Every sumika anime song
Emerging from Japan’s indie rock music scene in 2013, sumika (named after 住み家, the Japanese word for “dwelling”) set out to create music that makes listeners feel at home.
This article introduces every sumika anime song featured in a TV series or movie.
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All sumika Anime Songs
Note: Most interview quotes and official comments come from sumika’s vocalist Kenta Kataoka, who has composed and written lyrics for many of the band’s songs. All current and former members have contributed to the band’s discography.
Unmei – From Delicious in Dungeon
“Unmei” (運命) is the second opening theme for season one of Delicious in Dungeon, with a digital release on April 4, 2024.
In their official comment, sumika reflects on the fear of the unknown that comes with adulthood, the hesitation to try new things often stems from a reluctance to face unfamiliar emotions.
The song draws inspiration from the characters in Laios’ party, who “teach us that the unknown can be fun,” the band comments. “Finding amusement in one’s own destiny and being able to savor anything in life must surely be interesting.”
Like Delicious in Dungeon, this sumika anime song is “one more dish to an enchanting meal,” turning life’s surprises into something worth tasting.
Starting Over – From Mix: Meisei Story 2nd Season
“Starting Over” is the opening theme song for Mix: Meisei Story 2nd Season – Nidome no Natsu, Sora no Mukou e. Digitally released on April 22, 2023, this sumika anime song marks their return to the series following season one’s opener “Equal” in 2019.
In the band’s media comment, Kataoka was inspired by the idea of “starting anew.” The band had recently celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of their album For., which centered around the theme of “endings.”
Entering into their 11th year, they embraced a fresh start as they “reunited with Mix on that first step,” they shared in an interview. Instead of trying to recreate or surpass “Equal,” the band took a different approach and aligned their current mindset with the evolving story in season two.
Glitter – From A Couple of Cuckoos
“Glitter” (グリッター) is the opening theme for Season 2 of A Couple of Cuckoos, released digitally on July 24, 2022.
For this sumika anime song, the band tried to match the anime’s “dizzying story” and its unique characters driving its charm, they shared in their official comment; they hoped the song would “add color” to the series’ vibrant energy.
“Glitter” captures this sense of exhilaration. “I wanted listeners to feel like they had just stepped off a rollercoaster when the song ended,” Kataoka shared in an interview. He aimed to create a song that left listeners thinking, “This is amazing!” and even “made them feel goosebumps.”
Shake & Shake – From Pretty Boy Detective Club
Released digitally on April 18, 2021, “Shake & Shake” is the opening theme song for Pretty Boy Detective Club.
sumika was honored to contribute to the world crafted by NISIOISIN and described the experience as “like a dream.” In their official comment, Kataoka highlighted the song’s core theme: “Face things with your own aesthetic sense, and continue to be the you, you like to be.”
sumika worked closely with the production team to blend their musical style with the show’s visual aesthetic, helping bring the world of Pretty Boy Detective Club to life in a “three-dimensional” way.
Higher Ground – From My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
“Higher Ground” is the theme song for the film My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. This sumika anime song was released on December 11, 2019.
In his official comment, Kataoka recalled the day he performed a backflip for the first time—a moment that taught him “yesterday and today are different.” My Hero Academia reminds him of that experience, which showed him the excitement of “looking forward to tomorrow.”
With a request to make the song accessible to children, sumika also wanted “Higher Ground” to resonate with fans of all ages and from all around the world. While staying true to their musical style, sumika aimed to create a track that would also appeal to a broader audience.
In a later interview, Kataoka admitted that achieving this balance was a challenge. He shared, “It was quite difficult, and that may have been my battle.”
Equal – From Mix: Meisei Story
“Equal” (イコール) is the opening theme for Mix: Meisei Story Season 1. This sumika anime song was released digitally on June 1, 2019.
The song is significant for Kataoka, who fondly recalled watching its prequel Touch as a child. “My older sister and I often fought over trivial things,” he recalled in a media comment. “Watching Touch was the few times we could spend time happily together.”
Kataoka described the thrill of seeing Uesugi Tatsuya’s pitch on screen as an elementary schooler, never imagining that years later, he himself “could catch it in this form.” He expressed great happiness in contributing to manga artist Mitsuru Adachi’s world through music.
