Rust and Roots

This track is a powerful message song that uses a hybrid of rap and blues to depict the shared pain of America's Rust Belt and Japan's rural areas.

Inspired by J.D. Vance's book Hillbilly Elegy, the lyrics draw a stark parallel between the rusted factories of Ohio and the depopulated villages of Japan's Tohoku region. The song gives voice to the despair and anger of those left behind by the wave of globalization.

It sharply dissects social issues common to both nations, such as educational disparities, the cycle of poverty, and the breakdown of community, all while exposing the hypocrisy of "meritocracy" and the harsh reality faced by the "lower middle class."

However, the song doesn't stop at just lamenting. Powerful lines like "America and Japan, the root of our suffering is the same" and "Unity is strength, raise your voice" urge listeners to rise from the depths of despair and fight together.

With its heavy beat and soul-stirring lyrics, the song shouts out the "our reality" that transcends borders. This is a song meant to convey the quietly burning flame of the human spirit to the world.