23歳
23 Years Old
23 years old — I’m a fifth grade college student
Going for that Ivy League look just as today, top to bottom VAN
Never having even been outside Japan yet
And my dream? Of course, to be a rock musician!
23 years old — I’m living in a Shin-Nakano apartment
No bathtub, six tatami mats, only a piano and a synthesizer
Trying to somehow repay the loans on my instruments
Temp jobs and bands — uh-oh, guess I’m repeating a year!
Those days — reckless; frantic; all over the place
Filled with an illogical, unwarranted sense of self-confidence
Writing at a pace so incredibly fast, completely unthinkable today
Day and night I wrote, constantly — eight songs a month or so
At 23 years old
23 years old — I’m working part-time
As an Italian restaurant cameriere in Ginza
I always did love peeking into the kitchen
For a moment seriously thinking I’d become a chef
And naturally I was in love back then
With a cute, somewhat selfish, beautiful girl — I was head over heels
My one-sided feelings where it didn’t matter even if she rejected me
On and on I held out, ceaselessly — for eight years or so
Those memories — some painful; some good; some strange
Chance, luck and fortune all interlinked
Life’s really not too bad at all!
23 years old — are you in love today?
The real-time-currently-23-year-old you
May all your days be filled with happiness
…Or so I now sing, but think nothing of it
If the me from back then was to meet you today
Without a doubt, it’d be love at first sight — I’d be head over heels
My one-sided feelings where it wouldn’t matter even if you rejected me
On and on I’d hold out, ceaselessly — yes, for 20 years or so
No, even longer, forever — at least for 35 years or so
And before I’d noticed it, I’m 58 years old
You are 23
I am 58
Oh no…