From the legendary anime "Onegai☆Teacher" to her latest work "Kingslade" - "KOTOKO Anime song's complete album "The Fable"" & " SticK Out" interview!

Following "KOTOKO's GAME SONG COMPLETE BOX "The Bible"", which celebrated the 15th anniversary of her major label debut, KOTOKO has released "KOTOKO Anime song's complete album "The Fable" was released on November 17, 2020.

What does the legendary songstress, whose career has spanned both games and anime, feel about her relationship with anime? Coincidentally, on the same day as "Fable," "Stick Out," the ED theme for the October 2020 anime "Kingslade: Successors to the Will," was also released, and KOTOKO's mouth overflows with thoughts about anime songs as she prepares to release an album that will unravel her history and a single that will expand her future. KOTOKO's thoughts on ani-songs overflow out of her mouth.

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⇒Interview with KOTOKO on the occasion of the release of "The Bible," a complete box containing 134 songs that is truly a "Bible" - the compilation of 15 years of KOTOKO's history with bishojo game songs!

I was very passionate about "LOVE A RIDDLE".

--The title "Fable" means "fable.

KOTOKO "The Bible" was meant to be a sacred book that unraveled the history of my music, so I wanted this album to be a counterpart to that, a "legend" that looks back on my own musical history. It sounds cheeky to call myself a "legend" (laughs), but I thought it would be unusual for me to be able to be a master of both after 16 years of making the leap from game songs to ani-songs. So I searched for a word with a similar pronunciation and found "Fable. I also thought that the meaning of "fable" or "fairy tale" would fit the image as well, since many animated films are a bit removed from everyday life.

--KOTOKO Unlike "The Bible," we did not divide the songs in chronological order.

KOTOKO Since it was decided to divide the album into three discs, I was thinking of a version that is divided chronologically like "The Bible". I thought it would be fine to use either the current version or this one, but when I discussed it with producer Nishimura of NBC, he said that he thought it would be better to use this version (of the product version), and we decided on it.

--KOTOKO: What was the theme of the three pieces in the version that was adopted?

KOTOKO We divided the songs into three versions: one gentle and sad, one cool and hot, and one bright and energetic. Actually, I was thinking of dividing "The Bible" by theme, but there were so many that I wondered if I could divide them neatly into 10 pieces. Also, I had the image of a dictionary, so I thought that it would be easier to draw them in chronological order.

--KOTOKO Yes, that's right.

KOTOKO That's right. But "The Fable" did not have that many songs, and I thought it would be interesting to divide the songs by color.

--KOTOKO You did not set out to be a game/anime song singer, but how did you feel about singing anime theme songs?

KOTOKO I had been working with the idea of singing ani-songs someday. After all, people who have not bought the game cannot know the theme song, but with anime, it is broadcast on TV, so many people can know the song. So I had a pure yearning to sing ani-songs. So I was really happy when I got the chance to sing an anime song.

--So that's how you came to sing "Shooting Star".

KOTOKO Oh, but in a pure sense, "Love a Riddle" was my first. When we decided to do an anime called "Onegai☆Teacher", the first song we wrote was "Love a Riddle". So I wrote it thinking that "LOVE A RIDDLE" was the theme song, but I found out that it was not, and that "LOVE A RIDDLE" was a promotional song for the anime before it aired. After that, I wrote "Shooting Star" as the opening theme.

--In the interview for "The Bible," you said that you recorded "Beyond Tomorrow" and "Nada no Koinai" before "Close to me...," which became your debut song. There are a lot of things that we don't know until we hear them, aren't there?

KOTOKO That's right. So, the lyrics of "Love a Riddle" were so tightly packed with the world of "Oneti" that I felt I had to write another theme song from there, so I was a bit worried about "Shooting Star" and "What angle should I write the lyrics from this time? I was a bit worried about what angle I should write the lyrics for "Shooting Star".

--I think "Oneti" is similar to a bishojo game in terms of taste, so it must have been easy for you to grasp the worldview of the game.

