Behind the opening sequences: Exploring J-rock and pop

Any anime fan is well aware of the effect that a good opening song has on a show’s experience. The satisfaction of starting the new romance anime everyone has been raving about and being met with a bubble-pop opening that causes you to become way too invested in the love story is unparalleled. Or the thrill of thrashing guitar and screaming vocals in the heavy metal opening to the psychological horror you have put off watching until now because you’re a bit scared to watch alone remain unmatched by any horror movie. Obsessing over the songs from my favorite opening sequences has spurred my curiosity into the artists behind the pop-punk and sickly sweet, bubble-pop songs. Seemingly enough, I am not the only one. 

As anime has continued to span global audiences, so has the shows’ music. Through opening sequences and original scores, you are transported into seaside towns with talking cats, or perhaps to a ride through the city noticing a pretty girl in the window of a passing train, or maybe facing off with your lifelong rival to protect your village. The vast landscapes of Japanese music in anime only serve to heighten the drama and emotions invoked in audiences, connecting them to the beloved characters on screen.

Whether it be based on nostalgia or deciding that the one-minute and thirty-second opening of the show you’re currently watching isn’t enough, the era of streaming has allowed fans to discover Japanese rock and pop. Japanese rock, or J-rock, is rock music from Japan but mainly performed in English until the late 1970s and ‘80s. Japanese pop, or J-pop, is the mainstream genre of Japan whose roots can be traced back to traditional Japanese folk music. Both genres have competed against each other into the mainstream while simultaneously becoming influenced by the sound of American and British pop and rock. Anime has become one of the most effective means of attracting foreign listeners to Japanese artists, attracting international audiences to the sounds of J-rock and J-pop.

With that being said, here is a shortlist of iconic anime openings that helped introduce me to their respective Japanese pop stars and bands, and will hopefully enlighten you into the vast landscape of Japanese music as well. I hope you will not be intimidated by the language barrier, and realize that there is much to be discovered from these artists behind the scenes.

At the top of this list is, without a doubt, worldwide sensations and a personal favorite, Asian Kung-fu Generation. While widely known for “Haruka Kanata” as the second opening to shonen anime, Naruto, the J-rock band’s second full-length album Sol-fa (2004) holds some of the most revered gems among anime. Entailing the opening “Re:re” to the 2016 Best Drama of the Year Erased and “Rewrite” as the fourth opening to Fullmetal Alchemist, the indie-rock album is reminiscent of late Western 2000s indie rock. 

Before Sol-fa, the band’s earlier releases had fallen short of enticing a mass amount of international listeners. While it helps that two of its tracks opened two of the most popular shonen anime to date, the success of Sol-fa can likely be traced to it being the favorable alternative and indie rock that can easily break any language barrier. Sol-fa’s hard-edged riffs, fast rhythm and high choruses are a sure bet for global fans 2000s indie-rock looking to broaden their horizons. 

Next up is J-pop rock artist, Lisa. My earliest introduction to the artist was through “crossing field,” the first opening to the Sword Art Online series. Though I dropped the show, I waited until the episodes with “crossing field” were over. The pop-rock melody is best suited by LiSA’s powerful, soaring vocals that cannot be easily replicated, though listeners (myself included) try their best to harmonize alongside her. The soaring and starry intro captures the feeling of being transported into the virtual fantasy world inside Sword Art Online. The shifting heavy rock and sweet, yet hardened vocals replicate the feeling of meeting quirky RPGs and encountering sinister boss battles at dark turns as if being in the show yourself. LiSA’s uplifting musical expertise is the perfect fit for the anime and appropriately earned her a breakthrough as one of the most promising pop-rock singers in Japan today.

And though it has been sitting on my watchlist for a while, I am ready to start Demon Slayer just to hear LiSA sing the opening “Gurenge.” Once again, LiSA puts forth powerful and uplifting vocals that favorably contrast heavy drums and a thrumming bassline. The ominous and screeching guitars only serve to highlight the singer’s incredible vocal range and command over lyrical flow. LiSA’s talent cannot be understated — she is one of the many shining stars in the world of J-pop rock today.

Crunchyroll Anime Awards named 2021’s Anime of the Year, Jujutsu Kaisen. Well deserved not only due to incredible animation, storytelling and action sequences, but also due to the superb opening song by singer-songwriter and vocaloid producer Eve.

Trying to categorize “Kaikai Kitan” is nearly impossible. At its core, it can be called a rock song. Eve’s vocals switch from artificially high-pitched pop commonly found among vocaloids, to deep, gritty and distorted, while the melody fluctuates from fast-paced and racing, to slow and nearly non-existent. With a neck-breaking speed that abruptly slows and staccatos to accentuate the singer’s slowed speech, the assortment of strikingly contrasting pitches and beats makes it a perfect representation of Japanese rock and pop today: experimental and addictive in its use of traditional instruments alongside computer-generated beats and vocals. A fitting song for its respective anime — both song and show excel in the areas of sound and animation that they explore, offering their audience a breath of fresh air as their experimentation hits the mark. 

