YUGEN PODCAST

YUGEN PODCAST
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From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound ■STATEMENT Through conversations with artists leading Asia’s music scene, we seek to give shape and definition to the still-unmapped culture known as “Asian Music.” アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、 “アジアミュージック”という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■「YUGEN PODCAST」OFFICIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yugen_jpn/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yugen_jpn

  1. 17h ago

    NEO of ONE OR EIGHT on KAWASAKI, Ryan Tedder and Singing in English

    ■ NEO [ONE OR EIGHT]The only member of ONE OR EIGHT who didn't come through the audition — and the one who nearly chose a desk job instead.NEO is a Tokyo-born rapper and songwriter, and the only member of ONE OR EIGHT, avex's eight-member global boy group, who joined after the WARPs DIG audition had already chosen the other seven. He grew up in two languages, English at an international school and Japanese at home, because his parents wanted him to have what he calls "the luxury of choice." Music only became serious in college, and his LinkedIn was ready for job applications when he chose it instead. After three years training at avex as a solo artist, he was offered a place in the group and weighed it against a songwriting career: he could write songs at 40, he reasoned, but he could only be in a boy group now. Joining seven members already bonded by the audition was the hardest part. "Do not recommend." The group taught him that a song is not finished until people share it, and he now writes with one question in mind: who is going to listen? Since the 2024 debut "Don't Tell Nobody," produced by Ryan Tedder and David Stewart, ONE OR EIGHT have entered the US Mediabase Top 40 twice and toured the Americas, where a crowd in Argentina broke into a mosh pit. Their first EP, "EN-GÏNE," arrived on September 16, 2026, with "YANKEE SQUAT," a song about outsiders: in Japan they sing in English, abroad they are Japanese, and the stage is where they belong. Their first Japanese-language song, "Yellow Brick Road," followed on October 7 as the ending theme of "Black Clover" Season 2.■ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:59 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast01:55 His first podcast, in four languages02:53 Born in Tokyo, raised at an international school06:19 Fast-paced Tokyo and the family farm in Kumamoto09:25 A musical family and piano at three10:15 His parents' gift: "the luxury of choice"13:37 Why he feels more open in English14:41 Choosing music over a desk job15:58 Childhood dreams and a simple "thank you"20:13 Learning to open up in a group21:16 Solo or group? Three years training at avex23:32 Joining after the audition26:58 Into the world of pop songwriting31:06 From 90s boom bap to Linkin Park33:09 KAWASAKI: 10 million views in 10 days34:49 Ryan Tedder and "Don't Tell Nobody"37:23 His North Star: who is going to listen?39:21 Not the flashy type: his role in ONE OR EIGHT41:10 Hanshin Tigers, books and deep conversations44:56 A year of new music and the EP EN-GÏNE46:29 YANKEE SQUAT: outsiders wherever they go48:57 Fans abroad and a mosh pit in Argentina52:17 On tour across Japan53:49 Where he wants to be in 10 years57:11 A message to the fans■ FOLLOW NEO [ONE OR EIGHT]Official Website: https://oneoreight.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneoreight_/Streaming（1st EP「EN-GÏNE」）: https://oneoreight.lnk.to/ENGINE■ 日本語東京出身のラッパー／ソングライター。avexが送り出す日本発の8人組グローバルボーイズグループONE OR EIGHTで、オーディション『WARPs DIG』で7人が決まったあとに加わった、ただひとりのメンバー。学校では英語、家では日本語。インターナショナルスクールに通わせた両親の願いは、本人曰く「選べるという贅沢」だった。3歳でピアノを始めたが、音楽を仕事と考えたのは大学から。LinkedInを整え、就職活動に踏み出す寸前で音楽を選んだ。avexでソロとして3年間トレーニングを積んだあと、グループへの加入を打診される。ソングライターの道とも迷った末の答えは、曲は40歳でも書けるが、ボーイズグループは今しかできない。オーディションで絆を結んだ7人の輪に入る日々は「二度と味わいたくない」ほどつらかった。グループで知ったのは、曲は聴く人と分かち合ってはじめて完成するということ。いまは「誰が聴くのか」を大切にして曲を書く。2024年、Ryan TedderとDavid Stewartが手がけた「Don't Tell Nobody」でデビュー。米Mediabase Top40に2度チャートインし、北中南米ツアーではアルゼンチンの客席にモッシュピットが生まれた。2026年9月16日に1st EP『EN-GÏNE』をリリース。収録曲「YANKEE SQUAT」が歌うのはアウトサイダーの居場所だ。日本では英語で歌い、海外に出れば日本人。どこにいても、ステージが彼らの居場所になる。10月7日には初の日本語詞曲「Yellow Brick Road」が、TVアニメ『ブラッククローバー』第2期のエンディングテーマとして届いた。■ ABOUT YUGENYUGEN features English-language conversations with artists from across Asia and beyond, exploring their music and the stories behind it.From Asia to the World — A New Era of Soundhttp://ygen.net/CREDITS — YUGEN Production CommitteeMC: Sara Giusto / Guest: NEO [ONE OR EIGHT] / Art Department: ONSA Inc. / Special Thanks: Sae Hidaka / Edit & Production: 4thclue Inc.

