Maaya Sakamoto’s latest song, “Drops,” has been chosen as the opening theme of the TV anime Aru Majo ga Shinu Made, which will premiere on April 1. A preview of the song is available in the first main promotional video for the series, released today, which can be viewed via the video below:
Aru Majo ga Shinu Made 1st PV:
Aru Majo ga Shinu Made is a heartwarming fantasy about Meg, a 17-year-old apprentice witch, who is told by her long-lived teacher, Faust, that a terrible curse has left her with only one year to live. In order to break the curse, Meg sets out to bring happiness to those around her and collect the joyful tears shed by 1,000 people within a year.
The lyrics for “Drops” were written by Yuho Iwasato, who has collaborated with Maaya Sakamoto on many songs. The music was composed by Naoto Kiyota, an up-and-coming composer making his debut collaboration with Sakamoto, and the arrangement was handled by Shin Kono, who has been arranging Sakamoto’s music for many years. This combination of familiarity and fresh talent makes for an exciting team.
PROFILE
Born in Tokyo, she began her career as a child actress at the age of eight. She made her CD debut in 1996 with the single “Yakusoku wa Iranai.” Following her 2011 album You Can’t Catch Me, which topped the Oricon chart, she began actively collaborating with a wide range of other artists and musicians. Since her 2013 album Singer-Songwriter, she has also been composing music for other artists.
In 2019, she released her 30th single “Uchuu no Kioku” (produced by Ringo Sheena) and her 10th original album Kyou Dake no Ongaku. In 2020, she released her 25th anniversary album Single Collection+ Achikochi and the digital single “Yakudo,” which topped the Oricon chart.
In July 2021, her radio program “Vitamin M,” which she had been hosting for 20 years, reached its 1,000th broadcast and entered its 21st year. In May 2022, she released the double tie-up single “Sumire / Kotoba ni Dekinai,” with music written and arranged by Shigeru Kishida.
To date, she has released 35 singles and 11 full albums. As a lyricist, in addition to writing her own original songs, she has also written many songs for other artists, including Kinki Kids’ “Hikari no Kehai,” Mamoru Miyano’s “Toumei,” and Walküre’s “Kaze wa Yokoku Naku Fuku,” and has published her own lyrics book Shishu (Kadokawa).
She won the 38th Kazuo Kikuta Theater Award for her performance as Jerusha in the musical Daddy-Long-Legs. Her latest essay collection Manpukuron – Asu ni Kaburitsuke (Kadokawa) has also garnered attention.
In addition to her singing career, she is active as a voice actress, actress, lyricist, essayist, and radio personality. Her fresh and vibrant voice is loved by fans not only in Japan but also around the world. In 2025, she will celebrate her 30th anniversary as a performer and is set to contribute the opening theme song for the TV anime Aru Majo ga Shinu Made.
Official homepage: http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/maaya/
Official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/maayasakamotoCh/
