手　紙　アンジェラ・アキ　ｉｎ西宮市立甲陵中学校

actually entrance into adulthood is 20 in japan.. like in many countries, in japan they graduate middle high at 15.. and the lyrics portrait the difficulty of going through adolescence in middle high and the transition to high school life. it's not uncommon to be given the task to write a letter to their future selves in class. i think the song is mostly based on that idea.

アンジェラさんのやさしく語りかける姿と、それを見つめる中学生 の真剣なまなざし。歌詞の世界とダブるようで、すてきな場面です ね。

this song is absolutely beautiful and moving. i also love hearing the choir sing it.

the age of 15 is regarded as the entrance
of adult in japan. they get to take
responsibility for themselves and to
choose their own future. first faced with the harsh reality of life against their sweet dream, they sometimes feel
crushed by pressure. the former half of the lyrics express it. and the latter half of it which is from themselves as adults in the future, cheers up them.

the reason the students are crying is because this song is about depression/suicide, which has become a serious problem with japan's youth. therefore, a lot of them probably know people (or they are themselves) who are dealing with this/have committed suicide.

i assume then that you do speak japanese? with lyrics like

今　負けそうで　泣きそうで　
消えてしまいそうな僕は
誰の言葉を信じ歩けばいいの

how can you say it is not related to depression...

お見事でした

I think Angela Aki is using a song to teach the girl who was bad before...
I must study Japanese hard!!!