Toko Miura is set to release her debut mini album ASTERISK on May 27, 2020. Two songs from the 7-track record, uzu and Ochitsuke, are now available to listen to on all major music download and streaming services, including iTunes and Spotify.

uzu will feature as the main theme song for the upcoming Japanese documentary film Mujica Sekai de Ichiban Muzushii Daitoryo Kara Nihonjin e which covers former Uruguayan president José Mujica’s relationship with Japan. The film’s director, Tabei, was captivated by Toko Miura’s voice, and so invited singer-songwriter Naotarō Moriyama on board to write and produce uzu to bring and deliver the purity of her voice to people.

A music video for uzu directed by music video director Pennacky was also released, and captures the warmth and nostalgia that embraces the track.

Toko Miura – “uzu” Music Video

Miura’s other song that’s available to listen to, Ochitsuke, was written, composed, and arranged by TENDRE, and has a light, relaxing sound. Both songs capture Toko Miura’s delicate voice beautifully, so be sure to check them out before ASTERISK drops next month.

The CD cover for the digital release of Naotaro Moriyama’s song Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba (TV Version) has been unveiled. The song is used as the opening theme for the onoing TV anime series Somali and the Forest Spirit which began airing on January 9.

The anime edit version of the track is set for digital release on January 24.

The cover design is the same as the teaser visual release for the anime series, featuring the Somali and Golem  meeting each other for the first time. The song is the first by Naotaro Moriyama’s to be written for an anime series.

The song received a flood of love on Japanese social media when it first hit the air, with fans commenting how it brought them to tears for how beautiful it is.

Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba will be made available across all major download and streaming platforms on January 24 including iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, LINE MUSIC, Recochoku, and so on.

It has been announced that Japanese singer-songwriter Naotarō Moriyama’s new song Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba (“It Should Be Me Thanking You”) will be used as the opening theme for the upcoming TV anime series Somali and the Forest Spirit which is set to air in January 2020.

This marks Moriyama’s first time writing a song for an anime series. The ending theme Kokoro Somali is performed by Inori Minase. Both are original songs that touch on the world of the series.

The opening theme can be heard in the newest promotional video for the anime series below.

The anime’s official website has also been updated with new character illustrations and more.

Ryo Yoshimata

The anime’s music is composed by Ryo Yoshimata, who has worked on many famous drama series and movies in Japan, and is produced by Akira Yamaoka, a huge name in the games industry for his work including that in the Silent Hill franchise. The anime’s art director is French creator Vincent Nghiem.

Naotarō Moriyama

Naotarō Moriyama commented the following in regards to writing the opening theme: “I read the manga, and tried to write Arigatou wa Kocchi no Kotoba while singing as if I was part of the story’s scenery while going back and forth between the valley of fantasy and nostalgia. It touches on Somali and Golem’s journey. The recording process was very lively too. Coming into contact with this series has let me peek into a world I never knew before, and so I give my thanks to it.”

©Yako Gureishi/NSP 2015