J-pop star Utada Hikaru’s childhood drawing reminds us that dreams can come true

Kingdom Hearts III singer shares drawing, message of what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Utada Hikaru is back in the spotlight this month, as the legendary J-pop vocalist wrote and performed both the opening and ending themes for long-awaited video game Kingdom Hearts III. Her continuing collaboration with the franchise is the latest chapter in Utada’s legacy, and while it’s a treat for fans’ ears, the singer herself recently shared a visually moving snapshot of one of the earliest chapters of her lifelong love of music.

While going through boxes of stuff from one of her childhood homes, the musician recently came across a drawing she made when she was still a very little kid.

Underneath the drawing of a long-haired woman holding a microphone, the young Utada wrote:

“When I get older, I want to be a singer.”

Judging by her penmanship, Utada, who was born in 1983, couldn’t have been much more than five or six years old at the time. That would also mesh with the poofy-shouldered dress the singer in the drawing is wearing, which was the preferred fashion for singers in the late 1980s.

It’s both touching to see that Utada was dreaming of becoming a singer from such a young age, and since she’s gone on to become one of Japan’s most popular and respected recording artists ever, her early-age dedication is inspiring too, prompting fans to leave comments such as:

“So dreams really do come true.”
“So cool-she saw her goal through and didn’t give up.”
“She didn’t just become any old singer either.”
“I’m amazed that she hung onto the drawing.”

Of course, it’s not surprising that Utada showed an interest in music from a young age. Her mother was a professional singer and her father a record producer whose collaborators included Studio Ghibli anime soundtrack composer Joe Hisaishi. She also didn’t have to wait until she was particularly old before becoming a singer, with her monumentally successful major Japanese debut album, First Love, releasing when she was just 16, Nonetheless, it’s a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with kids dreaming big, or with chasing those dreams as far as they can.

Source, featured image: Utada Hikaru Instagram (Instagram @kuma_power)

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