NMB48 – Aoi Lemon no kisetsu. Lyrics Meaning: The Sweet and Sour Taste of a First Crush

What does it feel like to have a secret crush you can’t tell anyone about? This song by NMB48 perfectly captures that feeling. It’s a story about a fleeting first love, one that’s as bittersweet as an unripe lemon.

    The Story Behind NMB48’s “Aoi Lemon no kisetsu”

    This song tells a simple, beautiful story from a boy’s point of view. It’s all about watching someone you like from afar, never getting the chance to say a single word. Let’s break it down.

    An Angel on a Bicycle

    The song kicks off with a super vivid image. It’s a hot August day. The narrator is watching a girl as she pedals her bike up a sun-dappled hill. He’s completely captivated by her.

    He doesn’t even know who she is. So, in his mind, he gives her a special nickname. It’s so pure and innocent.

    Namae mo shiranakatta kara
    Because I didn’t even know your name
    Boku wa itsushika poniiteeru no
    Before I knew it, the one with the ponytail
    Tenshi to yondetanda
    I started calling you an angel

    He literally calls her the “ponytail angel.” How cute is that? It just shows how idealized she is in his eyes. She’s not just a girl; she’s this perfect, angelic figure.

    A Fateful Crossroads

    Later, he runs into her again after school. She’s holding a racket, probably on her way to or from club practice. It feels like fate, like this crossroads is a sign for his future.

    But does he talk to her? Nope. He completely freezes up. Her smile is just too dazzling, and he can’t get any words out. We’ve all been there, right? That moment when you want to say something, anything, but your brain just shuts down.

    Kotoba wo kakete mitai kedo
    I want to try and talk to you but
    Chikayorigatai kimi no egao ni
    Your unapproachable smile
    Koe ga denakattanda
    Made me lose my voice

    He’s stuck just watching her again, this time as the sun sets. The image of her school uniform and ribbon against the evening sky is burned into his memory. It’s a beautiful, quiet, and slightly sad moment.

    The Heart of “Aoi Lemon no kisetsu”

    At its core, “Aoi Lemon no kisetsu,” which means “The Season of the Unripe Lemon,” is about an unconfessed first love. It’s a memory. The love story never actually begins. It just exists as a series of moments the narrator replays in his mind. The chorus perfectly sums up this whole feeling.

    Hatsukoi wa (isshun)
    First love is (an instant)
    Kokuhaku dekinai mama
    Without being able to confess
    Toorisugiteku dake
    It just passes by
    Setsunakute (amaku)
    Painful (and sweet)
    Choppiri nigai aji
    A slightly bitter taste
    Aoi mi wo kawagoto kajitta you na…
    Like biting into an unripe fruit, skin and all…

    That’s the whole vibe. It’s a fleeting moment that’s sweet, painful, and a little bitter all at once. It’s like biting into a green lemon—you get that sharp, sour taste, but there’s something intriguing about it too.

    A Memory to Cherish

    So, what’s the big takeaway here? The song isn’t trying to be a downer. It’s actually really positive. It teaches us that some of the most powerful feelings are the ones we keep to ourselves.

    This “unripe lemon” love is a crucial part of growing up. It’s a memory that shapes you. Even though it was never realized, it was still beautiful and important. It’s about appreciating those quiet, heartfelt moments that are just for you. It’s a nostalgic look back at the purity and intensity of a first crush.

    What’s Your Take on the Song?

    That’s my interpretation of this beautiful NMB48 track. It’s a sweet, relatable story about the pains and joys of a secret crush. But hey, music is personal! I’d love to know what you think. Does it remind you of anything? Let me know what “Aoi Lemon no kisetsu” means to you.

    Lyrics: "Aoi Lemon no kisetsu" by NMB48


    NMB48 – Aoi Lemon no kisetsu [Lyrics KANJI]


    8月の日差しに
    右手を翳(かざ)して
    木漏れ日の坂道
    自転車を立ち漕ぎで登ってく
    君を見てた

    名前も知らなかったから
    僕はいつしか ポニーテールの
    天使と呼んでたんだ

    初恋は(一瞬)
    告白できないまま
    通り過ぎてくだけ
    切なくて(甘く)
    ちょっぴり苦い味
    青い実を皮ごと齧(かじ)ったような…
    The lemon in summer

    ラケットを抱えた
    放課後の君と
    偶然会ったのは
    十字路が占ってるような
    僕の未来

    言葉を掛けてみたいけど
    近寄りがたい君の笑顔に
    声が出なかったんだ

    制服と(リボン)
    沈んで行く夕陽が
    なぜか似合っていた
    遠くから(そっと)
    見つめるそれだけで
    片思い 心に閉じ込めたまま
    The lemon in my heart

    初恋は(一瞬)
    告白できないまま
    通り過ぎてくだけ
    切なくて(甘く)
    ちょっぴり苦い味
    青い実を皮ごと齧(かじ)ったような…
    The lemon in summer

    NMB48 – Aoi Lemon no kisetsu [Lyrics ROMAJI]


    Hachigatsu no hizashi ni
    Migite o kazashite
    Komorebi no sakamichi
    Jitensha o tachikogi de nobottetku
    Kimi o miteta

    Namae mo shiranakatta kara
    Boku wa itsushika poniiteeru no
    Tenshi to yondeta n da

    Hatsukoi wa (isshun)
    Kokuhaku dekinai mama
    Toorisugiteku dake
    Setsunakute (amaku)
    Choppiri nigai aji
    Aoi mi o kawa goto kajitta you na…
    The lemon in summer

    Raketto o kakaeta
    Houkago no kimi to
    Guuzen atta no wa
    Juujiro ga uratteru you na
    Boku no mirai

    Kotoba o kakete mitai kedo
    Chikayorigatai kimi no egao ni
    Koe ga denakatta n da

    Seifuku to (ribon)
    Shizundeku yuuhi ga
    Nazeka niatteita
    Tooku kara (sotto)
    Mitsumeru sore dake de
    Kataomoi kokoro ni tojikometa mama
    The lemon in my heart

    Hatsukoi wa (isshun)
    Kokuhaku dekinai mama
    Toorisugiteku dake
    Setsunakute (amaku)
    Choppiri nigai aji
    Aoi mi o kawa goto kajitta you na…
    The lemon in summer

    NMB48 – Aoi Lemon no kisetsu [English translation]


    In the August sunlight,
    You shielded your eyes with your right hand.
    On the sun-dappled slope,
    You were pedaling standing up on your bike, climbing up.
    I was watching you.

    Since I didn’t even know your name,
    Before I knew it, I started calling you
    “The ponytailed angel.”

    First love (just a moment),
    It simply passes by
    Without me ever confessing.
    It’s both painful (and sweet),
    With a slightly bitter taste,
    Like biting into a green fruit, skin and all…
    The lemon in summer.

    Holding your racket,
    After school, I met you by chance.
    It felt like that crossroads was foretelling
    My future.

    I really wanted to talk to you,
    But your unapproachable smile
    Left me speechless.

    Your uniform (and ribbon)
    And the setting sun
    Somehow suited each other perfectly.
    Just quietly watching you from afar,
    My one-sided love remained locked away in my heart,
    The lemon in my heart.

    First love (just a moment),
    It simply passes by
    Without me ever confessing.
    It’s both painful (and sweet),
    With a slightly bitter taste,
    Like biting into a green fruit, skin and all…
    The lemon in summer.

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