Theme set as “music as an asylum (sanctuary / free domain).” The staff notation in the lyrics (music) was interpreted as an asylum, a free domain. In the lyrics, music itself is called upon as something whose inherent joy one is made to notice, and it is sung that surrendering oneself to it is an ordinary, insignificant act. It also sounded like an antithesis to the recent situation (the COVID-19 pandemic), which can even create the illusion that there are restrictions on enjoying music. But in reality, there are no such restrictions on music itself. For both its creators and its listeners, it has always been free, inviolable, a sanctuary, and sometimes a refuge. Within that, the aim was to express through collage and an allegorical story the process of simply enjoying music with curiosity. “An asylum, or asylum (German: Asyl, French: asile, English: asylum), is a historical and social concept referring to a special area also called a ‘sanctuary,’ ‘free domain,’ ‘refuge,’ or ‘place without ties.’ Its etymology lies in the Greek word ‘ἄσυλον’ (meaning a place that cannot be violated, a sacred place). In concrete terms, it generally refers to an area beyond the reach of governing power.” - Wikipedia “A place where criminals, slaves, and others flee to escape severe harm or retaliation and receive protection. The term derives from the Greek asylos (unharmed, inviolable, sacred). In premodern times, before the state’s power to punish had been organized and systematized, it was a制度 seen in most societies. Originally, this system was based on a primitive religious belief that harming (taking revenge on) someone who had entered a sanctuary was a blasphemy against the gods. In ancient Greece, temples were regarded as places of protection for abused slaves, criminals, and debtors, and it was considered a religious offense to retrieve or punish those who had fled to a temple and come under divine protection.” - Kotobank What I focused on in this work was not only using live-action cuts, but also frequently cutting by motif in order to blur the boundaries of the domain.

A music video that casts the creator’s recurring characters according to their personalities and develops a story around them. Set to a pop tune with slightly negative lyrics, it unfolds like a colorful children’s animation, depicting the repetitive cycle of an adult’s gloomy daily life and small moments of happiness.

Sound producer SKYTOPIA, who is also active as a member of KOMONO LAKE and Coldhot, and graphic designer Ikuho Tamura have released their third collaboration single, “Run.” The track was handled by SKYTOPIA, and the artwork by Ikuho Tamura. This work was created with the music and visuals developed in parallel, each inspiring the other as they came together. With the theme of “Run,” the visual motifs draw on Eadweard Muybridge’s “moving photographs.” An analog-based ASCII art video, adapted from the rotoscope technique, and a track built around UK garage and house, enriched with a striking melody, color the listener’s “run.”