KOTOKO: Katsura (Kusanagi, the main character) suffers from a disease called "stagnation. I was very interested in how the disease progresses. There is no such disease in the real world, but I understood it and thought, "I see. Moreover, I found it very exciting that the disease was set in motion by a love affair with an older woman, Dr. Mizuho (Kazami). That's what made me decide to write the story. I could really relate to the girls around me as they grew up while falling in love, so I wrote a lot of lyrics for the character songs or image songs for Mizuho-sensei and (Morino) Ichigo-chan, and it was very easy to express the characteristics of each character. So I had a lot of fun writing the lyrics.

--KOTOKO Since the song is so memorable, is "LOVE A RIDDLE" at the top of the song list?

KOTOKO That's right. Shooting Star" is a very important song for me, but I think "Love a Riddle" was the turning point for me. So I definitely wanted to put it as the first song.

--KOTOKO You mentioned "Love a Riddle" as a turning point, but in what way?

KOTOKO I would say that it was a turning point in that it became easy for people to pick up. I really felt that my hopes had been fulfilled and that I had finally made it to the starting line. In that sense, the thought that went into "LOVE A RIDDLE" was also very significant.

--KOTOKO Did you have any discussions with Kazuya Takase, the composer?

KOTOKO We didn't discuss anything like that. But when I received the song, I fell in love at first listen.　I thought it was a great song. I remember writing the lyrics as if I was getting into the world of "Oneti" because I was also feeling the world of "Oneti. The song pushed me to write the lyrics, and I couldn't stop the feelings from overflowing.

--I guess you felt the same way when you sang the song.

KOTOKO That's right. It is a difficult song because the key is a little high and there is no breath-holding part, but because I was filled with feelings, I didn't have to force myself to express the sadness. Sometimes there are songs that you just have to sing to get the feeling, and this was one of those songs. So, it became a "life-size" song. I tried my best to sing the song without stretching myself, and that's how it came to be. I think "Love a Riddle" was 100% of what I was doing at that time.

When I listen to it, I still go "wow!

--On the other hand, "Shooting Star" also had a strong impact, and I think it was also a turning point for you.

KOTOKO That's right. Shooting Star" is the song that most fans came to know about me. So I think of it as a "meeting" song. It was the first song that introduced my voice to the Japanese public, and it was important for them to recognize the name KOTOKO and my voice. It is also the song where I met (composer) Shinji Orido.

--KOTOKO It is a song that has been loved for a long time and received high acclaim.

KOTOKO To be honest, I didn't have much of a response at the time. I was just happy that it was the first song for an anime. （The broadcast of "Onegai☆Teacher" was only on the non-scramble band of WOWOW. But the response after the broadcast was amazing, and seeing the popularity of "Onegai☆Teacher" explode in such a short time, I realized that it was such a powerful anime. It is a work that makes me realize "the power of anime is amazing" as time goes by. It makes me realize that I was able to be involved in such a wonderful anime from the very beginning.

--KOTOKO Did you have any talks with Mr. Orido, the composer, in the process of creating the music?

KOTOKO I didn't talk to Mr. Orido at all. So when the music came out, I was a bit surprised to hear how it sounded. But it's catchy, and once you hear it, you'll never forget it. The arrangement by Kazuya Takase made it a wonderful song. But at the time, my singing technique was not up to par. ...... I was a very bad singer.

--I was not a very good singer at that time.

KOTOKO Yes, I did. Even now, when I hear "Shooting Star," I go "Wow! I still get a "wow" feeling when I hear "Shooting Star. If it is going to be appreciated for such a long time, I wish I had sung it better (laughs).

--(Laughs) - But you didn't cut corners, did you?

KOTOKO Of course I did. However, Mr. Orido's music uses a lot of low notes. He writes orchestral melodies using low and high parts, which makes the singers weep. At the time, I was weak in the low parts, so the A melody was very unstable. Actually, the first key I recorded the song in was a semitone lower, but it didn't work at all, so I raised it a semitone and re-recorded the version that is now out in the world. But I still think, "I'm not very good at this. That's why I feel again that it's great to be so famous and loved by people even though my ability is not up to par.

--KOTOKO Did singing anime songs change your consciousness as a singer in any way?

KOTOKO Not at all. The part I face as a singer is exactly the same now. I want to be a part of the work, just as I was when I was working on the game songs. The only difference is the media exposure.

Singing ani-songs is always a "competition

--KOTOKO You mentioned "encounters" earlier, but I think that singing ani-songs has helped you to meet even more people at an accelerated pace.

