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Embracing Both the Bitter and the Sweet: The Power of Choice and Personal Growth Through Experience – Tomasong
Could you tell us about the lyrics? The line from “Strawberry Picking”—“You can’t just get the results / Most of life isn’t like picking strawberries”—seems to be a great metaphor for the idea that progress comes after effort.
Matsuura: When I was a kid, I went strawberry picking with my mom, and I remember seeing other people rushing to eat the strawberries without listening to the farmer’s explanation about how he grew them with care. That image stuck with me. Even as a child, I had this feeling of “If I skip the explanation, will those strawberries really taste better?” The taste might be fine, but it doesn’t leave much of an impression. I thought if you can really immerse yourself in the process, you’ll naturally come to love the outcome.
Even the song’s title is rooted in personal experience. The lyrics of “moreish,” which you wrote, “Taste the bitter and sweet, savor every bit, everybody / Embrace both the cool and the vague, all of it,” express a sentiment that’s hard to find in a world focused solely on efficiency and just getting by.
Tomasong: Honestly, it’s the bitter moments that made the sweetness meaningful for us, and that’s where the true joy comes from. Having that contrast is what makes life rich, and that’s why we continue to make choices.
The outcome of those choices depends on us, but nothing will begin if we don’t make the decision to choose. If you’re simply following someone else’s recommendation, it’s hard to say that your true will is behind the decision. I want to keep building experiences where my own choices shape me, and I hope others do the same. If that happens, the world will definitely become more fascinating.
Matsuura: Tomasong is in a phase where he’s really finding his voice, and the things he’s saying are becoming more fascinating.
Tomasong: I moved to Cebu, in August 2024. Now I’m juggling time between Cebu, Japan, and China. I’d always had this thought of wanting to live abroad one day, but the perfect moment never came. I realized waiting for the right timing wasn’t the answer—it’s something you have to create. When you take action, things naturally fall into place. There are some views you can only experience by actually climbing the mountain, right? That idea of “trying things out” has definitely made its way into my lyrics. When I told the two of them about my plan to move abroad, they were genuinely supportive, with a positive reaction like, “That sounds exciting.” I’m grateful for that.
In the hustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of what we truly want to do. Do you think pursuing what you want means following childhood dreams, or is it about moving toward what excites you in your current circumstances?
Tomasong: “What you want” evolves constantly, but what’s truly important is following your passion. If your childhood dream remains unchanged, that’s something beautiful. Even as adults, if you discover something you want to pursue, go for it. However, more often than not, we unconsciously look for excuses not to. What’s crucial is maintaining that childlike courage to take the first step. If it doesn’t feel right, at least it’s valuable experience. In the end, it’s never too late to begin. I’m learning Chinese now, and there was a time when I thought, “Isn’t it too late to learn a new language in my 40s?” But the truth is, the more you do, the more you grow.
