Formed in 2019, Atarayo have swiftly become standouts in the J-rock scene. From the moment their debut song ‘10-Gatsu Mukuchi na Kimi wo Wasureru’ went viral on TikTok in 2021, the group have garnered considerable momentum thanks to 2 widely praised LPs (Kyokuya ni Oite Tsuki wa Katarazu and Kioku no Hako) and 1 outstanding EP (Yoakemae).

More recently garnered even more acclaim through their emotional theme song for season 2 of anime series The Dangers In My Heart called ‘Boku wa…’, alongside other name-making compositions such as their character songs for the popular RPG Memento Mori, and their hit collaboration with KERENMI which was used in the OST for the film Our Secret Diary.

For “a band that grows by consuming sadness”, there’s certainly a lot to be happy about. Nevertheless, Hitomi (vocals, guitar), Maashii (guitarist) and Takeo (bass) continue to bloom and thrive on their brand new full-length album Asatsuyu wa Komorebi ni Tokete. We caught up with the surging trio to find out more.

Atarayo recently embarked on an Asian tour! What was the experience of playing outside Japan like?

Hitomi: Since that Asian tour was the first time we’d held a solo concert abroad, we each had our own worries. But since the audience understood Japanese, we could convey our feelings and gratitude directly in our own words during on-stage banters, which made us very happy.

Do you notice any differences between Japanese crowds and audiences in other countries?

Maashii: In Japan, most people listen quietly, while overseas, more people sing along. It was great to see how everyone has their own way of enjoying our music. No matter which way they choose, it’s clear they’re having fun! Moving forward, I think we could adjust our performances to match the audience’s reaction.

Atarayo also composed Lament songs for the RPG Memento Mori. How did you come up with ‘realize’ and how does it reflect the character of Amleth?

Hitomi: I started composing this song with the piano. While working on it, I wanted to show Amleth’s growth and her journey forward since her previous Lament, 'outry'. I think the song conveys her resolve to carry the weight of her past.

Your first release of 2024 was ‘Boku wa…’, which was also the opening theme for season 2 of The Dangers in My Heart. How did you approach the creation of an anime theme song?

Hitomi: Maashii created the band sound, which served as the foundation, and I added the lyrics and melody over top.

Maashii: I aimed for something emotional that carried a sense of youthfulness within the fast-paced sound.

Hitomi: I thoroughly read the original manga while writing the lyrics. The manga has many beautiful scenes that made me reflect on myself, but of those, I specifically chose scenes that would express the message we wanted to deliver in the opening theme and focused closely on Kyotaro Ichikawa’s emotions when writing the lyrics.

What is your take on the story and characters?

Hitomi: I find myself really empathising with Kyotaro. His journey of learning to accept his changing self is so inspiring. It made me want to be someone who can embrace change, too.

Takeo: My favourite character is Kyotaro’s sister, Kana Ichikawa. She’s always his biggest supporter and gives him a push whenever he needs it, which I think is lovely.

Maashii: I like Moeko Sekine because she’s cute!

Could you tell us a bit about the creative and recording process behind the new album?

Hitomi: The production process went very quickly! We once recorded two songs in one day, I remember it set the record for the longest recording session in Atarayo history (laughs).

Maashii: It was long, but we worked hard! We enjoyed the recording process right to the very end.

Takeo: Overall, I think recording went very smoothly. And this time, I thought the sound making matched our songs perfectly!

It is described as “an album that fully showcases early Atarayo”. What does that mean?

Hitomi: Compared to our more recent songs, which tend to be more polished, with ‘Akegata no Natsu’ I took all the energy that welled up from within me and poured it straight into the track. I personally think it’s reminiscent of our early days. Being involved in the production process might be why it feels especially “Atarayo-esque” to me.

What is each band member’s favourite song from the album (and why)?

Hitomi: My favourite is ‘Refrain’ which is an autumn-themed song. I personally love the overall melody and rhythm. From the moment I started composing it, I was determined to include it in the album.

Maachii: Mine is ‘Kimi to’. I think it’s a standout track, and really want everyone to get hyped to it during live performances! Despite its intensity, it captures Atarayo’s characteristic strength and has an encouraging message for listeners.

Takeo: I love ‘Akegata no Natsu’. It’s not just my favourite, but the whole band’s. I think it’s a solid track that feels very complete. Please listen to it!