Keio Students on the Brink of Their Major Debut

How did the band first form?

All four of us belonged to the same music society on campus, the Off-Course Music Company (Off-ken).

The way Off-ken works, you switch up members for every internal gig. But at one point, we thought, "Why not try playing at an actual live house outside campus?" That's how the four of us ended up playing together on May 7, 2024—which became our official formation date.

We didn’t set out with a master plan to form a band together. Each of us just naturally became friends, so looking back, it feels remarkably coincidental.

It really was a stroke of luck.

More like fate, right?

Honestly, when I first pitched the idea of starting a proper band, what were you guys actually thinking?

To me, it felt like a close friend inviting me to a fun event. I was just like, "Count me in!"

How did you end up entering the selection for the official Mita Festival theme song?

We already knew about the contest, and since we had just formed the band, we wanted a tangible goal to work toward. That’s why we applied right away.

Ever since day one, we were saying, "Let’s aim for the Mita Festival theme song!"

What did you gain from performing your song "Clarté" as the official theme song?

Above all, confidence and unforgettable memories.

Performing on the main stage at the Mita Festival in front of a massive audience gave us a huge boost of confidence.

Achieving a visible result so early on gave us a shared starting point—a moment where we all looked at each other and knew we were aligned in the same direction.

It was the real beginning for us.

It inspired us to take the band even more seriously.

I had goosebumps non-stop on stage. It was a view I’d never experienced before.

I can still remember it vividly.

Having our friends vote for us and receiving so much support from the Mita Festival executive committee made it so special. Looking back at old photos now, I’m so glad we did it.

How did people around you react?

So many people watched us and came up saying, "That was amazing!" or "I love that song!" The feedback was incredible.

Friends from our music society even stepped in to help set up our equipment on stage.

And then cheered for us right from the front row.

It felt like a stage custom-built just for the four of us.

Totally.

That warmth meant everything to us.

What do you think made your song stand out to win the contest?

The lyrics. Even now, I look back and think, Man, I really wrote some great lyrics. Self-praise aside, I truly believe it's a great song.

Personally, it’s still one of my absolute favorites. The melody and lyrics are just fantastic.

Actually, the Mita Festival theme song contest requires you to include a specific set phrase in the lyrics. K-taring incorporated the mandatory phrase—“Shine as individuals, bring color to this place” (Kagayake kōko ni, irodore koko ni)—so seamlessly.

He dropped it right at the end of the final chorus, and it blended in effortlessly.

Looking back at 2025, what was it like watching your track "Nutmeg" blow up online?

K-taring and I were constantly monitoring YouTube and TikTok analytics. We noticed things looked promising, but then the numbers just started exploding. We were losing our minds going, "Wait, is this really happening?!"

The surge started the very day we dropped it.

Before that, getting 100 likes on a video was a big win. Suddenly, we were gaining 100 likes every 10 minutes. The scale was on a completely different level.

We were glued to our screens. It didn't feel real at all—we completely lost track of time that day.

I was out having dinner with friends at the time. My phone started buzzing relentlessly, and when I checked, it was K-taring and Ranmaru going crazy in the group chat. That’s how I found out we were going viral.

I was away on a trip, but just like Seki, my phone was blowing up with non-stop alerts as the numbers skyrocketed.

At first, it was just the four of us staring at the social media stats. But gradually, word spread. Friends started telling us, "I keep seeing your stuff on my feed!" or "You guys are incredible!" Everyone was so supportive.

People would send messages like, "A PURPLE BUBBLE song just played on my feed!" or "Someone used your track!"

A friend went on a road trip, and even though he hadn't mentioned our band to his passenger, "Nutmeg" randomly came on the playlist.

We kept hearing things like, "My friend's friend is obsessed with your song." It was wild.

What message did you put into "Nutmeg"?

A core message: "You are the protagonist of your own life, so cherish yourself, stay true to who you are, and love yourself."

Did this viral moment feel like it altered the course of your lives?

Absolutely. We were all wrestling with future paths—job hunting, graduate school, and so on. But the response to "Nutmeg" gave us the push we needed to commit to making music together as a full-time band. It truly reshaped our lives.

Even if I had taken a standard corporate job, I wanted to keep playing music for fun. But seeing how much people resonated with our work gave me the conviction to dedicate my life to this path.

Was it difficult balancing university studies with band activities?

It was tough, no doubt. None of us were particularly great at time management, so we really felt the struggle of balancing both.

On top of academics, I lived on my own, so I had to cover my living expenses. Juggling studies, the band, and part-time jobs was a real challenge.

Scrambling to finish reports on tight deadlines was stressful, but having friends who constantly cheered us on helped us pull through.

Last year was especially intense. There were times when live shows conflicted with classes or lab research. But thanks to understanding professors and supportive classmates who helped me catch up, I was able to push through to graduation.

Faced with choices between jobs, grad school, and the band, how did you handle the internal conflict?

We all had our own struggles with it.

I was the only one actively job hunting. Around December of my senior year, I received a job offer from my dream company. But the very next month, "Nutmeg" blew up. It felt like life was presenting me with an entirely different path. I agonized over it for months, but ultimately realized: you only live once. I wanted to take a leap of faith, so I turned down the job offer.

Honestly, I’m just filled with joy. I want us to stay true to what we love and what we want to express, while continuing to have fun alongside everyone who listens to our music.

Getting to this point was a hard road, but our goal is to become a household name nationwide. This debut is just the starting line, so we need to give it everything we've got.

I'm purely excited. Like Seki said, this is where it all truly begins. I want us to become a band that everyone knows—from kids to older generations.

Making a major debut is only possible because of the immense support we've received. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to repay everyone who has backed us and make them proud to say they were fans from the start.

The next year or two will be crucial for us as a band. We want to move forward without regrets, giving 100% to what we believe in.

Moving forward together as one—like four pieces of a single unit.

Exactly. Not one person pulling the rest, but standing side-by-side.

Arms linked.

Working hard as a team.