  2. 5d ago

    Bubby Lewis on Snoop Dogg, Dragon Ball Z and Why Being a Nerd Paid Off

    ■ Bubby Lewis Too nerdy for the L.A. music business — until Snoop Dogg asked him about Dragon Ball Z. Bubby Lewis is a bassist, composer and producer from Flint, Michigan, based in Tokyo since 2022 and now making music as Peanut Butter Man. A pastor's son, he picked up the bass at 14 and learned everything in his father's church, where gospel came first and made the rest easy. He moved to Los Angeles to study video game design; when that fell through, music worked its way in. The city had little use for a square who didn't drink, played Pokémon and collected Godzilla figures, and people told him he would never make it. Then gospel bass legend Andrew Gouché called one Sunday, asked who he was playing for, hung up, and rang back 45 minutes later with a seat in Snoop Dogg's band. Snoop, it turned out, wanted to talk about Dragon Ball Z. From there came Dr. Dre, Stevie Wonder, Jhené Aiko, theme music for Marvel, and two solo albums, 1UP! Adventures & Quests Episode III (2017) and Hero Dynasty (2019), whose "Miss & Love" with Jhené Aiko was written for everyone who has lost someone. Japan, a dream since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at age four, arrived through AI's 2012 tour; he moved his family to Tokyo in May 2022, after COVID had sent them home once. On August 7, 2026 he released Loops, Vol. 1 as Peanut Butter Man on Alpha Pup: five originals, then five play-along versions with the lead removed, so you can join the band. He owns 16 basses, all MTD. On tour, he picks the one that matches the outfit. ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:59 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 03:09 A pastor's kid who found the bass at 14 07:31 Gospel, the root of everything 09:42 From game design in L.A. to music 11:09 Being a nerd in Flint in the '90s 12:54 Moving to Japan during the pandemic 15:58 Black soybean peanut butter and the fridge trick 17:24 How he became Peanut Butter Man 18:29 "Miss & Love" with Jhené Aiko 22:41 The phone call that put him in Snoop Dogg's band 25:15 "Everybody is a nerd" in the music industry 27:30 Music for Marvel, and sessions from home 30:12 16 basses, and picking one to match the outfit 32:37 "Episode III" and his kind of fusion 36:35 Breaks, family time, and making music 42:15 Being yourself is the greatest superpower 47:11 Japanese music going global 51:21 Touring in Japan vs the US and Europe 53:23 Giving Asian artists a chance at festivals 56:27 Don't wait for someone famous to say it's good 58:37 What he'd tell his younger self in Flint 1:00:44 Himself in one sentence, and what's next 1:05:15 A message to his family and fans ■ FOLLOW Bubby Lewis Official Website: https://www.bubbylewis.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubbylewis/ Streaming（Peanut Butter Man『Loops, Vol. 1』）: https://open.spotify.com/album/6LgHd7dmrtVHeLILMtpU4p オタクはロサンゼルスの音楽業界で生き残れない、と言われ続けた。最初に彼を舞台に上げたSnoop Doggは、『ドラゴンボールZ』の話をふってきた。 ミシガン州フリント出身、2022年から東京を拠点にするベーシスト／作曲家／プロデューサー。Peanut Butter Man名義でも活動する。牧師の家に生まれ、14歳でベースを手にし、父の教会でゴスペルからすべてを学んだ。ロサンゼルスへ渡ったのはゲームデザインを学ぶためだったが、その道が閉ざされ、音楽が入り込んできた。酒も煙草もやらず、ポケモンで遊び、ゴジラのフィギュアを集める「真面目」な男に、周囲は「この業界では無理だ」と言った。転機はある日曜日の電話。ベースの巨匠Andrew Gouchéが「今は誰と弾いてる？」と尋ね、「誰とも」と答えると、45分後にかけ直してきた電話でSnoop Doggのバンドの席が決まっていた。以降Dr. Dre、Stevie Wonder、Jhené Aikoらと共演し、Marvelの楽曲も手がける。ソロ作は『1UP! Adventures & Quests Episode III』（2017年）と『Hero Dynasty』（2019年）。Jhené Aikoを迎えた「Miss & Love」は、大切な人を失ったすべての人への曲だ。4歳で『ティーンエイジ・ミュータント・ニンジャ・タートルズ』を観て以来の夢だった日本には、2012年のAIのツアーで初めて訪れた。コロナ禍で一度は帰国させられながら、2022年5月に家族で東京へ移住。2026年8月7日、Peanut Butter Man名義のアルバム『Loops, Vol. 1』をAlpha Pupからリリース。オリジナル5曲と、リードを抜いたプレイアロング版5曲を収めた一枚だ。ベースは16本、すべてMTD。ツアーでは衣装の色で選ぶ。 ■ ABOUT YUGEN YUGEN features English-language conversations with artists from across Asia and beyond, exploring their music and the stories behind it. From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound http://ygen.net/ CREDITS — YUGEN Production Committee MC: ELLI-ROSE / Guest: BUBBY LEWIS / Art Department: ONSA Inc. / Special Thanks: Sae Hidaka / Edit & Production: 4thclue Inc.

