Keisuke Kuwata released his new single “Hitotarashi” on June 24. The vocalist of Southern All Stars — Japan‘s beloved pop/rock band, celebrating its 48th anniversary this year — Kuwata has been a defining force in Japanese music since the band’s 1978 debut single “Katte ni Sinbad.” Across decades of hits both with the band and as a solo artist, he has stood as one of Japan’s premier melody-makers, shaping generations of musicians along the way.
Released as Kuwata’s solo work, “Hitotarashi” serves as the opener for the anime series Akane-banashi, set in the world of rakugo (traditional…
