Tower Records Shinjuku, known for its extensive selection of anime songs, is home to Sho Higuchi, the anime buyer, who reports on best-selling anime songs and direct feedback from the sales floor on Shinjuku Anime Song Scope. The No. 1 album for November 3-9 on the store's rankings was "ULTIMATE CITY," the first solo album by Kagami Hayato, a member of the VTuber/Virtual Liver group Nijisanji.
◇Last week's results
Kagami Hayato, who took the top spot, is a popular live streamer affiliated with Nijisanji. He has released numerous digital singles and has been actively involved in music, including performing as part of the unit "ROF-MAO" with Kenmochi Touya, Fuwa Minato, and Kaida Haru. Kagami Hayato's first solo album, "ULTIMATE CITY," is packed with content, featuring the participation of many impressive music creators, including Suganami Eijun (eijun) and Shota Horie of "THE BACK HORN." This album conveys Kagami Hayato's deep love for band sounds, especially rock and metal, and his excellent vocal ability.
Among the debut entries are the new single "OPEN THE G☆TE!!!" by the school idol group "Liella!" from the popular anime series "Love Live! Love Live!!!," which came in second place, and the mini-album "Let's Become a Promise," which includes the theme song and insert songs from the second chapter of the currently-showing anime film "Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club: The Final Chapter," which came in third place. These results reflect the immense popularity of the "Love Live!" series.
Coming in at number 4 is voice actor Soma Saito's latest EP, "Nuance." Saito himself wrote all the lyrics and composed the music, and the album has a pop sound that also draws on his favorite music genres, such as indie rock and shoegaze.
Coming in at No. 7 is the debut album of "Sound! Euphonium! Sound! Euphonium 10th Anniversary Wind Orchestra Album 'espressivo'," which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the TV anime "Sound! Euphonium." In addition to a number of rearranged wind orchestra background music from the third season of the TV anime and the mid-length animation, the anniversary album also includes the required songs and free pieces from the wind orchestra competition held in the show. Coming in at No. 8 is the debut album of "THE IDOLM@STER SideM TRANSCENDENT T@LES 02," a new CD series from "The Idolmaster SideM," part of the popular "The Idolmaster" series, which includes games.
◇This week's trends
We're focusing on the second album "Snapshot" by the VTuber girl group "ReGLOSS," the latest CD series from the game "Uma Musume Pretty Derby," "Uma Musume Pretty Derby WINNING LIVE 30," and the latest single "'FIGHT' ADDICT" by the real-life band "RAISE A SUILEN," from the popular anime and game "BanG Dream!"
◇Tower Records Shinjuku store anime song section ranking (from left: title, artist, title omitted)
1st place "ULTIMATE CITY" Kagami Hayato Album
2nd place "OPEN THE G☆TE!!!" Liella! Single
3rd place: "Let's Promise Each Other" Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Album
4th place: "Nuance" by Soma Saito Album
5. "CHAINSAW MAN THE MOVIE: REZE ARC original soundtrack -summer's end-" Kensuke Ushio album
6th place "Zombie Land Saga Yumeginga Paradise The Best Paradise" Franchouchou album
7th place: "Sound! Euphonium 10th Anniversary Wind Orchestra Album 'espressivo'" by Akito Matsuda
8th place "THE IDOLM@STER SideM TRANSCENDENT T@LES 02" Takagi Kyoji (Yuichiro Umehara), Hanamura Shoma (Baretta Yu), Koron Chris (Komada Wataru), Amamine Shu (Ise Yuriku) Single
9th place: "COWBOY BEBOP (OST)" Yoko Kanno Album
10th place "THE IDOLM@STER MILLION BATTLE OF THE@TER EX01 Hug a nice day!" Umi Kosaka (Reina Ueda), Tsumugi Shiraishi (Saki Minami), Fuka Toyokawa (Rie Suegara), Subaru Nagayoshi (Yuki Saito), Akane Nonohara (Saki Ogasawara), Kana Yabuki (Ibuki Kido) Single
◇Profile
Higuchi Sho is a buyer in charge of anime at Tower Records Shinjuku's 7th floor (Japanese music and sales promotion). He was transferred from the Machida store in 2014. He first became interested in anime through 1990s works such as "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "BLUE SEED," and "VS Knight Ramune & 40 Flames," and among anime songs, he loves listening to character songs, especially those related to idol anime. His favorite anthem is "Up! 10sion Pleeeeeeeeease!" from "The Idolmaster Million Live!" His favorite anime and games include "Pretty Rhythm," "The Idolmaster," "Photo Kano," and "Sakura Wars."
