I want to flap my wings with the last Witch song of the Heisei era! Strike Witches 501st Squadron is about to launch! OP "Sora ga Yobu Houhoue" Interview with Yoyoko Ishida

Yoyoko Ishida's new single "Sora ga Yobu Houhoue" will be released on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

The title song is the opening theme of the popular TV anime "Strike Witches: 501st Squadron Hatsushin! which is currently airing on TV. Mr. Ishida, who has sung many theme songs for the series, sings the song with his clear voice, and it is a masterpiece that is truly characteristic of the series. The coupling song "Ashita," for which she wrote the lyrics, is also included. The song is also very warm and full of feelings.

Akiba Research Institute interviewed Ms. Ishida just before the release of the song. He talked about his thoughts on the song, the "World Witches" series, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, and even how he approaches lyric writing.

I feel that the song is a song for this work, while following the flow of "Anshin Stability.

--You have been dressed as "Captain Ishida" since the album "Soranouta" released at the end of last year, and it suits you very well. Have you gotten used to this outfit?

Ishida: Yes, I have. This costume is based on the picture of "Captain Ishida" that was drawn for the 10th anniversary of the "World Witches" series. I wore it for the first time at a live performance at "Mindeki! 2019" the other day, and I'm planning to wear it all the time from now on (laughs). I am looking forward to it.

--I'm looking forward to seeing how far I can go with you as Captain Ishida. It has been a while since you released a single, hasn't it?

Ishida: I think there has been a gap in terms of TV airtime, but there have been things that have always been moving, such as "Mindeki! and there were things that were always in motion, such as the recording of "Soranouta," so it doesn't feel like it's been a long time.

--So you were able to create the song without feeling so special?

Ishida: But the theme song is still a big part of it. This is a spin-off work, and the atmosphere of the content is completely different, so I was worried about how the song would turn out and whether I would be able to sing it.

--I was worried about how the song would turn out and whether I would be able to sing it, since it is an everyday comedy. How did you frankly feel when you were given this song for the opening of such a work?

Ishida: I was told that the atmosphere was completely different from that of the main anime, but I thought it was in the same vein as the previous works (laugh). (Laughs.) The song does not feel like a spin-off, but rather like a stable and reassuring "Let's all fly in the sky together again! I felt a sense of flight.

--I felt like it was a direct continuation of the series, just in terms of the tune.

Ishida: Indeed. It's like the third season of the series as it is (laughs). But if you watch it with the opening animation, it might be different. It's not just a flow of the song, but it really feels like it is a song for this work, and I think you will be convinced.

--Did the recording go smoothly?

Ishida: Yes, it did. The song starts with the usual chorus (laughs). (laughs) However, the tempo of this song is very fast. When I sang "STRIKE WITCHES ~what I can do~," I was blown away by how fast the tempo was. STRIKE WITCHES～what I can do～" feels slow (laughs).

--(Laughs) - Please tell us if there was anything you were conscious of when you sang.

Ishida: Basically, I think of recording as a live performance and imagine that everyone who always supports me is right in front of me. When I sing a witch song, I imagine everyone coming to me with "Mindeki! I always imagine that everyone is in front of me when I sing a witch song.

--Ishida: If you imagine singing on stage, do you record a whole song in full?

Ishida: No, it would be too much work to sing the whole song (laughs). (laughs) But rather than just recording the A melody, I like to record the first chorus, the second chorus, and so on, in a flowing way. In the beginning, I had the feeling that I had to record well or cleanly, but I wanted the CD to have a live feel, and I wanted to record it without destroying the atmosphere as much as possible. Of course, I did make some changes.

--What was the most impressive part of the lyrics or melody?

Ishida The lyric "Let's fly with the bonds of belief" is a part I would like to dedicate to everyone, including supporters and cast members. As the series enters its 11th year, the people who support us continue to support us no matter how much time has passed, and we have become like a family with the cast members. I felt that the bond as a team, the bond with the people who always support us, and the feeling that we have all worked together for a long time in many ways are all expressed in the work.

--I felt that the song really expresses the good qualities of the work. How do you want to sing this song in the future?

Ishida: It is good to have people listen to the CD or watch the music video, but the most important thing is to have people listen to the song live and feel like they are flying in the sky with me, and I want to convey my feelings. So I would like to deliver the songs directly to as many people as possible at events and mini-lives.

I delved into the lyrics as if they were written by someone else.

--I would like to ask you about the coupling song "Ashita" as well. This song has lyrics written by you, Mr. Ishida, and I felt that the first song, or rather, the first song in the "World Witches" series, has a similar feeling to the "World Witches" series itself.

Ishida: My feelings are the same, so I think of it as an answer song (laughs). (laughs) In my opinion, I wrote it with the feeling of the ending.

--I see that was the case. What was your theme in writing the lyrics?

