Hiroaki Kusano, Game Sound Designer, Releases Album Worldwide via Italian Label Epictronic Records with Solo Project 'Happy Sad' — An International Reverse Import Debut

Album: 'The World is Grand When We See'

■ Released via an Italian indie label after extensive domestic and international experience
Happy Sad, the music project by Hiroaki Kusano (Kusano Hiroaki), who has spent over 15 years in the game audio industry working on sound design, implementation, and direction, has released its new album 'The World is Grand When We See' worldwide via the Italian music label 'Epictronic Records' on June 11, 2026.

Carlo Bellotti, founder of Epictronic Records, the label releasing this album, commented on the work: 'It offers a perspective that transcends conventional songwriting frameworks, with depth and a clear artistic identity behind every track. This is an artist who is honest with emotion.'

■ From firsthand travel experiences, not screen-mediated information, to sonic textures
The title of this album, 'The World is Grand When We See,' reflects Kusano’s own philosophy: 'The world becomes grand when we actively look at it and strive to understand it.'
Over the past few years, Kusano has traveled across the globe — including Dubai, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Greece, Cambodia, China, Bali, and Malta — immersing himself in local lives and histories. He incorporates traditional instruments collected directly from these regions and arranges them using unique, non-grid-based digital methods. The result is a cinematic listening experience that blends elements of folk, ambient, post-classical, and trip-hop.

■ Contributions from close collaborators and writers
On the occasion of this release, friends and colleagues who know Kusano’s journey and musicality have shared their thoughts on the work.

〇Carlo Bellotti / Carlo Bellotti (Epictronic Record)

We are deeply honored to announce our collaboration with HAPPY SAD, a Japanese artist of extraordinary talent and a vision far beyond traditional songwriting. What immediately captivated me was not only the exceptional quality of the music itself, but also the depth, sensitivity, and artistic identity embedded in every track. HAPPY SAD is an extremely rare type of artist in today’s world — sincere, cultured, emotionally honest, and deeply committed to all forms of creative expression.

We truly believe HAPPY SAD deserves to be recognized more widely around the world, and we are delighted to help bring his music to new audiences globally.

〇Jeffrey Yamada / Jeffrey Yamada (Music Writer, Translator):
Divergence and necessity.
Happy Sad means valuing once-in-a-lifetime encounters and moments across diverse cultures and environments. There is resolve, there is belief. Hiroaki Kusano is setting off on another journey.

〇Ichiro Ebisu / Ichiro Ebisu (Sound Designer):
This album, which can be seen as the culmination of Happy Sad’s work, is truly a 'must-listen' record.
The music instantly conjures vivid images, making you feel as if you’re traveling the world. From instrumentals to vocal tracks, each song presents a distinct world, yet they are all masterfully unified into the singular 'Happy Sad universe.'

The fascinating tracks, rich with diverse sonic textures, are uniquely possible because Happy Sad himself is a sound designer. Each listen brings new discoveries, making it endlessly enjoyable. Within the pleasant acoustic performances lies a subtly melancholic, bittersweet tone. This is a superb album that should reach not only fans but also those experiencing Happy Sad’s music for the first time.

〇Atsuhiro Ishizuna / Atsuhiro Ishizuna (Sound Designer, Composer):
I deeply respect his unwavering commitment to authenticity while traversing diverse genres as both a guitarist and vocalist. The meticulous scene construction and narrative skills he honed as a game creator are evident in every corner of his music. This depth is precisely the essence of this album.

Incidentally, the contrast between the delicate, sincere world of his music and his surprisingly light-hearted demeanor in person is fascinating. In a good way, the fact that someone who creates such profound music is actually such a cheerful character makes him all the more compelling as an artist.
Particularly outstanding is 'Lily (2026mix).' The powerful emotional portrayal of moving forward into the future while carrying the weight of parting gives me strength with every listen.
This is a deeply rewarding album that clearly embodies both Happy Sad the artist and Happy Sad the creator. I urge everyone to immerse themselves in every sonic detail.

〇Noboru Mutoh (Music Producer / Sound Designer):
An album filled with his life philosophy and musical ideals.

〇Yuji Yahiro / Yuji Yahiro (CG Artist):

As a long-time listener of Happy Sad’s music, this album 'The World is Grand When We See' is profoundly moving.
Early Happy Sad had the raw energy and passion of a rock band. Over time, through travel and experience in game sound design, his music has continuously evolved, absorbing diverse landscapes. This evolution is strongly reflected in the current work. As his expression has expanded into folk, ambient, and post-classical genres, each piece remains unmistakably 'Happy Sad' — a constant source of wonder even after years of listening.

His flexibility and continuous renewal of musical identity reflect Kusano’s enduring pursuit of new expression. Yet these changes are not abrupt shifts, but rather a deeper excavation of his consistent theme: 'painting landscapes that stay in people’s hearts through sound.'
And 'The World is Grand When We See' is the work born from that journey. The scenery, atmosphere, and daily lives encountered during travels through Dubai, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Greece, and beyond quietly blend into the music, allowing Happy Sad’s past works to crystallize into a single, unified landscape.

As the title suggests, the world is vast. But its vastness is only truly felt when we walk through it and see it with our own eyes. This album gently reminds us of this simple yet essential truth. It is an album that lets us feel the landscapes Kusano has seen, the flow of time he has encountered, and the richness of worlds still unknown to us.