  3. Oct 20

    Rol3ert on Singing in English, Posing as an American and Aiming for the US

    ■ Rol3ert Raised in Tokyo, singing in English — he once posed online as an American. Now he wants to reach the US as exactly who he is. Rol3ert is a singer-songwriter from Tokyo, born in Ohio in 2005 and raised in Japan since before he turned two. He taught himself English at a Japanese public school, yet he writes almost everything in it — singing in English, he says, feels like talking to himself. At fourteen he wanted to be a professional fencer, until music clicked; telling his mother, who had backed his fencing all along, was the hard part. He began making songs in his bedroom on GarageBand and Logic Pro, with free plug-ins that sound "cheap in a good way." The name began as plain Robert. It felt too normal, so the B became a 3, and when Ro3ert turned out to be taken, a small l slipped in. Before his debut he even posed online as a Japanese American living in the US; now he wants to reach the American industry as himself, and to open a new lane for Japanese music. Instagram covers with over four million views led to his debut single "meaning" in January 2025. Since then he has played FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, sold out Shibuya WWW X, taken "savior" to No. 1 on Billboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs, and won Radio Rising Artist of the Year at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026. His first full album, "meet me in my head," arrives October 21, 2026, followed in November by a tour of the same name at Osaka BIG CAT and Tokyo Spotify O-EAST — two venues he had long set as goals. ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:25 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 02:16 Winning Radio Rising Artist of the Year, and meeting Hindia 03:52 Born in Ohio, raised in Tokyo, and self-taught English 04:47 Fencing, soccer, and why home is his safe place 08:21 Music at 14, telling his mom, and his first band 10:41 GarageBand, Logic Pro, and no music theory 12:27 Why he sings in English, and how Robert became Rol3ert 14:39 The Strokes, Wallows, and plug-ins that sound "cheap in a good way" 19:35 The story behind "Kodoku", and loneliness in Tokyo 23:33 Ohio, Chicago, and a nerd who found his place in music 30:54 "(how could i be) honest?" and the exam he left blank 34:03 Meeting a fellow 20-year-old artist at SWEET LOVE SHOWER 2025 37:34 A whirlwind year, his mom, meditation, and learning to drive 46:02 The hardest part of being a young artist: imposter syndrome 51:17 His first headline show in Taipei, and Indonesia and the Philippines next 55:08 Why he once posed as a Japanese American, and aiming for the US 57:08 Japan vs the global music industry, and "a new lane" 1:01:29 A tearful Hibiya show, and ten years from now 1:04:58 The album "meet me in my head", the November tour, and the next guest ■ FOLLOW Rol3ert Official Website: https://rol3ert.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rol3ertmusic/ Streaming（1st Album『meet me in my head』）: https://rol3ert.lnk.to/meetmeinmyhead ■ 日本語 東京育ち、英語で歌う2005年生まれの次世代ポップスター。かつてSNSで"アメリカ人"を演じた彼は、いま日本人のまま世界を目指す。 2005年、アメリカ・オハイオ州生まれ。2歳になる前に日本へ移り、東京で育ったシンガーソングライター。英語は公立校に通いながら独学で身につけた。それでも曲はほぼ英語で書く。英語で歌うと「自分に話しかけている」感覚になるからだ。14歳まではフェンシングでプロを目指していたが、音楽に出会って「これだ」と思った。応援してくれていた母に打ち明けるのが、いちばん難しかったという。自室で楽曲制作を行い、GarageBandやLogic Proを使いながら、「いい意味でチープ」なサウンドを生み出すフリープラグインを駆使してきた。名前はもともとRobert。ありきたりだと感じてBを3に置き換え、小文字のlを足した。本格的に活動する前のSNSでは日系アメリカ人を演じていたこともある。いまは日本人アーティストとしてアメリカを目指し、日本の音楽が世界に届く「新しい道」をつくりたいと話す。Instagramのカバー動画が400万回再生を超え、2025年1月に「meaning」でデビュー。FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '25への出演、渋谷WWW Xのワンマン完売、「savior」のBillboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs首位を経て、『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026』でラジオ特別賞を受賞した。2026年10月21日に初のフルアルバム『meet me in my head』をリリース。11月には同名のツアーで、ずっと目標にしてきた大阪BIG CAT、東京Spotify O-EASTに立つ。 ■ ABOUT YUGEN YUGEN features English-language conversations with artists from across Asia and beyond, exploring their music and the stories behind it. From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound http://ygen.net/ CREDITS — YUGEN Production Committee MC: ELLI-ROSE / Guest: Rol3ert / Art Department: ONSA Inc. / Special Thanks: Sae Hidaka / Edit & Production: 4thclue Inc.

