Hiroji Miyamoto Celebrates 60th Birthday With Studio Performance on News23

On June 12, 2026, Japanese rock icon Hiroji Miyamoto turned 60 and celebrated the milestone with a surprise appearance on TBS’s News23. The 60‑year‑old singer, best known as the frontman of Elephant Kashimashi and for his solo work launched in 2018, performed the program’s closing theme, “Close Your Eyes,” live in the studio.

Miyamoto’s debut on a television news set was a first, according to the TBS report. When asked if he watches the news, he answered simply that he does, and then reflected on a career that has spanned five decades. He described reaching 60 as a moment of wonder, a renewed desire to live with the energy of youth. The singer recalled his 40s as a difficult period, caught between adulthood and the image of a youthful creator, and also mentioned a hearing problem that temporarily left him deaf. A subsequent surgery resolved the issue.

In his fifties, Miyamoto felt a sense of liberation and found the phrase “the youth of old age” – a line he said he borrowed from a comment attributed to Victor Hugo – particularly resonant. When questioned about his 60s, he said age does not erase what a person has accumulated but can bring a different kind of freedom. He added that becoming an adult means becoming honest and living in a style that is truly one’s own.

The singer also highlighted his birthday concert, which took place on the same day. He admitted that the idea of performing a birthday concert once felt embarrassing, but he now accepts congratulations from fans more naturally. Miyamoto acknowledged that maintaining full energy into the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s will be challenging, yet he believes age can make a performer more open and direct.

During the interview, Miyamoto discussed how listeners encounter music today. He noted that many people discover songs through short videos, social media recommendations, and subscription services, and that he sometimes stumbles upon music on platforms such as Instagram without actively searching. He cited Kraftwerk, the pioneering German electronic group, as an example of music he found online after the band’s tour in Japan. Watching 1970s Kraftwerk performances now still feels fresh and current.

Miyamoto compared the rapid changes in how people listen to music to the familiar digital technology that emerged during his early career, such as the release of the video game Dragon Quest III. He also mentioned conversations with generative‑AI tools, noting that even at his level of familiarity, such tools can provide surprisingly accurate answers to questions about himself.

The new album that includes “Close Your Eyes” was released shortly before the News23 appearance. Miyamoto said the song was written as an ending theme for the program, intended to offer listeners a chance to calm down after a day of news and prepare for the next day. He initially wanted to satisfy the News23 staff but later found the song personally significant.

The studio performance followed the interview, with smoke filling the set as Miyamoto sang the track live. News23 thanked him for the performance and for sharing his reflections on music and aging.

Miyamoto’s career spans more than five decades. Born on June 12, 1966, he began singing at age 10 and has been active as a vocalist for about 50 years. He launched his solo career under talent agency Amuse and Universal Music Japan in 2018, after a long tenure with Elephant Kashimashi.

The TBS news program News23, produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, is part of the Japan News Network. The appearance highlighted the intersection of traditional news media and contemporary music culture, showcasing how established artists engage with new media platforms and technologies.

In summary, Hiroji Miyamoto celebrated his 60th birthday by performing “Close Your Eyes” on News23, reflecting on a career that has spanned rock, solo work, and evolving music consumption habits. The event underscored his continued relevance in Japan’s music scene and his willingness to adapt to new technologies while maintaining a personal connection with audiences.