Shopping Guide
Here is a list of the 20 artists who will be performing on the last day, Aug. 25, of the world’s largest anime song festival, “Animelo Summer Live 2013 - Flag Nine-.” The lineup features an excellent balance of top artists and newcomers who are gaining attention.
● Starish
Starish is a male vocal unit from the anime Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000%. The unit is comprised of seven popular seiyū: Takuma Terashima (Otoya Ittoki), Kenichi Suzumura (Masato Hijirikawa), Kishō Taniyama (Natsuki Shinomiya), Mamoru Miyano (Tokiya Ichinose), Junichi Suwabe (Ren Jingūji), Hiro Shimono (Shō Kurusu), and Kōsuke Toriumi (Cecil Aijima). This dreamy stage performance will be colored in flashy songs and beautiful dancing!
Representative anime songs:
“Maji Love 1000%” - Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000% (2011) ED theme
“Maji Love 2000%” - Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000% (2013) ED theme
● Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano is a top seiyū who has voiced the main characters of many works, including Light Yagami in Death Note, Setsuna F. Seiei in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Rintarō Okabe in Steins;Gate. Since his debut as a vocal artist in 2008, he has released eight singles and three albums. He possesses a high level as a singer, being able to easily handle everything from rock songs to ballads. His popularity is further validated due to the song “Orpheus,” the OP theme to the anime Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000% on which he expresses his vocal power, debuting on the Oricon weekly chart at No. 10.
Representative anime songs:
“Kanon” - Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000% (2013) OP theme
“Orpheus” - Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000% (2011) OP theme
“Ao no Tsubasa” - Uta no Prince-sama (2010) OP theme
● Kenichi Suzumura
Kenichi Suzumura is one of the top seiyū, having voiced main characters in many works, including Shinn Asuka in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Sōgo Okita in Gintama, and Daisuke Shima in Space Battleship Yamato 2199. He debuted as an artist in 2008 and has since acquired popularity due to his refreshing voice and lyrics that interweave his own worldview. Aside from his own work, he is also active in many character songs. 2012 marked his fifth year as a solo artist, and his first countrywide tour spanning six major cities was a huge success.
Representative anime songs:
“Intention” - Anison Plus+ ED theme
“Asunaru” - Heaven’s Memo Pad (2011) ED theme
“Shiroi Karasu” - Code:Breaker (2012) ED theme
● Yōko Hikasa
In 2009, Yōko Hikasa broke onto the scene as the voice of Akiyama Mio in K-On! and handled the main vocals in the ED theme “Don’t say ‘Lazy’,” which became a big hit. Her vocal prowess is also validated by the ED themes “Listen!!” and “No, Thank You!” She made her solo debut earlier this year with the song “Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai.” The following month, the song “Owaranai Toki” was released, and the month after that her first full album, Glamorous Songs, was also released. She is one seiyū who is picking up a great amount of attention.
Representative anime songs:
“Don’t Say Lazy” - Sakuragaoka High Light Music Club [Yui Hirasawa (CV: Aki Toyosaki), Akiyama Mio (CV: Yōko Hikasa), Ritsu Tainaka (CV: Satomi Sato), Mugi Kotobukitsu (CV: Minako Kotobuki)] K-On! (2009) ED theme
“Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai” - Attack on Titan (2013) ED theme
“Owaranai Toki” - Hal (2013) theme song
● Sphere
Sphere is a widely known super girls unit comprised of Haruka Tomatsu, Minako Kotobuki, Ayahi Takagaki, and Aki Toyasaki. Formed in 2009, each member of the group is also active as a seiyū and solo vocalist. All four voiced the main characters in the anime Natsuiro Kiseki, the hit songs to which were included in the group’s third album, Third Planet. This album reached No. 1 on the Oricon daily ranking, and its popularity has increased over time. Their highly meticulous live performances are not to be missed.
Representative anime songs:
“High Powered” - Squid Girl (2011) OP theme
“Hazy” - Hanasaku Iroha (2011) OP theme
“Moon Signal” - Otome Yōkai Zakuro (2010) OP theme
● Kanako Itō
Kanako Itō has been in charge of the theme songs to the games and anime in the science adventure series Chaos;Head, Steins;Gate, and Robotics;Notes. In addition to this, she has also been involved in songs used for many other games and anime. Her undeniable singing talent and unique voice have resulted in her being highly popular not just in Japan, but overseas as well. She is currently also actively involved in live concerts overseas.
