Let's begin October with some loop-worthy recommendations from the jukebox! It's been quite a while since I last wrote a songlist, so here I am with a few energetic songs which I hope could lift up anybody's spirit in times of fatigue, unhappiness, sluggishness, uncertainty, et cetera. Contrary to what I would usually add as a disclaimer somewhere in my other posts, all the songs that are mentioned in this article will make excellent company to anybody's cardio workout! Yes, all of them. Then again, if for some peculiar reason there is an impending injury, please don't look for me. So, here comes my songlist!
♪ Fukagyaku Replace by MY FIRST STORY (Ending theme of Nobunaga Concerto) While I'm not too fond of rock songs, oddly enough I find myself considerably drawn to Fukagyaku Replace. I've never watched the anime series in its entirety since I'm not really interested in history and such. The only reason I got acquainted with Nobunaga Concerto is the time-slip element, yet that is just a speck compared to the rest of the story. Anyway, the sequence during the closing credits of the anime is the catalyst for my gradual love towards this song. The transition from modern Japan to Sengoku, and Saburo's image overlapping with that of Oda Nobunaga seem fitting of the accelerated intensity of the song. It makes a grand journey of time.
♪ Rashisa by SUPER BEAVER (Opening theme of Barakamon) Every thing about Barakamon is a must-watch, must-read, must-listen, must-loop...yeah, you get the drift. Never mind the incomprehensible dialect which most of the characters are conversing in, because the gist of Barakamon is still able to create ripples in anybody's heart. There is a lot of warmth (pun absolutely intended) in the series. The calligraphy theme reminds me of my disastrous attempts at the art many years ago. Unlike Handa-sensei who has (primarily) Naru as a distraction (mostly in a good way), all I had at that time was...hmm, waste paper? Anyway, after the initial sound quake which had nearly blown my ears off, Rashisa has easily become a favourite of mine. I can imagine Naru smiling brightly through the entire song.
♪ Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko by Tamura Yukari (Insert song of Yowamushi Pedal) I've got to say that this song could sneakily stick inside anybody's mind even if they didn't want anything to do with it. Nonetheless, listening to Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko is still a joy as the positive vibes remind me of Onoda Sakamichi's infectious, ever genki personality which not only motivates himself to push forward during difficult times but others as well, in particular Tadakoro-senpai. Honestly, over time the sugar level will reduce on its own. There is really no need to feel icky towards this song. An interesting fact is that the mangaka of Yowamushi Pedal, Watanabe Wataru wrote the lyrics to Koi no Hime Hime Pettanko.
♪ FUTURE FISH by STYLE FIVE (Special Omake; Ending theme of Free! Eternal Summer Episodes 1 - 12) Yeah, I know that I've introduced this song before. However, recently I've stumbled upon five different versions of FUTURE FISH - each voice actor has his own solo version! In addition, the line that was originally spoken during the interval in the group act is varied in each version. The special omake is only available to customers who have pre-ordered the Free! Eternal Summer Blu-Ray or DVD from five different stores (each store has a different solo version). Gosh, what a great tactic to drain people's wallets! :P Anyway, my favourite is Nagisa's version!
Those are my loop-worthy recommendations to kick-start the new month! Happy looping! :)
I'm not sure if an act like this would label me as an oddball, but whenever there's a song that I just can't get out of my head, I put it on repeat and...repeat (?). I mean, I don't even shuffle other tracks in! Just one song throughout my journey. Just one song for that hour's worth of travelling. May I publicly apologise to the remaining 1,000+ songs in the media library that I've neglected? I'm so sorry...well, not really. Some songs just aren't supposed to be played once. You've got to loop them until steam emits from the earphones / headphones / speakers. Then you buy a new set and repeat.
♪ Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa (Maison Ikkoku, 1986) This song may be nearing 30 years old, but it ages like a bottle of fine wine. The title means Hello Sadness, which feels really depressing but in fact it's an uplifting song. Sung beautifully by Saitou Yuki, there's a recurring line in the song that I like very much. "Fui ni kanashimi wa yatte kuru kedo... nakayoku natte miseru wa... datte yakusoku yo...". The struggle to break free from lingering sadness can be extremely frustrating at times, yet this song attempts to help find closure through the idea that perhaps we could treat our negative emotions as friends whenever they just come.