  4. Oct 20

    Rol3ert on Singing in English, Posing as an American and Aiming for the US

    ■ Rol3ert Raised in Tokyo, singing in English — he once posed online as an American. Now he wants to reach the US as exactly who he is. Rol3ert is a singer-songwriter from Tokyo, born in Ohio in 2005 and raised in Japan since before he turned two. He taught himself English at a Japanese public school, yet he writes almost everything in it — singing in English, he says, feels like talking to himself. At fourteen he wanted to be a professional fencer, until music clicked; telling his mother, who had backed his fencing all along, was the hard part. He began making songs in his bedroom on GarageBand and Logic Pro, with free plug-ins that sound "cheap in a good way." The name began as plain Robert. It felt too normal, so the B became a 3, and when Ro3ert turned out to be taken, a small l slipped in. Before his debut he even posed online as a Japanese American living in the US; now he wants to reach the American industry as himself, and to open a new lane for Japanese music. Instagram covers with over four million views led to his debut single "meaning" in January 2025. Since then he has played FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, sold out Shibuya WWW X, taken "savior" to No. 1 on Billboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs, and won Radio Rising Artist of the Year at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026. His first full album, "meet me in my head," arrives October 21, 2026, followed in November by a tour of the same name at Osaka BIG CAT and Tokyo Spotify O-EAST — two venues he had long set as goals. ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:25 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 02:16 Winning Radio Rising Artist of the Year, and meeting Hindia 03:52 Born in Ohio, raised in Tokyo, and self-taught English 04:47 Fencing, soccer, and why home is his safe place 08:21 Music at 14, telling his mom, and his first band 10:41 GarageBand, Logic Pro, and no music theory 12:27 Why he sings in English, and how Robert became Rol3ert 14:39 The Strokes, Wallows, and plug-ins that sound "cheap in a good way" 19:35 The story behind "Kodoku", and loneliness in Tokyo 23:33 Ohio, Chicago, and a nerd who found his place in music 30:54 "(how could i be) honest?" and the exam he left blank 34:03 Meeting a fellow 20-year-old artist at SWEET LOVE SHOWER 2025 37:34 A whirlwind year, his mom, meditation, and learning to drive 46:02 The hardest part of being a young artist: imposter syndrome 51:17 His first headline show in Taipei, and Indonesia and the Philippines next 55:08 Why he once posed as a Japanese American, and aiming for the US 57:08 Japan vs the global music industry, and "a new lane" 1:01:29 A tearful Hibiya show, and ten years from now 1:04:58 The album "meet me in my head", the November tour, and the next guest ■ FOLLOW Rol3ert Official Website: https://rol3ert.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rol3ertmusic/ Streaming（1st Album『meet me in my head』）: https://rol3ert.lnk.to/meetmeinmyhead ■ 日本語 東京育ち、英語で歌う2005年生まれの次世代ポップスター。かつてSNSで"アメリカ人"を演じた彼は、いま日本人のまま世界を目指す。 2005年、アメリカ・オハイオ州生まれ。2歳になる前に日本へ移り、東京で育ったシンガーソングライター。英語は公立校に通いながら独学で身につけた。それでも曲はほぼ英語で書く。英語で歌うと「自分に話しかけている」感覚になるからだ。14歳まではフェンシングでプロを目指していたが、音楽に出会って「これだ」と思った。応援してくれていた母に打ち明けるのが、いちばん難しかったという。自室で楽曲制作を行い、GarageBandやLogic Proを使いながら、「いい意味でチープ」なサウンドを生み出すフリープラグインを駆使してきた。名前はもともとRobert。ありきたりだと感じてBを3に置き換え、小文字のlを足した。本格的に活動する前のSNSでは日系アメリカ人を演じていたこともある。いまは日本人アーティストとしてアメリカを目指し、日本の音楽が世界に届く「新しい道」をつくりたいと話す。Instagramのカバー動画が400万回再生を超え、2025年1月に「meaning」でデビュー。FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '25への出演、渋谷WWW Xのワンマン完売、「savior」のBillboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs首位を経て、『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026』でラジオ特別賞を受賞した。2026年10月21日に初のフルアルバム『meet me in my head』をリリース。11月には同名のツアーで、ずっと目標にしてきた大阪BIG CAT、東京Spotify O-EASTに立つ。 ■ ABOUT YUGEN YUGEN features English-language conversations with artists from across Asia and beyond, exploring their music and the stories behind it. From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound http://ygen.net/ CREDITS — YUGEN Production Committee MC: ELLI-ROSE / Guest: Rol3ert / Art Department: ONSA Inc. / Special Thanks: Sae Hidaka / Edit & Production: 4thclue Inc.

