Enthusiasm for Anime Songs Reached Shanghai: A Day of Unity and Emotion at "ANISAMA WORLD 2024 in Shanghai"

On November 16th, 2024, "ANISAMA WORLD 2024 in Shanghai" was held at Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in China.This event is a special international edition of "Animelo Summer Live" (Anisama), one of the world's largest anime song festivals. Anisama, held every summer in Japan, has captivated many fans as a flagship event of anime song culture. This year, it reached Shanghai, revealing new possibilities for international cultural exchange.
Anime, as a symbol of Japanese culture, enjoys immense popularity overseas, and anime songs (anisongs) share its world through music, fostering unique connections among fans. The Shanghai event was a milestone, symbolizing the evolution of anisong culture as a bridge for international cultural exchange beyond Japan. Artists, who are tied to hit series like "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED", gathered and brought to numerous moments of unity filled the venue.
The possibility of holding "ANISAMA WORLD" in other cities is being considered, with expectations that anisong culture will continue to transcend national and linguistic boundaries, fostering even broader cultural exchanges. This report reflects on the inspiring day in Shanghai and explores the potential for cultural exchange through anisong, as well as future international developments.

The event kicked off shortly after 4:30 PM. As the introductory video concluded, a huge cheer erupted. T.M.Revolution and Shouta Aoi appeared on stage, opening the day with "Preserved Roses" from the anime "Valvrave the Liberator". After Aoi exited, T.M.Revolution performed iconic tracks "INVOKE" and "ignited" from "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED", prompting loud cheers from the audience with the very first notes and enveloping the venue in the unique unity characteristic of ANISAMA.


Breaking the silence, Miku Itō appeared on stage. The first song she performed was "Shocking Blue", with blue lighting shrouding the venue and the audience waving blue glow sticks in response. During the next song, "No.6," the choreography with the dancers was perfectly synchronized, captivating the audience with an energetic performance.


After the song ended, Ayaka Ohashi, Shuka Saito, and Liyuu, wearing witch hats, appeared on stage, saying "We're joining in." Miku Itou also donned a witch hat, and they performed the opening theme of "Ojamajo Doremi” titled "Ojamajo Carnival!!".


As the stage lit up again, Shuka Saito appeared. The intro of "Sekai no Hate" began to play. Contrary to her earlier energetic appearance, she now wore a serious expression,.
In the following song, "Papapa", she transformed her expression and, with the ANISAMA version of the music video playing behind her, she moved vibrantly with dancers amidst colorful visuals. The audience clapped along with the rhythm, creating a sense of tightness between crowd and performer.


Next to take the stage was Liyuu. Accompanied by dancers, she delivered a lively performance of "bloomin'" to an upbeat rhythm. In response to the enthusiastic reaction from the audience, she charmingly talked with them in Mandarin, saying things like, "The audience feels so close! Thank you all for coming. How did you get here?" —a reflection of her Shanghai roots that further wowed the audience.
She continued with "TRUE FOOL LOVE" and concluded by inviting a pianist to the stage. Together, they performed "Big Fish" the theme song from the Chinese animated film "Big Fish & Begonia" in its original Mandarin. Her pure and transparent singing voice resonated throughout the venue, and the audience listened in captivated silence.


After Liyuu's stage, Shouta Aoi appeared once again. He energetically ran across the stage with a powerful performance of "Zessei Stargate". Without missing a beat, he went on to perform "BAD END," an edgy number that further excited the audience.
During the MC segment, he smiled and said, "This isn't one of my songs, but I've prepared a song that I want to sing with everyone." As the intro to "Butter-Fly," the theme song from the highly popular anime "Digimon Adventure" began to play, the venue erupted in cheers. When the chorus came, Aoi pointed the microphone towards the audience, prompting a massive sing-along. It was a touching moment that united everyone under the Shanghai sky.


Next to take the stage was Ayaka Ohashi, dressed in a pink varsity jacket. With the call to "Let's enjoy ANISAMA Shanghai!" she kicked off her performance with "YES!!". Her bright and lively performance elicited shouts of her nickname "Hassy!" from the audience, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere.
During the MC segment, she enjoyed interacting with the audience and then proceeded to perform "Daisuki." and "Wagamama MIRROR HEART". Her powerful yet cute singing and dancing captivated the audience.


Konomi Suzuki burst onto the stage with a powerful call of, "Hi Shanghai, let's keep going!" and instantly energized the venue with her first rock-influenced song, "DAYS of DASH".
During an MC segment, she announced that she would be holding an Asian tour in the spring of next year, to which the audience cheered.
The next song was a ballad, "THERE IS A REASON". With piano accompaniment, she showcased her rich vocal talent.
For her third song, "Reweave," she returned to an aggressive rock style that shook the venue once again. The finale was what Suzuki described as a special song "This game". Ayaka Ohashi made a surprise appearance dressed in black, contrasting with Suzuki's white outfit. The two delivered a perfectly synchronized performance. The audience was struck by the stunning duet and responded with enthusiastic applause.