KOTOKO No, that's right. There are many people who say, "I would like to do this work if it were this work. There were many encounters because of the work, yes.

--I had Marty Friedman write the music for "Kirei na Senritsu" (Beautiful Melody). That was a rare experience, wasn't it?

KOTOKO That's true. I was nervous about what kind of person he would be, but he was kind from the start. It was like he had heard my music beforehand. Maybe "Re-sub" ("Re-sublimity") or something. At our first meeting, he said, "I have an idea of what might suit you, so I'll write it down when I get home. I thought, "Marty saw this kind of gentle side in me" (laughs), and it was refreshing.

--(Laughs) It was fresh for me. and "Shakugan no Shana," you were involved throughout the long series. What memories do you have?

KOTOKO (Ayasaki, the main character in "Like Hayate! (Ayasaki, the main character of "Like Hayate!") Hayate is a screwed-up kid, and the way he lives his life cheerfully and positively even though he screws up a lot overlaps with me, or I felt like I was watching myself when I read the original story. So I wrote a lot of lyrics for the song, and I felt I could write all of them rather smoothly.

--The OP themes, "Hayate no Gotoku! and "Sevenfold Eightfold Supremacy! the OP theme, the former included a proverb and the latter a four-character idiom.

KOTOKO: I had heard that this was an anime that was shown on Sunday mornings, so I thought it would be a good chance to let children know about it. I had my own "I loved this song when I was a kid" and "I learned this word from this song," so I planned from the beginning to make a song that children would remember for the rest of their lives.

--KOTOKO Yes, that's right, right in the middle.

KOTOKO Yes, I wanted to write an anime song that was right in the middle of the action. I had a very specific target audience in mind. That is why "Hayate no Gotoku! was a clean hit that I was able to aim for and hit cleanly. On the other hand, for the "Shakugan no Shana" series, except for "being" (the OP theme for the second half of the first season), I remember I had a lot of trouble writing the other songs. As I mentioned in many interviews, when I read "Shana," I found it very interesting and the image of it came to me so much that I asked to write a song myself. But "Shana" is a very deep story. It was difficult to express the worldview in a single song, and I felt that I had already boiled down the emotion I felt when I first read it in "being," so I wondered from what perspective I should attack it from the next time. I knew how popular "Shana" was, so I felt a lot of pressure. However, through my involvement with "Hayate no Gotoku" and "Shakugan no Shana," I was able to reach a much younger age group. In that sense, it is the same with "encounters" with fans. Anime and anime songs have brought me many encounters.

--KOTOKO What do you feel are the difficulties of singing ani-songs and being involved in anime?

KOTOKO I think it is the fact that there are so many fans of the original works. Anime is often based on manga or novels, so there is a lot of pressure to create something that satisfies the fans of the original work. This is a little more difficult than with game songs. In games, everyone enters the game world together by saying "Se-no. That's why my song is the "door. But in the case of the anime, there are many fans of the original work, so I wanted to keep that in mind, and not only keep it that way, but take it to another level. The opening is like the cover, so it would be frustrating if the fans are disappointed with the opening. I feel that there is a hurdle because I want to give it my all and make it exciting. So, I write with a cool eye, thinking about things like, "How can I make it exciting as an anime OP," or "How will the song flow?

--What is the joy of singing ani-songs?　I can imagine that a lot of people listen to them.

KOTOKO Yes, because there are many opportunities for people to listen to ani-songs, there are many opportunities to hear various people's opinions. For example, there are many events for ani-songs. So I often sing at events where people who are not my fans listen to my songs. At solo shows, everyone is on my side, so no matter what I sing, I feel that people get excited and say, "Yay! It is the same when the songs are played on TV outside of events. When that happens, I feel as if my skills and potential as a singer are being tested. In that sense, unlike game songs and original songs, I am more enthusiastic when singing ani-songs, and I have developed the feeling that I am always competing.

I am happy to deliver "the future" along with "the past

--The Fable" and "StikK Out" will be released on the same day. The existing songs and the new songs, old and new ani-songs, will be lined up.　Do you feel any difference in yourself?

KOTOKO Well, the songs in "The Fable" were also individual songs. In that sense, there is no difference, but I was able to write a song with DECO*27 for the first time in a long time, and it had been a long time since I wrote an anime song itself, so I probably couldn't hide my excitement in both senses. Perhaps it came out as, "Oh, I'm putting a lot of effort into this.

