Michi

I (Noz) wrote this piece, “Michi,” as a way of giving thanks — to Shugorei, to the community that surrounds it, and to all the collaborators, supporters, and listeners who have walked this path with us.

In Japanese, michi means journey. This piece traces the road that has brought us to this moment, while also gazing forward — toward the journeys that are still unfolding, unseen but full of promise.

The second verse carries a more personal meaning. It reflects my feeling of being an outsider — a traveller from another place, always searching for where I truly belong. In that sense, it echoes the ancient Japanese tale of Kaguya-hime, a celestial being who visits this world but never fully belongs to it. Through Michi, I wanted to capture that bittersweet sense of longing and wonder — the feeling of walking between worlds.

長い道を歩いてきた
Nagai michi wo aruite kita
I’ve walked a long road

あなたとこの時代に会えた
Anata to kono jidai ni aeta
I met you in this era

いやなこともつらいこともたくさんある
Iyana koto mo tsurai koto mo takusan aru
There are many unpleasant and painful things

たくさん泣いた
Takusan naita
I cried a lot

でも今は笑顔でいられる
Demo ima wa egao de irareru
But now I can smile

見つけたメロディー
Mitsuketa melody
The melody I found

何度も助けられた
Nando mo tasukerareta
Saved me many times

今日もいい日が過ごせます
Kyou mo ii hi ga sugosemasu
I hope today will be a good day too

今を大事に生きていきたい
Ima wo daiji ni ikite ikitai
I want to cherish the present and live fully

これからも一緒に歌おう
Korekara mo issho ni utaou
Let’s keep singing together

ずっとずっとずっと
Zutto zutto zutto
Forever, forever, forever

長い間待ち焦がれた神秘的なところめざすよ
Nagai aida machikogareta shinpiteki na tokoro mezasu yo
I’m aiming for the mysterious place I’ve longed for

時空を超えたどり着ける不思議な場所
Jikū wo koe tadoritsukeru fushigi na basho
A wondrous place we can reach beyond time and space

いつか行きたい
Itsuka ikitai
I want to go there someday

ここで生きていくのはとても大変だけれど
Koko de ikite iku no wa totemo taihen dakeredo
Living here is really tough, but

なんとかうまくできるようになったはず
Nantoka umaku dekiru yō ni natta hazu
I think I’ve somehow learned to manage

だけど本当の私たちのふるさとを探しに行くよ
Dakedo hontō no watashitachi no furusato wo sagashi ni iku yo
Still, we’ll go search for our true home

きっと見つける
Kitto mitsukeru
We’ll surely find it

Written by Noz