♪ sign (Ano natsu de matteru, 2012) I feel as though I'm travelling to some distant space each time I listen to this song. I suppose on a subconscious level, it does help knowing that the female lead of the anime is an alien. Or maybe it's all that tweaking of sound effects. Or both. Or (insert your own reason here). The melody is extremely catchy and has a 'fuwa fuwa' feel to it. I wonder where in people's hearts does the song resonate until? The spaceship in my heart continues to escalate with every sign.
♪ Go! Go! Maniac (K-ON!!, 2010) I've mentioned before in my write-up on K-ON! that I love the 360-degree turn around the music room as the first line of the song plays in the anime. It's such a high-powered song that I used to be in awe of the seamlessness that flows throughout its entirety without the need for oxygen and acupuncture. Then, I had a chance to watch a YouTube clip of the voice actresses performing the song, complete with live instruments and such. Come to think of that, the amazement is still there.
♪ Misoji Misaki (Lucky Star, 2007) There's something ticklish (?) about listening to this song that I can't quite explain. The image of a supposed idol going cute and sugary at first, turning abusive and violent the next, and finally switching to enka mode albeit very lopsidedly, is just unfathomable yet its absurdity is so hilarious that it stays rooted inside the head. I mean, unless the talent agency is operating on a shoestring budget, why would its poor idol have a concert inside a karaoke room?
♪ Cordless Telephone (Nourin, 2014) The Japanese title of the song is actually a partial wordplay on Telephone: 'tere' (shy) + PHONE (stylised in caps). I prefer the studio version because I find the background chanting of Ringo's fans in the 'concert' version gradually annoying (no offence though to those who like the latter). Initially I thought that this song might be a tad too sugary for my taste, but it turned out to be a pot of good quality yuzu tea (I know that's random but truth is, I had some yesterday) that had to sit over time to allow the best flavours to permeate. What are some of your loop-worthy anime songs? :)
Okay, I completely understand that July has already passed us by, but it just so happens that the stuff which I'm writing about has something to do with July. If I could change it to August, believe me I definitely would. I mean, August is a rather nice month, with all the red and white flags swaying around everywhere. Besides, it is nearly four months away from Christmas. My favourite dessert for Christmas is log cake. Oops, I shouldn't be blabbering any further. As I was mentioning, the theme of July spreads across the gist of today's article. Welcome to my somewhat special edition of Loop-Worthy Anime Songs - All That July! Yeah, the various theme songs that are about to follow come from the anime shows that premiered last month. Naturally (?), some are suitable for cardio workouts while the rest should be played peacefully.
♪ Future Fish - Style Five (Free! Eternal Summer, premiered 02 July 2014) This reminds me of the post that I did on singing voice actors. In fact, it ties in beautifully with the fact that the voice actors of Nagisa (Yonaga Tsubasa) and Rei (Hirakawa Daisuke) make up two-fifths of Style Five, which also consists of the voice actors of Haruka (Shimazaki Nobunaga), Makoto (Suzuki Tatsuhisa) and Rin (Miyano Mamoru). Prior to 'Future Fish', Style Five had also performed two ending theme songs for the first season of Free! - 'Splash Free' for the first 11 episodes and 'Ever Blue' for the finale. These guys can really whip up quite the storm. I've already lost count of the number of times that I've looped both songs. Now, with 'Future Fish' I don't think that it is necessary to count anymore. The closing sequence for Free! Eternal Summer is just too awesome. Full of colours. Full of creativity. We see Haruka as a merman, Rin as a policeman, Makoto as a firefighter, Nagisa as an astronaut and Rei as a scientist. Haruka also doubles as a chef along the way. There is much fun and joy watching their new identities interact with one another. The ending scene simply screams kawaii.
♪ Moon Pride - Momoiro Clover Z (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal, premiered 05 July 2014) Okay, I've got to admit that I didn't think much about this song at the beginning. My mind was pretty much still tuned to the first-generation opening theme song otherwise known as Moonlight Densetsu. Yeah, I suppose Moonlight Densetsu had already done much damage (?) to my ears and brains. But I told myself to give the brand new stuff another shot, and I did. Momoiro Clover Z has done a wonderful job with Moon Pride. The song is bursting with every inch of confidence, accelerating forward to the imageries of the moon and stars. The silhouettes of all five sailors join in, as if to assure the uncertain soul that every thing is going to be all right. It is an extremely catchy and energetic song. Perhaps somebody would like to loop this for their cardio workouts? However, I won't be held responsible for any injury caused by some out-of-the-blue funky dance move.
