiko Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSIC Hane Keisukebeenhere Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce many memorable quotes from artists active in Japan.
When you’re going through something difficult or dealing with worries, many people lift their spirits by listening to their favorite music.
But musicians don’t just leave us with great songs—they also leave us with many wonderful words.
The quotes we’re about to share are all words that can serve as support in life.
I’m sure you’ll find something that resonates with your heart, so please take your time and enjoy.
Table of Contents Quotes by artists. Wonderful words from Japanese musicians. I’ll create a place for you, so don’t cry. Satoshi Fukase (SEKAI NO OWARI) They say the weaker the dog, the more it barks—but it’s better than doing nothing. Yutaka Ozaki Stagnation is almost the same as decline. Kenshi Yonezu If something like talent exists, then maybe talent is not seeing effort as effort. Kazutoshi Sakurai (Mr.Children) Relax, but don’t let your guard down. Tamio Okuda Regretting the past won’t change anything, and worrying about the future won’t help. Mariya Takeuchi I am who I am today thanks to 1% talent and 99% perseverance—by continuing to put in the effort. Namie Amuro You only live once, so if you’re going to be reborn, do it while you’re still alive. Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi Results will come. Whatever they are, please praise yourself more than anyone else in the world. Tsunku♂ It’s important to work backward from your dream. TERU（GLAY） You mustn’t erase what you’ve developed or your individuality. Yohei Kawakami ([Alexandros]) Knowledge and experience are the greatest assets that can never be taken away from you. GACKT A well starts out muddy; if you keep digging, clear water will spring forth. Saburō Kitajima To stay true to your own style, it’s important to have the attitude of “today over yesterday.” Tomoyasu Hotei For those who truly give their all, a truly radiant smile awaits. Ai Kawashima A life without doubts is like chewing flavorless gum forever. Ichiro Yamaguchi (Sakanaction) If you don’t do anything, tomorrow will be just like yesterday. hide Listen up! The time you’ve got left is actually just this tiny little bit! So don’t you dare waste it, not even for a second! TAKA（ONE OK ROCK ） By helping others, I am also saving myself. YOSHIKI If you want to be free yourself, you mustn’t get in the way of other people’s freedom. Kinya Kitahata (bacho) If the best things are the ones that sell the most, then the best ramen in the world is instant cup ramen. Hiroto Kōmoto If you can’t confess, can’t apologize, or can’t say thank you, then even if it’s just bluffing, when the moment really matters, let yourself get carried away and nail it. Otherwise, before you know it, the night will be over. TAKUMA（10-FEET） When you get to this age, you start to think that, somewhere along the line, you might be betrayed—even if you really trust the other person. But no matter how much you think you might be betrayed, I feel life becomes terribly lonely if you don’t have feelings of care for others. Hyde（L’Arc～en～Ciel） My father told me not to try to become something too easily. He said I should just have fun until I’m thirty. You can’t choose a job until you understand yourself—that’s what he meant, I suppose. And I feel the same way. Ryuichi Sakamoto Will you just give up easily, or will you stand up and say, “I’ll find a way to make this work”? I think the latter is easier. Namie Amuro If the song isn’t good, I wonder how I’m supposed to walk around without losing face. If a man with talent this exceptional can’t write a good song, there’s no point in him being alive. Hiroji Miyamoto I believe continuing is truly important. I try as much as possible not to create gaps that make people wonder, “What are they doing now?” Kazumasa Oda Becoming lonely, feeling lonesome, and being understood by no one—these may be the price of living as one wishes. Yutaka Ozaki There’s surely a reason for you to be there. Finding it—that’s what living is all about. I found mine in rock music. Sawa Yamanaka (the pillows) The ones who ring that bell are you! Because you’re the ones working hard here!! Takashi Yamaguchi (Sambomaster) Call it the talent of believing in yourself or just conviction, but anyway, people who think “I might not be good enough” or “I’m just okay” are clearly weaker than those who think “I’m the strongest.” Without that kind of confidence, I don’t think I could’ve made it this far. Kiyoshiro Imawano Maybe it’s okay to choose to do something not because you have talent, but because you don’t. That’s what I think. Gen Hoshino It is precisely because people keep changing that they can remain the same. Yumi Matsutoya Life is something that’s given to you without your choosing, so it’s okay to pursue it on your own terms. There’s a right to pursue happiness, isn’t there? That’s what I thought. Ringo Sheena Life is tough enough as it is, so I can’t be agonizing over every little thing. I’ve got to keep smiling. Ken Yokoyama We didn’t know the route from here to there, so we just blew it hundreds, thousands of times and learned it with our bodies, didn’t we? But now it’s like, “To get from here to there, you just walk this way.” “Oh, I see.” You understand it in your head first, and that’s the end of it. Sadao Watanabe There comes a time in everyone’s life when you just have to knock on the door. And knocking takes courage—it’s scary. You wonder what’s going to happen. That’s where people split into two kinds: those who knock, and those who don’t. Eikichi Yazawa Everyone’s fighting their own battles every day, right? Don’t you dare lose. When it’s tough, lean on your family or friends. And if there’s no one to lean on, lean on music. That’s what I’ve always done. Takeshi Hosomi (Ellegarden) Life really is like the flow of a river, isn’t it? Sometimes straight, sometimes winding, sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, sometimes fast, sometimes slow… Hibari Misora Humans will inevitably face death someday. That fear is always there, and at times I find myself wondering what I’m living for and feeling like giving up. But then I pause and think: hold on. I’m able to do so many enjoyable things while I’m alive—doesn’t that make it all right? Taro Hakase To keep something going for a long time, you really do need effort, don’t you? Fumiya Fujii You can decide for yourself where you belong. Ryuichi Sakamoto After all, it’s more about how you live than how you die. Hiroto Kōmoto No matter what happens, no matter what happened yesterday, no matter what kind of past you’ve had since you were born, you should still be able to live happily. Hiroto Kōmoto I’ve been playing in a rock band since I was about 14, and for 20 years it’s the only thing I’ve done. I think being in a band is the coolest thing in the world. KJ（Dragon Ash） Quotes from artists. Wonderful words from Japanese musicians (11–20) You mustn’t erase what you’ve developed or your individuality. Yohei Kawakami ([Alexandros]) These are the words spoken by [Alexandros]’s vocalist and guitarist, Yohei Kawakami, in a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone Japan.
