Henry Mong
Digital Portfolio

Kado wo Magaru by Keyakizaka46 and performed by Hirate Yurina is a song related to her as a person. Throughout her time within Keyakizaka46, starting from age 14, she was the immovable center for all of the group’s songs, leading the vocals, choreography, and group image, building the idea of a strong woman who was capable of anything. The song however, brings Hirate’s inner thoughts to light, with a majority of the lyrics relating to others building their ideal image of her to the point where she lost sense of who she truly was.

 

Hirate sings about how no one cared about who she was as a person, only caring about the image they formed of her, ‘killing’ the part of herself that wasn’t up to their expectations. She constantly questions what her individuality is throughout the song. 

 

To represent society in the music video, people are dressed in a way to remove their individuality, all appearing the same. They constantly bombard Hirate, molding her into the way they want her to be, shown by them leading the choreography. Hirate can be seen trying her best to reject them and create individuality in her dance, constantly shoving and pushing them. 

 

Culturally within Asia, many families expect their children to become a certain person, forming their image of what their children are to them, never taking into account what their children want to accomplish in life, causing them to slowly lose who themselves and instead fill the role created for them.

 

The song does a fantastic job as a communication from those in society who have unrealistic expectations set for them, and the feelings of helplessness it creates for them. The core message being to not limit yourself to others perceptions of you, and to live your life freely.

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A version of the music video with English subtitles has been linked, with the original creator being Depressing Subs.