♪ Kimi Janakya Dame Mitai - Oishi Masayoshi (Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, premiered 06 July 2014) I feel really sorry for the tanuki that has inevitably become some sort of a sacrifice for the opening sequence of this amazing song. The chorus has to be my most favourite part of the song! It really helps to build the cheery, fun and sometimes morbid atmosphere of the anime. The bits where the various characters are introduced are also a pleasure to watch. The backgrounds and other details more or less reveal their associations with the characters. I find that the final shot makes a lovely representation of the characters. If anybody is confused, just google for the TV size of the song.
Well, come to think of it...the above-mentioned songs should be safe (?) enough to accompany anybody's cardio workouts. I don't think that they are likely to cause any health hazard or something. However, I won't be held responsible if anything weird were to arise from listening to those songs.
I don't think that it's any surprising when I write about anime songs and just how much I love my personalised jukebox. In those early days, trying to build up a decent compilation was difficult since there weren't as many resources and technology didn't allow much to happen anyway. My collection of anime songs had been pretty stagnated with merely a handful of classics and nothing else to possibly stimulate the mind and soul.
Thankfully, over these few years or so there have been newer additions to the list for wider variety and selection. Well, I suppose in the worst-case scenario I might still be contented with the same old stuff since the songs that I love are usually loop-worthy. Most of the newer songs were discovered randomly, especially of late when I would simply browse around for any anime that I could possibly kill time and boredom with. Those discoveries have also altered some of my old perceptions of life, through varying degrees and certainly not in a bad sense.
Oh, I might just add that my proficiency in Japanese language is still not quite up there yet, so most of the time I rely on the melodies and a little translation of the lyrics to help myself get into the mood. Of course, the singer's voice is just as important although for certain types of anime songs it doesn't really matter. Anyway, there are far too many awesome songs around and if I were to attempt compiling I suppose I would have to work past afterlife or something. For now, I would like to recommend a couple of anime songs that I feel could heal anybody's heart in times of need. These songs were stumbled upon randomly, and fortunately I fell in love with them immediately. While I consider them loop-worthy, I won't recommend them for cardio workouts. I suppose meditation is fine though.
Has anybody watched 'Isshuukan Friends' (One Week Friends)? I consider 'Isshuukan Friends' to be a rather important anime that addresses some of the most delicate parts of humanity and in the process heals the burdened soul. In my opinion, watching the first few episodes is already enough to open that thinking valve and expose any slightest hint of vulnerability. I wonder about my friends. I wonder if my friends wonder about me. I wish that we could re-live some of our happiest moments. I wish that I had been a much better friend. Some people might feel that it's overly distracting and uncalled for to be so immersed in such thoughts. Yet the experience is actually pretty therapeutic. Then, the ending theme song greets me with a closure (pun absolutely intended). Titled 'Kanade', it was covered by the voice actress of Fujimiya Kaori - Amamiya Sora.
Yes, you saw that right. The original performers of the song are a jazz fusion duo known as Sukima Switch. At first, the song seemed somewhat bittersweet but after repeated loops I realised that it's actually filled with hope and faith. I believe that those feelings are also evident in Kaori and Yuki as they look at each other across the album cover. There is something about the album cover that touches me rather deeply. I can't quite explain what it is though. My most favourite part of the song has to be this line: Saigo ni nani ka kimi ni tsutaetakute Sayonara ni kawaru kotoba wo boku wa sagashiteta (I wanted to tell you something) (I searched for the words to replace 'goodbye')
Seemingly simple words, yet they trigger off a person's deepest feelings. 'Kanade' has already made its way into my collection. Oh, the CD single also comes with a bonus track - the voice actor of Hase Yuki - Yamaya Yoshitaka has his own rendition of 'Kanade' as well. This little surprise has added a pleasant twist to the series. I suppose it's only natural for Yuki to sing his side of the story. Even though it's the same song, his feelings are different. Both renditions complement each other beautifully. I alternate between them during long bus rides and such. Hopefully, I would be able to introduce more songs that are therapeutic for the soul. Do you have any favourites?