Ishida: Usually the works in the series are mainly battle scenes and have serious parts, but this time, as a spin-off, it is an interesting work that shows everyday scenes and the darker side of their personalities. So I started with the image of witches returning home from battle. I wanted to convey the image of "they fought hard all day today" and "I'm glad they came home safely.

--So, you felt that the song was a good match for this work.

Ishida It would be great if it became an insert song or an image song (laughs).

(laughs) -- The title "Ashita" also reflects this feeling.

Ishida I wanted to keep the title simple. There might be another tough battle, or a very strong Neuroi (the name of the enemy) might appear. But I wanted to say, "Let's take a good rest today and do our best again tomorrow. With that in mind, I decided on "tomorrow. This time, I decided on the title first and started writing from there.

--When you write lyrics, do you always decide on the title first?

Ishida: Sometimes I write from the chorus, and sometimes I start from the A-melody. I think about what to do after I receive a song. On the other hand, it is my way of writing according to the moment (laughs).

--How was the recording of this song?

Ishida: I thought it would be easier to sing the lyrics since I wrote them myself, but it was not the case. Once I decided that "someone else wrote the lyrics," I sang the song.

--Ishida: Could you be more specific about what you mean by that?

Ishida: It is difficult to sing a song when I feel like I know what I am singing because I wrote it myself. So, I imagine that someone else wrote the lyrics, and I think, "This is what it must have meant," or "Maybe there is a feeling behind these lyrics. Then I can dig deeper and think, "Maybe it's like this, maybe it's like this, maybe it's like this, maybe it's like this. I feel like the lyrics were written by "lyricist Yoyoko Ishida" (laughs).

--(laughs) - it's interesting how you delve into the song. By the way, have you ever thought of using a different name when writing lyrics?

Ishida: No, I have not. It's not that I am particular about the name, but it's just a matter of changing the way I feel about it.

I would be happy if I could sing about the world of witches all the time, even in 2021.

--Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the "World Witches" series.

Ishida: I myself celebrated my 25th anniversary last year, and in 5 years, half of my career has been involved in this series. I was so happy when I heard about "STRIKE WITCHES - What I can do" in 2008, because I thought it was "the anime song". It had been a long time since I had been able to sing a sparkling, bouncy theme song for a work with all my might.

But at that time, I didn't think that the work would last for more than 10 years and that I would be able to sing the theme song every time. Of course there is pressure, but I feel that I have to live up to the trust you have placed in me, and I believe that this work has helped me grow as a singer. I would like to continue to sing this song even after 10, 15, or 20 years.

--I am sure everyone is looking forward to it.

Ishida I am very grateful. I feel that I have to improve myself not only to keep my singing, but also to improve it further so that people will feel something new and say, "Oh, I knew I had the right voice for this. I think this is one of the works that can push me in this way.

--Please tell us about the secret of keeping your singing voice and what you are careful about.

Ishida: Even now, voice training is indispensable. If I don't, I get carried away and forget how to make my voice sound better (laughs). (laughs) It is like having a teacher tune your voice and correct the course. Just like the piano, if you just play the piano, the sound will become more and more strange.

--You have a radio program "Under Your Starry Sky" that focuses on ani-songs. I know you have answered this question many times before, but what do you feel is the good point of ani-songs?

Ishida: I have been doing a corner called "Memory Songs" for years, in which I introduce everyone's memories of the songs they listened to when they were little. I forget the songs I listen to now (laughs). (laughs) I think it's great that anime songs remain in a child's mind. Of course, the same is true of ani-songs that I listen to as an adult. I remember things that happened at the time, and if I liked the work, I remember the scene. I think it is one of the most appealing aspects of listening to a song that you can recall visually.

--Lastly, the new era name will be changed from "Heisei" to "2025," so what kind of era do you want to make for 2025?

Ishida: This song will be the last witch song in the Heisei era (laughs). Last year was my 25th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the "World Witches" series, so it was a double anniversary year for me, and I would like to keep my mind on it until the next anniversary. I think it will be announced in 2021 whether I will be able to sing in the third season as well, but I would be happy if I could sing throughout the ever-expanding world of Witches, and for that reason I would like to be ready to sing at any time.

--I will be ready to return to my work anytime. Thank you very much!

(Interview and text by Kenichi Chiba)

CD Information] CD Release Information

TV anime "Strike Witches Unit 501" (opening theme) Opening theme "Sora ga Yobu Houhe" by Yoyoko Ishida

Release date: April 24

Limited Edition with DVD: 1,800 yen (tax not included)

Normal disc] 1,200 yen (excluding tax)

Event information

TV anime "Strike Witches 501st Squadron is on the move! Opening theme "Sora ga Yobu Houhoue" release commemoration Ishida Yoyoko mini live & autograph session

Date: 2019/4/28 (Sun.) from 14:00

Location: AEON MALL Niigata Minami 1F Marine Court

Event details: Mini-Live & Autograph Session

Mini live is free for spectators.

*For other details including how to participate, please check the website of Nippon Columbia.