Interest
Yoko Kanno Composes Song for Reiwa Emperor's Enthronement Celebration
posted on by Kim Morrissy
Composer Yoko Kanno (Macross Plus, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) composed a 13-minute song "Ray of Water" which she conducted at the Reiwa Emperor's enthronement celebration on Saturday. The song is divided into three parts: "Kaishin" (Sea god), "Niji no Kodomo" (Children of the rainbow), and "Journey to Harmony."
Popular boy band Arashi performed the vocals for the third part. Screenwriter Yoshikazu Okada wrote the lyrics. Acclaimed pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii performed the piano solo for the second part.
The Japanese government announced on April 1 that the new Japanese era name when Crown Prince Naruhito accedes to the Imperial Throne will be "Reiwa" (令和), meaning "auspicious/excellent peace." The new era name took effect on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito became the new emperor. The formal enthronement ceremony took place on October 22. The imperial couple paraded at a citizen-led celebration on November 9 and 10, drawing crowds of thousands.
Sources: Oricon, Gwyn Campbell