One day, while browsing here and there for anything interesting to kill time with, some picture from a corner caught my attention. Oddly enough, the drawing style had managed to contain my interest even though it exuded a more mature and serious tone which I wouldn't quite easily consider my favourite. Exceptions aside, I'm a sucker for most things kawaii. Anyway, I realised that the picture had somehow etched itself into my mind. Without knowing what the story was about (surprisingly there was a lack of synopsis), I clicked on the first episode. Oh yes, it was another anime that I had randomly stumbled upon.
Sakamichi no Apollon (Apollo on the Slope), otherwise known as Kids on the Slope in English. The manga was created by Kodama Yuki, and an anime adaptation ran for 12 episodes from April to June 2012. There were a few things that I didn't expect, but in the pleasant sense I was surprised. Firstly, the time period of Sakamichi no Apollon was the mid-1960s, which would explain the general simplicity of everyday life being portrayed in the series. The main protagonist, Nishimi Kaoru, transferred to Kyushu to begin life as a high school student at the beginning of summer in 1966. He was the typical good student who placed education before everything else, yet there was also a contrasting side of him which would gradually bloom through his experiences and encounters with different people. Kaoru would also go on to forge unbreakable bonds with Mukae Ritsuko and Kawabuchi Sentarou, who shared the same class and eventually a common love for jazz music.
Yeah, the seductive power of jazz slowly yet strongly diffused itself, like the permeation of flavours from the tea leaves in a pot of freshly boiled water. In the past anime that I had watched with music as either the main or sub-genre, I don't recall any of them using jazz as a catalyst. Naturally, I was drawn to the first piece of jazz in the series - Moanin' by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The song had somehow reminded me of a game that I had played in the past which came with an awesome soundtrack collection. Kaoru had also felt strongly towards Moanin', because he ended up buying the vinyl record from Mukae Records, a store owned by Ritsuko's father, and listening to it repeatedly to figure out the piano arrangement. He and Sentarou bonded quickly over their various jam sessions.
Of course, it wasn't only the jazz theme that entwined the main characters together. What would coming-of-age become without the jitters of romance and friendship? I wonder if there was ever a love pentagon? In this case, Kaoru soon developed a crush on Ritsuko who was in love with Sentarou. Sentarou couldn't take his eyes off Fukahori Yurika, who he had saved from some guys at a beach. However, Yurika took an interest in Katsuragi Junichi, a mutual friend of Sentarou and Ritsuko. The odd bittersweetness that emerged from an unrequited love for somebody might resonate with some people. Nonetheless, the unwavering pillar of friendship had continued to work its way into their hearts.
Besides the jazz music, I was also mesmerised by the opening and ending theme songs. The opening song 'Sakamichi no Melody' was performed by YUKI while the ending song 'Altair' was done by Hata Motohiro. I absolutely love the contrast between both songs. They are definitely loop-worthy! I also like the cover art of the 'Altair' single.
To love, friendship and the power of jazz. 'Sakamichi no Apollon' truly stands the test of time.
If you ever run out of anime to watch, just browse extensively through different websites and such, because you might just come across a gem or some which would leave you murmuring to yourself: Now, how did that pass me by? It certainly helps to be a little more random. Forget about synopses and reviews. Just allow your gut feelings to take over the decision-making process. Even if there could be a slight regret (kindly use that term sparingly), it isn't any difficult to return to the base and continue searching. The anime doesn't have to be sparkling brand new by the way. The downside of watching a brand new series is that you need to wait patiently for the next episode to pop out of somewhere. The best bit of watching (slightly) older anime is that you can simply add them to your list for a mini marathon or something. I've never tried it myself. I suppose it would be wicked to sit through 20 odd episodes for one anime, 30 odd episodes for another, 40 odd episodes for a third...or 366 episodes for Bleach. Well, unless myopia is permanently ruled out of this world, I wouldn't really want to risk anything...although a character wearing glasses is rather kakkoii. Pardon the digression.
I've decided to simply name this post 'Overlooked Anime' for what it represents. First in line is an anime series that isn't too dated. The manga has been around for a much longer time though. Interestingly titled 'Kill Me Baby', the anime adaptation was aired between January 2012 and March 2012 for a total of 13 episodes. The manga which it was based on happens to be four-panel (now haven't most of us seen that term somewhere?). Anyway, 'Kill Me Baby' falls under the same premise as most four-panels; the stories are rather loose and don't really accumulate into anything bigger. In short, don't expect much...well, except for tons of eccentric, sudden laughter-inducing, what-the-fish, and my-pace moments. Oh, the opening and ending theme songs are just as wicked. Definitely loop-worthy!
