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▼ MY HEROES / Ichiro Mizuki And The Heisei-Era Rise Of Anison
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The final year of the Heisei era (1989-present) has begun, with many commenting on how the era should be remembered. Some will recall it as an age of catastrophic earthquakes, while for others, it has been a time of economic crisis or expanding globalization, among other perspectives.
However, I’d like to offer another take. For me, Heisei has been the era of anison (anime songs).
When the era began in 1989, the word anison was not widely used. Even an otaku geek like me wasn’t familiar with the term. Back then, the theme songs and other songs from anime and tokusatsu sci-fi action shows were called “manga no uta” (cartoon songs), and were perceived in the same light as children’s nursery school songs. Anison concerts for grownups simply weren’t a thing.
The word anison entered the modern lexicon around 2000. Around this time, anison concerts for adults began to be held in Japan, and word spread of the booming popularity of Japanese anime songs abroad.
You’re probably familiar with the breakthrough of anison in Japan thereafter. Unfortunately, there are still some people who believe anison are songs for children. However, the popularity of anison has grown to an extent that even critics can’t ignore.
Singer Ichiro Mizuki has been at the forefront of anison’s ever surging popularity, earning the affectionate nickname Aniki (Big bro) from fans. Since his debut as a professional singer in 1968, Mizuki has sung more than 1,000 anime songs and achieved countless milestone accomplishments. He has performed a 24-hour marathon concert in which he sang 1,000 songs, and his life has been featured in an ethics textbook for schools.
Mizuki’s birthday concerts were held at Yomiuri Otemachi Hall in Tokyo on Jan. 5 and 6. The first day of the concert was devoted to ballads, with the second focused on shout, a style synonymous with his singing.
Over two days, Mizuki sang nearly 60 full-length songs. Even though he last year celebrated five decades since his career began, his voice and performance showed no signs of decline. “My body may wane, but my voice won’t die,” he joked during a talk session held between songs, showing he retains a formidable presence as king of anison.
I was moved by many of the anime and tokusatsu songs he sang as they reminded me of when the shows were broadcast. But the song that most impressed me was “Kuchizuke” (A kiss), which he sang at the end of the first day’s concert. This song was supposed to be his debut song, but Mizuki, who started his career as a singer of enka old-fashioned pop songs, eventually chose another piece.
“If I chose this song and had a success with it when I was 20, then I would’ve gotten carried away, and I’d never have been able to continue singing until today. I also think I’d never have encountered anison,” Mizuki said.
If he had selected this song for his debut, anison might not have grown in prominence to the extent it has today. We grownups would never have sung “Z!” together at the end of the “Mazinger Z” theme song. It’s even possible that tokusatsu and anime shows would have taken a completely different route.
I was mesmerized by Mizuki’s crooning of “Kuchizuke,” a beautiful love ballad for a mature audience. At the same time, I thought, “I’m really glad he didn’t choose this song for his debut!” and thanked him for his decision. I hope he will continue singing anison into the next era.
Suzuki is a Yomiuri Shimbun senior specialist and an expert on tokusatsu superhero films and dramas.
However, I’d like to offer another take. For me, Heisei has been the era of anison (anime songs).
When the era began in 1989, the word anison was not widely used. Even an otaku geek like me wasn’t familiar with the term. Back then, the theme songs and other songs from anime and tokusatsu sci-fi action shows were called “manga no uta” (cartoon songs), and were perceived in the same light as children’s nursery school songs. Anison concerts for grownups simply weren’t a thing.
The word anison entered the modern lexicon around 2000. Around this time, anison concerts for adults began to be held in Japan, and word spread of the booming popularity of Japanese anime songs abroad.
You’re probably familiar with the breakthrough of anison in Japan thereafter. Unfortunately, there are still some people who believe anison are songs for children. However, the popularity of anison has grown to an extent that even critics can’t ignore.
Singer Ichiro Mizuki has been at the forefront of anison’s ever surging popularity, earning the affectionate nickname Aniki (Big bro) from fans. Since his debut as a professional singer in 1968, Mizuki has sung more than 1,000 anime songs and achieved countless milestone accomplishments. He has performed a 24-hour marathon concert in which he sang 1,000 songs, and his life has been featured in an ethics textbook for schools.
Mizuki’s birthday concerts were held at Yomiuri Otemachi Hall in Tokyo on Jan. 5 and 6. The first day of the concert was devoted to ballads, with the second focused on shout, a style synonymous with his singing.
Over two days, Mizuki sang nearly 60 full-length songs. Even though he last year celebrated five decades since his career began, his voice and performance showed no signs of decline. “My body may wane, but my voice won’t die,” he joked during a talk session held between songs, showing he retains a formidable presence as king of anison.
I was moved by many of the anime and tokusatsu songs he sang as they reminded me of when the shows were broadcast. But the song that most impressed me was “Kuchizuke” (A kiss), which he sang at the end of the first day’s concert. This song was supposed to be his debut song, but Mizuki, who started his career as a singer of enka old-fashioned pop songs, eventually chose another piece.
“If I chose this song and had a success with it when I was 20, then I would’ve gotten carried away, and I’d never have been able to continue singing until today. I also think I’d never have encountered anison,” Mizuki said.
If he had selected this song for his debut, anison might not have grown in prominence to the extent it has today. We grownups would never have sung “Z!” together at the end of the “Mazinger Z” theme song. It’s even possible that tokusatsu and anime shows would have taken a completely different route.
I was mesmerized by Mizuki’s crooning of “Kuchizuke,” a beautiful love ballad for a mature audience. At the same time, I thought, “I’m really glad he didn’t choose this song for his debut!” and thanked him for his decision. I hope he will continue singing anison into the next era.
Suzuki is a Yomiuri Shimbun senior specialist and an expert on tokusatsu superhero films and dramas.
- January 22, 2019
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