Special Feature: Iconic Songs from Anime | Packed with Great Tracks!

RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

[Fullmetal Alchemist] Opening 4 “Rewrite” 4K

This rock tune delivers a hopeful message centered on positive self-transformation.

It powerfully portrays the feelings of those wrestling with conflict and uncertainty, gently giving listeners a push forward.

Released as a single by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION in August 2004, it was also included on the album Sol-fa.

Chosen as the opening theme for Season 4 of the TV anime Fullmetal Alchemist, it earned high popularity among anime fans.

In 2024, it was also featured in promotional footage for the M-1 Grand Prix.

It’s a song I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking to take a new step or to find their own path.

Plan ADISH//

DISH// – Plan A [Official Video] | TV Anime “The Elusive Samurai” Opening Theme

This is an anime tie-in track that stands out with a rock sound infused with traditional Japanese flavors.

It powerfully conveys the message that “sometimes you need to run from fate,” aligning closely with the protagonist’s inner turmoil and way of life set in the Kamakura period.

It’s an innovative song where DISH//’s dynamic band sound fuses with festival-like rhythms and the timbres of traditional Japanese instruments.

Released as a single in September 2024, it was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime The Elusive Samurai.

All members took part in composing, and the lyrics were written by vocalist Takumi Kitamura, making it an ambitious work.

It’s a recommended track not only for fans of anime and manga, but also for music listeners interested in Japanese-style rock.

Stars swimMacaroni Enpitsu

TV anime “Summer Time Rendering” Non-credit 1st Opening Video [♪ Macaroni Enpitsu ‘The Stars Swim’]

The song created by Macaroni Enpitsu as the opening theme for the TV anime “Summer Time Rendering” is a track that sings of a fleeting yet beautiful story, like fireworks coloring a summer night sky.

From the protagonist’s perspective, it portrays resolve, the grief of losing someone precious, and memories growing distant, all carried by an exhilarating rock sound.

Included on their major-label 2nd EP “Tama-shii no Ibasho” (A Place for the Soul), the song was released digitally in April 2022 and was crafted with the image of summer’s restlessness and a fate that fades like scattered sparks.

Seamlessly harmonizing with the anime’s worldview, it’s a perfect choice for those who want to delve deeper into the story or feel the bittersweet ache of summer.

aporiaYorushika

Anime “Chi: On the Movements of the Earth” Non-Credit Ending Video “Aporia” by Yorushika

This song likens the desire to know—and the confusion that accompanies it—to a balloon voyage.

From the vantage point of a balloon lifting off the ground and striving for greater heights, it expresses curiosity and the joy of discovery through the changing scenery below.

An irregular-meter riff intertwines with the timbre of a mandolin, crafting a distinctive sonic world that conveys both thirst for knowledge and wavering doubt.

Released by Polydor Records in October 2024, it was selected as the ending theme for the NHK General TV anime Chi: On the Movements of the Earth.

Acclaimed as a track that resonates with the anime’s worldview—set in 15th-century Europe and depicting seekers of the heliocentric theory—it comes recommended not only for those interested in science and philosophy, but also for anyone looking for music that sparks intellectual curiosity.

GarnetHanako Oku

Hanako Oku / Garnet (Solo Acoustic Performance)

This is a wonderful song that etches each fleeting moment of youth into the heart.

It gently portrays school grounds, after-school scenes, and the everyday moments we tend to overlook, while weaving in feelings for a cherished person, resulting in a tender composition.

Okuda Hanako’s clear, translucent voice warmly sings of memories that never fade with time and emotions that remain unchanged, making this a particularly memorable track.

Released in July 2006 as her fourth single, it was selected as the theme song for the animated feature film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, peaking at No.

51 on the Oricon charts and staying on the charts for 19 weeks.

Accompanied by a simple piano tone that brings back nostalgic memories, this song is one you’ll want to hear if you’ve experienced parting with someone dear or are about to take a new step forward.

Winding RoadMAN WITH A MISSION

MAN WITH A MISSION – Winding Road

An ambitious work that portrays a powerful sprint through life’s twists and turns with lyrics that skillfully interweave English and Japanese.

MAN WITH A MISSION’s signature hard-hitting rap-rock sound blends seamlessly with a grand melody, gripping the listener’s heart.

The track was included on the single “Take Me Under / Winding Road,” released in April 2018, which reached No.

4 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

It was later featured on the album “Chasing the Horizon.” Around the same time, it was selected as the opening theme for Season 1 of the TV anime “Golden Kamuy,” garnering attention as a song perfectly suited to the sweeping story set in Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji era.

This is a song for everyone who keeps moving forward, believing in the dawn despite setbacks and hardships.

IllusionMY FIRST STORY × HYDE

MY FIRST STORY × HYDE – “MUGEN” (from Anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”) Official Music Video

A stunning collaborative track by MY FIRST STORY and HYDE that fuses a passionate rock sound with a grand, expansive worldview.

Released in June 2024 as the opening theme for the TV anime Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc.

The strengths of both artists meld beautifully, delivering a powerful portrayal of a heart wavering between weakness and strength over a solid alternative rock foundation.

With lyrics that voice a fighting spirit in search of answers and the resolve to face inescapable fate, the song offers encouragement to anyone standing at a crossroads in life.

It’s sure to resonate as the perfect soundtrack for forging your own path.