Okazaki was born in Nagasaki but her family moved to Tokyo when she was in third grade. As a high school student, she formed a band with two classmates called Eleanor (エレナー), in which she played piano and sang backup vocals. It was at this time she began writing original songs. She began her professional career in 1985 composing music for TV programs and commercials as well as for other singers under a variety of names, the most frequently used being Ritsu ("Ritz") Morino (森野律). She debuted as a solo artist in 1993 with the single "Kanashii jiyû" (悲しい自由) followed shortly by her first album, "Sincerely yours,". She spent much of the 1990s creating solo works. Around 2000 until her death, her career became profoundly more focused on music for animated series. To this end, in 2001 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Megumi Hinata (日向めぐみ) to form Melocure, a project that produced music for a variety of series.
In the spring of 2003, Okazaki discovered she had stomach cancer. This information was not announced to the public at the time and she continued to pursue her professional activities to the best of her ability. On May 5, 2004, she passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from septic shock. She was 44 years old. Her album "For RITZ", which was in production when she passed, was completed with what voice recordings were available (some were only preliminary) and released as a tribute.
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長崎県西彼杵郡高島町（現長崎市）端島出身。高校一年の時に同期生2人とバンド「エレナー」を結成し、3人で音楽活動を始める。当時の担当はピアノ、コーラスだった。
音楽業界に入った後に「森野律」などの名義でコマーシャル音楽などを手がけたり、アーティストに楽曲を提供していた。OVA『1月にはChristmas』主題歌「冬のないカレンダー」で、歌手の「岡崎律子」としてトーラスレコード（その後、会社自体がポリグラム（現在はユニバーサルミュージック）に編入された）からデビュー、晩年はスターチャイルドに移籍した。テレビアニメ『魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ』イメージソング「4月の雪」「約束」を担当。歌手活動と並行して、ラジオやエッセイなどで活躍したり、アニメ・ゲーム作品や声優の曲を数多く手がけている。日向めぐみとのユニット「メロキュア」も、広く注目を得る。ヤマハ音楽教室のピアノ・エレクトーン教室の音楽教材にも、曲をいくつか提供しており、音楽教室の生徒向け教材CDに収録されている。
2004年5月5日に敗血症性ショックのため死去。44歳没。
その死後、2003年春にスキルス胃がんを発病して、闘病生活を送りつつ創作活動を続けていたことが明らかになった。交流のあった芸能関係者以外では一部の例外を除き、親族の意向により墓所は一般公表されていない。遺作となった『for RITZ』は、制作途中であったため、発表時には冥福を祈る意味でタイトルが変更された。同アルバムには、本番収録が間に合わずテスト状態で収録された曲もある。
I'm always close to you
岡崎律子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
どうして 今日を過ごしてしまう
今がすべてと
そう思って生きてみるの
あせる氣持ちがあった
どれも選べず 全部をやりたかった
素敵なことは
行きつけない時は ゴ一ルが欲しくて
ただ もどかしく もがいて走った
ゴ一ルが見えると 今度は惜しくて
もっともっといたい
まだ續けていたいって 思うのね
I'm all right
I love you
I love my life
I'm always close to you
ごめんね お別れが突然で
今は ちょっとね 寂しいけど
かなしみじゃないの
いつか ちゃんと想い出になる
約束 お願いはひとつだけ
生きて 生きて
どんな時にも なげてはだめよ
それは なによリチャ一ミングなこと
The lyrics to 岡崎律子's song "I'm always close to you" touch upon living in the present and cherishing each moment as it comes, even though tomorrow is uncertain. The opening lines express uncertainty about the future - "there might not even be a tomorrow" - but despite this, the singer wants to focus on making the most of today. They live with the mindset that "now is everything." This is a reminder to the listener to live in the moment and cherish the present.
The next stanza talks about feeling overwhelmed and wanting to do everything at once. The singer was eager to experience all the wonderful things that life has to offer but couldn't choose which path to take. They reassure the listener that life is full of surprises and great things will come, even when unexpected.
The third stanza is about feeling restless when not being able to go to your favorite place. The singer longed for the excitement and nostalgia that this place brought them, and felt a sense of urgency to be there. This feeling is relatable for anyone who has a special place that they feel drawn to.
The chorus expresses the singer's love for life and their connection to the person listening. They reassure their loved one that they are always near, even if they cannot physically be together. The final stanza talks about saying goodbye and how it can be sudden and painful. The singer reminds us that every memory is precious and to live your life to the fullest.
Overall, the song encourages living in the present, cherishing life, and finding joy in unexpected places. It also touches upon the personal connections that we can have with others, even when we are physically apart.
Line by Line Meaning
明日などないかもしれないのに
Even though tomorrow may never come, I still choose to live for today
どうして今日を過ごしてしまう
Why do I feel compelled to spend my time on this particular day?
