On February 10th, it was revealed that the rock band "RADWIMPS" will be performing the theme song for the NHK morning drama " Anpan " (General Asadora and others), starring Mio Imada , which will begin on March 31st in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year. The title of the theme song is "Tamamono" (Gift), and it is said to be a song that brightens up the world of " Anpan".
"Anpan" is written by Miho Nakazono, who is known for the "Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko" (TV Asahi) series, and tells the story of love and courage that will make you feel the joy of living as Yanase Takashi, who was still a nobody at the time, and his wife Nobu Komatsu overcome all sorts of rough seas to reach Anpanman. Imada will play Asada Nobu, who is based on Nobu, and Kitamura Takashi Yanai Takumi Kitamura, who is based on Yanase.
◇Comment from Yojiro Noda of "RADWIMPS"
I will be performing the theme song for "Anpan". Since I received the offer last spring, I have been developing the song while reading the script that has been delivered to me little by little like a letter. As I read through, I grew to love Nobu, Taku, and each of the characters, and at times I felt helpless and sad. The more I grew to like them, the more I wondered what kind of song would be appropriate.
I created this song with the following main objectives: "It has the power to give you the strength to crawl out of bed in the morning," "It has the same fresh vitality as Nobu," and "It's a song about challenges and adventures." I'm happy and honored to be able to travel with "Anpan" for half a year. I look forward to hearing from you!
◇Comment from Mio Imada
I'm really happy to be able to walk through Nobu's life with the music of RADWIMPS! I think the story of "Anpan" will resonate with the viewers' hearts even more through the theme song. When I first heard the song, I had a slightly different impression from the theme song of a "Asadora" that I imagined, but the more I listened to it, the more I felt that it was a perfect fit for the world of "Anpan". Each of the characters in "Anpan" lives with their own worries. But it is because they have worries that they realize that there is also joy. I feel that the lyrics and rhythm of the theme song are strongly connected to those feelings of joy and Nobu's growth. I would be happy if I could brighten up your mornings even a little.
◇Comment from Ken Kurasaki, Chief Producer and Production Manager
In drawing a "Asadora" based on the Yanase couple, we offered RADWIMPS the role of an artist who can deeply embody this, as life is not only filled with joy, but also with sadness and sorrow for everyone. As with "Shokai" on NHK's 18th Festival, RADWIMPS' music has many lyrics and songs that make you question "what does it mean to live?", and in "Anpan," which depicts one of the themes of "why were we born and what do we live for?", we felt like we wanted to take on challenges and adventures with them to the fullest.
When we first met, I told them, "Please don't be bound by the image of previous Asadora theme songs, but create something freely. Make a song that inspires vitality and the joy of living." After nearly a year of conversation, we arrived at "Gift." The song has many different expressions and seems to have infinite possibilities, just like the turbulent lives of Nobu and Taka. I am very excited to be able to deliver this "Gift" to everyone every morning.
