Ayane (singer)

Ayane
Also known as彩音
BornOctober 9
Saitama, Japan
GenresJ-pop, anime song, video game songs
OccupationVocals
Years active2004 - present
LabelsMages
WebsiteOfficial website

Ayane (彩音, born October 9) is a female Japanese singer from Saitama Prefecture, who is mainly known for having performed several songs used in video games and anime.

She has performed theme songs for numerous animated works, including Higurashi When They Cry, Kenkō Zenrakei Suieibu Umishō, Ayakashi, 11eyes: Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shōjo, the Memories Off series, and Steins;Gate, among others.[1]

Biography

She studied piano, and began writing lyrics and dancing since early childhood.[2]

In 2004, she released her debut single, entitled "Kizuna", which was used as opening theme for the TV anime series W Wish.[1] Her first moderate success came in 2007 with her 5th single, "Nageki no Mori", which was used as the opening theme of the PlayStation 2 game Higurashi: When They Cry – Matsuri[1] and became her first Top 30 entry on the Oricon charts.[3]

In 2009, her 8th single "Lunatic Tears...", which was used as theme song for the computer game 11eyes: Tsumi to Batsu to Aganai no Shōjo, received high acclaim and won the Gold Prize in the theme song category at the Bishojo Game Awards.[1]

In 2014, she released her third studio album, Luminous Flux, and later released her 10th anniversary commemorative album Base Ten, for which she included re-arranged versions of previous singles, self-covers, and anime covers.[4] This year she was also invited to numerous international anime-related events, and performed live in Russia,[5] the United States[6] and Taiwan.[7]

In November 2016, her 23rd single "Soul Buster" was used as theme song of the Chinese-Japanese co-produced anime of the same name.[7]

In 2019, she celebrated the 15th anniversary with the release of the EP for Dearest, whose leading song was used as theme song for the video game Memories off -Innocent Fille-, and also held her 15th anniversary concert Ayane 15th Anniversary Live -for Dearest- at Club Seata in Kichijoji, Tokyo.[7]

In 2020, Ayane was appointed to perform the ending theme song for the Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou anime.[8] She subsequently also performed the second ending theme of Gou,[9] and the opening theme of the final season Higurashi: When They Cry – Sotsu in 2021.[10]

Discography

Ayane discography
Studio albums5
EPs2
Compilation albums3
Singles27

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details
Archive Lovers
  • Released: April 25, 2007
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD+DVD, CD
Elephant Notes
  • Released: August 6, 2008
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Lyricallya Candles
  • Released: December 22, 2010
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Luminous Flux
  • Released: January 29, 2014
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD+DVD, CD
Life time____.
  • Released: October 9, 2024
  • Label: Mages.
  • Formats: CD

EPs

Title Album details
For Dearest
  • Released: March 27, 2019
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Songs for... Music from MAGES. Studio
  • Released: August 31, 2022
  • Label: MAGES.
  • Formats: Digital download

Concept albums

Title Album details
Base Ten
  • Released: October 8, 2014
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD+DVD, CD
Resilience -Memories Off Best-
  • Released: March 21, 2018
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Analogy -Ayane Higurashi Song Collection-
  • Released: July 28, 2021
  • Label: MAGES.
  • Formats: CD+Blu ray disc, CD

Remix albums

Title Album details
Hyper Moe Trance
  • Released: May 25, 2007
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Hyper Moe Trance II
  • Released: July 23, 2009
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD
Hyper Dance Remix
  • Released: December 26, 2012
  • Label: 5pb.Records
  • Formats: CD