今がすべてとそう思って生きてみるの
I choose to live as though this moment is all that matters
あせる氣持ちがあった
I feel anxious and rushed
どれも選べず全部をやりたかった
I wanted to do everything and couldn't make a choice
素敵なことはめまぐるしくやってくるのよ
Amazing things come quickly and unexpectedly
行きつけない時はゴ一ルが欲しくて
When I'm not sure where I'm going, I yearn for guidance
ただもどかしくもがいて走った
I struggle constantly and run towards my goal
ゴ一ルが見えると今度は惜しくて
When I can almost see the finish line, I don't want to let go
もっともっといたいまだ續けていたいって思うのね
I want to stay just a little bit longer, I want it to keep going
I'm all right
I'm doing well
I love you
I love you
I love my life
I love my life
I'm always close to you
I'm always by your side
ごめんねお別れが突然で
I'm sorry that we had to say goodbye suddenly
今はちょっとね寂しいけど
It's a little lonely right now
かなしみじゃないのいつかちゃんと想い出になる
This sadness will someday become a cherished memory
約束お願いはひとつだけ
I have only one request, one promise to make
生きて生きて
Live, keep on living
どんな時にもなげてはだめよ
No matter what, don't give up
それは なによリチャ一ミングなこと
That's what true resilience is all about
Writer(s): 岡崎 律子, 岡崎 律子
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Wireless-Darwin
Ritsuko Okazaki knew she didn’t have much time left when she wrote this song. They found cancer in her stomach in the spring of 2003. She spent the last year of her life in the hospital before she passed away on May 5, 2004. According to her mother, she brought a keyboard in her room and wrote many songs as if she was “possesed”.
In the first verse of this song, she sings “I want to live my life, telling myself that the present is all I got” （今がすべてと そう思って生きてみるの）. I heard that his line was originally “I thought I knew well that the present is all I got”（今がすべてと ちゃんと知ってたはずなのに）Let’s take a moment to think about why she changed it.
Which reminds me, her charm is not only the whispering voice and the sweet melody. Her lyrics are pretty darn good, too. They are written in a way that you can see a lot of effort went into them. She carefully chose the words so they can touch your heart and stick to you, in a way that no other person can put the feelings into words(by the way, she was a song writer before debuted as a singer). And, most importantly, I feel like she really means it when she sings those kind words. Many singers just sing "well" to sound cool, pretty or professional, whereas she sings to tell us something. Maybe that's why it's touching even if you don't understand the language.
It was back in 2010 when Ristuko's songs came into my life, and she’s been special to me ever since. But when people ask my favorite artists, I hardly mention her name because she is TOO special. And to be honest, I don’t listen to her songs daily (especially this piece). I go see her when I’m too devastated to listen to other music or do something. I know it sounds kinda selfish, but she’s the person who.. I don’t know if “forgiving” is the right word? She would just sit by your side, never judge you, and never ask questions, even when I hadn’t seen her in months or even a year or two. Part of the reasons I started writing this long comment was because I realized I owe her too much. I really do.
Lastly, thanks to the team she priviously worked with, as of December 29 (her birthday) 2021, Ritsuko Okazaki is finally on major music streaming services (Spotify, Apple music, etc). So now, she is always closer to us.
Edit: Have you ever heard Ritsuko speak? Google " (ラジオ)岡崎律子 sincerely yours 最終回 ".
@aura4132
Though there might be no tomorrow
Why do we spend today like this, letting it end in regret
I want to try living
As if the present is all we have
I felt restless
Not able to choose one thing, I wanted to do everything
Wonderful things
Kept coming at a hectic pace
In uncertain times, I wanted to have a goal
I just ran along, struggling, so frustrated and impatient
When I can see the goal, I feel I can almost reach it
More, more, I want to be here
I think I still want to keep going on
I’m all right
I love you
I love my life
I’m always close to you
I’m sorry that our parting was so sudden
Right now it’s a little lonely, but
It isn’t sad
Someday it will become a memory
Promise me I have just one wish
Live on, live on
No matter what, you can’t give up
Life is the most fascinating thing of all
@farhanhalimy5045
Paroles
ParolesTraductionAsu nado nai kamo shirenai no ni
Doushite kyou wo sugoshiteshimau
Ima ga subete to
Chanto shiteita hazu na no ni
Aseru kimochi ga atta
Dore mo erabezu zenbu wo yaritakatta
Suteki na koto wa
Memagurushiku yatte kuru no yo
Yukitsukenai toki wa GOORU ga hoshikute
Tada modokashiku mogaite hashitta
GOORU ga mieru to kondo wa oshikute
Motto motto itai
Mada tsuzuketeitai tte omou no ne
I'm all right
I love you
I love my life
I'm always close to you
Gomen ne owakare ga totsuzen de
Ima wa chotto ne samishii kedo
Kanashimi ja nai no
Itsuka chanto omoide ni naru
Yakusoku onegai wa hitotsu dake
Ikite ikite
Donna toki ni mo nagete wa dame yo
Sore wa nani yori CHAAMINGU na koto
Although there might be no tomorrow
Why did I spend the day today
I'm supposed to have confirmed
That now is everything
There was a feeling of anxiety
Where I couldn't choose, and wanted to do all
