“When I Decided Not To Die” coverart.
A deeply personal anthem inspired by the moment she chose life over suicide.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA, UNITED STATES, June 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Billboard-charting Japanese singer-songwriter SHIHORI has announced the release of her deeply personal new single, “When I Decided Not To Die,” arrived June 5th. Closing out Mental Health Awareness Month, the track tells the true story of a defining moment from her childhood when, after enduring severe bullying that pushed her to the brink of suicide, she made the life-altering decision to live.
Framed as an anthem of survival and rebirth, the song captures SHIHORI’s emotional journey from darkness to light, transforming pain into purpose. Blending a delicate piano motif with an upbeat pop center, the track stands in stark contrast to its lyrical core: a raw narrative of survival and a desperate gamble on an invisible future. The emotional centerpiece is the recurring refrain “Ikitai”—Japanese for “I want to live.”
“The experience of having my heart torn as a child became a scar of honor that formed the very core of my life’s message: Love who you are,” says SHIHORI. “By sharing my own survival, I hope to offer a stronger hand to those who are suffering now, letting them know they too have the power to rise again.”
To bring this vision to life, SHIHORI collaborated with world-renowned mixing engineer Yoad Nevo (Sia, Pet Shop Boys). The track serves as the lead single for her upcoming second U.S. album, ESCALATION, slated for release this summer.
Born deaf in one ear and living on the autism spectrum, SHIHORI has built a prolific career behind the scenes, writing over 150 songs for major J-pop acts, anime, and gaming franchises—including League of Legends and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, where her theme “Holy Steel” has amassed over 24 million views. Now based in Los Angeles, she is stepping fully into her own artist identity, bridging Eastern and Western music cultures while connecting with a global audience through messages of resilience and self-acceptance.
Listen to “When I Decided Not To Die”
ABOUT SHIHORI
SHIHORI is a Los Angeles-based Japanese singer-songwriter known for her dynamic voice and cross-cultural sound. A Billboard-charting artist with multiple Gold-certified works in Japan, she has written over 150 songs for major J-pop acts and globally recognized franchises. Since relocating to the U.S. in 2018, she has focused on a genre-defying sound that inspires audiences with messages of identity and love.
FOLLOW SHIHORI:
Michael Abiuso
Behind the Curtains Media
mike@behindthecurtainsmedia.com
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
