An Introduction to Omoinotake

Omoinotake’s music leaves a lasting impression. Over the years, the Japanese piano-based trio has gained more popularity through their drama and anime collaborations.

In 2024, they gained traction through “Ikuokukonen“(幾億光年, translated to billions of light years), the theme song for Eye Love You starring Chae Jong Hyeop and Fumi Nikaido.

This article answers frequently asked questions about Omoinotake.

Who is Omoinotake?

Omoinotake is a three-member Japanese piano band. While rooted in contemporary J-pop, the band blends elements of rock, jazz, R&B, and soul into their pieces. They also center their core rhythms around the piano in place of the guitar.

Originally founded in 2012, the band made their major label debut in 2021. Outside of Japan, their features in popular dramas and anime–including anime opening “EVERBLUE” for the Blue Period series–have brought them attention from overseas.

Who are the members of Omoinotake?

The band consists of three members: vocalist and keyboardist Leo Fujii, bassist Tomoaki Fukushima, and drummer Hironoshin Tomita.

Here is more information on each member.

Leo Fujii

Leo Fujii (藤井 怜央) is a gifted pianist, vocalist, and main songwriter for the group. His gentle vocals and smooth falsettos provide depth to their repertoire. Before forming the band, he prioritized his time as a drummer.

Emoaki (Tomoaki Fukushima)

Tomoaki Fukushima (福島 智朗) is a bassist and main lyricist for the band. His nickname is “Emoaki”(エモアキ). As their main lyricist, he provides the tender lyrics for most of the band’s songs. 

Hironoshin Tomita

Hironoshin Tomita (冨田 洋之進) is the skilled and rhythmic backbone of the band on the drums. 

What is the origin of the name Omoinotake?

Bassist Fukushima (otherwise known as Emoaki) came up with the band name, based on his favorite word in Japanese. In English, “omoinotake” signifies the fullest of one’s thoughts, actions, and feelings. Emoaki hoped the band could fully convey this sentiment in its songs and lyrics. He states, “I wanted our band name to confront my true omoinotake.”

When was Omoinotake formed?

Omoinotake was formed in 2012. Originally from Shimane prefecture, the three members had met in middle school. However, it wasn’t until they moved to Tokyo that they decided to form the band together. 

Emoaki and Tomita first came together with the idea to form the band. Then, they remembered Fujii’s vocal capabilities through his choir experience. They reached out with an invite to join them, creating the current trio.

In their early days, the trio performed on the streets and livehouses of Shibuya, Tokyo. These performances became a defining aspect of their rise to popularity, allowing them to connect directly with their audience and showcase their distinctive sound. They were also highly active on social media, to expand their reach outside of Tokyo. 

In 2017, the group signed with NEON RECORDS and released their first full album, So Far. The band continued to produce new music while growing their fanbase.

In 2020, the band’s popularity grew through collaborations with popular shows and movies. They were the fifth artist featured on THE HOME TAKE, the pandemic edition of THE FIRST TAKE, one of Japan’s biggest YouTube music channels dedicated to live artists.

In 2021, the band made their major label debut with onenation under Sony Music, with EVERBLUE, for the anime opening for the popular Blue Period series. Netflix’s international release propelled the band’s name to a larger, global fanbase. 

In 2023, the band celebrated its 11th anniversary with Ammolite, the release of their first major album in September.

In 2024, the group released “Ikuokukonen“(幾億光年), which gained popularity alongside the popular TV drama Eye Love You; the song climbed many notable music charts in Japan and brought greater recognition to the trio.

What makes Omoinotake unique?

One of the defining characteristics of Omoinotake’s music is its ability to blend diverse genres into a cohesive and captivating sound, rather seamlessly. This makes their discography both varied and unified.

When fans speak of the group, they often comment that each song is different, yet distinctly true to the band. One blog states, “You can feel that emotional depth even without understanding the lyrics.”

Nevertheless, the band’s tender and heartfelt lyrics are just as special as its catchy melodies. Each song feels like a musical journey to connect with its listeners. Omoinotake’s discography reflects their unwavering commitment to creating emotionally resonant music.

Most songs have been created by composer Fujii and lyricist Emoaki. This incredible song-creation pair has been instrumental to the group’s current success and future growth.

Here is an introduction to a few of their many popular songs. Three of the songs below have been used as anime openings and endings.

Check out each YouTube video below to view the English translations of their beautiful lyrics.

EVERBLUE

Everblue is the band’s first song following their major label debut with onenation. It is also their second anime tie-up as the opening for Netflix’s Blue Period series. This song increased the band’s name recognition overseas. 

Through working with a skilled music producer, the band comments that they “leveled up” through the creation of this song. The instrumental arrangement is as colorful as the meaning of the lyrics.

モラトリアム (Moratorium)

Moratorium is the theme song for the BL movie “囀る鳥は羽ばたかない (Twittering Birds Never Fly) The clouds gather. This song marks the group’s first collaboration in the anime industry. “Moratorium” has a ballad-like quality, with elements of danceable grooves they are known for. This is combined with the unique touch of sadness found in the original storyline.

One Day

Released in May 2020, “One Day” encapsulates the frustration and determination to overcome the difficulties at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This piece reflects the band’s genuine emotions to someday reunite with one another, and their desire to bring hope–as the lyrics note, to keep dreaming of tomorrow–through music.

“One Day” gained further popularity through the band’s appearance on Sony’s popular music YouTube channel, THE FIRST TAKE. Check out their performance.

幸せ (Shiawase)

Shiawase, the Japanese term for happiness, perfectly encapsulates the fluttery feelings one experiences when listening to this song. It is the band’s third and most recent tie-up for the 2023 Horimiya series. The song evokes feelings of nostalgia and the reminiscent joys of youth, parallel to the love story in the original work.

産声 (Ubugoe)

Ubugoe is the opening theme song “Cherry Magic,” a boys’ love drama that soared to popularity and won the best drama award for the season. Ubugoe, translated to the first cry of a newborn baby, captures the song’s sentiment to speak from one’s true heart.  The piano-driven melody and heartfelt vocals capture the character growth of the main lead in the drama. 

To summarize:

  • Omoinotake is a piano band consisting of three members–Fujii, Fukushima, and Tomita–who grew up together in Shimane prefecture and formed the band in Tokyo.
  • They first found their stage on the energetic Shibuya streets, slowly growing the band’s popularity over the past decade.
  • Their name signifies the fullest of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. The band name reflects their member’s feelings towards the band and the music creation process.
  • The band’s piano-centric, genre-fusing music and heartfelt lyrics contribute to their one-of-a-kind sound that soothes the soul.
  • Check out a few of their songs, including their popular anime tie-ups, “Moratorium”, “Shiawase”, and “EVERBLUE.”

Indeed, Omoinotake’s work is a testament to the power of collaboration and experimentation in music. These members didn’t just create a band; they reflect their fullest feelings–or “omoinotake”–to constantly evolve and redefine the boundaries of what music can be.

Where can I follow Omoinotake?

Official website: https://omoinotake.com/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv1jAWnr9rPKRQsEZYl5izQ 

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Omoinotakey 

Instagram:

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