Lyric

Maki Watanabe, an emerging singer-songwriter gaining increasing attention, releases her first new single of 2026. Told from the perspective of a rescued cat, the song pays tribute to the individuals dedicated to animal rescue and expresses deep respect and gratitude for their work. Written and composed by Watanabe herself, the track features arrangements by Ryosuke Kojima, continuing their collaboration from her previous release. The song opens with a striking flute introduction and develops into a warm, piano and string centered arrangement. Blending social relevance with musical sensitivity, it is crafted to resonate with a wide range of listeners.
Following the release of "2025" in June 2025, Watanabe experienced rapid listener growth on streaming platforms. Her October 2025 single "Asa MOYA Coffee" surpassed 10,000 streams within its first month, demonstrating both strong listener retention and successful new audience reach. During this period, her earlier albums Watashi wo, Ikiru and Taion also saw renewed attention, with catalog streams continuing to rise.
Arriving at a moment of heightened visibility and momentum, this new release marks an important step forward in Watanabe's ongoing artistic development.