‘MF GHOST,’ the new anime series successor to the classic street racing series Initial D,’ began broadcasting on Sunday, October 1. Now, a “TV size” short version of the ending theme song to this highly anticipated anime, ‘Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)’, was released – sung by Himika Akaneya from voice actor/idol hybrid unit i☆Ris.
Himika Akaneya, a member of i☆Ris, performs the ending theme song. In addition to her work as a voice actor, Akaneya is also active as an actor in movies and on stage, but this will be her debut performance as a solo artist. Akaneya’s song ‘Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)’ is based on city pop, a genre that is hugely popular both in Japan and overseas, and Akaneya was selected for her transparent singing voice that matches the vibe of the song, as well as her unique presence and extraordinary singing ability.
The track was produced by Japanese masked production duo AmPm, whose music is beloved by fans worldwide – indeed, 80% of their listeners are based outside of Japan. The track combines AmPm’s delicate production skills and comfortable beats with nostalgic lyrics by ARAKI, who regularly writes music for idols, artists and voice actors, to deliver a unique spin on the city pop sound. Akaneya’s gentle singing voice at times veers on spoken word, and the result is a medium-tempo song that is warm and comforting.
In addition to the “TV size” short version of the song becoming available, a teaser video was released on YouTube.
This teaser video offers a glimpse of the full version, which will be released later, and was shot among the picturesque scenery of the Kamakura/Shonan area of Japan, where the anime series’ MF GHOST’ is set.
Himika Akaneya commented on ‘Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)’, saying, “The lyrics to this song reference imagery related to driving, such as the ‘stereo’ and ‘a neon heart reflected in the windows.’ At the same time, the word ‘sunset’ melds perfectly into the song’s relaxing melody, putting the listener in the scene.
You will be able to immerse yourself in the lingering afterglow at the end of each episode of the anime. This will be my first time singing solo, and while I do feel a little nervous, I’m delighted to be involved with the music for ‘MF GHOST,’ which is a series loved by many fans. I hope that as each episode ends, this song’s casual melody and poetic flow will touch your heart – even just a little. Please check it out.”
AmPm, who produced and arranged the music, and ARAKI, who wrote the lyrics, also commented.
AmPm said, “We are delighted to have worked on the ending theme song for ‘MF GHOST.’ As the title suggests, we created this song by imagining a sunset drive. We aimed to give listeners a sense of speed, allowing them to feel the shifting landscape in the afterglow of the day. We hope you will listen to Himika Akaneya’s singing voice and immerse yourself in the afterglow of each episode.”
ARAKI commented, “Back in the day, cafes and ramen shops would have rows of ‘Initial D’ manga books that had been read until worn out. All these years later, it’s an honour to be a part of this new story. I tried to find words that had a stylish retro sound and conveyed a sense of purity. I hope it will make you feel, ‘Oh yeah! Now THAT’s an anime-ending song.”
The full-length version of ‘Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)’ will be released on CD on November 22.
Look out for the anime series’ MF GHOST’, which is sure to be a massive hit, and its fantastic opening and ending theme songs.
Himika Akaneya – Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)
Release date: November 22, 2023
* “TV size” short version available now: https://avex.lnk.to/StereoSunset_TVsize
CD+Blu-ray (luxury package)
EYCA-14179/B ¥4,000 + tax
CD ONLY
EYCA-14180 ¥1,800 + tax
CD tracklisting:
M1. Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm)
M2. SARANG (lyrics by Himika Akaneya, available now)
M3. Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm) -TV size ver.-
M4. Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm) -Instrumental-
M5. SARANG -Instrumental-
M6. Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm) -Off Main Vocal-
M7. SARANG -Off Main Vocal-
Blu-ray tracklisting:
Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm) -Music Video-
Stereo Sunset (Prod. AmPm) -Off Shot Movie-
Himika Akaneya profile
Date of birth: July 16, 1994
Himika Akaneya is a voice actor, actor and artist. As a voice actor, she has made memorable performances as heroines such as Laala Manaka in ‘Pretty Series,’ Izetta in ‘Izetta: The Last Witch’ and Ritsuka Tachibana in ‘Dance with Devils’.
In recent years, she has been challenging herself as an actor across various mediums, with roles such as Shiori Usami in the theatre production’ World Trigger: The Stage’ and the upcoming August 2023 movie ’30S’ created and produced by 7ORDER member Yuma Sanada.
She is also an active YouTuber who puts her body to the test with physical challenges beyond what you’d assume from her looks, tackling one project after another.
Official website: https://iris.dive2ent.com/
X: https://twitter.com/iRis_a_himi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwCfG7UHT9jubtG1M5dH4Bw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/himika_akaneya_official/
AmPm profile
Japanese masked production duo AmPm debuted in 2017 with the single ‘Best Part of Us, which became a hit around the world. Since then, they have worked with various global guest artists from the dance music scene and beyond, releasing over 40 tracks. AmPm is currently one of the most famous Japanese artists overseas, with 80% of their audience based outside of Japan.
Official website: https://avex.jp/ampm/
X: https://twitter.com/ampm_tokyo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampm.tokyo/
Music: https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm
ARAKI profile
ARAKI debuted in 2012 as a member of STOROBOY. After the band broke up, he went on to work on various songs as a composer, lyricist and arranger. Working as an artist, producer, music director and songwriter, he has built up a reputation for creating old-school J-pop with a modern twist. He has written songs for i☆Ris, including ‘Queens Bluff,’ ’12 Gatsu no Snowry,’ and ‘Summer Dude.’
X: https://twitter.com/ARAKI__IKARA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/araki_ikara/
Anime series’ MF GHOST’
Broadcasting from October 2023 on the following platforms (countries and regions):
- True Digital(Thailand)
- Vidio(Indonesia)
- Viu OTT(Hong Kong)
- FPT Play(Vietnam)
- Animax.mn and Star TV(Mongolia)
- myTV Super (HongKong)
- meWATCH (Singapore)
- Bahamut (Taiwan)
- Catchplay (Taiwan)
- ChungHwa Telecom MOD & Hami Video (Taiwan)
- Friday (Taiwan)
- KKTV (Taiwan)
- Line TV (Taiwan)
- myVideo (Taiwan)
- LiTV & ofiii (Taiwan)
- Ani-One Asia YouTube Channel(SEA)
About ‘MF GHOST’
The anime series MF GHOST’ is adapted from a manga series written and illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno and serialized in ‘Young Magazine’ (Kodansha) since 2017. Volumes of the collected manga have sold over 4.5 million copies. The latest 18 volumes of comics will be released on October 5. Its story takes place in the same universe as ‘Initial D,’ serialized in Young Magazine from 1995 to 2013, portraying street racing battles in a near-future setting.
Synopsis
Following the events of ‘Initial D,’ the year is 202X AD. In Japan, self-driving cars are everywhere. Still, public road races are held regularly, and the race series taking the world by storm is MFG, in which the fastest cars from makers such as Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini go head to head. After graduating from racing school in Britain, rookie driver Kanata Rivington returns to Japan to fulfill a specific promise.
Official website: https://mfg-anime.com
X: https://twitter.com/mfg_anime
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mfg_anime
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mfg_anime
