PIKOTARO launches 47-prefecture music project with Tottemo Release 80.8 (06)
Japan’s northern and Tohoku regions are now the focus of a new musical project, with each prefecture receiving its own dedicated track. The sixth instalment of Tottemo Release 80.8, released on Friday, includes Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata. The songs incorporate a variety of styles, including city pop, drum and bass, blues, and anime-inspired sounds, with each track reflecting the region’s unique character.
PIKOTARO worked closely with producer Kosaka Daimaou to develop the Prefecture Song series, which is designed to span an entire year with 80.8 tracks. Listeners can expect the project to continue releasing new regional music each month, with collaborations and surprises planned for future installments.
Prefecture Song series explores regional diversity
The series opens with the energetic “TO-DO-FU-KEN! (Opening Song)” and progresses through the northern prefectures. Each track showcases PIKOTARO’s playful approach, blending humor with musical experimentation. From melodic riffs to upbeat rhythms, the songs aim to capture both the geography and personality of each location.
According to Kosaka Daimaou, the idea developed naturally from the team’s travels across Japan. “Every time we visited different regions, we ended up creating songs inspired by those places. At some point, we thought, ‘Why not make them all?’ This project became a way to bring the entire country to listeners through music,” he said.
A year-long celebration of Japan’s regions
Tottemo Release 80.8 is set to run from August 2025 to July 2026, delivering new music every month. Each installment will continue the Prefecture Song series, covering the remaining regions of Japan in subsequent releases. Fans can expect collaborations with other major artists, expanding the project beyond PIKOTARO’s solo work.
PIKOTARO described his process simply: “I just suddenly felt like singing the names of every prefecture across Japan – pico! So I sang them all – pico!” What began as a spontaneous idea has evolved into a large-scale, serialized music project unlike anything he has attempted before.
