Ｓｏｎｏ（Ｎｕｍｂｅｒ）〇〇
Ｓｏｒａ Ｔｏ Ｉｔｏ（Ｓｋｙ ａｎｄ Ｔｈｒｅａｄ）
～Ｔａｋｉｎｇ ｏｎ ａｉｒ～（２００２）
Ｔｏｍｏｙｏ Ｈａｒａｄａ
Ｌｙｒｉｃｓ ｂｙ Ｌｉｎｄａ Ｈｅｎｎｒｉｃｋ
Ｍｕｓｉｃ ｃｏｍｐｏｓｅｄ ｂｙ Ｋｅｉｉｃｈｉ Ｓｕｚｕｋｉ
※This song is included on releases such as Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～, catalog number FLCF-7020.
First of all, I would like to thank the friend who helped me create this English version♪
Thank you！♪！
This time, I am bringing you a newly expanded Play Back feature on Tomoyo Harada’s Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～♪
Why did I choose Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～ this time！？
Let us unravel its meaning and continue living, moving forward and finding our way！♪
To summarize the lyrics…
The five birds may represent family members, companions or friends, depending on how each listener interprets them.
They carry freedom and hope in their hearts. Even when they face separation and hardship, they continue trying to overcome those difficulties and move forward together！♪！
↓
After all, we have a home to which we can fly back—and family members, companions and friends who will welcome us warmly！
It is that kind of encouragement song♪
This gentle and hopeful world surrounds Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～♪
It is also a wonderful piece when enjoyed purely as an instrumental♪
Carried by its instrumental melody, I hope this song will reach the people of Kumamoto Prefecture, who are currently facing hardship, as well as the people of Venezuela, who are beginning to take their first steps toward recovery.
I am still fighting the effects of Long COVID. However, once I move even a little closer to remission, I want to take on writing and other creative work seriously once again！！
I connected the idea of Play Back with Back Home, which lies at the heart of this song, Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～♪♪♪
The year 2002 belonged to the era of what we now call Japanese feature phones—although back then, we simply called them mobile phones, and nobody used the term garakei.
From there, we moved into the age of smartphones.
Looking even further back, there were pagers, followed by an era when people communicated through landline telephones.
Yet there is something that has never changed！
That is the power of words—the ability to communicate our feelings to another person！！
And once again, I believe that Kumamoto Prefecture and Venezuela will move from recovery to reconstruction！！
Japan has suffered many disasters caused by earthquakes, including the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which occurred more than a century ago.
Yet each time, people have worked toward recovery—and then reconstruction！！！！
History has shown us this again and again！！！！！
※※The photographs used here are taken from Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～, catalog number FLCF-7020, and from private snapshots.
When I think of Tomoyo Harada, I remember her as the familiar face of AGF Blendy！
I also associate her with the elegance she brought to films such as Mizu no Tabibito: Samurai Kids (1993), which I saw at the cinema.
As a singer, however, Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～ is my personal Best Song♪
The birds remind us of family, companions, and friends. They spread their wings with freedom and hope, encouraging us to rise above separation, hardship, and every obstacle we may face.
Throughout the lyrics, there are beautiful lines such as:
- “Send a Message Out Across the Sky”
- “When I Hear Your Voice, I Find My Way Back Home”
These heartfelt messages are woven throughout the song.
Its words seem to cross the sky, taking on new forms as they reach the hearts of others.
By hearing the voices of the people who matter most to us, we rediscover the strength of our bonds. Those bonds become a source of courage, guiding us back to the place we truly belong—our Back Home.
That is the hope and prayer I feel within this song.
※※※Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～ can be enjoyed on Tomoyo Harada’s official YouTube channel♪
※※※『Sora To Ito ―talking on air― (Edit Version) – by YouTube』
Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake (Reiwa 8), many countries expressed their condolences and heartfelt support for Japan.
Taiwan, which like Japan is also prone to earthquakes, announced that it was prepared to dispatch assistance if requested by the Japanese government. As one of the people of Japan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this encouraging offer of support.
In this article, I have written about the natural disasters affecting Kumamoto, Japan, and Venezuela. At the same time, news reports have shown that wildfires, likely fueled by extreme heat, are affecting areas around Madrid, Spain, and Bordeaux, France.
I sincerely hope that these difficult situations will come to an end as soon as possible and that everyone affected can begin the journey toward recovery.
Finally, Spain and Venezuela share the Spanish language.
I also hope that this message—and the spirit of Sora to Ito ～Taking on Air～—will reach the people of Spain, Venezuela, and France.
Written between July 29 (Wed) and July 30 (Thu).
※※※※Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ Ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ
※※※※ 園（ソノ）〇〇『空と糸 ～Ｔａｋｉｎｇ Ｏｎ Ａｉｒ～ Ｐｌａｙ Ｂａｃｋ♪ 』
～Let every song — every challenge — every bit of confidence —
become nourishment that helps you grow!♪!～
～I want readers to read with a sunny mind！～
By Tomoki Nohara and Grow Up Com
