Sumire Uesaka Returns with Single Fit for a Princess with Tearmoon Empire OP!

‘Princess Happy Ending’ Jacket Cover

Pop icon Sumire Uesaka returns with another massive and catchy song that’s destined for success among anime and Japan fans around the world. The track is entitled ‘Princess’ Happy Ending’ and is available to download and stream from today. Its release comes ahead of it featuring as the opening theme to the highly anticipated first anime adaptation of Tearmoon Empire, a hugely popular light novel and manga that has sold over 1.4 million copies. The anime begins airing from October outside of Japan via Crunchyroll and sees Sumire Uesaka also star as the series’ main character, princess Mia.

Helping Sumire Uesaka achieve success is singer-songwriter Oishi Masayoshi, marking his first time to work with the star with this track. Previously Masayoshi has penned several anime theme songs through his career, including themes for the Overlord, Isekai Quartet and Ace of Diamond series.

The full six-track single will also include ‘polar night’ written by TSUMIKI, a musician known for ‘Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous’, the ending theme for 2022’s Urusei Yatsura reboot, and who is also responsible for Vocaloid mega hit ‘Phony’ (the official video on YouTube has over 45 million plays, with countless covers and reuploads).

‘Princess’ Happy Ending’s full single will also see Uesaka reunite with long-time collaborator TECHNOBOYS PULCRAFTGREEN-FUND for the track ‘RENGAKU: Portable Humanoid’. The creative force has worked on several Sumire Uesaka tracks through her long career, ranging from bouncy electronic track ‘Koisuru Zukei (cubic futurismo)’, the music video to which has been watched close to three million times on YouTube), to the distinctively Japanese-sounding ‘Riverside Lovers (Naraku no Koi)’.

Sumire Uesaka’s 13th Single ‘LOVE CRAZY’ to be Opening Theme for ‘Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack’

ANTHOLOGY & DESTINY Jacket Cover

The ever talented artist and voice actress Sumire Uesaka has announced that her 13th single ‘LOVE CRAZY’ will be released from 8 February 2023. The title track from the release will also be the opening theme song for the TV anime Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack, which will begin airing in January 2023. It sees Sumire Uesaka play the lead role of Miss Nagatoro, as she did in the first season, which her hugely popular track ‘EASY LOVE’ was the opening theme to and has since been streamed over nine million times on Spotify alone.

The lyrics to the track have been written by TAKUMI YOSHIDA of Hokkaido’s three-piece rock band saji. Its composition and arrangement has been handled by KoTa, who has worked on numerous songs in Japan’s world of tokusatsu film and TV.

Sumire Uesaka has also revealed her latest artist pic. It sees her in a black and white gothic outfit, drastically different from the cute and soft atmosphere used to promote her latest album ANTHOLOGY & DESTINY.

‘EASY LOVE’, Sumire Uesaka’s opening theme for the first season of Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro is still a long lasting hit domestically and internationally, along with her latest releases also attracting attention at home and abroad. With her tenth anniversary as an artist just around the corner and expectations for her future activities ever increasing as she lands bigger and bigger roles (she is currently the star of the new series of Urusei Yatsura, and is in the stage play of GeGeGe no Kitaro, both household names in Japan), this is absolutely a release for fans of Japanese pop culture to look forward to!

Be sure to order Anthology & Destiny from our friends at JPU records here!

Sumire Uesaka Brings A New Life with Latest Release!

“Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” Jacket Cover

Voice actress-turned-vocalist Sumire Uesaka’s latest single EASY LOVE has been a smash hit across the globe. It’s had over four million streams on Spotify, 25 million plays on YouTube, and became the opening theme song to popular anime Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro. Now the artist and voice actress has announced her next single!

“Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” (‘Life Is Hard DAME DINERO’), it will be Sumire Uesaka’s 12th single and will comprise of six-tracks. The title track is available across all digital music streaming platforms now, and has been selected as the second opening theme to anime series The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!.

The track is an intense, hyperactive burst of energy with the message “to do your best being positive in this difficult world”. It’s composed by Kenichi Maeyamada, one of the leading creative forces in the Japanese entertainment world. He’s produced for the likes of Dempagumi.inc, Momoiro Clover Z and AKB48, and his remixes of classic video games, anime and more have been played over 63 million times from her Youtube channel, and millions more on Nico Nico Douga. He’s also a pillar in Sumire Uesaka’s distinctive sound, frequently working with her since her debut as an artist eight years ago.

The second track is titled “Monodomo No Utage”, a digital rock track written by Uesaka herself with theme of “dancing until you fall asleep”. It’s also the theme song to Uesaka’s weekly talk show on YouTube.

Third track “Drops” is also written by  Uesaka and is an emotional song about the feelings of faint love. Instrumental versions of all tracks are also included with the single, which will be available from 27 October 2021.

