Even today's most popular stars and artists have had their own "first" moments, such as their first appearance, first event, or first live performance. "My Firsts" asks them to reflect on the excitement that comes with such inexperience. This time, Masaharu Fukuyama talks about an episode from when he first moved to Tokyo from Nagasaki at the age of 18.
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The biggest "first" for me was probably moving to Tokyo when I was 18. I had been to Tokyo on a school trip before, so it wasn't my "first time in Tokyo," but rather my "first time moving to Tokyo."
After graduating from high school, I worked as a salaryman in my hometown of Nagasaki for just five months, but then I quit my job and took a sleeper train to Tokyo. That's where it all began.
When I got off the sleeper express Sakura at Tokyo Station, a friend was there to pick me up. He was my high school classmate, and we had the same birthday and blood type. We were in the same class for three years.
At that time, he was the only one among my friends who lived in an apartment instead of a dorm, so I decided to move in with him.
He picked me up at Tokyo Station, and we headed to Shinjuku Station and arrived at the Shinjuku East Exit. I walked past it thinking, "Oh, this is Alta where Tamori performs on 'Waratte Iitomo!'" I thought, thinking, "This place is scary," and passed Kabukicho on the side, before heading to Seibu Shinjuku Station. I took the Seibu Shinjuku Line to Haijima Station to head to Haijima, where he lived. I still remember that day vividly.
Nowadays I often go to Shinjuku for events, but to be back in Shinjuku at this age and holding an event in front of everyone... You never know what life will bring (laughs).
When I came to Tokyo, I didn't feel lonely at all. I had lived in a small town in Nagasaki up until then, and I hated the environment where everyone knew everyone. Whatever I did, wherever I went, I was sure to bump into someone I knew. Even when I met someone for the first time, I felt like I connected with them, like "I know so-and-so." That was one of the reasons I wanted to leave Nagasaki.
When I came to Tokyo, for the first time I thought, "I'm free!" I didn't know anything about this city, I didn't know anyone. And no one knew me. "How refreshing!" I thought. I had always said, "I want to be free," but I didn't know what freedom meant. But then I thought, "Ah, this is freedom."
But just as I was thinking that, I realized that making a living is hard. Freedom means that you have to do everything yourself to survive, and that you have to take on all the risks and responsibilities yourself. I quickly realized that it would be difficult.
It would be impossible to cover such an important topic in two hours (laughs).
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Masaharu Fukuyama was born on February 6, 1969, in Nagasaki Prefecture. He debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1990 with "In the Rain of Memories." Since then, he has been active in a wide range of fields, including music, acting, photography, and radio personality. He currently holds the record for the highest total single and album sales of any male solo artist. In 2025, he will star in two films, "Black Showman" and "The Last Man -FIRST LOVE-." He is currently embarking on the nationwide tour "NISSAY PRESENTS WE'RE BROS. TOUR 2026 Ryu, Raino Hatsusei." His self-directed film, "FUKUYAMA MASAHARU LIVE FILM@NAGASAKI Moonlight: Always Connected to This Light," was released on February 3rd.
