Japanese-American rapper MIYACHI has released ‘SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK’, a new 10-track album issued via Mass Appeal on October 17th. Drawing from his background as both a New York native and a former Tokyo salaryman, the record takes aim at the grind of corporate life and the unease of self-image, tying those ideas to his bilingual identity and cross-cultural perspective.
The project is MIYACHI’s first full-length release under NAS’s US label, making him the first Japanese artist to sign with Mass Appeal. Known for his seamless mix of English and Japanese, MIYACHI has become a crucial crossroad between the two hip-hop worlds he moves through.
‘SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK’ takes the frustrations of corporate life and filters them through satire and his lived experience. The record pulls together MIYACHI’s two creative outlets, his rap persona and his viral YouTube series KONBINI CONFESSIONS, where he roams Tokyo’s late-night streets interviewing passersby outside convenience stores, Strong Zero in hand. The show’s humour and blunt honesty feed directly into the album’s cynical message.
RELATED: MIYACHI fires up Shibuya meltdown victims in new video ‘OHAYO!’
The album pairs MIYACHI’s English–Japanese wordplay with trap-driven production and flashes of dry humour. It follows a run of singles including ‘HERO’ and ‘DO ME’, the latter featuring Japanese hip-hop veteran AK-69. Across its ten tracks, ‘SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK’ expands on MIYACHI’s ongoing critique of social pressure and authenticity, shaped by the same wit that defines his KONBINI CONFESSIONS series.
Speaking about the new release, MIYACHI said:
“‘SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK’ represents every underdog grinding to live their life how they want, dreaming of breaking free from the standard expectations from society. This album is their soundtrack to rise up and take flight.”
Born Leon Miyachi Pearl in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, MIYACHI grew up between New York and Japan before studying audio engineering at Temple University in Philadelphia. His breakout single ‘WAKARIMASEN’ in 2018 put him in Japan’s rap spotlight, followed by collaborations with JAY PARK, Thelma Aoyama, RADWIMPS, and m-flo. Since then, he’s become known for his ability to navigate cultural duality without losing his distinct sense of humour or self-awareness.
‘SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK’ is streaming now on all major platforms. Watch the videos for ‘DO ME’ (feat. AK-69) and ‘HERO’ below.
MIYACHI
SALARYMAN STRIKES BACK
Release Date: 17/10/2025
Label: Mass Appeal
Stream: Links
