Cool quotes from Japanese (J-pop) artists and musicians
Many great songs are born from a wide range of artists.
Not limited to music, we’re often struck by words spoken from perspectives different from our own and by the richness of a broad sensibility.
The allure of nuanced Japanese.
The ways artists and musicians live and think.
From a single line that makes you think, “Alright, I’ll do my best,” to big phrases that can serve as signposts in life, we’ve picked out a diverse array of cool, memorable quotes.
You’ll surely end up loving those artists even more.
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Cool Quotes by Japanese Artists and Musicians (1–10)
Give it everything you’ve got—you’re not going to die.hide
These are the words of HIDE, who was active as the guitarist of X JAPAN from 1987 to 1997.
It’s said that he struggled with complexes as a child, and perhaps he wanted to convey that if you try your hardest, you can make things work out.
The same person who made such statements sadly met an untimely death in 1998—whether it was suicide or an accident remains unclear.
I’ve come to think it’s better to regret saying something than to regret staying silent.aiko
Aiko has created countless classic love songs that have been cherished across generations—so much so that people say, “When it comes to love songs, it’s her.” Whether it’s a happy story or one with a bittersweet ending, her songs about love—by someone who seems to be constantly in love, to the point of writing a song literally called Love Junkie—carry a solid sense of reality and conviction.
As both a person and a musician, Aiko has an unwavering, consistent style, and it’s wonderful how she’s gained a gentle kind of strength with age.
It’s precisely because she is who she is that her words resonate so deeply.
People who are truly giving their all don’t say, “I’m working hard.” People who only voice complaints have forgotten to be grateful. People who shrug and say, “That’s just the kind of person I am,” are holding back their own growth. And effort will never betray you.Takanori Nishikawa
I think many people want to be recognized by someone or end up comparing themselves to others.
While that’s a perfectly natural tendency, I believe you can be truly happy if you reach a point where you don’t compare yourself to anyone at all.
This quote offers wonderful words that help you face yourself in that way.
Cool Quotes by Japanese Artists and Musicians (11–20)
Even if words end up becoming lies, that isn’t a sin. Because the feelings someone had at the moment they gave you those words were never a lie. People change every day, so a change of heart is inevitable. There is no such thing as forever. That’s why we can live each fleeting moment shining brightly.Mao Abe
This is the kind of quote that, the moment you hear it, you just know it’s true.
I feel it’s something only Mao Abe—who has sung so many love songs—could say, and it carries the message that none of us ever intends to hurt someone from the start.
Even if something happens to my voice and I can no longer sing, I want to keep writing and composing songs.Aimyon
Among singer-songwriters who are called artists, many create songs and sing as one way of expressing themselves, rather than placing singing itself at the center.
Aimyon is one of them.
Even if something were to happen to her voice and she could no longer continue singing, she would undoubtedly want to keep expressing her songs by borrowing someone else’s voice.
Conversely, those who devote their passion solely to singing are often described as singers.
It’s wonderful that there are so many different kinds of expressive people.
People need a reason when they break up, but you don’t need any reason to fall in love with someone.yasu（Acid Black Cherry）
I think it’s a very romantic quote.
When you truly fall for someone, you naturally find yourself thinking about them more without making any special effort, and you often end up realizing that what you feel is love.
But when you part ways, there’s a clear reason.
It’s a very cruel yet beautiful quote.
The word “ganbatte” is written with characters that mean “to stiffly stretch,” but when you stretch something too tightly—like a guitar string—it’ll snap. Being too rigid and tense leads to a life that’s thick but short; it made me realize that keeping things thin and long—going gently for the long haul—is important too.YUI
I think these are words that make your heart feel a little lighter.
In short, it means that pushing yourself too hard isn’t good, but YUI’s characteristic way of expressing it really hits home.
It’s the kind of expression only a singer-songwriter could have, and it seems like it could give a bit of breathing room to people who are working hard.