Hikaru Utada is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter born in New York City in 1983. She became very famous in Japan with her first Japanese album, First Love, which is the best-selling album in Japanese music history.
Utada writes and produces most of her own songs, mixing pop, R&B, and electronic styles. She is also well known for singing theme songs for the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Her music is loved for its deep emotions and catchy melodies.
About the Song
Hatsukoi, which translates to “First Love,” adds delicate, poetic lyricism to portray the intensity and purity of love experienced for the first time.
The song shows the emotional rollercoaster of falling in love, swept up in the excitement and weakness. While also revealing the memories of what was once a powerful, untainted connection.
With its gentle rhythm and haunting melody, “Hatsukoi” stirs feelings of yearning and a sense of innocence lost over time.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Released | May 30, 2018 |
| Album | SCIENCE FICTION |
| Writer(s) | Hikaru Utada |
| Producer(s) | Hikaru Utada |
Meaning of The Song
The song “Hatsukoi” by Hikaru Utada expresses the powerful emotions and memories of experiencing first love.
Written from the perspective of an adult looking back, the lyrics capture both the innocence and intensity of falling in love for the first time, highlighting how those feelings remain bright even years later.
Utada uses poetic imagery-such as a pounding heart, frozen legs, and silent tears-to convey the overpowering and unforgettable nature of first love.
The song also tells how this early experience shapes a person’s understanding of love and relationships throughout life.
Utada acknowledges that, although everyone falls in love, the impact of meeting that one special person is unique and can never be replicated.
The music’s intimate production, featuring piano and strings, upgrades the sense of past and self-examination.
Ultimately, “Hatsukoi” is both a celebration and a bittersweet remembrance of first love’s lasting impact.
It expresses gratitude for the experience, while recognizing the mixture of happiness and sadness that comes with looking back on a formative, irreplaceable part of life.
Original Lyrics of The Song Hatsukoi
宇多田ヒカルの「初恋」歌詞
うるさいほどに高鳴る胸が
柄にもなく竦む足が今
静かに頬を伝う涙が
私に知らせる これが初恋と
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
人間なら誰しも
当たり前に恋をするものだと
ずっと思っていた だけど
もしもあなたに出会わずにいたら
誰かにいつかこんな気持ちに
させられたとは思えない
うるさいほどに高鳴る胸が
勝手に走り出す足が今
確かに頬を伝う涙が
私に知らせる これが初恋と
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
どうしようもないことを
人のせいにしては
受け入れてるフリをしていたんだ
ずっと
もしもあなたに出会わずにいたら
私はただ生きていたかもしれない
生まれてきた意味も知らずに
言葉一つで傷つくような
ヤワな私を捧げたい今
二度と訪れない季節が
終わりを告げようとしていた
不器用に
欲しいものが
手の届くとこに見える
追わずにいられるわけがない
正しいのかなんて本当は
誰も知らない
風に吹かれ震える梢が
陽の射す方へと伸びていくわ
小さなことで喜び合えば
小さなことで傷つきもした
狂おしく高鳴る胸が
優しく肩を打つ雨が今
こらえても溢れる涙が
私に知らせる これが初恋と
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
English Lyrics of The Song Hatsukoi
My heart is beating so loudly
My legs are shaking uncontrollably now
The tears quietly running down my cheeks
I know this is first love
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I always thought that every human being naturally falls in love, but
If I hadn’t met you, I don’t think someone would have made me feel this way
My heart is beating so loudly
My legs are running on their own now
The tears are definitely running down my cheeks
I know this is first love
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I’ve been blaming others for things I can’t do anything about and pretending to accept them
Forever
If I hadn’t met you
I might have just been living
Without knowing the meaning of my birth
I want to offer my weak self, who gets hurt with a single word
Now, the season that will never come again
I’m clumsy
I can see what I want
Within reach
There’s no way I can stop chasing it
No one really knows if it’s right
The treetops trembling in the wind
Stretching towards the sun
If we rejoice over small things
We’ve also been hurt by small things
My heart is beating wildly
The rain gently hitting my shoulders now
The tears that overflow even if I try to hold them back
I know this is my first love
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
I need you, I need you
Similar Songs Like Hatsukoi
Below are songs by Hikaru Utada that are similar in feeling and style to Hatsukoi, along with a brief description of the emotions each song conveys:
- First Love: A gentle ballad that holds the bittersweet ache of a first romance, longing, and the quiet pain of letting go of innocence.
- Forevermore: It’s a song that expresses unwavering devotion, the hope for eternal love that comes from truly opening your heart.
- Anata: This track radiates warmth and gratitude. It shows the deep comfort and emotional security found in a cherished relationship, combining affection with a touch of melancholy.
Award for The Song
| Award | Year | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Gold Disc Awards | 2019 | Best 5 Albums & Best 5 Songs by Download | For the album Hatsukoi & the song Hatsukoi |
Similar Artists Like Hikaru Utada
Here are some artists with a similar style to Hikaru Utada, known for their unique blend of pop, R&B, and emotional depth:
- Ai
Genre: R&B / Pop
Top Album: The Last Ai (2015) - Kumi Koda
Genre: J-Pop / R&B
Top Album: Best First Things (2005) - Namie Amuro
Genre: J-Pop / R&B
Top Album: Sweet 19 Blues (1996) - Yuna
Genre: Pop / Soul
Top Album: Yuna (2016)
Frequently Asked Questions
What TV Show Featured Hatsukoi as its Theme Song?
The song was used as a tie-in for the Japanese television drama “Hana Nochi Hare – Hanadan Next Season,” marking Utada’s second contribution to the series after “Flavor of Life” in 2007.
Is Hatsukoi Connected to Any Other Hikaru Utada Projects?
The song and Utada’s 1999 “First Love” inspired the 2022 Netflix series “First Love,” showing the lasting cultural impact of her music across decades.
Was Hatsukoi Remastered or Re-Released?
Yes, “Hatsukoi” was remastered in Dolby Atmos in December 2022, alongside First Love.
