About this work
Memories of childhood adventures with an older brother return on the anniversary of his death, long after the vacant lot has disappeared. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.
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
空き地でバラ線くぐってすりむき傷
泣きながら大きな水溜まり
おろしたての白いズックも汚れたって
裸足で歩いてズックも失くしたから
母にもしかられたねお兄ちゃん
夏は住宅街の敷地へ探検隊
「蝉をとらせてください」とチャイム音鳴らした
近所のおばさんにアイスもらった
お兄ちゃんを頼りに臆病な私は大冒険
いつだってお兄ちゃんには敵わない
大人になって、ある日突然
臆病な妹を置き去りにして
お兄ちゃんは振り返ることもなく
逝ってしまった
今日は三回忌
向こうから私を気にしているのかな？
もう私は臆病じゃないよ
私はあの頃より強くなったよ
あの楽しかった空き地も今はないけれど
時は流れて思い出の中で生きているから
いつだってお兄ちゃんに会える
いつまでも、いつまでも消えない
English translation 英訳
AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.
In the vacant lot, I slipped beneath barbed wire and scraped myself.
Crying, I stood before a huge puddle.
My brand-new white canvas shoes got dirty;
then I walked barefoot and lost them,
and Mother scolded us, didn’t she, big brother?
In summer, we formed an expedition into the residential grounds.
“Please let us catch cicadas,” we said, ringing the doorbell.
A woman from the neighborhood gave us ice cream.
Timid as I was, I ventured far with my big brother to rely on.
I could never match you.
Then, one day after we had grown up,
you suddenly left your timid little sister behind.
Without once looking back,
you passed away.
Today marks the second anniversary of your death.
Are you watching over me from the other side?
I am no longer timid.
I am stronger than I was then.
That happy vacant lot is gone now,
but time flows on and you live in my memories.
I can meet you there whenever I wish.
You will never, ever disappear.
Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.