[SPECIAL EPISODE] “ONENESS FOR PEACE” THROUGH THE MELODIES OF haruka nakamura

Oneness for Peace playlist here 

When we opened the first restaurant in our founders’ homeland, Japan, we aimed to create something truly special. We wanted to touch every senses: the sustainable materials that tell stories beneath your fingertips, the visual details that speak of connection, the food aroma that carry tales of each ingredient’s journey, the diverse flavors crafted by our Partners (the farmers, the producers, the creators, the innovators, the artists…) across Japan, and most importantly, the music that brings peace to your soul.

At the time, we aimed to build a space that inspires Oneness in every Guest. When you leave, you carry with you the understanding that everything, every note, every flavor, every moment, is connected as One.

hakura namamura

We approached haruka nakamura with that dream. Could this masterful artist, whose delicate piano melodies have touched souls worldwide, create something exclusively for our space? Something that would embody Gratitude and Compassion while serving the greater purpose of creating Oneness?

What haruka created went beyond our wildest expectations. Like morning light filtering through forest overstory, gentle yet transformative, his compositions “ONE”, “COMPASSION”, “Longitude” and the remix “better day 2023” became the heartbeat of our Tokyo restaurant.

hakura namamura, the artist behind the tracks

“I never imagined he would actually create these for us”, reflects our founder, Yosuke Masuko, voice filled with the same wonder that first moved us to reach out. “I’m truly overwhelmed with gratitude. Among them, ‘ONE’ holds a particularly special place, it’s the song I turn to in difficult times, the melody that helps me find hope again”.

The artist’s vision

haruka nakamura’s approach to creating our exclusive playlist reveals the depth of artistry that has made him a respectable artist in contemporary instrumental music. Known for his work on projects like “Nujabes Pray Reflections”, haruka brings a unique philosophy to composition, one that perfectly aligns with our vision.

“Inspiration isn’t something that rains down from outside”, haruka shares. “More often, I find it was quietly present within my own introspection all along. But what raises my inner pressure to create is the intensity of human passion”. 

Through meetings with our global team and the passionate messages we exchanged, haruka felt what he describes as our “spirit of courage and innovation, a willingness to embrace something new”. This energy flows through every note of our exclusive tracks, created in a bold new style the artist had never explored before. 

“ONE” carries forward-moving, vibrant energy chasing a new light, while “COMPASSION expresses an aesthetic of refined, original style”, he explains, his words painting the sonic landscape that now defines our dining atmosphere.

The philosophy behinds keys and notes

What sets haruka apart is not just technical skill, it’s his profound relationship with music itself. Despite never graduating from music college, he has spent 15 years mastering the art of live improvisation, approaching each performance as a sacred art.

“I want to feel like a pipe for the falling music”, he describes. “I want to transfer the melody that is falling onto the keyboard with all my concentration, gently and effortlessly, what I received from nature, and approach it with compassion”.

This philosophy of being a conduit rather than a creator resonates deeply with Pizza 4P’s own approach to hospitality. We try to go beyond just food by bringing Earth’s blessing, our farmers’ dedication and our team’s passion into every dish.

From darkness to light: the creative process

haruka’s creative process mirrors the transformative journey we hope every guest experiences. “The deeper you dig the well of introspection, the more light disappears into the distance”, he reflects. “But if you don’t run away from dark times of loneliness and let them pass, you won’t create fascinating art. Sadness, melancholy and suffering are the first steps toward positive light”. This profound understanding of light emerging from darkness infuses our exclusive tracks with emotional depth that guests feel without always understanding why. The music doesn’t just accompany the meal, it transforms the entire experience into something memorable.

Nature as melodies – Finding inspiration in Hokkaido

Now residing in Hokkaido, haruka finds inspiration in what he calls “forest symphony orchestras” and daily rituals that connect him to nature’s rhythms. His practice of soaking in natural hot springs – “rainwater that fell tens of thousands of years ago, heated by underground magma and gushing fresh into the world”, embodies the same deep respect for natural cycles that drives Pizza 4P’s sustainable philosophy.

“Japan is probably the only country where such miraculous blessings are common”, haruka observes. “I should be more deeply grateful”. This gratitude flows through every composition he created for us, transforming our restaurant into a space where appreciation becomes tangible.

Music for Peace – Sharing the sounds

We’re extremely happy to share that, after 2 years of existing exclusively within our Tokyo restaurant, haruka’s nakamura’s “Oneness for Peace” album is now available, both in analog vinyl and digital Spotify. 

We’re sharing these beautiful sounds because connection shouldn’t be confined to our restaurants, because peace doesn’t recognize borders, and because music has this incredible power to remind us that despite our differences, we’re all a part of something greater. All proceeds from the physical analog records continue to support certified NPO Musubie’s children’s cafeteria initiatives, particularly their mobile programs supporting recovery from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Like haruka’s music itself, this gesture creates waves of compassion that extend far beyond our immediate community.

– Artist profile –

haruka nakamura moved to Tokyo at age 15 to pursue music, releasing his first album ‘Grace’ in 2008. His discography includes the muted piano solo album ‘Still Life’ and ‘Nujabes Pray Reflections.’ In 2020, he launched his own label ‘Touhou,’ using ‘Touhou Tsushin’ to share messages that read like personal letters to the world.

His diverse artistic collaborations include music videos with Yururi Island (a Hokkaido island inhabited only by horses), wine partnerships with natural wine producer BEAU PAYSAGE, and live collaborations featuring collections from Minapelhonen.