Yume Utsutsu: Between Dreams and Reality
2026-10-03
Yume Utsutsu: Between Dreams a...

Yume Utsutsu: Between Dreams and Reality
 
Have you ever heard a sound while half asleep and wondered whether it was real or part of your dream?
 
In Japanese, we have a word for that feeling: yume utsutsu (夢現).
 
Yume means “dream,” and utsutsu means “reality” or “the waking state.” Together, they describe a moment when the boundary between dreams and reality becomes unclear.
 
You might experience yume utsutsu as you drift off to sleep or slowly wake in the morning. You can hear someone speaking, but their words seem to become part of a dream. You are aware of the world around you, yet you are not fully awake.
 
The expression can also describe a waking experience that feels almost unreal—a beautiful scene, an unexpected reunion, or a moment you never imagined would happen.
 
I like how Japanese brings dreams and reality together in a single expression. Sometimes, life gives us moments that seem to belong to both.
 
Perhaps that is part of the pleasure of a quiet morning: for a little while, we do not have to decide whether we are dreaming or awake.
 
 
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.






Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.

Your comments are always welcome.

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