INDEX
The Sea: The Pinnacle of Escape
-The album title “On the Shore” features the sea not only in the title track but also in the lyrics of other songs. The sea has been a recurring motif in Odottebakari no Kuni’s lyrics before, but why did you choose this title for the album?
Shimotsu: When I spend too much time in the city, I start to feel overwhelmed and it affects my health. But going to the sea instantly makes me feel better, so I sometimes think the sea helps to draw out the toxins. It’s my own little life hack, and I wanted to share that feeling through the album.
-Earlier, you mentioned your father. If I’m not mistaken, he is quite into surfing, right?
Shimotsu: There you go again [laughs].
-But that seems to have something to do with it, doesn’t it?
Shimotsu: Of course. When I was little, I’d sometimes skip school for two weeks to go to the beach and surf. Having those experiences, even as an adult, I’ve always had the mindset that if things get tough, I can just return to the sea. This ability to embrace a carefree lifestyle is thanks to my father and the sea. However, the sea just happens to be my personal escape; other people might find theirs in hiking or baseball. I believe it’s natural for people to seek respite from the demands of daily life. While we might not talk about it openly, everyone has their own way of escaping. I write with the mindset that it’s okay to take a break or retreat when needed.
Maruyama： I also love the sea, so I understand what you just said.
Shimotsu: On tour, the first ones to jump into the sea are these two (Shimotsu and Maruyama). They tend to get really excited [laughs]. Although it’s not a song from this album, the sense of the sea in Odottebakari no Kuni was really solidified with “Umi ga Natteru” from Paradise review. That track conveyed a sense of being bright yet heavy, and I think it helped everyone share that image of the sea.
-The sea encompasses various aspects: it can be calming and soothing, but it also holds weight, depth, and an element of mysterious fear.
Shimotsu: It is also something that takes lives.
-Absolutely. That’s why this album reflects various aspects of the sea in its tracks. When it comes to themes like life and death, I feel that the title On the Shore also carries an image of “the other shore” or a kind of existential boundary. I think the band’s lyrics have always explored notions of life and death.
Shimotsu: The deep sea is an otherworldly realm that we can never reach with our physical bodies, which makes us reflect on the insignificance of humanity. The term “the other shore” might indeed be fitting in this context.
-Since the first track of the album is an instrumental, “兄弟” (Brothers) essentially becomes the real opening song. You mentioned in the live show at Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo that you wrote this song inspired by seeing friends pass away this year and people who still strive to move forward despite such hardships.
Shimotsu: Rather than being directed towards those who have passed away, this song is written for the friends who are still here. Musically, the album starts with a bright, daytime feel and progresses toward a deeper, nighttime atmosphere. I wanted “兄弟” (Brothers) to be a hopeful track within that journey.
-While the song reflects on those who have passed away, ultimately, it addresses those living in the same era, asking, “兄弟” (Brothers), how are things on your end?”
Shimotsu: Yes, I am singing about the sunrise coming again.
