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"I want to be there to support people who feel lonely"

Masato Hashizume, 2nd year student, School of Culture, Media and Society

In front of Building 36. Toyama Campus

Masato Hashizume is a singer-songwriter, trot* artist, and representative of the nonprofit organization Pastel Pepper Magicｗith the desire to support people who feel lonely, Hashizume, continues to perform music and streaming adovice sessions every day. Recently, he won third place in the Korean audition program "Mr. Trot Japan" (BS Yoshimoto), which aired from February to May 2025, and captured the hearts of viewers with his deep emotional expression and good singing voice. We approached Hashizume to talk about the thoughts and driving force behind his activities in various fields, and his intriguing campus life.

*In the Korean music genre, it is classified as enka/pop music.

--Please tell us what you are currently focusing on most and what motivated you to start it.

A photo from when his band first started. They often covered X JAPAN songs.

I am a singer-songwriter. I write my own lyrics and music, and I am currently performing mainly at live music venues in Tokyo.

I first came into contact with music when I was 4 years old. Influenced by my parents who played guitar and piano, I had many opportunities to be involved with music from an early age and learned classical piano. In the fourth grade of elementary school, influenced by my older brother who was 8 years older than me, I started playing guitar. I also liked singing, so I started a band as a vocalist. At the time, I was the only elementary school student among high school and university students, and I was in charge of vocals, covering high-pitched songs (laughs).

--When did you start producing music?

The first time I wrote lyrics and composed music was during the summer vacation of my sixth year of elementary school. It all started when I was shocked to see the news that a girl my age had died of suicide due to bullying. Around the same time, I myself was bullied after appearing on a karaoke show. At the time, I was surrounded by people who helped me, but the thought crossed my mind: "What would have happened to me if it weren't for those people?" From this experience, I learned about the existence of "people who don't have anyone to support them," and I felt a sense of mission to do something about it through music that I could do in my own way.

Wanting to take action right away, I tried my hand at composing an original song as my summer research assignment. Then, as part of an anti-bullying activity, I registered as a member of the local social welfare council's volunteer group.

-What has been the most memorable experience you've had so far in your career as a musician?

This was a charity concert where I performed with composer Toshiaki Matsumoto when I was 13 years old. Matsumoto is famous for composing MISIA's signature song "Everything" and is a composer and pianist who has attracted attention in the global music industry. Through a connection with the volunteer group I belonged to, I was asked by the international suicide prevention NPO Befrienders International to perform with him, and we decided to perform together. On the day, I sang a variety of songs, but I was particularly impressed by singing "Tabidachi no Uta," which Matsumoto wrote and composed for the occasion.

I think music is a great tool. I like how you can easily convey things that words alone can't convey by putting them to a melody. When I actually heard Matsumoto's performance, I felt anew the meaning of playing music. There was emotion in every note, and I felt the characteristics of music firsthand from Matsumoto's performance, and I decided to continue with music.

At a charity concert in 2019 when he was 13 years old, he performed with composer Toshiaki Matsumoto.

--On the other hand, what kind of activities does the NPO organization Pastel Pepper Magic, which you represent, carry out?

A photo of when he was in the second year of junior high school and started the activities that led to his current streaming

I founded the organization when I was 17, hoping to realize my desire to "be there for lonely people." My main activity is streaming advice sessions, which I started in my second year of junior high school. I collect "problems" anonymously, and I think it's important that I solve problems not by myself, but by "everyone" gathered on YouTube Live. In the future, I would like to take advantage of the strengths of an NPO to provide face-to-face support for people with problems through school visits and lectures, and to increase the number of places where young people can freely express themselves.

--Recently, you achieved the amazing feat of placing third overall in the Korean audition program "Mr. Trot Japan."

"Mr. Trot Japan" is the Japanese version of a Korean audition program in which participants compete for the title of "Mr. Trot" through a program themed around oldies (called trot in Korean).

The reason I participated in Trot Japan was because I thought I could express the music I wanted to convey through oldies. I feel that modern songs tend to emphasize the flow of the sound and rhymes over the lyrics, and require a high-pitched singing voice. While I was attracted to such songs, something about them didn't feel right. Then, I found out about this audition, and oldies were a perfect fit for my low voice and my desire to "make music that emphasizes a message," and I knew I had to enter, since I could make the most of my individuality.

After participating in the audition, I met other participants who had the same problems as me, and by spending time with them, I was able to accept my own individuality more. I feel that I can now sing more honestly and in my own style.

On the left is a group photo of the finalists selected from 74 participants in "Mr. Trot Japan." Hashizume is second from the right. (© FANY Studio)

-Please tell us about your future goals.

First of all, my goal is to make my major debut as an artist within the next 2-3 years. I want to create songs that cherish the desire to "save lonely people" and empathize with them. I also plan to focus on my work with NPOs, and in the future, I would like to further my studies in psychology, which I am currently studying at university, in order to delve deeper into the concept of "being close to people." Eventually, I would also like to try to obtain a license as a certified psychologist.

@hashizumemasato

“君がペン先に込めた感情はもう読めなかった…” #ふぞろい #橋詰昌慧 #はしづめまさと

♬ オリジナル楽曲 – 橋詰昌慧/はしづめまさと – 橋詰昌慧/はしづめまさと

"Fuzoroi" Lyrics and composition by Masato Hashizume

903rd

Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Nanami Yoneda, 3rd year, School of Social Sciences