Yui Makino released the theme song single for "Sakurada Reset"! Piano performance by the artist herself is also included.

Yui Makino plays the role of Youka Murase in the TV anime "Sakurada Reset" and sings the opening theme "Reset". In addition to that "Reset," a single containing "Colors of Happiness," which will be the ending theme for the second cool season, will be released on June 7, 2017. Both songs have beautiful melodies and showcase her crystal clear vocals. In addition, she herself plays the piano on "Reset". We asked her to talk about the appeal of the songs and the story behind the recording process.

I thought the melody, with its brightness and melancholy, suited "Sakura da Reset".

───Please tell us how you got involved with the TV anime "Sakurada Reset.

Makino: I was first asked to sing the opening theme. I started by reading the original novel and getting to know the work. After that, I decided to play the role of Youka Murase.

─ What was your impression of the original novel?　It is a complex story about time.

Makino: At first I was a bit confused by the way time moves forward and backward, but once I got used to how the heroine, Misora Harusaki, uses her "reset" and "save" abilities, I was instantly hooked. I think it is a very interesting work.

─ ─ The first step in creating the opening theme was to order the music, wasn't it?

Makino: This time, we had a competition where composers read the original novel and submitted candidate songs for the opening theme. The animation and music staff reviewed them, and when they had narrowed it down to two songs, I listened to them for the first time.

─ So the final decision was left to you, Makino?

Makino: I think he listened to my opinion before making the final decision. Which song would you like to sing? Which song do you think would suit Yui Makino best? I had a clear idea of the song I wanted to sing. I had a clear idea of the song I wanted to sing, so I told them firmly, "I want to sing this one. At the same time, I made tentative recordings of both songs, and the staff listened to the actual recording with my song on it, before finally deciding on "Reset. It was the one I wanted to sing.

─ So it turned out the way you wanted it to. What attracted you to the melody of "Reset"?

Makino: The melody is not only cheerful, but also melancholy, and I thought it fit the world of "Sakurada Reset". It also had a range and melody line that made the most of my voice. I found out after the decision was made that a friend of mine from my days at Tokyo College of Music wrote the song.

─ ─ The composer and arranger was Shunsuke Takizawa. You have been friends for such a long time?

Makino: For my previous songs, he is the one who wrote "88 Seconds Flight" and "Just One". When I told him what I found particularly easy to sing, he said, "I wanted Yui to produce these notes, so that's what I wrote for her.

What do you think about the lyrics written by Manami?

Makino: I thought it was exactly like "Sakura da Reset. When I first heard the first chorus, I thought the song was written from Kay's point of view, but when the full chorus lyrics were finished, there were parts where I thought Violet's point of view came in.

─ Violet Aima was a classmate of Kay's when she was in junior high school, and although she appeared in episodes 1 and 2 and died, she is a character that plays a big part in the story later on.

Makino: Manami-san was present during the recording session, and when I asked him, "I can feel Violet's presence in the lyrics, but did you change the perspective in the middle of the song? I asked him, "Yes. He said he wanted to overlap Kay's thoughts and Violet's thoughts.

───Aside from that, was there anything else about the recording that left a lasting impression on you?

Makino: The piano recording. There are two versions of "Reset," an original version and an acoustic version, and we recorded the piano before the vocals. We recorded both piano versions in one day, and a documentary of the recording is included in the DVD on the limited first edition B.

─ ─ That's a great video for fans, isn't it?

Makino: The recording was done under a tight schedule, so I was more serious than ever before. It's a little embarrassing (laughs).

(laughs) ─ No, I think you can see his crisp expression when he is facing the piano. The acoustic version of "Reset" is included on the limited first pressing B. The song was used in episodes 1 and 2, which depicted Kei and her friends in junior high school.

Makino: I was very happy when the staff of the anime told me that they wanted an acoustic version of the song. I felt that I could go deeper into the work than with the opening theme because it would be played behind the images and dialogues of the main story.