The wonderful things
Come at random
When you can't reach someplace, you'd just want a goal
However, it's irritating, so I just ran impatiently
But when the goal becomes visible, I become regretful
Wanting more and more of it
Thinking of continuing further
I'm all right
I love you
I love my life
I'm always close to you
Sorry, the parting is too sudden
Now, it feels a bit lonely but
It's not sadness
Someday, it'll become a memory
Promise, please, just one thing:
Keep on living and living
At all times, never give up
And that is more charming than anything else
@user-mj2pn7id3l
Even though there might have been no tomorrow
I ended up spending the day today
I tried living,
thinking that now is everything
I have felt anxious once or twice
I wanted to try everything, unable to choose one of them
For a wonderful thing
Comes at a quick pace
I wanted a goal when I didn't arrive there,
impatiently running, feeling the pain
When the goal gets visible, I feel it regretful,
wanting to stay a little, a little longer,
hoping that it still lasts
I'm all right
I love you
I love my life
I'm always close to you
I'm sorry that the parting is too sudden
For now, it's a little bit lonely
it's not sadness
Because it will be one of memories
Promise me, my wish is just one
Please, keep on living
You can't give up at any time
It's more charming than anything else
@user-fo4tt5pe6j
死ぬことでしか安らぎを見いだせなかった自分に生きる価値を再認識させてくれた人生最高の奇跡の名曲です。りっちゃん、本当にほんとにありがとう涙×∞
@Wireless-Darwin
Ritsuko Okazaki knew she didn’t have much time left when she wrote this song. They found cancer in her stomach in the spring of 2003. She spent the last year of her life in the hospital before she passed away on May 5, 2004. According to her mother, she brought a keyboard in her room and wrote many songs as if she was “possesed”.
In the first verse of this song, she sings “I want to live my life, telling myself that the present is all I got” （今がすべてと そう思って生きてみるの）. I heard that his line was originally “I thought I knew well that the present is all I got”（今がすべてと ちゃんと知ってたはずなのに）Let’s take a moment to think about why she changed it.
Which reminds me, her charm is not only the whispering voice and the sweet melody. Her lyrics are pretty darn good, too. They are written in a way that you can see a lot of effort went into them. She carefully chose the words so they can touch your heart and stick to you, in a way that no other person can put the feelings into words(by the way, she was a song writer before debuted as a singer). And, most importantly, I feel like she really means it when she sings those kind words. Many singers just sing "well" to sound cool, pretty or professional, whereas she sings to tell us something. Maybe that's why it's touching even if you don't understand the language.
It was back in 2010 when Ristuko's songs came into my life, and she’s been special to me ever since. But when people ask my favorite artists, I hardly mention her name because she is TOO special. And to be honest, I don’t listen to her songs daily (especially this piece). I go see her when I’m too devastated to listen to other music or do something. I know it sounds kinda selfish, but she’s the person who.. I don’t know if “forgiving” is the right word? She would just sit by your side, never judge you, and never ask questions, even when I hadn’t seen her in months or even a year or two. Part of the reasons I started writing this long comment was because I realized I owe her too much. I really do.
Lastly, thanks to the team she priviously worked with, as of December 29 (her birthday) 2021, Ritsuko Okazaki is finally on major music streaming services (Spotify, Apple music, etc). So now, she is always closer to us.
Edit: Have you ever heard Ritsuko speak? Google " (ラジオ)岡崎律子 sincerely yours 最終回 ".
@DHuongLeHuynh
Thank you. I read your comment and felt really touch. Her songs are so dear to me. Though I didn’t understand a word then, they helped me got through depression. And it was one of the reason I wanted to learn Japanese
@Wireless-Darwin
@D.Huong Le.Huynh Ritsuko would be happy to hear that!
@philipecunha1342
There is something really special in her songs. Her voice is so sweet and calm and her lyrics are like a poem. She was really a unique singer, that will always be in my heart to remember.
@Wireless-Darwin
@Philipe Cunha I agree. I literally don't know any other song writer/singer like her.
@lat6432
Her songs are melancholic and poetic. They seem like manifestation of deeply profound feelings. Her songs become my favourite the moment I first listen them. These are the type of song which will cling to you for rest of your life once you listen to them. Also, it's a great coincidence that we all decides to reply here within approximately last 24 hours.
@yomotsuhegui
働かない親の借金を返す日々。普通の生活がいつ出来なくなってもおかしくない中、死んだら楽になるんじゃないかと思うこともありました。
だけどまだ27年しか生きてない。まだ生きていたい。そんな時にこの歌を聴きに来ます。
まだもう少し、頑張れそうです。
@longlong2754
きっといい日々が訪ねると思います。心からクンムシさんを応援します。きっと報われる日が来ますので最後まで生き残ってください！
@slvyc
It's hard to hold back tears once you understand the lyrics while knowing that this was made by someone who knew that they didn't have much time left to live