Our Song

THE OVER ALLs is the music project of Takato Akazawa, founder and CEO of mural art company OVER ALLs.

An entrepreneur and a member of Japan's so-called "Employment Ice Age" generation, Akazawa failed in his job search, spent most of his twenties drifting without a steady career, landed his first full-time job at 29, and started his own company at 34.

The title of his third single is "Minna no Uta (Our Song)."

The "everyone" in the title refers to fellow entrepreneurs and challengers people who choose to keep moving forward despite uncertainty, doubt, and inner conflict. Every entrepreneur and every challenger carries those struggles. This song gives voice to those who kept running because they had no choice but to keep running.

The chorus features the actual voices of fellow business owners from the Employment Ice Age generation who answered Akazawa's call and joined the project.

The cover artwork is equally personal. It uses a photograph of OVER ALLs' original company bankbook from its earliest days. The records of loans from the Japan Finance Corporation and the frequent ATM withdrawals in small amounts are details that many entrepreneurs will instantly recognize and relate to.

There was never some grand purpose. No compelling reason to keep going, yet no reason to quit either.

And still, by continuing to move forward, people eventually discover that they are surrounded by things worth protecting and by people who support them along the way.

That's life. And that's enough.

Since we're here, all we can do is keep moving forward on our own path our own My Way.

A raw and honest anthem for everyone who continues to run forward in their own way, navigating an uncertain era and pushing through countless setbacks and challenges.