Look Closely—Is It Food!? Picture Book Reading of "What Is It? It's Food"

“Urashima Tarō’s ending is just too sad...” Many people probably felt that way when they were children. With the hope that there might have been a happy story waiting beyond that ending, singer-songwriter Daisuke Mori sings about Urashima Tarō’s second life with plenty of pop charm and humor. The visuals are created by Ohtamirams, a creative unit active across a wide range of genres, including the music videos for Wednesday Campanella’s “Momotaro” and tofubeats’ “Koi to Missile,” as well as commercials, short films, and picture books. [From the Animation Team, Ohtamirams] 《What on earth happened to Urashima Tarō after he became an old man?》 In order to answer the long-standing question of people across Japan, we at Ohtamirams were given the opportunity to animate the continuation of the story to Daisuke Mori’s music. Since everyone, if they keep living long enough, will eventually arrive at a second life, we at Ohtamirams put a lot of thought into it and came up with a logline: “What if Urashima started doing little jobs to help everyone, and in that world line he was able to enjoy a happy, long-lived second life surrounded by many new friends?” We also made it into a seasonal piece that makes the most of Urashima’s signature trait of “aging.” We’d be delighted if, every winter season, people would remember this song and animation…… This is an animation that “wishes upon a star” for “the best and happiest New Year’s season and second life for everyone in Japan…….”

To celebrate his 30th debut anniversary, Ken Hirai will release and make available all of his music videos on November 19, 2025. The full version of the official music video for “ON AIR” (from his 9th album THE STILL LIFE), directed and animated by OTAMIRAMS, has also been released. - This music video for “ON AIR,” a heart-fluttering pop song full of ‘80s flair that Ken Hirai wrote as the 30th anniversary theme song for his hometown station FM Mie, captures the song’s retro charm. Although it had not yet been released, the track was performed at venues across the country during his nationwide hall tour marking the 20th anniversary of his debut, where it drew a strong response. Now, the up-and-coming creative team OTAMIRAMS has turned it into an addictive yet cute and fancy animated music video brimming with ‘80s style.

Produced by Nippon Design Center, Otamiramz was responsible for the animation part of the PV video for MUJI’s “Smooth Cotton Innerwear” by Ryohin Keikaku. - Living with cotton. Gentle against the skin, made from 100% cotton. A PV for MUJI’s comfortable “Warm Cotton” innerwear, with a natural feel.

The music video for “Silver Staff,” a track from Triple Fire’s first album in seven years, EXTRA, has been released. The MV is an intensely powerful animated work created by Otamirams + Minoru Tanihata, who also worked on one of their signature songs, “Skill Up,” about 10 years ago.