Photo: ぐしこ Gushiko (@RHTY_5780) - image reproduced with permission
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A letter from her former self: a Twitter user makes some surprising changes growing up

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By Luke Mahoney, grape Japan

Every child imagines what they will be when they grew up. Some of us are still wandering today. Of course, the common answers are often a celebrity, doctor, musician, baseball player, and so on. Twitter user Gushiko (@RHTY_5780) is no exception. Gushiko had no sooner turned 20 years old when she received an unexpected letter. The post was from the younger Gushiko of yesteryear. Indeed, the Twitter user wrote her future self a letter when she was just ten years old.

As you can imagine, as a Japanese school project, children at Gushiko's former school wrote letters to their future selves. Acting almost like a time machine, the task was clearly a special project.

Here is young Gushiko’s letter to the future Gushiko:

Screen Shot 2021-01-25 at 8.45.45.png

"To me in 10 years: Do I still have a dream to be a manga artist? If so, do you remember the story I previously imagined? Please draw that story. My mother also says that my dream will come true!"

A young Gushiko had a dream to be a manga artist. From this letter, you can realize how the adult artist's passion has existed since she was a child. Pretty impressive.

The letter also contains a sketch drawn by young Gushiko with the caption “Please compare this with your drawing.”

Indeed, Gushiko compared the drawing with her more recent work. It definitely seems like she has been practising!

Check out Gushiko's more recent ability for yourself.

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Photo: Reproduced with permission from Gushiko (@RHTY_5780)

"I got a letter from my former self and I was shocked… Here is the same picture which I drew recently."

As you can see, Gushiko still has maintained her childhood dream to become an artist. Indeed, Gushiko’s skillset has improved, and to this layman, she seems entirely professional. You have to respect how the artist maintained her motivation and continued pursuing her dream over the last decade.

Her followers also reacted:

  • "It's such a wonderful letter. I know you've practiced hard at drawing. It's very cool. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress over the next ten years."
  • “It’s a nice illustration. The difference between the past and now is simply amazing. I think you maintained your passion for drawing. That’s why you’ve gotten so much better. How nice.”
  • “I was very moved by this post, and I cried… lol. It’s so great that I can’t hide my surprise.”
  • “The illustration is beautiful. I wouldn’t be surprised if the girl in your illustration started to move...”
  • “If I write a letter to my future self, will I improve as well? Oh boy, in 10 years later, I’m going to be 50.”
  • “Wow, the illustration is great. I think even after 10 years, my ability to draw would be less than young Gushiko.”
  • “This tweet makes me happy. I like that the young you said, ‘My mother said my dream comes true for sure’. Not only you, but your mother is also special.”
  • “Young you must be happy right now!”
  • “You must be highly disciplined to keep following your dream little by little for ten years! Age doesn’t matter when you are starting something. It’s never too late, so let’s act on our dreams! 10 years later, something amazing might happen."

Many people were moved by this post, some even claiming “I want to write a letter to myself 10 years.” With a little research, I came across this website. For residents in Japan, Japan Post Holdings will keep your letter to your future self (or another address) and deliver it at a future date, from one to ten years. Who knows what the world holds over the next ten years, but you have to admit it would be interesting to try.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Nana Asano: The Heisei-Born 21-year-old who yearns for the Showa Era

-- As Japan works to limit plastic, one customer gets an embarrassing surprise checking out

-- This fluffy, huggable pup is burning up Japanese social media

© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

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A great idea.  Sort of one’s own time capsule.  But not just for oneself, how about predicting the future. We all probably do that in words, but how many people actually write it down and thus remember what they originally thought, and then can compare it to actual reality?

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