When asked why their then-recently released album, Sleepless in Brooklyn, featured many songs with Japanese lyrics despite their aim to succeed overseas, he answered as follows.
It reflects his desire to make it on the world stage without losing what he has cultivated through his work in Japan.
He has a clear vision of the kind of artist he wants to be, and his words are very cool.
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Knowledge and experience are the greatest assets that can never be taken away from you. GACKT After serving as the vocalist for the rock band MALICE MIZER, GACKT has been active as a solo artist.
In the popular New Year’s TV program “Geinoujin Kakuzuke Check,” where he always delivers outstanding results, he shared these words on the show.
He places great importance on accumulating knowledge and experience in everyday life and in the way he lives, and that’s likely why he can continue to maintain such an exceptional sense.
These words help explain why GACKT is so cool.
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A well starts out muddy; if you keep digging, clear water will spring forth. Saburō Kitajima When someone like Saburō Kitajima, who has been singing for decades, says it, it carries weight and you can’t help but be convinced.
Even if results don’t come right away at first, if you keep working hard and stay consistent, one day you’ll get what you’ve been striving for—at least, that’s the lesson it feels like he’s imparting.
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To stay true to your own style, it’s important to have the attitude of “today over yesterday.” Tomoyasu Hotei After his work as the guitarist for BOØWY, Tomoyasu Hotei has been active as a solo artist.
His trademark is a guitar decorated with a geometric pattern known as the G design, and he has produced numerous classic songs.
When these words come from Hotei—who has firmly established his own style—they carry real weight.
They seem to capture his constant drive to improve and to take on new challenges.
Whether in work, hobbies, or dreams, these words will surely encourage anyone who’s striving day by day.
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For those who truly give their all, a truly radiant smile awaits. Ai Kawashima After giving something your all, you’re left with such a refreshing feeling, aren’t you? Many of us have probably felt that way after completing an important task at work or finishing a big event at school.
A famous quote about that kind of effort comes from singer-songwriter Ai Kawashima, known for “Ashita e no Tobira.” Hearing that there are wonderful emotions and scenes that only come to those who truly give their best can really boost our motivation to work hard, can’t it?
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A life without doubts is like chewing flavorless gum forever. Ichiro Yamaguchi (Sakanaction) Ichiro Yamaguchi, known as the vocalist of the rock band Sakanaction, is also popular for his personality and way of life.
Here is one of his famous quotes.
Many people feel “I don’t like this” when they have worries, but in this quote he sees worries in a positive light.
If you imagine it a bit, a life with no worries at all might indeed lack excitement.
Hearing this when you’re feeling down about something could help you feel more positive.
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If you don’t do anything, tomorrow will be just like yesterday. hide Even on days that feel painful and heavy, it’s enough to try to change things, even just a little; if you don’t, today and tomorrow will be the same, and you won’t move forward.
That’s what hide-san is saying, isn’t he? The hardest part is the first step.
But once you take it, tomorrow becomes a new day, different from today.
It really gives you courage when you’re hesitating and standing still, doesn’t it?
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Listen up! The time you’ve got left is actually just this tiny little bit! So don’t you dare waste it, not even for a second! TAKA（ONE OK ROCK ） TAKA is known for often sharing memorable quotes about life.
He looks cool just standing there, but his words carry weight because he strives to stay genuine.
These words are from the MC he gave before performing the song “Be The Light,” which he wrote at the time of the earthquake disaster.
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By helping others, I am also saving myself. YOSHIKI These are words that YOSHIKI posted on his X account in 2020, when the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sometimes, by helping others, you end up feeling happy yourself, don’t you? If the person you lend a hand to does well, that alone makes you happy, and hearing a simple “thank you” lifts your spirits.
Being needed by someone can save your heart.
It’s a message that suggests “helping others isn’t only for others,” and it conveys YOSHIKI’s gentle character.
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If you want to be free yourself, you mustn’t get in the way of other people’s freedom. Kinya Kitahata (bacho) I think those words are very typical of Kitahata-san.
They were said during the live show’s MC segment.
If we want to keep doing what we want freely forever, we mustn’t get in other people’s way.
Conversely, it’s also a phrase that makes you feel you should be able to take responsibility for yourself.
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![You mustn’t erase what you’ve developed or your individuality. Yohei Kawakami ([Alexandros])](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O_DLtVuiqhI/sddefault.jpg)
