Japanese music legend Haruomi Hosono (細野晴臣) marked his 79th birthday on July 9 by releasing “Note of Mothership,” the opening track from his upcoming studio album “Yours Sincerely,” ahead of the record’s full release on September 11.
“Yours Sincerely” explores themes of motherhood and compassion, quietly portraying a sense of “harmony” that emerges beyond eras of loneliness and confusion. “Note of Mothership,” the album’s lead track, grew out of Hosono’s recent reflections on what he describes as a “great motherhood” that quietly envelops both humanity and the earth. The single’s artwork, released alongside the track, is built around the motif of a letter.
Who is Haruomi Hosono?
Born in Tokyo in 1947, Hosono made his debut as the bassist of the band Apryl Fool before forming Happy End in 1970 with Eiichi Ohtaki, Takashi Matsumoto, and Shigeru Suzuki, one of the most influential groups in Japanese rock history. He launched his solo career in 1973 and, around the same time, formed the studio group Tin Pan Alley with Tatsuo Hayashi and Masataka Matsutoya, while also producing artists such as Yumi Arai (Yuming).
In 1978, Hosono co-founded Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) alongside Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of the most internationally influential electronic acts to emerge from Japan. He also wrote and produced songs for artists including Seiko Matsuda and Kumiko Yamashita. After YMO’s hiatus, he continued exploring world music and ambient music while working extensively as a composer and producer.
His later career includes the 2016 theme song “MOHICAN” for the film “Mohican Come Home,” the 2017 album “Vu Jà Dé,” and the score for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 2018 film “Shoplifters,” for which he won Best Music at the Japan Academy Film Prize. In 2019, marking 50 years since his music career began, he released “HOCHONO HOUSE,” a reimagining of his 1973 debut solo album “HOSONO HOUSE.”