Every sumika Anime Song in I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
sumika contributed three songs to I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, the animated movie adapted from Yoru Sumino’s hit novel. A longtime sumika fan, Sumino called it “the most wonderful thing” to have the band compose music for the story.
The band worked closely with director Shinichiro Ushijima, who praised their efforts in his official comment; he expressed, “I’ve never had someone create a song that was so in tune with the work.”
Learn more about every I Want to Eat Your Pancreas sumika anime song below.
Fanfare – From I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
“Fanfare” (ファンファーレ) is the opening theme for the 2018 film I Want to Eat Your Pancreas and was released digitally on July 25, 2018.
In an interview, Kataoka shared that the song was inspired by the high school perspective of the film’s protagonist, sharing, “I wanted to create the song with the feelings of that time in mind.”
To bring themselves back to their high school days, Kataoka and longtime drummer Arai, who were bandmates back then, composed the song using the same simple setup they used at the time.
sumika describes “Fanfare” as a simple piece. The first verse acts as the movie’s “Fanfare,” while the rest of the song becomes a blank canvas for the band’s creativity. Stripping away excess, they aimed to convey their message in the “shortest possible way.”
This sumika anime song reflects the band’s mindset at the time: “Doing what we want, laughing at what we find fun, and being moved by what moves us.”
Shunkashuto – From I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
“Shunkashuto” (春夏秋冬), also stylized as Shunkashuutou, is the theme song for I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. This sumika anime song, released on August 29, 2018, was the first track the band collectively composed together and officially credited under their band name.
In an interview, Kataoka revealed the grueling creative process behind the song, which underwent 15 revisions before its completion. “Two hours after first submitting the demo, I thought, ‘this is a bit different,’” Kataoka shared in an interview.
The frustration increased as each attempt felt insufficient, prompting the band to try a completely new approach. For the first time, all four members gathered in the studio to create melodies from scratch, a process reminding Kataoka of the strength of making music as a team.
The lyrics aim to express the unspoken words of the film’s protagonists, or as Kataoka explained, “the things that the characters couldn’t convey” in the story.
Himitsu (movie ver.) – From I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
“Himitsu (movie ver.)” (秘密 (movie ver.)) is an insert song for I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. Released on August 29, 2018, the track plays during an original fireworks scene created exclusively for the film.
In an interview, keyboardist Takayuki Ogawa revealed that his approach for this sumika anime song was to capture the protagonists’ “breath, temperature, and words in their hearts,” during a pivotal moment in the movie. The fireworks scene demanded grandeur, but he focused on depicting a “minimal world” leading up to its climax.
To better understand the scene, Kataoka visited Studio VOLN to study the storyboards, original sketches, and other materials. Witnessing the gravity of the anime team’s work, he shared, “They are putting their lives on the line, every second.” Moved by their dedication, Ogawa too resolved to pour his life into completing the song.
An extended version of the song that is included above was later included in sumika’s 2019 album Chime.
Fiction – From Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
“Fiction” (フィクション) is the opening theme song for Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. Released on April 25, 2018, this song marks the band’s first anime tie-up and remains one of their most streamed tracks.
This sumika anime song is inspired by life’s fleeting, yet meaningful moments. “Someone I didn’t know was holding the elevator door open, waiting for me,” Kataoka wrote in their official comment. He reflects on how the small, casual “fictions” of everyday life are filled with the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Check out the anime opening sequence below, which features the popular Wotakoi dance.
The song lyrics also tell the story of sumika’s journey as they celebrate their fifth anniversary. The band’s first five years, Katanoka noted, were full of change—with hiatuses, new members, and challenging twists and turns—but also countless moments he treasures.
As he shared in a 2018 interview, “Even the hard times are things I don’t want to forget.”
Music Playlist: All sumika anime songs
Listen to this playlist of every released sumika anime song mentioned above.
Follow sumika
Follow sumika, and learn about any upcoming sumika anime songs, through the links below:
Official Website:
https://www.sumika-official.com
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Check out other anime song lists and articles on utatune.
