CHEERS to Release “Near Future,” a New Song by YOYOKA featuring Futures Band, a Unit of Young Musicians Aged 10 to 18

CHEERS Inc., a Tokyo-based company aiming to create “a society where all children can feel excited about the present and the future,” announced that it will release “Near Future,” a new song by the six-member young music unit YOYOKA featuring Futures Band, on May 16, 2026, via major streaming platforms and YOYOKA’s official YouTube channel. The song features lyrics by Motoo Matsumoto of GOING UNDER GROUND, with Los Angeles-based drummer YOYOKA joining the composition. YOYOKA’s father, Akifumi Soma, handled music production and related direction. CHEERS fully supported the song’s production and plans to use “Near Future” across a range of future activities. “Near Future” is performed by six teenage artists representing Japan’s next generation. Its lyrics carry a message of encouragement to teenagers who are pursuing what they love while facing hesitation and uncertainty: it is okay to get lost or pause along the way; stay true to yourself and reach for your future. The song will also express the worldview of “Kodomo Shigoto Expo,” a children’s career-experience event that CHEERS has been running nationwide since 2023. It will be played for roughly 1,000 children, parents, and participating companies at event venues, and will be used in various settings going forward. CHEERS says the song was born from the idea of creating a cycle of encouragement: supporting young artists, whose music in turn encourages children across Japan. Release details: the song title is “Near Future,” and the band name is YOYOKA featuring Futures Band. Members are YOYOKA on drums, age 16; Natsushi on vocals, age 18; Shio on vocals, age 15; Kengo on guitar, age 13; Akari on guitar, age 10; and Ryusei on bass, age 14. The track will be available from 12:00 a.m. on May 16, 2026, on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. The music video will premiere at 12:00 p.m. the same day on YOYOKA’s official YouTube channel. During the music video shoot, the artists’ parents also visited the venue and spoke about how the young musicians first encountered music in childhood, became absorbed in it, how they now envision their dreams, and how their families support them. The video highlights the performance of young artists who have loved music since childhood and have continued to share it with passion. YOYOKA featuring Futures Band is a music unit formed by 16-year-old drummer YOYOKA, who is based in Los Angeles and performs globally. She invited young musicians from across Japan whom she met through social media and music activities. The six members, aged 10 to 18, are connected through music across Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Osaka, and Los Angeles. CHEERS says it designs inspiring experiences and has worked with more than 1,100 companies to provide experiential opportunities to about 35,000 children across more than 50 municipalities in Japan. To reduce disparities in children’s access to experiences, CHEERS provides all of its programs free of charge, helping children encounter what they want to do and what they love regardless of their family’s economic circumstances or where they live. The company says this music project began from a desire to support young artists taking on challenges in the field of music. By having six artists who have loved music since childhood perform the song, CHEERS hopes it will become an anthem of encouragement for children of the same generation. Going forward, CHEERS plans to share the song with children and parents nationwide through various activities. The company hopes children will feel inspired by seeing peers deliver such powerful performances, while parents and companies will become more willing to support children in pursuing what they love. CHEERS will continue to accompany the next generation’s challenges and expand a society where everyone can encourage and be encouraged.