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    TOKYO: The City That Never Asks, But Always Expects



    TOKYO: The City That Never Asks, But Always Expects

    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)

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