This was no carefully planned event—it was a spontaneous decision, followed by a quick briefing, and then an all-or-nothing shot. For Toshio Tamogami, this was his very first experience with hip-hop and his debut in a battle. The unlikely pairing of Tamogami—a former Chief of Staff who once led 50,000 Self-Defense Force members—and a renowned hip-hop MC left everyone stunned. Their collaboration seemed incomprehensible to many, representing as it did the fusion of polar opposites: conservative military leadership and hip-hop culture.

Yet, when clips of the performance were uploaded to X, views skyrocketed to 10,000, then 100,000, and eventually close to a million. What brought these two unexpected figures together was their shared passion for cannabis, symbolizing a mutual understanding and empathy for the oppressed. This unity of purpose transcended their ideological differences, transforming initial shock into admiration and sparking widespread support. Cannabis became more than a strategy to appeal to younger, unaffiliated voters; it forged an unexpected connection. This wasn’t a debate about “to smoke or not to smoke”—it marked the beginning of a new bond beyond the usual “just say no” narrative.