Kazumasa Oda : High-pitched voice that reaches the hearts of people of all ages
Kazumasa Oda’s career can be divided into two main periods: from 1967 to 1989, when he served as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Off Course, and from 1986 onward, marking the beginning of his solo career.
Across both periods, Oda has consistently delivered emotionally resonant lyrics, a beautiful high-pitched voice, and heart-wrenching melodies that define his unique musical style.
I previously introduced Off Course in another post, so here I’d like to highlight a few songs from Oda’s solo career that I believe capture his essence.
Love Story Wa Totsuzen Ni : The beginning of Oda’s successful solo career.
Oda fully launched his solo career after Off Course disbanded in 1989. Many of his songs were featured as theme songs in television dramas and background music for commercials, increasing his recognition nationwide during a time when TV held overwhelming influence.
Released in February 1991, Love Story Wa Totsuzen Ni marked the start of Oda’s successful solo journey.
The song was used as both the theme and insert song for the popular drama Tokyo Love Story. As the drama’s popularity grew, the song became a massive hit, selling over two million copies within just 37 days of its release.
The phrase “Totuzen ni” in the title means “suddenly,” suggesting that love stories can begin and end without warning.
The song begins with a striking guitar intro, and its melody and arrangement feel more commercially polished than any of Oda’s earlier works. Even so, the lyrics retain the deeply personal worldview he has long pursued.
Filled with the pain of regret, the song’s message resonates deeply with anyone who has ever experienced the sorrow of a breakup.
Tashikana Koto : Clear skies in Oda’s songs
Oda continued to write and perform with unwavering passion. Tashikana Koto, released in May 2005, explores the theme of gazing up at the sky while speaking to a loved one.
In a 2017 TV program titled 100-Year Interview, when asked about the source of his creativity, Oda answered, “Whenever I start writing lyrics, what first comes to mind is the sky and the wind.”
“Indeed, clear skies are a recurring motif in his songs—a symbol that often carries emotional weight. Reflecting on this, Oda once shared:
“When I look at the sky, I think—it’s beautiful now, but have I seen this exact sky before? It looks the same as it did that day, yet it feels different. That’s just how I am.”
We all live within the great flow of life — but how often are we truly aware of it in our daily routines? Oda reflects on the subtle shifts brought about by time, the people we encounter, and the feelings that arise in each moment. These quiet changes are easy to overlook amid the repetition of everyday life. That, to me, is the essence of what he expresses when he speaks of the sky.
Reference : Kazumasa Oda – Tokiwa Matte Kurenai(Time waits for no one),100-Year Interview archive book, (2024/04) PHP Institute, Inc.
Sayonara Ha Iwanai : Feel like a message to Oda’s loyal fans
Sayonara Ha Iwanai (means “Never Say Goodbye”) is Oda’s 27th single, released in February 2009. It was included on his 8th solo album, Do-Mo.
At 63 years and 7 months old at the time, Oda set a record as the oldest artist to top the Oricon Weekly Album Chart, one of Japan’s most prominent music charts.
The lyrics of Sayonara Ha Iwanai seem to be addressed to someone deeply personal, perhaps a lifelong partner. But to me, they also feel like a message to his loyal fans.
As of February 2025, Oda is over 77 years old. Yet his stunning high-pitched voice remains as strong as ever. His creative energy continues to thrive in the 2020s as he released his tenth solo album, Early Summer 2022, showing no signs of slowing down.
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