  5. Oct 10

    How this American got a Japanese name…

    From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、"アジアミュージック"という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■ ACE HASHIMOTO He took his best friend's name — and the "hashi" in it turned out to be the job. Ace Hashimoto is a singer, songwriter and producer from Chicago, based in Tokyo since 2023. He has written and produced for SZA, Mac Miller and Chance the Rapper, and in Japan for EXILE, CRAZYBOY, King & Prince and Punipunidenki, with collaborations across Asia alongside PH-1 and BIG NAUGHTY. He came to music sideways: a bored teenage gamer who opened FL Studio because it looked like another game, still finishing a marketing degree when the paperwork and the money started arriving. Japan came from his father's record shelves — enka, Japanese fusion jazz, city pop, YMO — and from a Mega Drive soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro he only later realised was house music. A publishing deal in Los Angeles paid well and nearly finished him: making records he did not want to make, he walked away from music for an IT job in San Jose. He was still on that break when he played a show and the French producer Onra offered backstage to fund an album. That became PLAY.MAKE.BELIEVE. (2021). He first played Tokyo in 2017 and moved for good six years later. He now writes with one test in mind: will this sound good at karaoke? On April 17, 2026 he released "TOP NOTCH," built the 2000s way — a Japanese version with Toya Fujita, a solo version with CUBE and 2chill, instrumentals — and "TAKE YOU HOME" followed in August. He arrived wanting to be a Japanese artist. He has settled on something harder: being the bridge his name already means. 親友の名前を、そのまま自分の名前にした。その「橋」の字が、いつのまにか仕事になっていた。 シカゴ出身、2023年から東京を拠点にするシンガー／ソングライター／プロデューサー。SZA、Mac Miller、Chance the Rapper らの作品に関わり、日本ではEXILE、CRAZYBOY、King & Princeらに楽曲を提供。PH-1やBIG NAUGHTYなどアジア圏との共作も多い。音楽には横から入った。ゲームに飽きた十代のある日、友人に教わったFL Studioが「もうひとつのゲーム」に見えたのが始まりで、大学でマーケティングを学んでいるうちに契約書とギャラが届くようになった。日本は父のレコード棚にあった。演歌、和製フュージョン・ジャズ、シティポップ、YMO。メガドライブ『ベア・ナックル』の古代祐三のサウンドがハウスだったと気づくのは、ずっと後のことだ。ロサンゼルスで結んだ出版契約は実入りこそよかったが、聴きたくもない音楽を作り続ける日々に消耗し、彼は音楽から離れてサンノゼでITの仕事に就く。その休止期間に出たライブで、フランス人プロデューサーOnraが楽屋で「アルバムを作れ、資金は出す」と申し出る。そうして生まれたのが『PLAY.MAKE.BELIEVE.』（2021年）だ。初来日は2017年、移住はその6年後。いま曲を書くときの基準はひとつ、「カラオケで気持ちよく歌えるか」。2026年4月17日には「TOP NOTCH」をリリース。2000年代のやり方にならい、藤田織也を迎えた日本語版やインストまでを一枚に収めた。8月には「TAKE YOU HOME」が続いた。日本のアーティストになりたい——そう思って来日した。いま引き受けているのは、もう少し難しい役割だ。自分の名前がすでに意味しているもの——橋になること。 ■ FOLLOW ACE HASHIMOTO Official Links: https://linktr.ee/acehashimoto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acehashimofo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@acehashimofo Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acehashimoto Streaming（EP「TOP NOTCH」）: https://music.apple.com/us/album/top-notch-feat-3ee-single/1886205720 ■ YUGEN OFFICIAL Web Site: http://ygen.net/ ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:16 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 03:16 The name Ace Hashimoto, FL Studio as "another game", and his dad's record shelves (YMO to SMAP) 09:40 Burning out on a publishing deal, the hiatus, and how Onra brought him back 12:32 Learning to sing from zero, and from Streets of Rage to Shibuya-kei 24:17 Working with EXILE, CRAZYBOY and King & Prince — how Japan does business 26:16 Why he hates live shows: perfectionism, not nerves 28:32 J-pop vs K-pop, the karaoke test, and collaborating across Asia (PH-1, BIG NAUGHTY) 32:44 The "TOP NOTCH" EP, ikigai, and his daily routine 35:15 Off-mic: the haircut, Koenji thrift shops, vinyl vs CDJs, skincare and meditation 43:18 Growing up in Chicago, and the email that made music real at 18 47:29 "Am I a Japanese artist?" — being a conduit, and the story behind "TOP NOTCH" 51:39 "Go to Japan now": the 2017 ageHa show, Harajuku, and camping in Yamanashi 57:37 Japan doesn't need to change: the Perfume lesson, being the bridge, what's next, and a message to fans CREDITS YUGEN Production Committee ― MC: ELLI-ROSE Guest: ACE HASHIMOTO Creative Producer: Yamato Miyake Art Department: ONSA Inc. SpecialThanks Sae Hidaka Edit: 4thclue Inc. Production: OASIZ Inc.