-The song "Materlink" that you two teamed up on the album "Hiraku Uchu Pocket" is 9 years old.

KOTOKO My first group, "I've," was active in the early 2000s, and then I graduated from I've when the vocaloid generation, such as DECO*27, started to emerge. In that sense, it was a lot of fun to work with people from the second generation (on the album "Hiraku Uchu Pocket"). So, I still have the feeling that I was very stimulated by getting acquainted with DECO and others, even though I had only known the sounds made by Takase and I've until then. ...... I don't know how to say it, but Mr. Takase is like a father to me, and he writes songs in a way that he knows his daughter very well. When I met him 9 years ago, he was very nervous about recording with me. It was a little bit uncomfortable for me. Because even though DECO was still young, he was a very hot artist. I had hoped that we would be able to "create together" more, as we are all working together in the same world. That finally came true this time.

--Moreover, this song has the feel of today's ani-song.

KOTOKO I was very interested in what kind of anime single songs would be written by someone I had been "so happy to work with" and "admired". I was really interested to see what kind of anime single he would write. Then that song came out, and I felt like I saw a new side of him. You have become a really reliable writer. From a senior's point of view, I would say that I was pleasantly surprised to see how much he had grown after meeting him for the first time in a while.

--If Mr. Takase is your father, then DECO is your junior who you met in a club at the university where you went to school, and you met again after you both entered the workforce, right?

KOTOKO Oh, yes, that's right. Yes, that's true (laughs). (Laughs) And I was listening to a lot of old songs for "The Bible," so I was thinking back to the characteristics of I've songs, thinking, "Oh, there was a song like this," or "You really grasped the characteristics of my voice. Also, I was thankful to Mr. Takase for sending me out into the world. That's why I was making new singles while producing the two complete boxes. It was a good thing that I had to look back to the past, but also look at the "present.

--So - so by having people buy both "The Fable" and "StikK Out", it's a true ani-song completion.

KOTOKO That's right. It's not just about the past, but also about the present.

--So "Stick Out" is also your new first step as a lifelong artist.

KOTOKO Yes, yes, it is. But I am grateful for that. Although we say we are "active," it is difficult to see the "future" if we only collect past sound sources. And to be able to release a single at just the right time is truly a blessing for a singer, yes.

(Interview and text by Koji Shimizu)

CD Information

KOTOKO Anime song's complete album "The Fable

Now on sale

Price: Limited First Edition 3CD + Blu-ray 8,000 yen (tax not included), Normal Edition CD only 6,000 yen (tax not included)

＜Songs included in the album

＜Disc 01＞

01：LOVE A RIDDLE (Lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Kazuya Takase (I've), arrangement by Kazuya Takase (I've)) from the TV anime "Onegai☆Teacher

02: I can't get over your best smile (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Kazuya Takase (I've), arrangement by Kazuya Takase (I've)) from TV anime "Onegai☆Teacher

03：Kirei na Senritsu (lyrics by Oyuki Konno, music by Marty Friedman, arrangement by Tomoyuki Nakazawa and Maiko Iuchi) "Maria sama ga miteru" 3rd season OVA ED song

04: Anohi no Kimi he (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Kazuya Takase (I've), arrangement by Kazuya Takase (I've)) From the TV anime "Onegai☆Teacher

05：Sweet Songs ever with you (lyrics by Maki Tsuzuki, music by Hiroaki Sano, arrangement by Ayumi Yasui) OVA "Torai Anguru Heart - Sweet Songs Forever" ED song

06：Trust You're Truth～Your promise to protect tomorrow～ (Words by KOTOKO and Maki Tsuzuki, Composed by Kazuya Takase, Arranged by Kazuya Takase) From OVA "Torai Anguru Heart

07：return to the earth～on the earth～ (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by KOTOKO, arrangement by Yoichi Shimada (SORMA No.1)) ED song from the TV anime "Starship Operators

08: snow angel (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Kazuya Takase (I've), arrangement by Kazuya Takase (I've)) from TV anime "Onegai☆Teacher

09: Shooting Star (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Shinji Orito, arrangement by Kazuya Takase (I've)) from the TV anime "Onegai☆Teacher

