SILENT POETS | 7 Years of Silence, Now Speaking Out with ‘HOPE’

Last Updated on 2025-06-24 by a-indie

Encounter with the Game ‘DEATH STRANDING’

Meeting Director Hideo Kojima

－Tomohiro Yabe: “Asylums for the feeling feat. Leila Adu” from your previous work ‘dawn’ was used in ‘DEATH STRANDING’, and “Almost Nothing feat. Okay Kaya” was written as the ending theme. How did the production of these two songs come about? Also, what specific conversations did you have with director Hideo Kojima?
Michiharu Shimoda: I had the opportunity to meet Kojima-san directly while he was producing ‘DEATH STRANDING’, and I casually gave him a CD of ‘dawn’ that had just been released as a business card. He liked it very much and contacted me saying he wanted to use it in the game. Following that flow, he also requested the ending song, and I was invited to the studio where I received various explanations and was shown scenes from the production process. I felt trusted and entrusted with the task. I was told to create a song that would receive the sense of achievement and emotion when the game ends, and I remember there weren’t many detailed instructions.

Reason for Casting Okay Kaya

－Tomohiro Yabe: “Almost Nothing” features Okay Kaya, but how did she come to participate?
Michiharu Shimoda: At the time, I watched the movie ‘Thelma’ directed by Joachim Trier in which she appeared, and I was very fascinated. I also learned that she was a singer, and after listening to her singing voice, I thought she was perfect for “Almost Nothing,” so I made a direct offer and it was realized.

Unraveling the New Work ‘HOPE’ After 7 Years

After Turbulent 7 Years

－Tomohiro Yabe: ‘HOPE’ is your first release in 7 years since your previous work ‘dawn’. These 7 years included pandemics, wars, and various events more than any other era. Please tell us about the reasons and background for releasing this work at this timing.
Michiharu Shimoda: Actually, originally I intended to release a new work without much gap after ‘dawn’. Then the pandemic occurred, and personal problems continued to arise, so I couldn’t get started. I was only able to begin production in earnest exactly 2 years ago. During these 7 years, of course there was the pandemic, social chaos that shook democracy, the Ukraine conflict, genocide in Gaza, and at the same time I experienced personal disasters including fighting illness. Sadness, anger, emptiness, powerlessness – various emotions filled up, and I think this work was born from the energy of wanting to overcome and resist these feelings. Also, consciously facing death for the first time in my life and thinking about how I want to live from now on, what I want to express, what I want to value – this became a major background for this work.