  6. Oct 10

    How this American got a Japanese name…

    From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、"アジアミュージック"という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■ ACE HASHIMOTO He took his best friend's name — and the "hashi" in it turned out to be the job. Ace Hashimoto is a singer, songwriter and producer from Chicago, based in Tokyo since 2023. He has written and produced for SZA, Mac Miller and Chance the Rapper, and in Japan for EXILE, CRAZYBOY, King & Prince and Punipunidenki, with collaborations across Asia alongside PH-1 and BIG NAUGHTY. He came to music sideways: a bored teenage gamer who opened FL Studio because it looked like another game, still finishing a marketing degree when the paperwork and the money started arriving. Japan came from his father's record shelves — enka, Japanese fusion jazz, city pop, YMO — and from a Mega Drive soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro he only later realised was house music. A publishing deal in Los Angeles paid well and nearly finished him: making records he did not want to make, he walked away from music for an IT job in San Jose. He was still on that break when he played a show and the French producer Onra offered backstage to fund an album. That became PLAY.MAKE.BELIEVE. (2021). He first played Tokyo in 2017 and moved for good six years later. He now writes with one test in mind: will this sound good at karaoke? On April 17, 2026 he released "TOP NOTCH," built the 2000s way — a Japanese version with Toya Fujita, a solo version with CUBE and 2chill, instrumentals — and "TAKE YOU HOME" followed in August. He arrived wanting to be a Japanese artist. He has settled on something harder: being the bridge his name already means. 親友の名前を、そのまま自分の名前にした。その「橋」の字が、いつのまにか仕事になっていた。 シカゴ出身、2023年から東京を拠点にするシンガー／ソングライター／プロデューサー。SZA、Mac Miller、Chance the Rapper らの作品に関わり、日本ではEXILE、CRAZYBOY、King & Princeらに楽曲を提供。PH-1やBIG NAUGHTYなどアジア圏との共作も多い。音楽には横から入った。ゲームに飽きた十代のある日、友人に教わったFL Studioが「もうひとつのゲーム」に見えたのが始まりで、大学でマーケティングを学んでいるうちに契約書とギャラが届くようになった。日本は父のレコード棚にあった。演歌、和製フュージョン・ジャズ、シティポップ、YMO。メガドライブ『ベア・ナックル』の古代祐三のサウンドがハウスだったと気づくのは、ずっと後のことだ。ロサンゼルスで結んだ出版契約は実入りこそよかったが、聴きたくもない音楽を作り続ける日々に消耗し、彼は音楽から離れてサンノゼでITの仕事に就く。その休止期間に出たライブで、フランス人プロデューサーOnraが楽屋で「アルバムを作れ、資金は出す」と申し出る。そうして生まれたのが『PLAY.MAKE.BELIEVE.』（2021年）だ。初来日は2017年、移住はその6年後。いま曲を書くときの基準はひとつ、「カラオケで気持ちよく歌えるか」。2026年4月17日には「TOP NOTCH」をリリース。2000年代のやり方にならい、藤田織也を迎えた日本語版やインストまでを一枚に収めた。8月には「TAKE YOU HOME」が続いた。日本のアーティストになりたい——そう思って来日した。いま引き受けているのは、もう少し難しい役割だ。自分の名前がすでに意味しているもの——橋になること。 ■ FOLLOW ACE HASHIMOTO Official Links: https://linktr.ee/acehashimoto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acehashimofo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@acehashimofo Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acehashimoto Streaming（EP「TOP NOTCH」）: https://music.apple.com/us/album/top-notch-feat-3ee-single/1886205720 ■ YUGEN OFFICIAL Web Site: http://ygen.net/ ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:16 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 03:16 The name Ace Hashimoto, FL Studio as "another game", and his dad's record shelves (YMO to SMAP) 09:40 Burning out on a publishing deal, the hiatus, and how Onra brought him back 12:32 Learning to sing from zero, and from Streets of Rage to Shibuya-kei 24:17 Working with EXILE, CRAZYBOY and King & Prince — how Japan does business 26:16 Why he hates live shows: perfectionism, not nerves 28:32 J-pop vs K-pop, the karaoke test, and collaborating across Asia (PH-1, BIG NAUGHTY) 32:44 The "TOP NOTCH" EP, ikigai, and his daily routine 35:15 Off-mic: the haircut, Koenji thrift shops, vinyl vs CDJs, skincare and meditation 43:18 Growing up in Chicago, and the email that made music real at 18 47:29 "Am I a Japanese artist?" — being a conduit, and the story behind "TOP NOTCH" 51:39 "Go to Japan now": the 2017 ageHa show, Harajuku, and camping in Yamanashi 57:37 Japan doesn't need to change: the Perfume lesson, being the bridge, what's next, and a message to fans CREDITS YUGEN Production Committee ― MC: ELLI-ROSE Guest: ACE HASHIMOTO Creative Producer: Yamato Miyake Art Department: ONSA Inc. SpecialThanks Sae Hidaka Edit: 4thclue Inc. Production: OASIZ Inc.

