Osaka University of Arts Event Report “Aim for a major debut! Campus Star Vocal Contest vol.9” Finals Held

[Osaka University of Arts] [Event Report] “Aiming for a Major Debut! Campus Star Vocal Contest Vol. 9” Finals Held ​ Osaka University of Arts Press Release: September 5, 2025 To Members of the Media [Event Report] “Aim for a Major Debut! Campus Star Vocal Contest Vol. 9” Finals Held Winners will be selected from among the contestants! Osaka University of Arts (Tsukamoto Gakuin Educational Corporation / Location: Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture / President: Kunihiko Tsukamoto) is collaborating with GIZA Inc. (GIZA studio) to launch a new talent discovery project, “Aim for a Major Debut! Campus Talent!” The finals of the “Osaka Hills Vocal Contest Vol. 9” were held on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at the Osaka Hills Bread Factory (Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka), and the winners have been decided.
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This contest, a collaboration between our university and GIZA Inc. (GIZA studio), aims to “create stars from campus!” and is a new talent discovery project to uncover high school students nationwide with potential as artists, allowing them to pursue a major label debut while still enrolled in university. This year marks the 9th year of the contest, and has produced many alumni who have achieved their dreams of a major label debut, including composing theme songs for popular anime. The Grand Prix winner will receive an exemption from the Osaka University of Arts admissions fee, and the GIZA Special Award winner will receive a GIZA training contract, providing a nurturing environment for a major label debut. In the finals, the 10 contestants who made it through the preliminary rounds performed, and the winners were determined as follows: ◆Grand Prize:Mori Daito ◆Runner-up Prize & GIZA Special Award:Minamitaku Mei ◆Encouragement Award:Igarashi Saishin, Higashida Fightima Amina, Funatsu Kokoina ◆Judge’s Special Award: Nakatani Momiji ◆Selected Works: Ito Haruna, Sakamoto Ren, Wakabayashi Kono, Watanabe Seinan ■Comment from Grand Prix Winner Hiroto Mori –Please tell us how you feel now that you have won the Grand Prize. I’m so surprised I can’t put it into words, but I’m so happy. When they called my name, I felt like all the blood was draining from my veins, and I was so moved, it was the most moving thing I’ve ever felt. –Which artist and song did you sing today? Also, please tell us why you chose that song. I sang Takaya Kawasaki’s “Magic Carpet.” I love listening to acoustic songs and
singer-songwriters, so I chose this song, which I’ve loved since I was in middle school, as my signature song.
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–What kind of practice did you do for today? I practiced by going to karaoke and recording myself at home to find mistakes. –Today, you performed at the live house “hills Bread Factory Live House.” What were your impressions? I’ve had some experience performing at live houses, at high school band competitions and in bands I’ve formed outside of school, but this was my first time singing alone at a live house. I’m a little disappointed, but it was a very happy and enjoyable moment. –Please tell us about your career path and future dreams. I’m hoping to major in vocals or singer-songwriters at the Popular Music Course at Osaka University of Arts. If I major in vocals, I’d like to learn the basics first. I’ve never had voice training, so I want to solidify my foundation. If I major in singer-songwriters, I’d like to learn songwriting and singing techniques. Eventually, I’d like to become an artist who can create my own songs and move listeners so much that they want to hear them again. ■Comment from judge Miho Morikawa, professor at the Department of Performance, Osaka University of Arts I felt her vocal flexibility was innate. She’s a vocalist who makes you want to hear more of her songs. We look forward to seeing them receive plenty of inspiration and grow even more in the future. ■Event Overview Title:Aiming for a Major Debut! It’s Amazing! Campus Star Vocal Contest Vol. 9
Venue:hills Bread Factory Live House (HORIE HILLS B2F, 1-3-17 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0014) Organizers:Osaka University of Arts, GIZA studio ■About GIZA Co., Ltd. (GIZA studio) GIZA is a major record company founded in Shinsaibashi, Osaka in 1998. It has produced many artists, including Mai Kuraki, Rina Aiuchi, GATNET CROW, and Miho Komatsu. Press release attachments