Maaya Sakamoto Wants to Bring Fans Closer with Upcoming Release!

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Maaya Sakamoto’s new single “Dakishimete,” which is already available on digital platforms, will also be released as a CD single on April 3.

The lead track, “Dakishimete,” serves as the ending theme for the second season of the WOWOW original anime The Fire Hunter. The lyrics and composition were handled by Senri Oe, a renowned singer-songwriter of the 80s and 90s who is currently active as a jazz pianist based in New York. This collaboration marks Sakamoto’s first encounter with Oe, and her restrained yet resonant vocals create a gentle ballad that offers comfort not only to the anime’s tumultuous story but also to many children facing harsh circumstances in real life.

As a coupling track, the new song “Once upon a time” features lyrics by Maaya Sakamoto and composition by the singer-songwriter SIRA, who is known for her excellent chemistry with Sakamoto in previous works such as “un_mute” and “Hidden Notes.” The arrangement, handled by Ryuji Yamamoto, brings forth a cool and jazzy style. The other coupling track is “Dakishimete -Live 2024 Ver.-,” recorded at the rescheduled Tokyo performance of Maaya Sakamoto LIVE TOUR 2023: Kioku no Toshokan on January 2. This version is a live rendition with acoustic arrangements featuring piano and double bass. The blu-ray included with the Limited First Edition will feature 14 songs from the Tokyo live performance.

Additionally, a music video (short ver.) and jacket photos for “Dakishimete” have been released in conjunction with this announcement, with the pre-order links below!

Maaya Sakamoto’s Long-Awaited New Single, “Dakishimete,” the ED Theme for The Fire Hunter Season 2, to be Released on Digital Platforms on January 15, 2024!

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‘Dakishimete’ Jacket Cover

Maaya Sakamoto has announced the digital release of a new single, titled “Dakishimete” (meaning “hug” or “embrace”). This song has been chosen as the ending theme for the second season of the WOWOW original anime The Fire Hunter, which will be available for streaming from January 14, with the first episode offered for free. This marks Sakamoto’s second collaboration with The Fire Hunter, following her previous ending theme, “Mada Tooku ni Iru.”

The lyrics and composition for “Dakishimete” were handled by Senri Oe, a renowned singer-songwriter of the 80s and 90s who is currently active as a jazz pianist based in New York. Still highly respected by many artists today, this collaboration marks her first encounter with Maaya Sakamoto. “Dakishimete” is a gentle ballad that beautifully complements the intense narrative of the anime, creating a resonant musical piece that lingers with the soothing vocals of Maaya Sakamoto.

Additionally, a second promotional video featuring the song has been unveiled, along with new artist and jacket photos.

The Fire Hunter is a fantasy novel by Rieko Hinata. Set in a world where humanity has lost fire after an apocalyptic Last War, the story depicts the lives of the 11-year-old girl Touko and the 15-year-old boy Koushi as they face numerous challenges and struggle to survive. As in the first season, the director is Junji Nishimura, known for works such as SAMURAI DEEPER KYO and Kyo Kara Maoh!, while the composition and script are handled by Mamoru Oshii, known for works like GHOST IN THE SHELL and The Sky Crawlers. Additionally, Maaya Sakamoto plays a crucial role in the series as the character Akira.

Comment from Maaya Sakamoto:

The ending theme of the first season, “Mada Tooku ni Iru,” was a powerful song to encourage the characters. However, this song is completely different, featuring a gentle melody.

As they confront formidable enemies on their journey, this music wraps them in a warm blanket, assuring them that everything will be okay and that the future will surely be a good one.

In the real world, many children are currently living in fear, unable to sleep due to the flames of conflict. This song was created with the desire to tightly embrace those lives and encourage them to hold onto hope no matter the situation. Senri Oe has graciously composed this gentle composition.

Maaya Sakamoto to Release Double A-side Single!

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During vocalist Maaya Sakamoto’s birthday, she announced that she will be releasing a double A-side single containing the theme songs of two anime starting in April in Japan.

The first is the opening theme for Deaimon, a story set in an old confectionery store in Kyoto. The title is “Sumire.” The lyrics were written by Sakamoto herself, with composition and arrangement by Shigeru Kishida of Kururi, a Japanese rock band from Kyoto, matching the setting of the anime.

The second song is “Kotoba ni Dekinai,” the ED theme for the third season of the popular anime Ascendance of a Bookworm, which has sold over 6 million copies (including e-books). Maaya Sakamoto wrote and composed this song herself. The coupling track will be a studio live version of “Senri no Michi,” a song created to commemorate the 1,000th broadcast of Vitamin M, a radio program hosted by Maaya Sakamoto.

The limited first edition will come with a bonus Blu-ray containing the final day of Maaya Sakamoto’s Acoustic Live & Talk 2020 tour, which was held on November 29, 2020, at Zepp Tokyo.

