Discover Toaka
Since her breakthrough with the critically acclaimed movie Suzume, Toaka’s career has soared. While some call her rise a “Cinderella story”, the Japanese singer’s musical journey is one of hard work, perseverance, and authenticity.
This article answers commonly asked questions about the singer-songwriter Toaka (十明).
Table of Contents
Who is Toaka?
Toaka (十明) is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She gained significant recognition as the singer for “Suzume,” the RADWIMPS theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s esteemed movie of the same name,
Her delicate yet powerful voice caught the attention of many worldwide. On Spotify, “Suzume” is the most streamed song across RADWIMPS’ entire discography. Since then, she’s made her major debut as a singer-songwriter and has been recognized as an artist on the rise in the industry.
She was selected to be a part of Spotify Japan’s RADAR: Early Noise 2024, which showcases promising emerging artists in the country. Viral singer-songwriter imase has also recommended her as an artist to watch.
How did Toaka become a singer?
Toaka became a singer in high school through her school’s music club.
Growing up, Toaka always liked music from elementary to middle school, playing different instruments in her earlier school days. Her aspiration to become a singer began in high school when she formed a band through her club and became the band’s guitar vocalist.
This experience ignited her desire to become a singer. While the band disbanded within a year, she remained in the club, performing solo with an acoustic guitar.
When did Toaka decide to pursue a music career?
Towards the end of high school, Toaka aimed to become a professional singer. She gave herself until the end of graduation to pursue her dream, telling herself she would give up on music if she didn’t see any prospects.
In pursuit of a professional career, Toaka dedicated herself to her music. She pursued live performances—even getting to perform at live houses in Tokyo. She also posted videos filmed in her bedroom closet on TikTok (previously under the name “Obotsuchan” (おぼつちゃん)) absorbing a range of influences from Vocaloid, Japanese rock, Showa-era songs, as well as current Western music.
Despite her efforts, she was unsuccessful in achieving her goal by her deadline. Yet, she still couldn’t leave music behind. In an interview, she shared that she was driven by the thought, “Since I’m good at this, even if I can’t make it my career, I want to be in a place where my skills are recognized.” During her free time in college, she continued posting cover videos on her digital platform, eventually, beginning to share original songs.
When did Toaka begin creating songs?
Toaka began writing songs at the beginning of her senior year in high school—yet, she candidly shared that her early music wasn’t to her liking. Looking back, she realized she was trying to create songs that others would like, which resembled popular music at the time.
“This is what I wanted to sing about.”
Toaka
This changed in college, when she posted short demos of her original songs on TikTok. These songs, born out of feelings of rebellion and discomfort from her high school days, received positive reception via likes and comments. She shares in an interview, “This feedback made me realize, ‘Ah, this is what I wanted to sing about.'” Sharing both original works and cover songs, she continued to grow her TikTok following.
How did Toaka first get recognized on TikTok?
She first gained attention with her first original song that she shared online, “Ningyo Hime” (人魚姫). In English, the song title translates to The Little Mermaid). After posting the song demo on TikTok, it became popular, generating many fan-made cover videos. This exposure steadily led to an increase in her followers over time. It also led to her being discovered by the music staff for Suzume.
How was Toaka chosen for Suzume?
Toaka’s TikTok account caught the attention of the Suzume production team, leading to her participation in the vocal auditions for the movie. Her natural talent and unpolished, yet captivating voice impressed RADWIMPS’ Yojiro Noda and director Makoto Shinkai. In an interview, Noda mentioned, “When Toaka sang the opening ‘Lulululu’ of the theme song, I felt her voice was the one that needed to sing this song.”
“I felt her voice was the one that needed to sing this song.”
Yojiro Noda
When she got the call that she was selected, she described the news as surreal. She shares, “Throughout the process—and even until the movie was released—I kept thinking, ‘Is this a dream?’ Even after watching the movie, I couldn’t believe it. I kept wondering, ‘Is this really my voice?’ But then, gradually, it started to sink in that it was real, and I was very happy.”
When was Toaka’s major debut?
After Suzume, Toaka made her record label debut with EMI Records, the music label for UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN, in July 2023. She released the single “Cinder ella” (灰かぶり) as her major debut song.
For her first song, Toaka wanted to convey her determination. She explains, “Many people called my experience with Suzume a Cinderella story, which made me genuinely happy. Simultaneously, I also thought, ‘Don’t just say that I got lucky and won. I want you to know that there were difficult times too.'”
In “Cinder ella,” as with many of her songs, Toaka creates a character and storyline, singing from the protagonist’s perspective. Check out the song above.
What does Toaka hope to convey in her music?
Through her music, Toaka hopes to convey that it’s okay to have feelings of ugliness or imperfection. She shares in an interview, I think there are people, like me, who feel their hearts are ugly. Through my music, I want to convey that it’s okay to have those feelings.”
“I think there are people, like me, who feel their hearts are ugly…I want to convey that it’s okay to have those feelings.”
TOAKA
Through sharing her flawed characteristics, she aspires for others to appreciate the imperfections they carry. She states, “It’s not about being perfect; it’s about accepting your flaws and laughing at them.” As she grows older, she hopes to create more gentle songs and share her journey of growth with everyone.
Where can I follow Toaka?
Follow the talented singer-songwriter’s journey through the links below:
Artist Website:
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/toaka
Social Media:
Check out other artist profiles and articles on utatune.