Representative anime songs:
“Skyclad no Kansokusha” Steins;Gate (2009) game OP theme
“Hacking to the Gate” - Steins;Gate (2011) anime OP theme
“Anata no Eranda Kono Toki o” Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryōiki no Déjà vu (2013) movie theme song
● Petit Milady
Petit Milady is a vocal unit comprised of the popular seiyū Aoi Yūki and Ayana Taketatsu. The group gathered attention by appearing on the Akihabara UDX Vision with just their backs showing, making fans wonder who they were and what kind of group they were. Their debut single, “Kagami no Dualism,” was used as the OP theme to the anime Yu-Gi-Oh: Zexal II which began broadcasting this April. Also, their song “100% Cider Girl” was chosen as the OP theme to their radio show, Aoi and Ayana’s La Puchimi Radio. Don’t take your eyes off their live performance at “Animelo Summer Live 2013.”
Representative anime song:
“Kagami no Dualism” - Yu-Gi-Oh: Zexal II OP theme
● Maon Kurosaki
Having been discovered in the live house Live & Bar in Akihabara, Maon Kurosaki made her major debut in 2010 with the ED themes to the anime Highschool of the Dead. Each episode of the show featured a different ED theme, which resulted in creating a buzz for the singer. After that, she was put in charge of the theme songs to many anime, including “Reimei,” the OP theme to Hakuōki: Reimeiroku, and “Under/Shaft,” the OP theme to Jormungand: Perfect Order. Kurosaki isn’t just active as a solo artist, she is also a member of the group Altima, which includes Motsu and Satoshi Yaginuma from the band fripSide.
Representative anime songs:
“Kimi to Taiyō ga Shinda Hi” - Highschool of the Dead (2010) Episode 1 ED theme
“Reimei” - Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (2012) OP theme
“Under/Shaft” - Jormungand: Perfect Order (2012) OP theme
● Yuuka Nanri
As the vocalist for Yuki Kajiura’s solo project, FictionJunction, Yuuka Nanri gained high recognition as a singer in 2003 due to her clear vocals in the song “Akatsuki no Kuruma” which was used in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. She began her solo career in 2009, releasing the song “Kiseki,” the ED theme to Sacred Seven. Even as a seiyū, she has performed in a variety of works and taken on many impressive roles, such as Mukae Ritsuko in the anime Kids on the Slope.
Representative anime songs:
“Kiseki” - Sacred Seven (2011) ED theme
“Tsukishirube” - Ōkami Kakushi (2010) ED theme
“Bloody Holic” - Blood Lad (2013) ED theme
● Yukari Tamura
Yukari Tamura is known by many as the No. 1 idol in the world of seiyū. She has voiced a number of main characters in different anime, including Nanoha Takamachi in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and the “Steel King” in The “Hentai” Prince and the Stony Cat. She is also overwhelmingly popular as a singer, reaching as high as No. 3 on the Oricon weekly chart for her best-of album Everlasting Gift that was released last October. Her live performances are, in a single word, masterpieces, and she has gathered an almost cult-like following because of them.
Representative anime songs:
“Dōwa Meikyō” - Otogi-Jūshi Akazukin (2006) OP theme
“Koiseyo Onna no Ko” - Best Student Council (2005) OP theme
“W: Wonder Tale” - Ore no Kanojō to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru (2013) ED theme
● Nana Mizuki
Nana Mizuki is a frontrunner in the world of seiyū as both a popular seiyū and artist who has performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen for four years running. Her awe-inspiring vocal power and her superior stage performances, such as her performances at Tokyo Dome that packed in 80,000 people, are second to none. Currently, 11 of her singles have consecutively ranked in the top three, and she has given the world a vast number of hits. Her first collaboration with T.M.Revolution on the OP theme to Valvrave the Liberator, “Perserved Roses,” has become widely talked about.
Representative anime songs:
“Eternal Blaze” - Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s (2005) OP theme
“Scarlet Knight” - Dog Days (2011) OP theme
“Vitalization” - Senki Zesshō Symphogear G (2013) OP theme
● Ayana Taketatsu
Ayana Taketatsu got her break in 2009 with her first regular role as Azusa Nakano in the anime K-On!. She also picked up attention for the vocal power she showed in the character songs for Azusa. Since then, she has become a popular seiyū who has voiced main characters in many works. She finally made her long-awaited solo debut in 2012. In addition to her solo work, she is also active along with Aoi Yūki in the vocal unit Petit Milady. Fans are anxious to see what she will do as a singer next.
Representative anime songs:
“Orange” - Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010) ED theme
“Himawari” - TV Anime ‘Tamayura: Hitotose’ Vocal Album, Nanode (2011)
“Jikū Tours” - non tie-up
● Yui Ogura
Yui Ogura voiced Hinata Hakamada in the anime Ro-Kyu-Bu! and got her break as a singer with the seiyū group Ro-Kyu-Bu comprised of other seiyū from the show. She is also active with Kaori Ishihara in the seiyū unit YuiKaori, and she made her solo debut in 2012 with the song “Raise.” Among young seiyū, Ogura possesses both talent and popularity, as well as a sweet voice and beautiful dancing. She is one star to look out for.
