Japanese singer-songwriter MINMI released her new single, “Okome no Uta” (The Rice Song), on July 8, 2025. The track, born from one of her own social media posts, sets a message of gratitude and love for Japan’s rice culture to a reggae rhythm. Concurrently, she announced that her self-produced music festival in Los Angeles, “Freedom LA,” which drew over 50,000 attendees, was a major success and is already slated for a fall edition.
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“Rice is too expensive!” – A Viral Moment Sparks an International Anthem
The song’s journey began on March 24, 2025, with a single photo MINMI posted on X (formerly Twitter). The image, showing a 5kg bag of Koshihikari rice from Toyama Prefecture priced at $19.99 in an American supermarket, was accompanied by her candid surprise: “Rice is too expensive!” The post went viral, amassing over 26.9 million views and 190,000 likes, drawing a massive response from both Japan and abroad. This shared sentiment directly inspired the creation of “Okome no Uta.”
The song is themed around rice, the cornerstone of Japanese food culture. The lyrics feature specific rice brands like “Koshihikari” and “Tsuyahime,” expressing gratitude to the farmers who work tirelessly, celebrating the blessings of the four seasons, and evoking the warmth of a family gathered around the dinner table, all carried by a smooth lovers rock melody.
After its live debut at an event in Osaka’s Banpaku Park, an overwhelming wave of fan requests for an official release led to its digital launch. The ukiyo-e-inspired jacket artwork was conceived from fan art and brought to life by MINMI herself and DJ MaL.
MINMI: “I want to protect our culture and convey the importance of food.”
Regarding the release, MINMI commented: “Eating rice is about protecting our culture. I want us to never forget our gratitude to the farmers and to pass on the importance of food to our children.” The song is imbued with her strong desire to see Japan’s culinary traditions carried into the future.
“Freedom LA” Festival a Major Success, Fall Edition Confirmed
MINMI’s activities extend far beyond Japan. In April 2025, she held the inaugural “Freedom LA” music festival at the OC Fair & Event Center in Los Angeles. Co-hosted with the OC JAPAN FAIR, one of the largest Japanese cultural festivals in the United States, the event was a resounding success, drawing over 52,000 people across three days.
The festival lineup included artists such as GADORO, Genki Iwahashi, and DJ MaL. In addition to the live music, the event featured cultural elements like paper lanterns and sky lantern releases, creating a cross-cultural experience that blended traditional Japanese atmosphere with modern culture, captivating the local audience.
Following this success, “Freedom LA Fall 2025” has been announced to take place from October 17 to 19 at the same venue. MINMI is set to accelerate her activities in Los Angeles, establishing it as a key base for exporting Japanese music culture to the world.
Release Information
- Artist: MINMI
- Title: Okome no Uta
- Release Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
- Lyrics/Composition: MINMI
- Arrangement: Kenichi Tachibana / MaL
- Streaming Services: https://lnk.to/MINMI_OS
Event Information: Freedom LA Fall 2025
- Dates: Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19, 2025
- Venue: OC Fair & Event Center (The Hangar)
- Organizers: MasterBeau USA / Adentope Inc.
- Tickets: Starting from $14 (Advance and VIP options available)
- Official Website: https://freedom-la.com/jp/
About MINMI MINMI made her major debut in 2002 with the single “The Perfect Vision.” She has garnered a strong following for her genre-defying musical style that freely blends reggae with R&B, hip-hop, and pop. With numerous hits like “Shanana☆,” “Shiki no Uta,” and “Summertime!!,” she is a dominant force in the festival and club scene. She is currently rebranding and strengthening her international activities in anticipation of her 25th anniversary.