That said, let's meet the characters. There are four of them...well, three if you ask my honest opinion. First in line is Sonya (no last name given, not that it matters anyway) who is a petite, rather cute blond head attending a high school by day, and a supposed (?) assassin after that (or in the midst of school). Sounds incredulous? The irony goes up several notches once we realise her flaws and such. Also, despite being labelled as an assassin, Sonya never really does kill anything throughout the series. Ironically, the comically violent behaviour she displays is usually towards her classmate and supposed (?) friend Yasuna.
Next, there's Yasuna (or Oribe Yasuna if you like). For some weird reason, Yasuna simply enjoys sticking around Sonya despite knowing her other identity. She is often the butt of her own jokes and pranks, since Sonya is (mostly) far too smart to fall for anything. Yasuna is also oblivious to nearly everything. However, she does come across as genuinely wanting to be a good friend to Sonya which sort of explains her persistence.
Apart from an assassin, there is also a ninja - Goshiki Agiri. Like Sonya, Agiri doesn't seem to fit in her designation. She has a slow and overly relaxed approach to things. She seems to enjoy teasing Yasuna with her weird, self-proclaimed ninjutsu (since Yasuna is oblivious to a lot of stuff). Surprisingly, Agiri is usually within close proximity whenever Yasuna and Sonya are faced with difficult situations.
There is this fourth and last character who is simply called 'Unused Character'. Nope, you didn't see that wrongly. That's really the character's name! Almost nothing else is known about her since she is unused.
My most favourite bits from the anime have to be the opening and ending theme songs. The voice actresses behind Sonya and Yasuna's voices had lent their vocals to both songs. A word of advice: Just don't think of anything while listening to those songs. You will be more sane that way.
This month has been galloping like a wild horse; the third week is nearly finished. I'm not complaining though, for of late there are so much to read, watch and listen to. The jukebox has been playing some really awesome stuff. Speaking of which, I would like to introduce and recommend several character songs for anybody's listening pleasure. No worries about incorporating your daily cardio routine into any of these numbers, however the wandering disclaimer still applies. Shall we proceed?
The pleasant surprises which I would often get from realising that quite a handful of my favourite anime characters could actually hold their tunes beautifully has resulted in frantic googling and tracking down of several amazingly talented voice actors and the various songs that they have performed as those characters. The (mild) obsession with character songs has contributed significantly beyond the average playlist in my music player. I can't imagine the world without character songs. I think that I would make an interesting protagonist of some light novel series or something (in my fat dreams).
♪ MOMO'S BEAT / MIRACLE MAKER by Mikoshiba Momotarou (CV: Suzumura Kenichi) Mikoshiba Momotarou is more popular than his elder brother Seijuurou, at least in terms of having anything done musically. Momotarou was first introduced to us in the second episode of Free! Eternal Summer, and quickly gained a considerable following among fans. Honestly, I would prefer hanging out with Momotarou over Seijuurou even though both brothers could be equally annoying. There is something rather charming about Momotarou which is severely lacking in Seijuurou. Nope, it is definitely not due to Pyunsuke (as much as I would love to acknowledge that). Incidentally, Seijuurou is the guest vocalist in MOMO'S BEAT (much to Momotarou's irritation of course). I actually prefer the coupling song more - MIRACLE MAKER. There is something ticklish about MIRACLE MAKER which I shall not spoil here for the interest of some readers.
♪ EVERYDAY MAGIC / Miracle Lala Lulu by Sena Izumi (CV: Yonaga Tsubasa) I wonder how many readers out there are familiar with Yonaga Tsubasa. He has an awesome, unbelievably versatile voice range. If I were a voice actor, I would so quote Yonaga-san as my inspiration. Anyway, he is the voice behind Hazuki Nagisa (Free!), Manami Sangaku (Yowamushi Pedal) and of course, Sena Izumi (Love Stage!!). Sena Izumi comes from a family of entertainers, yet he has no inclination of becoming a celebrity himself. However, as a young child he had a cameo role as a little girl (yeah, girl) in a television commercial. That was how he first met Ichijou Ryouma. After a series of twists and turns, Izumi finally makes his debut across various media. Lala Lulu is an anime character that Izumi is obsessed with, hence it isn't surprising to have his own cover of Lala Lulu's theme song. The versatility of Yonaga-san truly complements the different character songs that he does.
