<![CDATA[Song lyrics serve not only as a form of entertainment but also as a medium for representing various social, psychological, and cultural issues through linguistic signs. One song that merits scholarly attention is Birth by AKB48, which explores themes of existential crisis, the search for life's meaning, and individuals' efforts to overcome adversity. This study aims to analyze the representation of existential crisis and mental resilience in the lyrics of Birth using Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic approach. This research employed a qualitative design using content analysis of the song lyrics. The analysis focused on identifying the relationship between the signifier and the signified to reveal the process of meaning construction. The findings identified 15 data points representing various forms of existential crisis, including alienation, loss of meaning in life, social pressure, anxiety, and despair, as well as representations of mental resilience through the symbols of rebirth, identity reconstruction, and hope for a new beginning. These findings indicate that Birth not only reflects the psychological realities experienced by Japanese youth but also conveys a message of resilience, highlighting individuals' capacity to endure, adapt, and reconstruct the meaning of life through self-transformation. This study is expected to contribute to the development of semiotic studies, Japanese popular culture studies, and culture-based Japanese language education.]]>
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