  7. Sep 30

    Nine years a trainee. Her solo debut is in a language she taught herself. - MELONii

    From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、"アジアミュージック"という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■ MELONii Nine years a K-pop trainee, one girl group, four languages — and her solo debut is in the one she taught herself. MELONii is a Korean singer-songwriter based in Tokyo, known until last year as Minji, main vocalist of the K-pop girl group SECRET NUMBER. Her first audition came in elementary school, for a K-pop academy her mother had found; what followed was nine years as a trainee, including "Produce 101" and "Produce 48." She remembers wanting to quit after one practice, crying in the car when her mother came to pick her up — and her mother telling her that if she could not do it, nobody could. She debuted with SECRET NUMBER in 2021 and cried again, this time from relief. In the practice room a Japanese bandmate, Léa, played her "Pretender" by Official HIGE DANdism, and J-pop took over from there: she taught herself Japanese in three years, and at karaoke she always opens with Chisato Moritaka's "Watarasebashi." After leaving the group in April 2025 she spent a year writing — around 60 songs in stock, of which, she says, one in ten gets released — and once walked past the Universal Music Japan building wishing she could work there someday. On March 31, 2026, her birthday, that label released her solo debut, "Risky Risky," a Y2K-flavored song about not changing yourself for someone you love, and the first song she ever wrote in Japanese. In June came the second single, "GASSO," a Korean version of Tiara Andini's "Janji Setia" with lyrics she wrote herself, and an Indonesian version of her fan song "Unconditional." The name is Melody plus Harmony — and, she says, it took a month. K-POPの練習生として9年。ガールズグループを経て、4か国語を操る。ソロデビュー曲に選んだのは、独学で覚えた日本語だった。 韓国出身、東京を拠点に活動するシンガー／ソングライター。K-POPガールズグループSECRET NUMBERのメインボーカルMINJIとして知られた。最初のオーディションは小学生のとき、母が見つけてきたK-POPアカデミーの入所試験だった。そこから「Produce 101」「Produce 48」を経て、練習生生活は9年に及ぶ。ある日の練習後、迎えに来た母の車で「もう辞めたい」と泣いた。あなたにできないなら誰にできるの、という母の答えで、やめられなくなった。2021年、SECRET NUMBERでデビューした日も泣いた。今度は安堵の涙だった。練習室で日本人メンバーのLéaがかけたOfficial髭男dismの「Pretender」がJ-POPへの入口になり、日本語は3年で独学で身につけた。カラオケの1曲目はいつも森高千里の「渡良瀬橋」だ。2025年4月にグループを離れてからの1年は、ピアノを弾き、曲を書く日々。ストックは約60曲、世に出るのは10曲に1曲だという。ユニバーサル ミュージック ジャパンのビルの前を通りかかり「いつかここで」と願ったのも、この頃だった。2026年3月31日、自身の誕生日に、そのレーベルからソロデビュー曲「Risky Risky」をリリース。好きな人に合わせて自分を変えないで、というメッセージをY2Kのサウンドに乗せた、初めて日本語で書いた曲である。6月には2ndシングル「GASSO」、自ら韓国語詞を書いたTiara Andini「Janji Setia」の韓国語版、ファンに向けた「Unconditional」のインドネシア語版が続いた。MELONiiはMelodyとHarmonyの造語。決めるのに1か月かかったという。 ■ FOLLOW MELONii Official Website / Fan Community: https://melonii.jp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melonii.official/ X: https://x.com/vitaminnnz_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melonii.official1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MELONii_official Streaming（2nd Single「GASSO」）: https://vm.group/GASSO Streaming（Debut Single「Risky Risky」）: https://vm.group/RiskyRisky Streaming（Tiara Andini feat. MELONii「Janji Setia」）: https://lnk.to/TiaraMELONiiJanjiSetiaID ■ YUGEN OFFICIAL Web Site: http://ygen.net/ ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:34 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 01:45 The name MELONii, Showa and Heisei J-pop at karaoke, and BoA as her role model 06:26 Youngest finalist at 11, and the nine years it took to debut 10:17 PRODUCE 48, AKB48, and debuting as SECRET NUMBER's main vocalist 17:11 First trip to Japan in 2018, and Ichiran ramen in Fukuoka 20:14 Writing "DOOMCHITA", and 60 songs in stock 24:42 Leaving the group, and a year of finding herself 30:52 Why Jakarta: the love from Indonesian fans 37:56 From singer to producer, and does "Asian music" exist? "No limit" 42:59 The next 5 to 10 years, Coachella, and why Asian lyrics run deeper 48:09 "GASSO", "Janji Setia" and "Unconditional" (Indonesia Ver.) — a message for fans CREDITS YUGEN Production Committee ― MC: Isaac Y. Takeu Guest: MELONii Creative Producer: Yamato Miyake Art Department: ONSA Inc. Edit: 4thclue Inc. Production: OASIZ Inc.