Be sure to check out the music video for “Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” below along with the track here!

Sumire Uesaka Goes All Out on Songs of Tokyo!

We are excited to announce that our favourite anime-voice-actress-tank-and-assault-rifle-enthusiast Sumire Uesaka will be appearing on NHK WORLD's Japanese music show SONGS OF TOKYO! She'll be joined by another of Japan's top names from the world of anime songs: Shouta Aoi.

Sumire Uesaka will perform two of her biggest international hits on the program; POP TEAM EPIC, theme to the iconic series of the same name; and EASY LOVE, her latest single and theme to current anime hit DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO.

The episode will be broadcast at the following times (based on JST):

NHK WORLD-JAPAN: 21 June 2021– 0:10, 5:10, 12:30, 18:30

NHK General TV: 26 June 2021 – 23:10

It will also be available to watch on demand for a limited time.

Sumire Uesaka comments, "I'll be performing 'EASY LOVE' and 'POP TEAM EPIC'. 'EASY LOVE' is a candid love song, while 'POP TEAM EPIC' is tinged with surrealism and emotion. That's the vibe. Watch SONGS OF TOKYO!"

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Sumire Uesaka

©NHK/ NHK WORLD

About Songs of Tokyo: Episode 23

SONGS OF TOKYO brings you the latest in the Japanese music scene. Episode 23 features Sumire Uesaka and Shouta Aoi, two artists from the uniquely Japanese genre of voice actor-artists. The pair have been in the international spotlight in 2021 and it will be their first time performing on a music program together!

Sumire Uesaka debuted as a voice actress in 2011 and an artist in 2013. She has voiced and sang the theme song for the animation DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO, which is making a big splash abroad. The theme song has also been a big hit throughout North and South America. A big part of her appeal with fans is her 'otaku' personality. She has been praised by experts for her extensive knowledge on topics like Russia, tanks, and Lolita fashion.

Voice actor Shouta Aoi made his debut as a voice actor in 2011 and has since appeared in over 200 animations. Earning acclaim for versatile performances, he has even voiced female characters. In 2013, he began his career as an artist and got his break thanks to his distinct high-toned vocals. Known as a beauty fanatic, Aoi has charmed fans with his ever-changing appearance – he dons different costumes and makeup looks for each piece. He has established his name as the 'visual prince' of the voice-acting world.

This episode takes a closer look at Sumire Uesaka and Shouta Aoi, and their 'otaku spirit' and fans abroad share how it's a big part of their appeal. This 'otaku spirit' has become a universal language and serves as a bridge to the world. In the talk session, hosts Shingo Murakami and Chiaki Horan ask them questions like "How did you turn into an otaku?" and "How much of an otaku are you?". The pair also perform their latest hit songs. Don't miss the opportunity to get to know these big voice actor-artists on SONGS OF TOKYO!

Sumire Uesaka Brings the Easy Love with Latest Music Video!

“EASY LOVE” Jacket Cover

Quirky voice actress-turned-vocalist Sumire Uesaka will release the title track to brilliant new single EASY LOVE from midnight tonight. The song is the opening theme to new anime series Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, which begins in April and stars Uesaka as the voice of its titular character Ms. Nagatoro. The full six-track EASY LOVE release, Uesaka’s 11th single to date, will be available across all digital streaming platforms.

EASY LOVE see Uesaka pen the lyrics herself with popular lyricist Kyasu Morizuki (Orange Charamel, Do As Infinity, AAA) collaborate to capture "the fluttering heart of a girl in love". Helping capture that energy is songwriter Mayuko Maruyama (ClariS, Riho Iida), who provides the whimsical, bouncy, and frantic melody to this fun and fast Japanese pop song.

Track two, “夢みるメイドガール” (“Yume Miku Maid Girl”) is written by Uesaka herself and the music by video game and anime composer Yosuke Kurokawa  (Tales of Symphonia: THE ANIMATION, Atelier Elkrone). This is a high-energy, bouncy love song, written from the perspective of a robotic maid.

The final original track of the single is “ヒミツのトモダチ♡” (“Himitsu no Tomodachi♡”, pure hard rock madness through the lens of J-pop courtesy of MUTEKI DEAD SNAKE. Who had previously worked with Uesaka for techno-pop romp “よっぱらっぴ☆” (“Yopparappi☆”) from Sumure Uesaka's No Future Vacances album, also available to own on CD from our friends at JPU Records overseas with transliterated lyrics.

EASY LOVE's remaining three tracks are instrumental versions of the above. Pre-order the full single now ahead of its release on 20 April below, and listen to “EASY LOVE” on all streaming platforms here!

Standard edition

Limited edition

Anime edition