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NMB48 – Ima naraba. Lyrics Meaning: Finally Saying What I Mean

Why do we often realize what we should’ve said only after the moment has passed? This feeling sits right at the heart of NMB48’s song, “Ima naraba”. It’s a track that perfectly captures the ache of regret and the tiny spark of hope that follows.

The Story Behind NMB48’s “Ima naraba”

The song kicks off with a scene that feels super familiar. Imagine walking down a street you’ve walked a million times before. You’re not just walking; you’re searching for someone. It’s that half-conscious hope that you’ll bump into a person from your past.

Searching for a Ghost

The singer is retracing old steps, almost like a pilgrimage to a time that’s gone. She’s looking for someone she clearly misses, wondering how many times she’s done this. It’s a quiet, lonely search filled with “what ifs”.

[su_quote]

kono michi o nankai
How many times have I walked
aruita darou
down this road?
anata ni aeru you de…
It feels like I might see you…
machi no kado o ikutsu
How many street corners
tachidomatte sagashite kita ka?
have I stopped at, searching?
[/su_quote]

You can just picture her pausing at a corner, looking both ways, expecting to see a face that isn’t there. The lyrics paint such a clear picture of lingering attachment.

A Big Misunderstanding

So, what happened between them? The song hints that pride got in the way. It talks about how they were both too stubborn and competitive with each other. They were so alike that they ended up creating distance instead of getting closer.

[su_quote]
futari wa
The two of us
doko ka niteru
are similar in some way
dare yori
More than anyone
makezugirai de

we hate to lose
shirazu shirazu ni
Unknowingly,
kisotte shimau
we end up competing
dakara
That’s why
kyori o oite ita
I kept my distance
[/su_quote]

This wasn’t a dramatic breakup. It was a slow fade caused by two people who couldn’t admit their feelings. They were basically using the wrong map to find each other, and both ended up lost.

What “Ima naraba” Really Means

The title “Ima naraba” translates to something like “If it’s now…” or “Now, I can…”. This little phrase is the entire point of the song. It’s a declaration. After all that time, after all the regret, the singer has finally found the courage to be vulnerable. The past is the past, but now, things can be different.

The chorus is her big moment of realization. She’s ready to open her heart and say all the things she kept inside before.

[su_quote]
ima naraba chan to ieru
If it’s now, I can say it properly
misenakatta subete no koto
Everything that I didn’t show you
ima naraba sou sunao ni
If it’s now, yes, honestly
kokoro o hirakerunda
I can open my heart
[/su_quote]

It’s that feeling of clarity you get when you’re older and realize how silly your past fears were. It’s a powerful and relatable turning point.

The Lesson from NMB48: It’s Never Too Late

So, is this just a sad song about a missed connection? Not at all. It’s actually super hopeful. The message here is that it might not be too late. She wonders if she can still convey her feelings, if she can still reach out and meet them.

The song ends with a promise. Even if they are on different paths, she’ll look up at the sky and always go to meet him in her heart. It’s about making peace with the past by being honest in the present. The lesson is simple: don’t let pride stop you from telling someone they’re important to you. And if you already have, maybe now is the time to fix it.

That’s my take on “Ima naraba,” but what about you? Do you see it as a story about a lost love or a deep friendship that went sideways? Let me know what you think!

[su_spoiler title=”

Lyrics: "Ima naraba" by NMB48

” open=”no” style=”fancy”]

NMB48 – Ima naraba [Lyrics KANJI]

この道を何回
歩いただろう
あなたに会えるようで…
街の角をいくつ
立ち止まって探して来たか?

時は期待をさせて
何もなく過ぎるもの
話してみたいと
思っていたのに
すれ違い

今ならばちゃんと言える
見せなかったすべてのこと
今ならばそう素直に
心を開(ひら)けるんだ

待ち合わせした場所
見つからずに
一人で迷っていた
でも私の地図が
違ってたと
誤解していた

愛は過ぎ去ってから
後で気づかされるもの
大切な人と
わかっていたのに
言えなくて…

今からじゃ遅いのかな
この想い伝えること
今からじゃ照れ臭いけど
会いたい間に合うよね

2人は
どこか似てる
誰より
負けず嫌いで
知らず知らずに
競ってしまう
だから
距離を置いていた

今ならばちゃんと言える
見せなかったすべてのこと
今ならばそう素直に
心を開(ひら)けるんだ

これからはずっと言える
違う道歩いてても
これからは空を見上げ
いつでも会いに行くよ

NMB48 – Ima naraba [Lyrics ROMAJI]

Kono michi o nankai
Aruita darou
Anata ni aeru you de…
Machi no kaku o ikutsu
Tachidomatte sagashite kita ka?

Toki wa kitai o sasete
Nani mo naku sugiru mono
Hanashite mitai to
Omotte ita noni
Surechigai

Ima naraba chan to ieru
Misenakatta subete no koto
Ima naraba sou sunao ni
Kokoro o hirakeru nda

Machiawase shita basho
Mitsukarazu ni
Hitori de mayotte ita
Demo watashi no chizu ga
Chigatteta to
Gokai shite ita

Ai wa sugisatte kara
Ato de kizukasasareru mono
Taisetsu na hito to
Wakatte ita noni
Ienakute…

Ima kara ja osoi no kana
Kono omoi tsutaeru koto
Ima kara ja terekusai kedo
Aitai maniau yo ne

Futari wa
Dokoka niteru
Dare yori
Makezugirai de
Shirazu shirazu ni
Kisotte shimau
Dakara
Kyori o oite ita

Ima naraba chan to ieru
Misenakatta subete no koto
Ima naraba sou sunao ni
Kokoro o hirakeru nda

Kore kara wa zutto ieru
Chigau michi aruite ttemo
Kore kara wa sora o miage
Itsu demo ai ni iku yo

NMB48 – Ima naraba [English translation]

How many times have I walked this path,
feeling like I might run into you…?
How many street corners have I stopped at,
searching for you?

Time always makes us hope,
then passes by with nothing happening.
Even though I wanted to talk to you,
we just kept missing each other.

Now, I can really say everything
I never showed you.
Now, I can truly open
my heart to you honestly.

I couldn’t find our meeting spot
and ended up lost all by myself.
But I had misunderstood,
thinking my map was wrong.

Love is something you only realize
after it’s gone.
Even though I knew you were someone precious,
I couldn’t say it…

Is it too late now
to tell you how I feel?
It might be a little embarrassing now,
but I want to see you! Will I make it in time?

The two of us
are quite similar in some ways.
More than anyone,
we hate to lose.
Without even realizing it,
we end up competing.
That’s why
we kept our distance.

Now, I can really say everything
I never showed you.
Now, I can truly open
my heart to you honestly.

From now on, I’ll always be able to say it,
even if we walk different paths.
From now on, I’ll look up at the sky
and come to see you anytime.

[/su_spoiler]