---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really didn't intend to be a musician…"
description: "\"I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.\" — Ikue Mori"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png"
---

#  I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.

![“I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.” quote by Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png)

> “I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.”

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She reflects on an unexpected career path, noting that initial intentions can change dramatically as life unfolds

**In simple terms:** Plans can change unexpectedly

Key Takeaway

Stay open to new possibilities

Themes

career selfdiscovery music

Mood

curious reflective

Type

personal career

When to use this quote

- career change
- creative projects
- personal growth
- adapting to new cultures

Key Concepts

identity serendipity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you respond when your goals change?
- What new passions can emerge from unplanned moves?

A Different Perspective

Unexpected shifts may cause uncertainty and require resilience

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Didn Intend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-intend-1789964/) [Intend Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intend-musician-5571328/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Left Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-japan-3545472/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musician Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician-left-5571327/)

## Related quotes

> [“Did the International Committee of the Red Cross know anything about this? Did the United States? The UN? Yes, yes, and yes. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/did-the-international-committee-of-the-red-cross-know-anything-about/)

[Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/)

> [I played behind the main striker at Dortmund, but I usually play on the left with Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinji-kagawa/i-played-behind-the-main-striker-at-dortmund-but-i-usually-play-on/)

[Shinji Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinji-kagawa/)

> [Black nigga with intellect. 6th grade I was Special Ed. 10th grade I was rad as shit. Lookin' like a nigga just left Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/black-nigga-with-intellect-6th-grade-i-was-special-ed-10th-grade-i/)

[Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/)

> [I didn't intend. The word "intend" is the wrong word for what I do. It's just that it's something you do, and you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/i-didn-t-intend-the-word-intend-is-the-wrong-word-for-what-i-do-it-s/)

[Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/)

> [Sometimes you can have the stamp of the donkey because you say something you didn't intend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/sometimes-you-can-have-the-stamp-of-the-donkey-because-you-say/)

[Paolo di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/)

> [“I didn’t intend it to come out sarcastically, but I guess that’s just where my tone of voice automatically goes these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/i-didn-t-intend-it-to-come-out-sarcastically-but-i-guess-that-s-just/)

[M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/)

> [“This is all yours right here. All of me. No one else gets a thing from me, you understand? I wouldn’t do that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/this-is-all-yours-right-here-all-of-me-no-one-else-gets-a-thing-from/)

[R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/)

> [I didn't intend to be a novelist. I didn't intend to be anything. I thought I'd be a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/i-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-novelist-i-didn-t-intend-to-be-anything-i/)

[Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/)

> [I didn't intend to become an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-quinn/i-didn-t-intend-to-become-an-actor/)

[Anthony Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-quinn/)

> [I didn't intend to go into the seminar business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/i-didn-t-intend-to-go-into-the-seminar-business/)

[Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/)

> [“I didn't intend-we shouldn't be-I didn't...Oh!" She shut her eyes, frustrated that she could be reduced to stammering confusion. "Why don't you run that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-didn-t-intend-we-shouldn-t-be-i-didn-t-oh-she-shut-her-eyes/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [You were only mine for a minute, but if I hurt you I didn't intend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/you-were-only-mine-for-a-minute-but-if-i-hurt-you-i-didn-t-intend-it/)

[James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/)

> [“No, I’d never been to this country before. No, I didn’t know where the roads would lead me. No, I didn’t intend to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/no-i-d-never-been-to-this-country-before-no-i-didn-t-know-where-the/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [“He didn't intend to pay for anything. He just had to remember not to offer. Not offering to pay for things made it easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/he-didn-t-intend-to-pay-for-anything-he-just-had-to-remember-not-to/)

[Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/)

> [When I lived in New York, there wasn't as much TV or film around. I got asked to do a couple of indie films,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/when-i-lived-in-new-york-there-wasn-t-as-much-tv-or-film-around-i-got/)

[James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/)

