Well met, weary traveller, sit by the fire for another warming episode of Thursday Morning. Today's Bento Box Artist is AKASAKI, a Japanese high school student whose rise to fame was fueled by his viral internet hits, including breakout singles "Hikikomori" "Bunny Girl” which climbed multiple music charts. Recognized as a rising star in Japan’s music scene, AKASAKI was named the “Buzz Tracker” Monthly Artist for October 2024, a joint initiative by TikTok and Spotify highlighting emerging J-pop talent.
AKASAKI discovered his passion for music when he was 16 years old. In an interview with Billboard Japan, he revealed that his journey began somewhat unexpectedly, after being grounded by his parents who then confiscated his phone.
With new free time, he picked up a guitar which was always in his house and developed an interest in playing. After receiving the praise of friends and family, AKASAKI dedicated himself to practicing, covering songs, and eventually creating his own music. A year into learning the guitar, AKASAKI began experimenting with his own rhythms and adding lyrics to them.
His interest in songwriting continued to grow, leading him to explore music production. Fascinated by digital audio workstations (DAWs), he started composing original songs, marking the beginning of his journey as a music creator. When asked what kind of artist he aspires to be, AKASAKI shares, “I want to become a hitmaker that is beloved around the world. Because I believe music transcends national borders.” He hopes to become an artist whose music can be enjoyed by people, regardless of language. For his English speaking fans, this includes creating English videos, adding subtitles, and making English versions of his songs.