Refreshing" and "loose" to color the work! Interview with Asaki Hana and Sasaki Eri, who sing the theme song of the TV anime "Yuru Can△".

The TV anime "Yuru Can △" (original story by Afuro / Houbunsha, Manga Time Kirara Forward) is currently airing on AT-X, TOKYO MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, and BS11. Set in Yamanashi Prefecture, the work depicts high school girls camping and going about their daily lives in a relaxed manner. The appeal of this work lies not only in the atmosphere created by the characters, detailed descriptions of camping, and beautiful scenery, but also in the theme song that colors the work.

To commemorate the release of the theme song CD on January 24, we interviewed Asaka, who sings the opening theme song "Shiny Days," and Eri Sasaki, who sings the ending theme song "Fuyubiyori. We asked them about what to listen to in the songs, behind-the-scenes stories about the shooting of the music video, camping, and much more.

Surprisingly, she was told about her first opening theme!

--This is the first time for you to sing the opening theme for a TV anime, isn't it? How did you feel when you were asked to sing the opening theme?

Asaka: Actually, I was surprised by the staff. When I read the letter, I thought it was a fan letter, but it said, "I have an announcement for you, Asaka-san. I thought it was a fan letter, but it said, "We have an announcement for you." And on the next page, it said, "The opening for 'Yuru Can△' has been decided. The camera was rolling, and it was a very elaborate surprise (laughs).

(Laughs) -- If the cameras were rolling, will we be able to see it somewhere in the future?

Asakika: There were many other surprises, so I think there will be a collection of them someday (laughs).

Sasaki I want to see it! (Laughs)

--I'm looking forward to it!　How did it go for you, Sasaki?

Sasaki: I was just on line or something (laughs). (Laughs) "I think I'm going to sing a song for an anime about camping. I'd like to write a song for it. At that point, I had never read the original work, so I heard the title of the piece, looked it up on the Internet, and wrote a song based on the image of camping. Then I sent it to them and said, "If I do it, I want to sing this," and they adopted it for the ending.

--So you proposed the song yourself. Now let me ask you about each of the songs. First of all, what kind of song is the opening theme "Shiny Days"?

Asakika: It reminds me of Western music from the 80s. I think many of the songs in Kirara's works are cute, partly because they are sung by the voice actors. But this time, I didn't limit myself to cuteness, and included some freshness and coolness in the "Asakana" style. I feel that the coolness is the core of the song, and it makes sense.

--It is indeed quite refreshing and fits the image of the work. How was the recording process?

Asakika: The first to third singles were mostly cool songs such as rock and EDM, so I sang while thinking that this time I would be able to bring out a new side of Asakika and show a new Asakika.

--What kind of songs are you originally good at?

Asakana: Rock.

Sasaki: I heard a rumor that you are good at R&B since you are a returnee (laughs).

Asakika: Where did you hear that rumor (laughs)? This song also has some English in it, so it has a Western flavor, but at the same time it's cool (laughs).

--As you mentioned earlier, you wrote the lyrics and music for the ending theme "Fuyubiyori" yourself. What kind of image did you have in mind when you wrote the song?

Sasaki: I wrote it with the image of "loose camping" in mind, imagining campsites and mountain tops. I wrote the lyrics quickly without thinking too much about it, recorded a tentative song, and sent it to Kyogoku (Yoshiaki) who heard it. When director Yoshiaki Kyogoku (Yoshiaki Kyogoku) heard it, he said, "Let's leave it as it is," and "How did you know what the image was when you didn't say anything? Are you an esper? He said, "I didn't say anything.

--I was able to develop an image based on the title and a little research, and it turned out to be exactly what the director had in mind. That makes me happy.

Sasaki: I was very happy. In terms of the lyrics, the description of the "bouncing breath" was in the first episode of the anime, and when I showed it to him when he was setting up the storyboard, he said, "Wow, it's a miracle. It's synchronized! I was like, "Wow, it's synchronized! Of course, in order to create the full-length version, I read the original story and completed the lyrics and arrangement.

--What did you pay attention to when you actually recorded the song?

Sasaki: I was just trying to keep it loose and peaceful (laughs).

(laughs) -- You are a "healer-songwriter", aren't you?

Sasaki: I usually live a loose life (laughs). (laughs) I heard later that at a meeting about who to choose for the closing song, they said, "If you say 'loose,' you must be Sasaki.

--Is she really that loose?

Asakibana: I have a warm and friendly image of her. (In Kyoto's soft, gentle tone) "Really? "Oh, really?" I have an image of Kyoto.

Sasaki I lived in Kyoto for a while (I am from Fukuoka), but I am not that coquettish! (Laughs)

Asakibana I have an image of you as such a warm and friendly person, so I don't think I'm mistaken (laughs).

Sasaki I try to live at my own pace in a relaxed manner (laughs).

(laughs) -- Could you tell us what you especially want people to listen to in each song?

Asakika: The chorus of "Shiny Days. It has a message of taking a step forward that you couldn't take before and gratitude in your daily life, and it has a positive message of "Let's aim for the future together! I recommend the song because of its positive lyrics.

Sasaki: In "Fuyuubiyori", the synths in the chorus sound like the sun rising in the morning, and the guitar before the second chorus represents the stars. Also, Director Kyogoku said that he sympathizes with the first verse, "I kept walking without stopping. He said, "It heals me to think how hard I have been working. I am glad to hear that.