Singles

2000s
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
Oricon Singles Chart
[11]
2004 "Kizuna" (KIZUNA〜絆) 95 Elephant Notes
2005 "Ribbon" 112
"Orange" 71 Archive Lovers
2006 "Film Makers" 114
2007 "Nageki no Mori" (嘆きノ森) 30
"Dolphin Jet" (DOLPHIN☆JET) 78 Elephant Notes
2008 "Cloudier Sky" 81
"Lunatic Tears..." 68
"Sono Saki ni Aru, Dareka no Egao no Tame ni" (その先にある、誰かの笑顔の為に) 64 Lyricallya Candles
2009 "Endless Tears..." 25
"Gravity Error" 60
"Arrival of Tears" 22
2010s
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
Oricon Singles Chart
[11]
2010 "Angelic Bright" 40 Lyricallya Candles
"Jūjika ni Sasagu Septet[12]" (十字架に捧ぐ七重奏) 45
2011 "Crest of Knights" 151 Luminous Flux
2012 "Cry Out" 168
2013 "Itsu mo Kono Basho de" (いつもこの場所で) 34
"Phenogram" (フェノグラム) 54
"Genjutsu no Crossroad" (幻術のクロスロード) 157
"Kaiko no Fatalitat" (邂逅のフェタリテート) 170 Non-album single
2014 "Headway! Buccaneers/Never Give Up" 165
2015 "If" 156
2016 "Soul Buster" —
2018 "Resilience" (レジリエンス) — Resilience -Memories Off Best-
2020s
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
Oricon Singles Chart
[11]
2020 "God's Syndrome" (神様のシンドローム) 39 Analogy -Ayane Higurashi Song Collection-
2021 "Irregular Entropy" (不規則性エントロピー) 57
2022 "Anagram of Coda" 181 Non-album single
2023 "Dream On" —

Other

  • カカシ (Kakashi) — crystal2 ~Circus Vocal Collection~ Vol.2
  • 月と夜空とホウキ星 (Tsuki to Yozora to Houkiboshi) — Yanezutai no Kimi he opening song
  • Fractal Tree — PS2 game Que -Fairy of ancient leaf- opening theme
  • デコトラ☆愛らんど～伝説の男達～ (Dekotora ☆ Airando ~Densetsu no Otokotachi~) — Wii game Zenkoku Dekotora Matsuri ~Yosakoi Bakusou Onban~ insert song
  • After Rain (Live ver.) — THE WORKS Chiyomaru Shikura Gakkyoku Shuu
  • 宵闇の月に抱かれて (Yoiyami no Tsuki ni Dakarete) — FAR EAST OF EAST / Tatsh Music Circle Touhou project Arrange CD
  • 旋風ノ舞 (Senpuu no Mai) — Wii game Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Do Don to 2 Daime
  • Close Your Eyes (kors k mix) - ULTRA RELOAD Vol.1 feat. AKABEi SOFT2
  • Lunatic Tears... (DJ Shimamura Remix) — SUPER SHOT3: Bishōjo Game Remix Collection
  • Red Rose Evangel — Arcade game Taiko no Tatsujin playable song
  • Purple Rose Fusion - Arcade game Taiko no Tatsujin playable song
  • 覚醒 - Fractional Vision (Kakusei - Fractional Vision) - Visual Novel SINCLIENT theme song
  • Divine Beast - Hatsukoi 1/1 character theme song
  • Re-Start - Aikomyu!! -IDOL Communication- ending theme
  • punitive justice～千年の錯綜～ (Sennen no Sakusou) - PC game Shoujo Shin'iki ~ Shoujo Tengoku -The Garden of Fifth Zoa- ending theme
  • いつもこの場所で (Symphonic Ver.) (Itsumo Kono Basho de) - STEINS;GATE SYMPHONIC REUNION
  • REALIZE (vocals) - Cytus

