
As my last for 2025, it will be titled Shiwasu. In Japan’s traditional calendar, Shiwasu (師走) refers to December as the “Busy Month.” Traditionally, even monks and teachers were said to run through the streets as the year rushed toward its end. Despite this sense of movement, December also carries a deep, reflective stillness – a moment to look back before starting anew.
My new lofi single tries to capture this contrast: quiet motion, inner restlessness, and the calm that follows a long year.
Crafting Shiwasu with the PO-33 KO
Produced with the PO-33 KO, the song blends soft melodies, muted beats, and cold yet comforting textures. The sound design balances gentle momentum with spacious pauses, reflecting December’s dual nature – busy days and silent nights.
The track is designed for late evenings, end-of-year reflections, and moments when time feels both fast and suspended.
The B-Side: Yuutsu na
Accompanying the main single is the B-side Yuutsu na (憂鬱な), meaning “melancholic.” The track leans deeper into introspection, embracing slower tempos, minimal elements, and a heavier emotional tone.
Where Shiwasu reflects motion and closure, Yuutsu na explores the quiet melancholy often felt at the end of the year – not sadness, but thoughtful stillness and emotional depth.
Together, the two tracks form a contemplative closing chapter to the seasonal journey.
Completing the Seasonal Cycle
With Shiwasu, the lofi calendar project (aka Toshi) reaches its conclusion. From the blossoms of Uzuki to December’s reflective calm, each release has traced the changing seasons through sound, tradition, and atmosphere.
This final entry brings resolution – a pause before the cycle begins again.

