About this work
The poem separates the heart’s age from the body’s and imagines childhood openness still living within everyone. By listening quietly, the speaker finds that inner door ready to open again.
Parallel reading
日本語と英語で読む
Read the Japanese original and its English translation together. On smaller screens, each language follows in sequence.
日本語原文 Japanese original
心は歳を取らない
心に年齢はない
もし歳を取るなら
心が汚れたか疲れたのだろう。
子供時代の心
忘れていない
あの気持ちのまま
進歩ないみたいだけれど。
誰の心にも住んでいる清らかな心
清らかな心の扉はいつでも開く
自分に聞いて心の声
大切な気持ちが蘇る。
静かに耳をすませば
澄んだ気持ちで
清らかな心の扉が
再びいま開く。
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
The heart does not grow old.
The heart has no age.
If it does grow old,
perhaps it has become stained or tired.
The heart I had in childhood—
I have not forgotten it.
I still feel as I did then,
though it may seem I have never grown.
An unclouded heart lives within everyone.
Its door can open at any time.
Ask yourself and hear your heart’s voice;
precious feelings return.
If you listen quietly,
with a clear spirit,
the door to an unclouded heart
opens once again, now.
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.