Representative anime songs:
“Raise” - Campione! (2012) ED theme
“Baby Sweet Berry Love” - The “Hentai” Prince and the Stony Cat” (2013) ED theme
“Our Steady Boy” - *Kiss x Sis (2010) ED theme (YuiKaori)
● Mikako Komatsu
Mikako Komatsu made her debut as an artist with the image song “Black Holy” while voicing Marika Kato in the anime Bodacious Space Pirates. She has since continued to release music, including her mini concept album Cosmic Expo and the ED theme to the anime K, “Tsumetai Heya, Hitori.” Her singing voice has also been highly praised. This year, her first full album, Thee Futures, reached No. 6 on the Oricon chart.
Representative anime songs:
“Black Holy” - Bodacious Space Pirates image song
“Tsumetai Heya, Hitori” - K ED theme
“Owaranai Melody o Utaidashimashita” - Sunday Without God ED theme
● Eri Kitamura
Eri Kitamura debuted in 2003 by voicing the character Tatiana Wisla in Last Exile. She has gone on to voice main characters in a huge amount of works, including Ami Kawashima in Toradora!, Karen Araragi in the Monogatari series, and more. She has also gained a following due to her cheerful character and open-hearted talks on radio shows. In addition, she is also known for having a talent for singing, having displayed her voice in many songs done as a solo artist, in a unit, or as a character.
Representative anime songs:
“Birth” - Sunday Without God (2013) OP theme
“Mon” - C3: C3-Bu (2013) second OP theme
“Marshmallow Justice” - Nisemonogatari (2012) OP theme (as Karen Araragi)
● Ushiro Kara Haiyori Tai G
This three-piece character unit comprised of Kana Asumi, Miyu Matsuki, and Yuka Ōtsubo was formed to sing the OP theme to the anime Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, "Taiyō Iwaku Moeyo Chaos." Due to its infectious refrain of “Ooh! Nya!” the song broke onto the Oricon weekly ranking at No. 7.
Representative anime songs:
"Taiyō Iwaku Moeyo Chaos" - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san (2012) OP theme
"Koi wa Chaos no Shimobenari" - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W (2013) OP theme
● YuiKaori
YuiKaori is a unit comprised of the popular seiyū Yui Ogura and Kaori Ishihara. They had their major debut in 2010 with the ED theme to the anime Kiss x Sis, “Our Steady Boy.” This popular young group has steadily released seven singles and one album to date. Their live performances have been highly rated due to their clear vocals and synchronized dancing that makes them seem almost like twins.
Representative anime songs:
“Our Steady Boy” - Kiss x Sis (2010) ED theme
“Kimi no Yell” - non tie-up
“Shiny Blue” - Madou Monogatari (2013) game OP theme
● Iori Nomizu
Since she was in high school, Iori Nomizu has been active in TV dramas and radio programs. She debuted as a seiyū in 2009 by voicing the character Nymph in the anime Heaven’s Lost Property. While voicing a character in the 2011 anime Is This a Zombie?, Nomizu made her debut as a singer with the OP theme “Ma-Ka-Se-Te Tonight.” This year, she released her first original album, Hat Trick.
Representative anime songs:
“Ma-Ka-Se-Te Tonight” - Is This a Zombie? (2012) OP theme
“Passionate” - Is This a Zombie? Of the Dead OP theme
“Black † White” - Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren’t They? (2013) OP theme
● i-Ris
i-Ris is an “anison vocal idol unit” comprised of the six winners of the Anison Vocal Audition held by Avex and 81 Produce. The members of the group are Saki Yamakita, Yū Serizawa, Himika Akaneya, Yūki Wakai, Miyu Kubota, and Asuki Shibuya. The group debuted in 2012 with the ED theme to Battle Spirits: Sword Eyes, “Color.” Since they are all separately active as seiyū as well, they are a unit to look forward to.
Representative anime songs:
“Color” - Battle Spirits: Sword Eyes (2012) ED theme
“Ichizu” - Mushibugyō (2013) ED theme
“§Rainbow” - Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live (2013) ED theme
● Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga
Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga is the vocalist of the brass rock band Bluff and a former member of Spectrum and C-C-B. Anime fans took notice of his refined and passionate singing voice in 2012 when he sang the OP theme to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, “JoJo - Sono Chi no Sadame.” When he performs at “Animelo Summer Live 2013,” everyone will be shouting out “JoJo! JoJo!”
Representative anime song:
“JoJo - Sono Chi no Sadame” - JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012) OP theme
