※ Preview may take some time.
※ Preview is not available for songs under copyright collective.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.
My name is Noborikawa Shakeo.
"HANGAKU! HANGAKU!" is a soulful anthem dedicated to all the "supermarket warriors" who roam grocery stores after 9 PM.
The stage is neither a fancy restaurant nor a live music venue.
It is the deli section of a local neighborhood supermarket.
With only about 1,000 yen left in his wallet, the protagonist wanders the aisles tonight once again, believing in the miracle of the yellow discount stickers -- a lonely hunter driven by hope and survival.
There are silent psychological battles with elderly bargain hunters near the sushi counter.
The atmosphere changes instantly the moment the discount stickers appear.
And then comes the emotional cry:
"HEY! DON'T TAKE THAT MEDIUM-FATTY TUNA!!"
At this point, it is no longer shopping -- it is a way of life.
One of the highlights of the song is how it perfectly balances comedy and sadness:
the tiny happiness of feeling rich after spending only 777 yen,
and the bittersweet realization of accidentally buying three containers of the same potato salad simply because they were cheap.
The world of this song is a miraculous fusion of old-school Japanese enka spirit and modern internet meme culture.
By the time the song ends, you may find yourself wanting to run to a supermarket 30 minutes before closing time.
This is not just a comedy song.
It is a "Reiwa-era blues" for all people surviving tough economic times with nothing but discount stickers and determination.
Thank you sincerely for reading until the end.