Based on the popular manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, the new Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns," was released on July 18th. Its stunning visuals are a sight to behold, and it's also garnering attention for its double theme songs, "Shine in a Cruel Night" by LiSA and "A World Without the Sun Rises" by Aimer. LiSA sang the theme songs for the 2019 episode of "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc" and the 2020 film version of "Mugen Train," and she describes the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba series as "friends who have shared important times and overcome obstacles together." We spoke to her about the thoughts behind the theme song for Chapter 1 and the behind-the-scenes recording process.
◇ "Shine in a Cruel Night" becomes a song that praises everyone
LiSA has previously sung the opening theme "Gurenge" and ending theme "from the edge" for "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc: Resolve Arc," the theme song "Homura" for the movie "Mugen Train," and the opening theme "Akeboshi" and ending theme "Shirogane" for the TV series "Mugen Train." "Gurenge" and "Homura" were huge hits, and she appeared on the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen two years in a row in 2019 and 2020, and in 2020 she won the Grand Prize at the 62nd The Japan Record Awards for "Homura."
LiSA will be performing the double theme songs for the first chapter of the " Infinity Castle Arc ," which depicts the final battle between Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slaying Corps and Muzan Kibutsuji and other demons. She said, "This time, the story is particularly about Akaza's return. In the " Mugen Train," Rengoku's battle with Akaza ended with "Flame," so I feel truly honored to be working with them again at this time, when we can cheer on Tanjiro and his friends as they meet Akaza again."
The double theme song, "Shine in a Cruel Night," was written, composed, and arranged by Yuki Kajiura, who also worked on the music for the anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba : Kimetsu Mugen Train: Determination Arc," "From the Edge," and "Homura," "Akeboshi," and "Shirogane" for the "Mugen Train Arc." When LiSA heard the first draft of the song before it was completed, she said, "It was a song with even sadder phrases than the current one."
"This is my fifth time working with Kajiura-san, and he's skilled at expressing sadness as sadness. On the other hand, my own voice has a sense of hope, a tone of brightness, so when these two come together, it becomes a song that has brightness and hope within the sadness. I felt that this was one of the things that Kajiura-san and I created with ' Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.' So this time too, I told Kajiura-san, 'I'd be happy if it was a song that gives you a sense of hope, a prayerful feeling,' and the song turned out to be a great mix of dark and bright parts."
The phrase "cruel" in the title of "Shine in a Cruel Night" is said to be derived from the subtitle "Cruel" of the first episode of "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc," which marks the beginning of the story. LiSA said that when she read the lyrics of the song, she felt that "Kajiura-san intended to bring everyone along properly."
"I think that in the story of ' Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kimetsu no Yaiba,' both the Demon Slaying Corps and the demons have all experienced sadness, which is why some people choose to become demons, or join the Demon Slaying Corps and defeat demons. I felt that this song praised everyone who fought while carrying that sadness, and I thought it was wonderful."
◇A recording that seems to be guided by the words and music, leading to new discoveries
"Shine in a Cruel Night" feels like a song with many different aspects, heavy yet refreshing, and at times even gentle.
"It's a song with a lot of different developments, but during the recording, Kajiura-san said to me, 'I really love!' the tone of my voice in the chorus from 'Go' and the chorus from 'I was dreaming'. So I thought that if I could create the usual LiSA voice, then I'd like to sing the other parts using a tone of voice that would suit the words and the music, so I sang using a variety of different tone of voices, interpreting it in my own way, as if I was being guided."
He said that he made some new discoveries about himself through this theme song.
"It was my first experience singing the part where I transition from the phrase 'Born from the fragrant darkness' to an operatic style. I tend to throw a pretty hard fastball (laughs), but I like the feeling of feinting a little like a 'bunt' in the previous phrase before going into 'The fragrant...' I really enjoyed singing in an operatic style."
◇ "Infinity Castle Arc " Chapter 1 is "Everything is beautiful, everything is painful" Everyone is risking their lives
LiSA, who has been involved in " Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba " as an artist since " Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc ," says she feels that there is a link between her own beliefs as an artist and the worldview of " Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba."
"I think the beliefs that I hold dear when singing and creating songs, or the things that I am convinced of, are very similar to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba."
She says that she has had this feeling since "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc." What does "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" mean to LiSA?
"I really feel like I'm a friend. The beliefs I want to sing about and the beliefs of the work "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" have come together, and I feel like there are people who share the same feelings. I've encountered such a work and have been able to spend a long time with it."
LiSA describes the first chapter of "Infinity Castle Arc" as "everything is beautiful, and everything is painful. It's a work in which everyone really puts their lives on the line."
"The characters, voice actors, animators, and even we are all really pushing our limits with this production, so I hope everyone will take the time to watch it. I hope you enjoy the music along with the production."
"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Kimetsu no Yaiba" tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado, whose family was killed by demons, who joins the Demon Slaying Corps to turn his sister, Nezuko, who has turned into a demon, back into a human. The original manga was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) from 2016 to 2020. The manga has sold over 220 million copies worldwide. The TV anime "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc" aired from April to September 2019, and the movie version "Mugen Train" released in October 2020 attracted over 28.97 million domestic viewers and grossed approximately 40.4 billion yen, the highest box office revenue in Japan's history. The "Entertainment District Arc" aired from December 2021 to February 2022, the "Swordsmith Village Arc" from April to June 2023, and the "Hashira Training Arc" from May to June 2024. The "Infinity Castle Arc" is a trilogy.
*The correct spelling of "Tsuji" in Muzan Kibutsuji name is a single dot. *The correct spelling of "Nezuko's" "Nezuko" is "Ne + 爾". *The correct spelling of "Ren" in Kyojuro Rengoku's name is "Ka + Higashi".
