How to Read “After today, there is no today”
きょうのあとにきょうはなし
Meaning of “After today, there is no today”
“After today, there is no today” means that this moment will never return. You should do what needs to be done today, not put it off.
When tomorrow comes, it’s no longer “today.” The precious opportunity of today is lost forever.
This proverb is used for people who tend to postpone things. It warns against human weakness—the habit of thinking “I’ll do it someday” or “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
It’s especially powerful when someone delays important decisions, words that need to be said, or challenges that should be started.
Even today, people understand this as a reminder about the value of time and the importance of action. Today comes only once in your life.
If you miss this opportunity, the same conditions will never align again.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first appearance of this proverb in literature is unclear. However, its structure shows a simple yet powerful message.
“After today, there is no today” expresses a universal truth about time’s irreversibility in just ten Japanese characters.
Japan has long had many sayings about the preciousness of time. These include “ichi-go ichi-e” (one time, one meeting) and “time flies like an arrow.”
This proverb belongs to that tradition. It likely reflects Buddhist philosophy, particularly the concept of “impermanence.”
Buddhism teaches that everything changes and the same moment never returns twice.
During the Edo period, common people lived uncertain lives with no guarantee of tomorrow. They widely shared the value of cherishing each moment.
This proverb resonated with people as practical wisdom: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
The phrase structure itself is brilliant. Instead of saying “tomorrow,” it says “after today.” This choice makes the fact that today never returns feel much stronger.
Usage Examples
- After today, there is no today, so I’ll apologize to him right now
- If you want to do something, remember that after today, there is no today—start immediately
Universal Wisdom
Humans have a strange quality. We tend to act as if we have unlimited time.
Deep down, we believe that tomorrow and the day after will be similar to today. But in reality, today comes only once in your entire life.
“After today, there is no today” has been passed down through generations because it recognizes this fundamental human weakness.
We instinctively avoid difficult or troublesome things. We make excuses like “It doesn’t have to be now” or “Tomorrow is fine too.” We postpone action.
But our ancestors knew better. The moment you postpone something, that opportunity begins to slip away.
The person you can meet today might not be available tomorrow. The words you can say today might not reach them tomorrow.
Your energy and physical strength today won’t necessarily be the same tomorrow.
This proverb contains both the cruelty of time and the preciousness of this moment. Life is nothing but an accumulation of todays.
Tomorrow might never actually come. What comes is only “a new today.”
That’s why living today to the fullest is the only way to enrich your life. This is what our ancestors are teaching us.
When AI Hears This
The entropy of the entire universe—its “disorder”—constantly increases. This is the second law of thermodynamics.
When water spills from a cup, it doesn’t return. A broken egg doesn’t reassemble. These things only move in the direction of increasing entropy.
“Today” is the same. Right now, about 37 trillion cells are active in your body. Air molecules around you fly at 500 meters per second.
Earth rotates at 1,700 kilometers per hour. The arrangement pattern created by all these countless particles is just one among astronomical combinations—10 to the power of dozens of zeros.
Probabilistically speaking, the chance of this exact arrangement repeating tomorrow is essentially zero. Infinitely close to zero.
More importantly, there’s the arrow of time. Physicists have long debated why time flows in only one direction.
The answer lies in increasing entropy. The universe constantly moves toward a more disordered state. This is why we can distinguish past from future.
“Today” passing isn’t just clock hands moving. It’s evidence that the entire universe is changing irreversibly.
This proverb accidentally captures one of the universe’s most fundamental physical laws. The same today physically never comes twice.
That’s not sentiment. It’s scientific fact.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people to take back control of their lives. In today’s society, don’t we often say “I’m too busy, I’ll do it later” or “I’ll wait for the right timing”?
But the perfect timing never comes.
Expressing gratitude to loved ones, trying something new, starting to exercise for your health, taking a step toward your dreams—these can all begin “today,” not “someday.”
After today, there is no today. There’s no reason to postpone what you can do today until tomorrow.
This teaching is especially important for relationships. Do you need to wait until tomorrow to say “thank you” or “I’m sorry”?
Is there a reason to postpone meeting someone you want to see until next week?
Your life is a series of todays. If you want to change tomorrow, you can only change today.
Don’t seek perfection. Take one small step today. That accumulation creates a life without regrets.
Live today preciously.
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