AYANE at 17th Tokyo International Music Market

The 17th Tokyo International Music Market ended with the ‘anison’-centric sub-event JAPAN ANIME MUSIC SHOWCASE 2020. Be it intentional or coincidental, the organisers managed to line up four songstresses, each of whom started their careers in one of the last four decades. After 2020 debutante MindaRyn opened proceedings, it was the turn of AYANE repping the 2000s.

For her second appearance at a TIMM event – the singer also performed at the 7th edition in 2010 – AYANE stepped out onstage in a flowing yellow and black dress. Under a swirl of red and blue lights, she kicked off with Complex Image. A light, synthy number from 2007, it’s the song that initiated her association with the “Higurashi” franchise.

As if to underline the longevity of her connection with the series, the next song Frustration was produced for the recent mobile game “Higurashi no naku koro ni mei”. Given its electropop slant, a backing band would’ve been kind of redundant. However, the absence of support dancers or a DJ gave the show the feel of one of AYANE’s many anime convention performances.

For Kamisama no Syndrome, the singer’s ending theme for the latest “Higurashi” anime series, the lighting adapted to the power ballad’s mood. AYANE swayed under stark beams of blue and white in the verses, basking in a red haze during the chorus. Then, perhaps mindful of making her set an unofficial “Higurashi” showcase, the songstress delved deep into her past for the last song.

What ORANGE – an understated, slightly melancholic little tune – lacked in climatic energy, it made up for in the weight of its significance to AYANE’s career. It was released in 2005 as the first single from video game studio MAGES’ in-house label, with whom she’s still signed. Furthermore, it was composed by MAGES founder Chiyomaru Shikura, who also wrote the three preceding songs.

As the lights came up, a cheerful AYANE waved effusively at the various cameras, flashing the same beaming smile she’d worn throughout her preshow interview. Still going strong after sixteen years, there will no doubt be plenty more to come. Her next single Fukisokusei Entropy – coincidentally another “Higurashi” tie-in composed by Shikura - is due out on February 6th.

Set List

01. Complex Image
02. Frustration
03. Kamisama no Syndrome
04. ORANGE