  8. Sep 30

    Nine years a trainee. Her solo debut is in a language she taught herself. - MELONii

    From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、"アジアミュージック"という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■ MELONii Nine years a K-pop trainee, one girl group, four languages — and her solo debut is in the one she taught herself. MELONii is a Korean singer-songwriter based in Tokyo, known until last year as Minji, main vocalist of the K-pop girl group SECRET NUMBER. Her first audition came in elementary school, for a K-pop academy her mother had found; what followed was nine years as a trainee, including "Produce 101" and "Produce 48." She remembers wanting to quit after one practice, crying in the car when her mother came to pick her up — and her mother telling her that if she could not do it, nobody could. She debuted with SECRET NUMBER in 2021 and cried again, this time from relief. In the practice room a Japanese bandmate, Léa, played her "Pretender" by Official HIGE DANdism, and J-pop took over from there: she taught herself Japanese in three years, and at karaoke she always opens with Chisato Moritaka's "Watarasebashi." After leaving the group in April 2025 she spent a year writing — around 60 songs in stock, of which, she says, one in ten gets released — and once walked past the Universal Music Japan building wishing she could work there someday. On March 31, 2026, her birthday, that label released her solo debut, "Risky Risky," a Y2K-flavored song about not changing yourself for someone you love, and the first song she ever wrote in Japanese. In June came the second single, "GASSO," a Korean version of Tiara Andini's "Janji Setia" with lyrics she wrote herself, and an Indonesian version of her fan song "Unconditional." The name is Melody plus Harmony — and, she says, it took a month. K-POPの練習生として9年。ガールズグループを経て、4か国語を操る。ソロデビュー曲に選んだのは、独学で覚えた日本語だった。 韓国出身、東京を拠点に活動するシンガー／ソングライター。K-POPガールズグループSECRET NUMBERのメインボーカルMINJIとして知られた。最初のオーディションは小学生のとき、母が見つけてきたK-POPアカデミーの入所試験だった。そこから「Produce 101」「Produce 48」を経て、練習生生活は9年に及ぶ。ある日の練習後、迎えに来た母の車で「もう辞めたい」と泣いた。あなたにできないなら誰にできるの、という母の答えで、やめられなくなった。2021年、SECRET NUMBERでデビューした日も泣いた。今度は安堵の涙だった。練習室で日本人メンバーのLéaがかけたOfficial髭男dismの「Pretender」がJ-POPへの入口になり、日本語は3年で独学で身につけた。カラオケの1曲目はいつも森高千里の「渡良瀬橋」だ。2025年4月にグループを離れてからの1年は、ピアノを弾き、曲を書く日々。ストックは約60曲、世に出るのは10曲に1曲だという。ユニバーサル ミュージック ジャパンのビルの前を通りかかり「いつかここで」と願ったのも、この頃だった。2026年3月31日、自身の誕生日に、そのレーベルからソロデビュー曲「Risky Risky」をリリース。好きな人に合わせて自分を変えないで、というメッセージをY2Kのサウンドに乗せた、初めて日本語で書いた曲である。6月には2ndシングル「GASSO」、自ら韓国語詞を書いたTiara Andini「Janji Setia」の韓国語版、ファンに向けた「Unconditional」のインドネシア語版が続いた。MELONiiはMelodyとHarmonyの造語。決めるのに1か月かかったという。 ■ FOLLOW MELONii Official Website / Fan Community: https://melonii.jp/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melonii.official/ X: https://x.com/vitaminnnz_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melonii.official1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MELONii_official Streaming（2nd Single「GASSO」）: https://vm.group/GASSO Streaming（Debut Single「Risky Risky」）: https://vm.group/RiskyRisky Streaming（Tiara Andini feat. MELONii「Janji Setia」）: https://lnk.to/TiaraMELONiiJanjiSetiaID ■ YUGEN OFFICIAL Web Site: http://ygen.net/ ■ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:34 Welcome to the YUGEN Podcast 01:45 The name MELONii, Showa and Heisei J-pop at karaoke, and BoA as her role model 06:26 Youngest finalist at 11, and the nine years it took to debut 10:17 PRODUCE 48, AKB48, and debuting as SECRET NUMBER's main vocalist 17:11 First trip to Japan in 2018, and Ichiran ramen in Fukuoka 20:14 Writing "DOOMCHITA", and 60 songs in stock 24:42 Leaving the group, and a year of finding herself 30:52 Why Jakarta: the love from Indonesian fans 37:56 From singer to producer, and does "Asian music" exist? "No limit" 42:59 The next 5 to 10 years, Coachella, and why Asian lyrics run deeper 48:09 "GASSO", "Janji Setia" and "Unconditional" (Indonesia Ver.) — a message for fans CREDITS YUGEN Production Committee ― MC: Isaac Y. Takeu Guest: MELONii Creative Producer: Yamato Miyake Art Department: ONSA Inc. Edit: 4thclue Inc. Production: OASIZ Inc.

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About

From Asia to the World — A New Era of Sound ■STATEMENT Through conversations with artists leading Asia’s music scene, we seek to give shape and definition to the still-unmapped culture known as “Asian Music.” アジアのシーンを牽引するアーティストたちとの対話を通して、 “アジアミュージック”という未定義のカルチャーに輪郭を与えていく。 ■「YUGEN PODCAST」OFFICIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yugen_jpn/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yugen_jpn

Information

  • Creator
    YUGEN PODCAST
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © YUGEN PODCAST
  • Show Website
    YUGEN PODCAST

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