♪ Mou sukoshi, ato sukoshi by Onoda Sakamichi (CV: Yamashita Daiki) and Makishima Yuusuke (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou) Yowamushi Pedal is the only other sports-themed anime that I follow, and I suppose that my cycling hobby from childhood has indeed triggered quite an interest in the series even though competitive cycling is way out of my league. Anyway, the climbers of Team Sohoku have forged a rather eccentric bond throughout the course, and it is always fun(ny) to watch both of them interact with each other. In this character single, besides their individual numbers there is also a duet which provides a refreshingly light-hearted perspective on their cycling adventures. Just a little bit more towards the goal...I can easily imagine that scenario.
The jukebox continues to play my favourite tunes. Stay tuned for more recommendations!
Okay, so maybe there are some things concerning anime which I'm totally not getting any into my deteriorating brains, or I'm simply selectively ignorant about stuff. For example, I just don't understand how it could be remotely enjoyable to watch an episode that lasts anywhere between three and a half and five minutes. Unlike songs which are easily loop-worthy, it seems more than strange to do the same for an anime episode. Coincidentally, the anime in question which I'm going to focus on today is an adaptation of a four-panel manga (again). I suppose that I could instantly conclude this post and tell everybody to just grab the manga instead. Honestly, is there a nationwide shortage of measuring tapes or something? Okay, I should stop whining and get to the series proper. Titled 'Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken' or in English 'I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying', the series was created by mangaka Cool-kyou Shinja. The anime adaptation premiered on October 3rd, and will run for 13 episodes.
This is Danna, or The Husband. His full name is Tsunashi Hajime. Danna was 23 years old at the beginning of the (manga) series. He is an AB-type Sagittarius. Danna is a hardcore otaku who could earn hundreds of thousands of yen per month as an administrator of an online forum. He and his wife met in a shop where he used to work part-time at. Danna is surprisingly muscular. In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Suzumura Kenichi (of Hitachiin Hikaru and Mikoshiba Momotarou fame!).
Tsunashi Kaoru is The Wife, who is actually a couple of years older than the husband. She is an O-type Cancerian. Kaoru is the typical OL (office lady) who doesn't know much about her husband's world except maybe for the occasional game that he plays. She is also clueless about internet lingo. Initially when they got married, Kaoru had long, black hair (blue in the anime) but she eventually bleached it blond. She loves her job, and smoking. To her husband, Kaoru is a true angel who is accepting of anything. Almost. In the anime adaptation, she is voiced by Tamura Yukari.
Mayotama is Danna's younger brother, even though he doesn't look like one. Mayotama is actually a cross-dresser who has a huge brother complex and is extremely fond of pairing himself up with Danna in suggestive situations. He is a fudanshi and a doujinshi artist (hence the frequent BL moments). Mayotama is his pseudonym. His full name is Tsunashi Youta. According to Danna, Mayotama's doujinshi has fetched considerable sales with more than a thousand copies sold each time at doujinshi fairs. Mayotama is voiced by Horino Sayaka in the anime.
Tanaka-san and Juse Rino are Kaoru's friends since high school. Both ladies are also married like Kaoru; in the case of Rino, her husband is also younger than her. Rino designs masks for a living, and despite the fact that she is married, her looks and stature are those of an elementary school girl. As for Tanaka-san, she works as a doctor and is actually pretty well-versed in internet lingo unlike her friends. An interesting fact about Tanaka-san is that she sticks to her maiden surname even after marriage. Rino is voiced by Kugimiya Rie, and Tanaka-san is voiced by Shintani Ryouko.
The theme song 'Ii kagen ni shite, anata' is performed by Danna and Kaoru (Suzumura Kenichi and Tamura Yukari). The credits show Danna and Kaoru having an intimate moment while soaking inside the bathtub. Congratulations, you have reached the end of those three and a half minutes. As an incentive (?), please look forward to the next episode! Or you could just follow the manga anyways.