With platoniX

  • CARRY ON NIGHT (English Version) — "beatmania IIDX 10th Style"
  • PLATONIC-XXX — "beatmania IIDX 10th Style"
  • Don't be afraid myself — "beatmania IIDX 11: RED"
  • Under the Sky (with Sayaka Minami from BeForU) — "beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY" & "Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2"
  • Xepher (with Yumi Natori) — "beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY"
  • DOUBLE ♥♥ LOVING HEART (with Sayaka Minami from BeForU) — "beatmania IIDX 13: DistorteD"
  • CARRY ON NIGHT (Dub's Old Gamers Remix) — "V-RARE SOUNDTRACK 12"
  • Don't be afraid myself (trance edge mix) — "V-RARE SOUNDTRACK 14"

As Junko Hirata

  • Xepher (ver1.1) (with Tatsh and Yumi Natori) — "Bemani Top Ranker Ketteisen"
  • 月光 (ver0.99) (Gekkou (ver0.99)) — "Bemani Top Ranker Ketteisen"
  • Love Again... (with Tatsh) — "beatmania IIDX 11: RED CS"
  • With Your Smile (with Shoichiro Hirata) — "beatmania IIDX 14: GOLD"
  • 旅立ちの唄 (Tabidachi no Uta) (with Tatsh) — "pop'n music 14 FEVER!"
  • Love Again... 'Brand New Life Mix' - Tatsh album MATERIAL
  • 旅立ちの唄 'Graduation Mix' - Tatsh album MATERIAL

Songs written for other artists

  • GLORY DAYS (lyrics) — from W Wish, performed by Saeko Chiba
  • WONDERLAND (lyrics & composition) — performed by Maria Yamamoto
  • MOON PARTY (lyrics & composition) — performed by CoCo☆HONEYMOON (Atsuko Enomoto & Maria Yamamoto)
  • LOVE&HISTORY (lyrics & composition) — performed by Maria Yamamoto
  • Reijou Doll (lyrics) — PC game Reijou Trader opening theme, performed by Yuuri Nashimoto
  • Gekkou (lyrics) — "beatmania IIDX 12: HAPPY SKY" performed by Kanako Hoshino
  • Lunatic Tears... (lyrics) — "EXIT TRANCE PRESENTS SPEED ANIME TRANCE BEST ECSTASY" performed by xue
  • Next Relation (lyrics) — Xbox 360 game Memories Off 6 Next Relation opening song, performed by Velforest.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ayane Releases New Theme for Steins;Gate PS Vita Game". Anime News Network. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Profile". Ayane Official Website (in Japanese). 5pb. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ^ "嘆きノ森 / 彩音 / ORICON NEWS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ^ "彩音 10th Anniversary Album『Base Ten』の収録内容が決定！発売記念イベントの開催も発表に！" (in Japanese). Lisani. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. ^ "「STEINS;GATE」「ひぐらしのなく頃に」の歌を披露—彩音さんが出演したロシア・モスクワのイベント「HINODE 2014」公式レポートが到着". Gamer.ne.jp (in Japanese). 2014-05-01. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  6. ^ Summers, Steve (2014-06-15). "Coverage & Interview with Ayane [彩音] @ Chicago Japan Festival 2014". Nihongogo. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Ayane profile". Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. ^ "『ひぐらしのなく頃に』最新シリーズのタイトルとOP・ED情報が解禁！OPは亜咲花、EDは彩音に決定！" (2020-10-09) (in Japanese). Lisani. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ "TVアニメ『ひぐらしのなく頃に 業』新EDテーマを「神様のシンドローム」に続いて、彩音が担当！ 彩音ニューシングル「不規則性エントロピー」2月6日発売決定！" (in Japanese). Lisani. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  10. ^ "2021年7月より放送開始のTVアニメ『ひぐらしのなく頃に 卒』OPテーマに彩音が決定！作詞:彩音・作曲:志倉千代丸による「Analogy」7月28日に全13曲入り豪華アルバムで発売！" (in Japanese). Lisani. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "彩音のシングル売上TOP7作品" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  12. ^ "「11eyes -Resona Forma-」OPテーマを歌う彩音さんのコメントが到着！" (in Japanese). OKMusic. 2010-08-25. Retrieved 12 April 2023.