the letter - to my beloeved children

the song became a huge hit in japan, the society that is facing a tremendous amount of difficulty because of the aging population... my mom saw it at dad's hospital unit, and clearly, i want every young person to read it. as our parents and grand parents grow older and change, we have to be able to understand what and how we can give them the love they need and deserve. i know that some of us have close family members who suffer(ed) from dimentia and altzheimer's, and it's up to us what their last days are going to be like. this is a song for all of us, from every parent in the world.

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the letter - to my beloved children
by anonymous (in portuguese)
translation in japanese by ryoichi higuchi
translation in english by me

even if i become old someday
and change into someone different from who i am now
please accept me as i am

even if i spill food onto my clothes
or forget to tie my shoelace
just as i did while i taught you many things
i hope you will protect me

even if i tell you the same story
over and over again
please don't discount each ending
but instead simply nod and listen

the happy ending of the story
you asked me to read aloud for you over and over
was the same every time
though it never failed to bring peace to my heart

it is not a sad thing
even though my heart may look as if it is fading away
and disappear
i wish for your hopeful gaze

if i wet my pants when i laugh
and if i refuse to take a bath
i hope you will remember the times
when i used to chase you around to change your clothes
and came up with a handful of silly reasons
to take a bath with you

it is not a sad thing
i'm just getting ready to begin a new journey
so please give me prayers of joy
may be my teeth will weaken and
may be i won't be be able to swallow anymore
if my legs become too wasted and couldn't stand on my own
just as you asked for me trying to stand on your own small feet
please let me hold your hands so that i won't shake and fall

please don't look at me and grieve
or think that you are powerless
realizing that i don't have enough energy to hug you is a cruel fact
but i only ask for you to have a heart
that can understand and hold me

i am sure that's all it takes, that's all it takes
for the courage to rise inside me

just as i stood by you
as you began your life
i hope you will stand by me for a little while
at the end of mine

with much delight you've brought me by being born
and love for you that will never change
i want to answer with a smile

for my children

to my beloved children


手紙　〜親愛なる子供達へ〜

年老いた私がある日
今までの私と違っていたとしても
どうかそのままの私のことを
理解して欲しい

私が服の上に食べ物をこぼしても
靴ひもを結び忘れても
あなたにいろんな事を教えたように
見守って欲しい

あなたと話す時同じ話を
何度も　何度も　繰り返しても
その結末をどうかさえぎらずに
うなずいて欲しい

あなたにせがまれて　繰り返し読んだ
絵本のあたたかな結末は
いつも同じでも私の心を
平和にしてくれた

悲しい事ではないんだ
消え去ってゆくように　見える私の心へと
励ましのまなざしを向けて欲しい

楽しいひと時に私が思わず
下着を濡らしてしまったり
お風呂に入るのをいやがる時には
思い出して欲しい
あなたを追い回し　何度も着替えさせたり
様々な理由をつけて
いやがるあなたとお風呂に入った
懐かしい日のことを

悲しいことではないんだ
旅立ちの前の準備をしている私に
祝福の祈りを捧げて欲しい
いずれ歯も弱り　飲み込む事さえ
出来なくなるかも知れない
足も衰えて　立ち上がる事すら
出来なくなったなら
あなたがか弱い足で立ち上がろうと
私に助けを求めたように
よろめく私に　どうかあなたの
手を握らせて欲しい

私の姿を見て悲しんだり
自分が無力だと思わないで欲しい
あなたを抱きしめる力がないのを
知るのはつらい事だけど
私を理解して支えて
くれる心だけを持っていて欲しい

きっとそれだけで　それだけで
私には勇気がわいてくるのです

あなたの人生の始まりに
私がしっかりと付き添ったように
私の人生の終わりに少しだけ
付き添って欲しい

あなたが生まれてくれたことで
私が受けた多くの喜びと
あなたに対する変わらぬ愛を持って
笑顔で答えたい

私の子供たちへ

愛する子供たちへ