Taisei Fukumoto’s ‘OTOGI’: A Musical Fairy Tale

Taisei Fukumoto’s new single “OTOGI” marks another bold step in his solo journey. Released on September 17, 2025, as his 4th digital single following “Koi no Joushou Kiryuu,” “Sakura Typhoon,” and “Mondai Desu,” the track showcases a new side of his artistry while staying rooted in the consistent creativity that defines him.

More than a simple release, “OTOGI” was shaped in detail by Taisei himself—lyrics, composition, and even the MV concept—underscoring why it feels so uniquely personal. The song will be performed live for the first time at STARRZ TOKYO 2025 on September 23, and he expressed his excitement about how the entertainment he has cultivated would interact with the diverse cultures gathered at the event.

Within three short minutes, “OTOGI” unfolds a world that feels both nostalgic and brand new—like a fairy tale slightly twisted at the edges. Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Red Riding Hood, Momotaro… fragments of familiar stories scatter across the lyrics and visuals, but blur between happiness and despair. Each listen brings a new interpretation—a new story.

At times, it feels like saying goodbye to a darker self, at others like parting ways with an ordinary version of oneself that could never quite reach the extremes of happy or tragic endings, and it’s that kind of tension that creates a haunting pull at the heart. The addictive structure of the track means every replay reveals something new, with shifting modulations that surprise yet comfort, pulling listeners deeper into its fairy-tale labyrinth.

The music video, animated instead of featuring Taisei himself, amplifies the song’s impact. Illustrated by 檀上大空/Danjo sora, his precious angel wings (the silver-colored hair at the left side of the nape of her neck), oversized ribbons, sparkling eyes—it includes elements that embody his artistic persona vividly, making it feel as though he is present in another form. The MV, described by many as a moonlit tapestry of fairy-tale imagery, plays with dualities of dream and reality, light and shadow. Its shocking ending leaves lingering questions, sparking endless curiosity and inviting viewers to unravel their own interpretations. The juxtaposition of sweet visuals with unsettling undertones highlights not only the charm of the song but also its darker, bittersweet edge.

Musically, Taisei’s voice layered over a Vocaloid-inspired soundscape shines with fresh brilliance. Playful rhythms, clever rhymes, sticky melodies, and his refined vocal strength combine to show that this is not just an experiment, but a genuine opening of the next door in his artistry. The more it plays, the more it pulls listeners in. That addictive quality speaks to his hard work and to the unique way he transforms any genre into something undeniably his own.

Just as striking is his prowess with words—lyrics that extend beyond simple phrasing to become layered narratives in themselves. Always known for his intellectual, insightful side behind the brighter, sparkling image, Taisei channels that depth into songwriting, crafting lines that cut sharply yet feel grounded. His approach—turning even the small sounds of daily life into something magical—reminds listeners of the wonder hidden in the ordinary, while his lyricism reveals the thoughtful storyteller beneath the idol exterior.

The lyrics of “OTOGI” paint a vivid, almost psychedelic fairy-tale world where sweetness and destruction, fantasy and reality collide. There are lines that speak of irreversible change, while the playful fu-fufufu refrains echo the restless pulse of sleepless cities. Familiar storybook fragments—grandparents in ancient tales, candy, happy or bad endings—are twisted into surreal images that question whether love, truth, or identity can ever be neatly defined. The choruses juxtapose fantastical dreams with mundane mornings, suggesting that the extraordinary hides within the everyday.

Ultimately, the song reflects Taisei’s exploration of identity: embracing chaos, contradiction, and possibility, while inviting listeners to dive headfirst into their own ‘otogi’¹ stories. Beneath its bright veneer runs a bittersweet undercurrent, a quiet melancholy balanced by beauty, making “OTOGI” both a fantastical escape and a deeply personal reflection.

Further highlighting his lyrical insight, Taisei himself has explained how his writing often frames emotions as open-ended questions rather than fixed answers. He described how the A-melody poses the line, “Now for the first question: Do you understand me?,” expressing the loneliness of wanting to be understood, before the chorus shifts to a stronger declaration of “Only I make the rules.”

By confronting the contradictions of human feeling through words, he embraces complexity rather than resolution. Paired with a striking band sound, this song underscored his ability to shift direction while keeping lyrics at the emotional core—an ability that carries forward into the layered storytelling of “OTOGI.”

He also emphasized that what sets his performances apart is the ability to embody multiple concepts and directions, taking full advantage of the freedom afforded by solo work. He described “OTOGI” as a chance to challenge himself within the fusion of entertainment and fashion, highlighting the chemistry created when different cultures and ideas meet.

This vision frames idols as modern-day fairy tales: on stage, miracles happen, people are saved, and dreams take shape, yet behind the curtain lies the ambiguity of real life. It is in this shifting space between fantasy and reality that Taisei continues to perform—and it is exactly what makes him so captivating.

In Japanese, the word “OTOGI” (御伽) is often associated with fairy tales and folktales, seen in expressions such as otogibanashi (御伽話). The nuance suggests both the playfulness of sound (oto) and the imaginative space of storytelling (gi). Taisei Fukumoto’s “OTOGI” carries this dual meaning into song—transforming lyrical wordplay and fantastical imagery into a living narrative. For many fans, he himself embodies such a fairy tale: a figure who sparks wonder, weaves hope, and turns the everyday into something extraordinary.

“OTOGI” stands as both the trace of his latest challenge and a declaration of what lies ahead. For his fan community “Colorfull,” the song resonates with their shared vision of painting the future with full effort and vibrant hues.

It symbolizes not just a release, but another milestone in an unfolding story—one that Taisei himself continues to write like a living fairy tale.

For his fans, he is both author and character, a figure who turns ordinary moments into something extraordinary, and “OTOGI” is an open invitation to step into that world and believe in it again and again.

About Taisei Fukumoto

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1. OTOGI” (御伽) is a Japanese word often associated with fairy tales, stories, or old-time folktales—commonly seen in expressions like *otogibanashi* (御伽話, fairy tale). The nuance suggests both playful ‘sound play’ (oto + gi) and a fantastical narrative world, tying directly into the lyrical themes of twisted fairy tales and dreamlike storytelling. ↩︎