Nani hitotsu kangaete inai

Welcome to my pseudo-journal, where I document my life as a teacher of English in Japan on the JET Programme.  I’m based on an island in Nagasaki Prefecture, but occasionally find time to travel elsewhere through Japan and Asia.

Here you may find all sorts of interesting and odd little bits on culture, teaching, and the consequences of life as a foreigner in Japan.

“Nani hitotsu kangaete inai” comes from the lyrics of my top theme song and favourite Japanese song remixed: Girlish (Scanty Sandwich Radio) by Ayumi Hamasaki. It’s about living life happily, enjoying the moment, and doing silly things.

Nani hitotsu kangaete inai you na kao de
Subete no koto kanjita no watashitachi

With faces looking like we were thinking about nothing
We felt everything

The full lyrics:

Kudannai koto shite kudannai hanashi de
Asa made moriagattari shite
Sore ga tadashii no ka machigatte iru no ka nante
Taishita mondai ja nakute

Nani hitotsu kangaete inai you na kao de
Subete no koto kanjita no watashitachi

Ima made iroiro atta yo ne
Ima demo iroiro aru kedo ne
Konna ni kigaru ni
Tayasuku mitsuketatte
Ai wa ai de aru you ni
Konna kanji de ikou yo

Tanoshii koto nante sagashite nai de hora
Ima wo tanoshinde ireba ii

Lalala…

We stay up ’til dawn
Doing nothing, talking about nothing
It’s not important
To know if that’s right or wrong

With our faces looking like we’re not thinking a thing
We felt everything

A lot of things have happened, haven’t they
A lot of things are still happening
Even though I found it so easily
So lightheartedly
I pray that love will still be love
Let’s go like this

Don’t search for something fun, come on
You’ve gotta enjoy what’s happening now

Lalala…