## More by Ikue Mori

> [I was playing in other rock bands. Any of those bands didn't last long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-was-playing-in-other-rock-bands-any-of-those-bands-didn-t-last-long/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [I got tired of different drum sounds so you buy different effects for more manipulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-got-tired-of-different-drum-sounds-so-you-buy-different-effects-for/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [Improvising things is always changing. A lot of momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/improvising-things-is-always-changing-a-lot-of-momentum/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [The most important thing is that it's much more fun to play in a band than to be in an audience in a club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/the-most-important-thing-is-that-it-s-much-more-fun-to-play-in-a-band/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [The way I create music is maybe like a painting, to compose in a more visual way. Basically it's the music that I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/the-way-i-create-music-is-maybe-like-a-painting-to-compose-in-a-more/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [So now I don't have time to practice drums. It's been five years since I've touched the drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/so-now-i-don-t-have-time-to-practice-drums-it-s-been-five-years-since/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [Somebody gave me this drum machine and somebody else asked me to program something for a project. I really liked programming and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/somebody-gave-me-this-drum-machine-and-somebody-else-asked-me-to/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [I always wanted to get out of Tokyo and in 1977, New York seemed like the most interesting place to visit. I didn't intend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-always-wanted-to-get-out-of-tokyo-and-in-1977-new-york-seemed-like/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [I've done some music for films and I really enjoy doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-ve-done-some-music-for-films-and-i-really-enjoy-doing-it/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [With a rock band, you play the same things over and over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/with-a-rock-band-you-play-the-same-things-over-and-over-and-over/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [Because it's dance music, you can't really have a lot of changing in there. It's really not for me because there's too much repetition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/because-it-s-dance-music-you-can-t-really-have-a-lot-of-changing-in/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [I'm interested in stories and the dark side of peoples' minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-m-interested-in-stories-and-the-dark-side-of-peoples-minds/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [Mars is really different, into art. Lydia Lunch is more energy. James Chance is more commercial in a different way, in funk and jazz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/mars-is-really-different-into-art-lydia-lunch-is-more-energy-james/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [I still think that I'm playing instruments, not just pushing buttons and there it goes. It's interactive and alive with the sound and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-still-think-that-i-m-playing-instruments-not-just-pushing-buttons/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

> [Actually, there was another band where we were three girls, around '84 when I met John Zorn, called Sunset Chorus. It was just bass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/actually-there-was-another-band-where-we-were-three-girls-around-84/)

[Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

[Explore all 18 Ikue Mori quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/)

## More Japan quotes

> [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/)

[Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/)

> [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/)

[Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/)

> [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/)

[Royall Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royall-tyler/)

> [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [“The physical impact of taiko music, along with the sheer visual poetry of a choreographed ensemble presenting its music in perfect synchrony, is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-asakawa/the-physical-impact-of-taiko-music-along-with-the-sheer-visual-poetry/)

[Gil Asakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-asakawa/)

> [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/)

[Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/)

> [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/)

[Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/)

> [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/)

[Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/)

> [I think we should have basically the same tax policy that Germany, Japan, the U.K., everybody else has, which is a tax rate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-think-we-should-have-basically-the-same-tax-policy-that-germany/)

[Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/)

> [Japan is already a leader in energy efficiency, and it has a wealth of innovative technologies. We must put this expertise to use creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihiko-noda/japan-is-already-a-leader-in-energy-efficiency-and-it-has-a-wealth-of/)

[Yoshihiko Noda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihiko-noda/)

> [The historic quarrels between Japan and Korea pale in importance to the bigger question of extent of U.S. commitment to the defense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-edelman/the-historic-quarrels-between-japan-and-korea-pale-in-importance-to/)

[Richard Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-edelman/)

> [I get that I'm tan, and I would stand out a little bit in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/i-get-that-i-m-tan-and-i-would-stand-out-a-little-bit-in-japan/)

[Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/)

> [We went to Japan and stayed an extra day just to go shopping. New York is one of those places where we never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/we-went-to-japan-and-stayed-an-extra-day-just-to-go-shopping-new-york/)

[John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/)

> [Art is all about doing what you shouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobuyoshi-araki/art-is-all-about-doing-what-you-shouldn-t/)

[Nobuyoshi Araki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobuyoshi-araki/)

> [The greatest problem in Japanese politics over the last two decades is that we put off what needed to be done. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihiko-noda/the-greatest-problem-in-japanese-politics-over-the-last-two-decades/)

[Yoshihiko Noda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihiko-noda/)

[Browse all 1,452 Japan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ikue Mori"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician-when-i-left-japan/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Japan"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician-when-i-left-japan/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a2/ikue-mori-29387_japan_i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician_704718.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I really didn't intend to be a musician when I left Japan.” — Ikue Mori",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ikue Mori",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I really didn't intend to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician-when-i-left-japan/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/i-really-didn-t-intend-to-be-a-musician-when-i-left-japan/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