As the excitement in the venue continued, Minori Chihara took the stage. With animation from "Beyond The Boundary" playing in the background, she passionately performed the theme song of the same name. In the following song, "Yuki, Muon, Madobe Nite.", Chihara sang quietly and stood still, displaying an expression reminiscent of the character Yuki Nagato, whom she portrayed in "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". With the next song, "Michishirube" accompanied by piano, she captivated the audience with her delicate singing.

Cheering on the audience with "Let's get energized from here!" Chihara performed "Paradise Lost," inviting Ayaka Ohashi for her fourth appearance of the day. Together, they delivered an emotional collaboration. Each holding a microphone stand, they sang intensely, with the audience responding with enthusiastic cheers. Their powerful vocals and expressive performance left the audience thrilled.

TRUE was the next to take the stage, performing "Frozen" with scenes from "Wistoria: Wand and Sword " playing in the background. The gentle sound of the acoustic guitar brought a new atmosphere to the venue. In the following song, "Sincerely," she stood by the piano and captivated the audience with her remarkable vocal ability.

After performing "ReCoda" which she introduced as a song filled with her passion for music, she invited a special guest, ReoNa, to join her. Together, they delivered a performance of "Independence". TRUE's fiery, passionate expression contrasted beautifully with ReoNa's calm and serene voice, creating a striking contrast that moved the audience deeply.

ReoNa began her solo part with her latest song "GG." Emulating the music video, which features over 70 guitarists, she performed with four guitarists on stage, delivering a powerful grunge-infused guitar rock performance.

The next song was "Alive," the theme song for "Arknights: Prelude to Dawn" which she presented in a special version, singing entirely in Mandarin. This unexpected rendition elicited surprised and appreciative cheers from the audience.
She concluded with one of her signature songs, "ANIMA". ReoNa addressed the audience with the question, "What color is your soul?" and ended the stage with her deeply resonant and heartfelt singing.

As ReoNa's stage ended, a countdown suddenly began, raising the anticipation in the venue. Tetsuya Komuro then made a dynamic entrance. Showcasing his skills by playing a synthesizer solo, he transitioned into the famous track "Get Wild". Midway through the intro, Takanori Nishikawa reappeared on stage. Komuro, sporting a shoulder keyboard, moved freely around the stage, enchanting the audience alongside Nishikawa.

Before the second song, Nishikawa raised anticipation by excitingly asking in Mandarin, "Have you seen the movie?!" He then passionately performed "FREEDOM" the theme song for "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM" marking the first collaboration between Komuro and Nishikawa. This special moment was made even more memorable by its debut in Shanghai, home to a life-size Freedom Gundam statue.

Next, they performed "BEYOND THE TIME ~Mebius no Uchuu wo Koete~" the theme song for the 1988 movie "Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack" which Komuro had adjusted to seamlessly connect from the outro of "FREEDOM". The collaboration between these legends, not only from the anime song world but also from the Japanese music scene, showcased the enduring power of music that transcends eras. It was a breathtaking and unforgettable performance.

After Komuro shyly introduced himself in Mandarin and left the stage, Nishikawa called all the vocalists who performed to come forward. Each of them expressed their gratitude to the audience, and together they concluded the event by singing the Anisama theme song, "Stargazer”.

"ANISAMA WORLD 2024 in Shanghai," the first overseas event in this live series since 2011, embodied the cross-border power of anisong culture. It reflects the recent global surge in the popularity of Japanese anime and anisong. In this context, it once again demonstrated the cultural power of Japanese anime to transcend borders.

Recently, the overseas popularity of Japanese anime has reached unprecedented heights. Works like "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Demon Slayer" have garnered significant attention across Asia and the West, and streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have cultivated new fans. In 2023, "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" and "SPY×FAMILY" caught the spotlight, further highlighting the diversity and depth of anime works. In Taiwan and Korea, "Chiikawa" and "Haikyu!!" have received overwhelming support. Additionally, in Indonesia, "Haikyu!!" has sparked an increased interest in volleyball among young people. This rise can also be attributed to access to immediate information via social media.

Meanwhile, in China, events like "COMIC UP," "BilibiliWorld," and "Bilibili Macro Link," as well as events such as "Anime Festival Asia" in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, along with official exhibitions like "Attack on Titan" in Singapore, which attracted about 80,000 visitors in six months, support the growth of the anime scene through offline events. The success of anime-related events in China and Southeast Asia forms an important backdrop for "ANISAMA WORLD's" overseas expansion. As fan bases grow richer across countries and cities, the significance of this Shanghai performance becomes even more profound.

The global spread of the charm of Japanese anime and anisong through "ANISAMA WORLD" is expected to have economic ripple effects, such as increased tourism demand to Japan and the promotion of anime-related product exports. Moreover, deepening cultural exchange with local fans could lead to the emergence of new perspectives and projects beyond merely broadcasting Japanese culture. Anisong serves as a bridge that will enable richer international cultural exchanges.

"ANISAMA WORLD 2024 in Shanghai" went beyond being just a musical event and once again demonstrated the potential for international cultural exchange through Japanese anime and anisong. As the event celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025 and beyond, new initiatives through hosting in even more diverse regions and fusing anisong with local cultures will be eagerly anticipated.