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1st album "Civilization and Enlightenment - East West" will be released digitally on November 12th!
The digital release date for our 1st album, "Bunmei Kaika - East West," has been set for November 12th.
In addition to the jacket artwork featuring the artist's first-ever visuals, we have also released the pre-release of some songs and the key visual for our solo tour.
The 1st album, "Civilization and Enlightenment - East West," is a work that showcases the current position of Tomonari Sora, an artist who effortlessly transcends genre and era boundaries, based on the concept of "drawing a world map with music." Starting with Japanese sensibilities, melodies, and rhythms, it develops a diverse sound approach incorporating musical elements from around the world, including funk, jazz, folk music, and electronica. It is a challenging and conceptual album that pursues a flexible musicality that is not bound by existing frameworks, embodying the "enlightenment" of the artist.
▼Tomonari Sora's comment
Since my musical debut in 2021, I've been aiming to release this album, and I'm finally releasing it. The title, "Civilization and Enlightenment," embodies the fusion of East and West in my own music, as well as my intention to evolve with the times.
While "Oni no Utage" and "Niramekko" have led to more opportunities for people to appreciate my Japanese-style work, this album is not just about that image; it's also my "answer." I wanted to travel freely through the vast sky of music, rather than being confined to one place. That's how this album was born.
Overall, this is a conceptual work that pushes my aspect as a storyteller to its limits. At the same time, it's an album that depicts Sora Tomonari as a "mixture of East and West," weaving together Japanese sensibilities with overseas music and modern sounds.
I wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and arranged all the songs myself. In particular, for tracks M2, M4, and M12, I teamed up with Ren Ogihara (BLACK BERRY TIMES), a friend of mine since high school and my musical partner, and the new songs are especially worth listening to.
Through making this album, I feel like I've gained a little understanding of who I am. However, "Meiji Kaika" (Civilization and Enlightenment) is only a condensed part of who I am, and not everything I am. There are still many things I want to do in the future.
One thing I can say with certainty is that the past six months of production have been the most enjoyable time of my musical career so far.
I would be delighted if you would listen to all 14 tracks, from the first to the 14th, for the full 42 minutes, just like reading a collection of short stories.
★Release info.
Sora Tomonari 1st Album “Civilization and Enlightenment - East West”
November 12, 2025 Digital Release
Streaming & Download: https://tomonarisora.lnk.to/EastWest
In addition to the jacket artwork featuring the artist's first-ever visuals, we have also released the pre-release of some songs and the key visual for our solo tour.
The 1st album, "Civilization and Enlightenment - East West," is a work that showcases the current position of Tomonari Sora, an artist who effortlessly transcends genre and era boundaries, based on the concept of "drawing a world map with music." Starting with Japanese sensibilities, melodies, and rhythms, it develops a diverse sound approach incorporating musical elements from around the world, including funk, jazz, folk music, and electronica. It is a challenging and conceptual album that pursues a flexible musicality that is not bound by existing frameworks, embodying the "enlightenment" of the artist.
▼Tomonari Sora's comment
Since my musical debut in 2021, I've been aiming to release this album, and I'm finally releasing it. The title, "Civilization and Enlightenment," embodies the fusion of East and West in my own music, as well as my intention to evolve with the times.
While "Oni no Utage" and "Niramekko" have led to more opportunities for people to appreciate my Japanese-style work, this album is not just about that image; it's also my "answer." I wanted to travel freely through the vast sky of music, rather than being confined to one place. That's how this album was born.
Overall, this is a conceptual work that pushes my aspect as a storyteller to its limits. At the same time, it's an album that depicts Sora Tomonari as a "mixture of East and West," weaving together Japanese sensibilities with overseas music and modern sounds.
I wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and arranged all the songs myself. In particular, for tracks M2, M4, and M12, I teamed up with Ren Ogihara (BLACK BERRY TIMES), a friend of mine since high school and my musical partner, and the new songs are especially worth listening to.
Through making this album, I feel like I've gained a little understanding of who I am. However, "Meiji Kaika" (Civilization and Enlightenment) is only a condensed part of who I am, and not everything I am. There are still many things I want to do in the future.
One thing I can say with certainty is that the past six months of production have been the most enjoyable time of my musical career so far.
I would be delighted if you would listen to all 14 tracks, from the first to the 14th, for the full 42 minutes, just like reading a collection of short stories.
★Release info.
Sora Tomonari 1st Album “Civilization and Enlightenment - East West”
November 12, 2025 Digital Release
Streaming & Download: https://tomonarisora.lnk.to/EastWest
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