Leaving Finance Behind: Pursuing a Dream in Street Performance

“There was also a time when I started singing a song that was in memory of his late wife, and when I began, he burst into tears.”

Starting with a pair performance with a guitarist, now she performs solo, traveling to different bars. Street performing with live music and singing with her own voice, where the audience’s reactions are directly conveyed, is the best form of training for her, allowing her to test and strengthen herself.

“Whenever I go home, I feel truly happy. More often than I expected, my singing brings joy. I’ve had many unforgettable encounters.

One time, I received a request for a song that was in memory of the late wife of a customer. When I began singing, he burst into tears. I don’t think there are many opportunities to sing such an important song in front of someone. I think it’s amazing to deliver a live voice.”

After about two hours of performing, the last customers of the day were a pair of women. One was a superior and the other a subordinate, both working in the beauty industry. “We were just talking about how we saw a street performer earlier!” they said, clearly looking forward to Harumi’s arrival.

“Our workplace is nearby, so we decided to have a drink together after a long time.” Their request was for “Funauta.” “Akiko Yashiro passed away, and I thought I’d like to hear it. This is my first time seeing a street performer! I was a little moved!” they said, listening intently while looking very happy.

Something happened at work today. It was a bit of a tough day. But with street performing, it’s not just about singing and finishing; it’s also about starting a conversation with the customers afterward, which is one of the great things about it.

“After singing, many people start sharing their own stories, weaving their life experiences into the song. Even though it’s someone I’ve just met, it’s rare to be able to have such deep conversations, isn’t it?”

“It’s the best feeling when I can help make the customers feel a little bit better, and when I can do that through my singing. Yeah, I feel like I’ve really changed a lot since I started street performing.”

▼ Rumored Harumi: From Fukui Prefecture. Made her street performance debut in 2023. In addition to street performing, she is also active in her own Showa-era song band, ‘Tokyo Ultra Gakudan.’ She is well-known for her deep, resonant voice and is particularly skilled in enka, though her repertoire spans a wide range, from Showa to Heisei-era songs, new music, and J-pop. “My future dream is to travel around Japan, helping people feel closer to music and delivering energy and healing to many through the power of music. I cherish ichigo ichie (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter) and will sing each song with all my heart.”

 

■ “Tonight, I’ll be performing here” — Information about the appearances of Rumored Harumi can be found here.

■ The website for Yurakucho Direct Market Alley can be found here.