About one year ago, I found myself in the kind of seat you only dream ofโthe kind you joke about and manifest.
First row.
I had been looking forward to finally seeing Rinne Sugeta and 7 MEN Samurai on stage in their own element. Not together with the rest of the talented Juniors, sharing spotlights and lines. But all by themselves, raw and authentic.
Never in my life had I thought that luck would shine upon me and grant me a first row seat. Because I was happy enough that I got to see them.
This stroke of luck gave me the chance to be the closest I’ve ever been to my idols during a show.
So close that when Rinne smiled in my direction, it felt like the world paused for just a second. The stage lights caught in his eyes, and in that instant, the crowd, the noise, and the distance between us disappeared. That moment became more than just a concertโit was the beginning of a story Iโll never stop telling.
Because it’s absolutely magical. Breathtaking and surreal.
Iโve replayed that moment in my mind so many times over the past year. It wasnโt just about being close enough to see every detailโit was the way his presence reached into something deep inside me. There was a warmth, a connection, and a spark of inspiration that refused to fade. Even now, I can close my eyes and see that smile, hear the music, and feel the energy that wrapped around the venue like a living thing.
There are moments in life that change youโnot loudly, but deeply. For me, that was seeing Rinne on stage.
โStay My Lightโ is a letter, a memory, a quiet thank you. Itโs about the journey of believing in someone from afar, of holding onto a dream even when it seems out of reach. Itโs about the way a single smile, a single moment, can become a guiding light through everythingโdistance, time, change.
That moment planted the seed for the song. The emotions I carried homeโgratitude, joy, and a strange kind of courageโfound their way into lyrics and melodies over the months that followed. It became a way to bottle that feeling and share it with anyone whoโs ever had their heart changed by a single moment.
Because thatโs the thing about seeingโor even meetingโyour idol. Itโs not just a fun story to tell; it can change the way you see yourself, the way you dream, and the way you move through the world. It can make you believe in things you thought were too far out of reach. It can be the nudge you need to create something new.
That’s how this song was born, and how I wanted to immortalize my feelings in a way that would hopefully mean something to someone one day. Just like Rinne did to me. It’s personal, it’s emotional, and far from perfect, but it’s coming from my heart.
A year later, I still carry that moment with meโlike a little pocket of light I can pull out whenever the world feels heavy. “Stay My Light” is my way of passing that feeling on. Because if a moment with your idol can change your life, maybe a song can too.
Even as the scenery shifts, the sky above us stays the same. And under that sky, I still carry the warmth of that day.
Because it doesn’t matter what the future has planned for us, I’ll find my way back to that place where you are.
Even if weโre far apart, even if our worlds divide, Iโll follow where your light still shines.
Even if the curtain falls, and even if the stage must change, youโll always be my brightest star.
And if youโve ever had your own โfirst rowโ moment, Iโd love to hear it.