In addition, two cover photos (limited first edition and regular edition) and a music video (short ver.) for “Sumire” have been released. The music video features Kento Ohgiya, who co-arranged and played the piano for Sumire which you can view below along with the pre-order links for the upcoming single!

Standard edition

Limited edition

Maaya Sakamoto Brings Double Trouble with Upcoming Releases!

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Popular vocalist Maaya Sakamoto will be singing theme songs for two TV anime starting in April in Japan. The first is the opening theme for Deaimon, a story set in an old confectionery store in Kyoto. The title is “Sumire.” The lyrics were written by Sakamoto herself, and the composition and arrangement was done by Shigeru Kishida of Kururi, a Japanese rock band from Kyoto, matching the setting of the anime. Sakamoto has stated that she has always loved the band Kururi and was deeply moved by the collaboration. She will also be voicing Mari Yukihira, the mother of the anime’s heroine, Itsuka Yukihira.

The second song is “Kotoba ni Dekinai,” the ED theme for the third season of the popular anime Ascendance of a Bookworm, which has sold over 6 million copies (including e-books). Sakamoto commented, “This song is full of feelings of gratitude for irreplaceable people and places, and feelings that inspire you when you’re discouraged. In that sense, it’s a sad song but also one that allows you to positively move forward.” It is a fitting ending for the third season.

Comment from Maaya Sakamoto:

“Sumire” is the theme song of Deaimon. I wrote the lyrics and asked Shigeru Kishida of Kururi, a band that I’ve always loved, to handle the composition. I think that I was able to write very peaceful lyrics, guided by the warm melody. Sumire (Violets) are a common flower in everyday life, and you can even find them growing in gaps in concrete. They’re so small that you might overlook them, but they are actually very powerful and huddle together to bloom. I chose this title due to the characteristics that these flowers share with people. I’m delighted to have another precious song that I can continue singing into the future.

“Kotoba ni Dekinai” is the ending theme for the third season of Ascendance of a Bookworm, and I handled the lyrics and composition. This song is full of feelings of gratitude for irreplaceable people and places, and feelings that inspire you when you’re discouraged. In that sense, it’s a sad song but also one that allows you to positively move forward. People who are going through many new encounters and farewells as their environment changes this spring may be particularly able to identify with it. Please give it a listen.

As we look forward to both releases be sure to check out the lyric video of her fourth concept album Duets, below!

Maaya Sakamoto Sings Duets In New Concept Album!

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Popular singer-songwriter and voice actress Maaya Sakamoto has announced the release of a new concept album titled Duets that will release on March 17, 2021! Duets is Maaya’s fourth concept album, first duet album, and second album release during her celebration of her 25th Anniversary in the music industry. The new album follows up her Single Collection+ Achikochi which released on July 15, 2020.

This is a special album as twenty-five years ago, Maaya collaborated with Hiroki Wada on her debut single, “Yakusoku wa Nai,” that was used for the popular anime, “The Vision of Escaflowne.” Now in Duets, she will collaborate with him once again. Duets will include the artists Yoshio Inoue, Tomomi Uchimura (la la larks), Kyoko Koizumi, for a total of seven artists and tracks. In addition to the lyrics provided by the duet artists, Maaya herself also wrote several songs on here, along with TENDRE, Shoko Suzuki, Ryo Eguchi, and Yuho Iwasato.

Duets will come in a CD-only standard edition and will include a total of seven tracks. Currently CDJapan is offering a special bonus for early purchases: they are offering a random coaster selected from one of four kinds. Check out the pre-order link, a tentative track listing, and latest music video “独白 (Dokuhaku)” below!

Standard Edition

Maaya Sakamoto「Duets」

CD:

・Duet! / Maaya Sakamoto×Hiroki Wada
［Written：Maaya Sakamoto /Composer・Arrangement：h-wonder］

・Hito Kuchikaga？ / Maaya Sakamoto×Asako Toki
［Written：Asako Toki/ Composer・Arrangment：TENDRE］

・Anata Jyanakereba / Maaya Sakamoto×Kohei Dojima
［Written・Composer・Arrangement：Kohei Dojima］

・sync / Maaya Sakamoto×Tomomi Uchimura（la la larks）
［Written：Tomomi Uchimura・Maaya Sakamoto / Composer・Arrangement：Ryo Eguchi］

・Demo / Maaya Sakamoto×Masakazu Hara（the band apart）
［Written：Yuho Iwasato/ Composer・Arrangement：Masakazu Hara］

・Hoshi to Hoshi no Aida / Maaya Sakamoto×Yoshio Inoue
［Written・Composer：Maaya Sakamoto / Arrangement：Ryuji Yamamoto］

・Hitotsu Yane no Shita / Maaya Sakamoto×Kyoko Koizumi
［Written：Maaya Sakamoto / Composer：Shoko Suzumi / Arrangement：Ryuji Yamamoto］