10：call （Words by KOTOKO, music by Kon-K, arrangement by Kon-K） Insert song from the TV animation "Shirogin no Ishiki Argevoln

＜Disc02＞

01：Re-sublimity (Lyrics: KOTOKO, Composition: Kazuya Takase, Arrangement: Kazuya Takase) OP song of TV anime "Kaminazuki no Miko

02：Suppuration -core (Lyrics: KOTOKO, Composition: Kazuya Takase, Arrangement: Kazuya Takase) Insert song for TV anime "KANNAZUKI NO MIKE

03: ZoNE-iT (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by SAITO Shinya, arr. by SAITO Shinya) OP song for the TV anime "Hakubin no Ishiki Argevoln

04：Face of Fact -RESOLUTION ver. (Words by KOTOKO, Composition by C.G mix, Arrangement by C.G mix) OP song for OVA "BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION

05：BLAZE (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Kazuya Takase, arrangement by Kazuya Takase) OP song for TV anime "Shakugan no SHANA II

06：inside of a wilderness （Lyrics by Maki Tsuzuki, music by Hiroaki Sano, arrangement by Hiroaki Sano） From OVA "Torai Anguru Heart

07：Sociometry （Words by KOTOKO, music by C.G mix, arrangement by C.G mix） ED song of TV anime "Shakugan no Shana II

08：Light My Fire （Words by ryo, music by ryo, arrangement by ryo） TV anime "Shakugan no SHANA Ⅲ -FINAL-" OP song

09: →unfinished→ (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Satoshi Yaginuma, arrangement by Satoshi Yaginuma) TV anime "Accel World" ED song

10: agony (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by Tomoyuki Nakazawa, arr. by Tomoyuki Nakazawa) TV anime "KANNAZUKI no Miko" ED song

11：TOUGH INTENTION (Words by KOTOKO, music by Ryo Miyata, arr. by Ryo Miyata) OP song for TV anime "Hakubin no Ishiki Argevoln

＜Disc03＞

01：being （Words by KOTOKO, Music by KOTOKO, Arranged by Kazuya Takase） OP song of TV anime "Shakugan no SHANA

02：Chercher～Charshe～ (lyrics by Oyuki Konno, music by C.G mix, arrangement by C.G mix) "Maria sama ga miteru" 3rd season OVA ED song

03: Loop-the-Loop (Lyrics: KOTOKO, Composition: KOTOKO and Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Arrangement: Tomoyuki Nakazawa and Takeshi Ozaki) TV anime "More To LOVE-Ru" OP song

04: ▲MEW▲△MEW△CAKE (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by sky_delta, arrangement by Yashikin) "Nekopara OVA" ED song

05：My Gentle Days (lyrics by Maki Tsuzuki, music by happy soulman, arrangement by Ayumi Yasui) from OVA "Torai Anguru Heart

06：DuDiDuWa*lalala (lyrics by KOTOKO, music by KOTOKO and Atsuhiko Nakatsubo, arrangement by Atsuhiko Nakatsubo) ED song from "Magical Girl Team Ars", an anime corner of NHK Educational program "Genius Bit Kun

07: Hayate no Gotoku! (Lyrics: KOTOKO, Composition: Kazuya Takase, Arrangement: Kazuya Takase) TV animation "Hayate no Gotoku! OP Song

(lyrics by KOTOKO, music by C.G mix, arrangement by C.G mix) OP song for the TV anime "Masked Maid Guy

09：daily-daily Dream （Words by KOTOKO, music by C.G mix, arrangement by C.G mix） TV anime "Hayate no Gotoku! OP song

10: Shichiten Hachi Ki☆Supremacy! (Lyrics by KOTOKO, music by C.G mix, arrangement by C.G mix) TV anime "Hayate no Gotoku! OP song

＜Limited First Edition bonus Blu-ray

Included in "KOTOKO Major Debut 15th Anniversary Tour "FifteenTales" IN TAIPEI 2020.1.4(sat) Hana漾Hana Exhibition Space (ANIME SONG PART)

Stick Out/KOTOKO

Now on sale

Price: [Limited First Edition] CD+DVD 1,800 yen (excluding tax), [Normal Edition] CD only 1,200 yen (excluding tax)

＜First Limited Edition Special DVD includes

Stick Out" music video, etc.