TOKYO: The biggest metropolis in the world (and it’s not even close)…and my home for the past 5 years.

I’ve come to learn that Tokyo never tells you what to do—but you’ll still feel the pressure to do it. It rewards quiet mastery, unspoken rules, and social harmony—but the cost is often your own rhythm, your own voice. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll start disappearing without realizing it. But if you move deliberately, Tokyo not only doesn’t erase you—it adapts to you.

THANK YOU:

To all the folks I was lucky enough to interview: Ao, Aya, Ayane, Dai, Daisuke, Eiki, Emi, Hitomi, Jiro, Jirokichi (Jiro #2), Joe, Jolijne, Kotomi, Lisa, Mai, Marie, Mizuki, Momoko, Noboru, Ryusuke, Satoru, Seigo, Shiori, Steve, Yuuka, Yuuki, Yuya.

And to the artists below, thanks for not suing me for referencing your music to tell my story about Tokyo. I hope I’ve done your beautiful work proud.

Full song list (in order):

1. Grateful Days – Dragon Ash ft. Aco, Zeebra

2. One Summer’s Day – Joe Hisaishi

3. サウスポー (Southpaw) – Pink Lady

4. 残酷な天使のテーゼ (A Cruel Angel’s Thesis) – Yōko Takahashi (高橋 洋子)

5. 丸の内サディスティック (Marunouchi Sadistic) – Sheena Ringo (椎名林檎)

6. しるし (Shirushi) – Mr. Children

7. タッチ (Touch) – Yoshimi Iwasaki (岩崎良美)

8. Night Cruising – Fishmans

9. Pon Pon Pon – Kyary Pamyu Pamy

10. 桜色舞うころ (Sakurairo Mau Koro) – Mika Nakashima (中島美嘉)

11. トモダチ (Tomodachi) – Ketsumeishi (ケツメイシ)

12. New York State of Mind – Nas (produced by DJ Premier)

13. The Traveling Theory (live clip)

14. Luv (Sic) – Nujabes ft. Shing02

15. 君が好きだと叫びたい (I Want to Shout ‘I Like You’) – BAAD

16. さくら (Sakura) – Naotarō Moriyama

17. 紅 (Kurenai) – X Japan

18. 打上花火 (Uchiage Hanabi) – DAOKO (ft. 米津玄師 Kenshi Yonezu)

19. Omoide – Tsunekichi Suzuki (鈴木 常之)

20. おどるポンポコリン (Odoru Pompokorin) – B.B. Queens

21. Cosmic – AIKA

22. Walking in the Rhythm – Fishmans

23. 島人ぬ宝 (Shimanchu nu Takara) – Begin

24. Merry-Go-Round of Life – Joe Hisaishi

25. First Love – Hikaru Utada

26. あなただけ見つめてる (I've Got My Eyes Only On You) – Maki Ohguro

27. アンパンマンのマーチ (Anpanman no Machi) – Takashi Yanase, Takashi Miki

28. 布団の中から出たくない (I don' t wanna get out of futon) – Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai (打首獄門同好会)

29. ハピネス (Happiness) – AI

30. 東京盆踊り(Tokyo Bon 東京盆踊り) – Namewee 黃明志 Ft. Meu Ninomiya

31. キャラメル (Charamel) – Live Clip (Funassyi, Nyango Star, Kaparu, Akkuma)

32. サマー (Summer) – Joe Hisaishi

33. Champion – Kalassy Nikoff (AK-69)

34. Sakura – Ikimonogakari (いきものがかり)

35. One Day – M-Flo ft. Miliyah Kato (加藤ミリヤ)