Eve’s other works, such as my personal favorites “Dramaturgy” and “Kokoroyou,” fall alongside the addictive and experimental nature of “Kaikai Kitan.” Yet with Eve, there is never two of one song — if you are looking for an energizing soundtrack, filled with high-pitched vocals, fluctuating and surprising rhythms, Eve is your person.

No one can talk about the biggest artists behind anime openings without including FLOW, as their influence on 2000s anime opening sequences cannot be understated.

Formed in 1998, most of the J-rock band’s songs used in anime have been from over a decade ago. Including “Colors,” an incredibly iconic song as the first opening to Code Geass, a memorable rock song as the fourth opening to Naruto, “GO!!!,” and a continued contribution to shonen anime with “Sign,” the 16th opening to Naruto: Shippuden, FLOW has long been inducted into the cultural memory of anime. 

Any song mentioned above is likely to be recognized upon a first note by any fan. “Colors” is practically an anthem even to those who have not seen Code Geass. Featuring high energetic vocals uplifted by a backdrop of piano and quieted drums and steady, subtle guitar riffs, “Colors” focuses on a soaring chorus that inspires the audience to join in, making it so memorable and nostalgic to fans. Much like “Colors,” “GO!!!” is definitely an anthem for fans. Beginning with the line “We are fighting dreamers,” the song spurs on fans to chant alongside the band as English and Japanese lines are used interchangeably throughout. Loud, steady drums motivate the audience to chant, march, and pump their fists along to the steady rhythm, continuing through a bridge with a lone guitar riff. 

“Sign,” on the other hand, while being featured in the same series as “GO!!!” uplifts and inspires fans based largely on the context it was set in. As the opening song to one of the most favored and emotional arcs in Naruto: Shippuden, the song sets itself apart from FLOW’s other most popular songs for providing comfort and familiarity with the band’s signature high, anthemic verses. Beginning slowly with spoken lines: “I realize the screaming pain/  Hearing loud in my brain/ But I’m going straight ahead with the scar,” the song immediately picks up with a strong and hearty flow. Its vocals, drums, and high, tightly-wound guitar riffs heightening the feelings of perseverance and strength exhibited by the opening sequence and show.

FLOW is a must-listen for any fan getting into the world of J-rock. Even if you choose not to watch the shows the songs are featured in, any listener is likely to become infatuated with FLOW despite not having nostalgic ties. With that being said… no, you should not compare Asian Kung-fu Generation and FLOW. There is no Naruto vs. Sasuke rivalry — we love and appreciate both bands for their contributions to the world of anime.

Last but not least is not an opening, but a key plot point to the romance/drama Given. “Fuyu no hanashi” is a song created by Given, the band from its namesake anime whose work is composed by Centimillimental and vocalist is the voice actor Shogo Yano.

The show follows the story of two teens, Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato (voiced by Yano), as they fall in love and Mafuyu must learn to let go of the loss of his past to embrace his newfound passion for music. In its 11-episode run, the show follows the songwriting and production process of “Fuyu no hanashi” as Mafuyu is tasked with composing the lyrics since he is the gifted vocalist who brings the spark back to Given.

As the song opens with a messy guitar riff,  Mafuyu’ whining vocals, by vocalist Yano, are bittersweet and lamenting as he shifts into softer tones and eventual scream-crying. The screeching, overwhelming riffs, loud, sore drums, and crying vocals do not turn listeners away; instead, the audience can understand the debilitating emotions and grief that are being released. 

Given’s discography does not end at “Fuyu no hanashi.” The band’s first EP,  gift (2020) includes various other songs that explore the anime’s lore: side character relationships and the themes and feelings surrounding them. “Hetakuso” features low, but chipper, optimistic vocals by Yano that celebrate, rather than lament as “Fuyu no Hanashi” did. With a lighthearted sound curated by soft drums, subtle bass, and an acapella moment halfway through, “Hetakuso” reflects on the fear and excitement of a new promising relationship after coming to terms with the heartbreak of the past. “Stagekara kiminisasagu,” on the other hand, bounces back to somber moods around love. A tribute to Mafuyu’s past, “Stagekara Kiminisasagu” differs from “Fuyu no hanashi” in the way it does not overwhelm with raw emotion and feeling, but rather a more rational and organized outlook on previous love that can be deciphered through a neater, cleaner sound.

Given is fairly new compared to the rest of the artists on this list, as the anime was released in early 2019. Yet the concept band is ideal for fans who have yet to be introduced into the world of J-rock and want to test the waters with a short listen.

Article by Maya Banuelos

Design by Lohana Chiovarou