Chihara Minori, who has appeared in numerous popular anime works such as the role of Nagato Yuki in Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu and Utsushimi Camie in Boku no Hero Academia. She has also been active as an artist for a long time, coloring many anime with her songs like “Paradise Lost”, “TERMINATED”, “Kyoukai no Kanata”, and “Michishirube”. She has also held many concerts, not limited to domestic venues like the Nippon Budokan and NHK Hall, but also overseas in Thailand and China, captivating many anime fans with her singing voice.

This August 2nd (Saturday) and 3rd (Sunday), 2025, she will hold a symphonic concert with a full orchestra, “billboard classics Minori Chihara Symphonic Concert “Harmony”“, at the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater. “billboard classics” is a concert series started by Billboard Japan in 2012 with the mission of “delivering artists’ music in the best possible form”. This time, the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Chihara’s famous songs alongside her.

It is sure to be a luxurious time, but when people hear “orchestra,” some might feel that it’s “too formal,” or wonder “is there a dress code?” or “what about the exciting songs?”. Therefore, this time, we will introduce tips and points for enjoying Minori Chihara’s full orchestra concert. We interviewed the artist herself, who is preparing for the concert, to ask about her thoughts on the symphonic concert, the setlist she’s currently considering, and what preparations attendees might want to make.

[Text by M. TOKU]

Yoshuu Nooto Page 1: Minori Chihara’s Thoughts on the Symphonic Concert

――Please tell us what inspired you to hold a symphonic concert for the first time in four years.

Chihara: Last year (2024) marked my 20th anniversary since my debut. As I’ve continued my activities, thankfully, a wide range of people, from younger generations to those my age, have started listening to my music.

Amidst this, while I truly love performing live with my band members, I’ve recently started to think that it might be time for “the next stage,” both for me and for the audience. That led me to consider engaging with orchestral concerts more actively than before.

――So, by holding orchestral concerts in addition to your usual live style, you wanted to make it enjoyable for various people.

Chihara: That’s right. It’s not just limited to my concerts, but sometimes, after taking a break from high-energy live shows, people might feel a bit hesitant about returning. If people who were busy with childcare or work and couldn’t easily attend concerts suddenly find they have some free time and think “I want to go to a concert again,” I wanted to create a place where they could return to. I hope to continue holding concerts in this style in the future, in addition to the traditional band style.

――Please also share your impression of the “billboard classics” concert series.

Chihara: It’s a wonderful concert series where you can experience the music of currently popular artists with an orchestra. I myself went to a “billboard classics” performance by Tamaki Kouji, whom I deeply respect, and I can’t believe I’ll be performing in the same concert series. I thought it was a distant place I could never reach, so it’s a great honor.

――The venue for the symphonic concert is the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater, which celebrates its 30th anniversary. This concert will also be your 30th time standing on that stage, so you have a very deep connection.

Chihara: The Kawaguchiko Stella Theater, where I’ve been performing since 2009, is a very special place for me, like a second home or my ‘home ground’. It was this place that made my dream of an outdoor concert, which I had aspired to since I wanted to become a singer, come true. Also, important milestones for me, such as the suspension and restart of my singing career and my 20th anniversary, have been celebrated with concerts in Fujikawaguchiko Town, where the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater is located.

It’s an irreplaceable place that has helped me grow as an artist. It’s truly a blessing to be able to hold a symphonic concert with an orchestra, utilizing the theater’s characteristics, as part of the planning to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the beloved Kawaguchiko Stella Theater.

Kawaguchiko Stella Theater

――Having performed on the stage many times, please tell us about the unique features of the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater that you feel.

Chihara: Modeled after ancient Greek and Roman theaters, the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater has a semicircular, bowl-shaped structure with the concept of letting sound resonate through the architecture itself, like in the days before microphones and amplifiers. The sound of a coin dropped on the stage can reach the very back of the audience seats. I’m really looking forward to delivering my songs with the live performance of an orchestra in such a space.

――You mentioned that you are thinking about the concert structure and setlist yourself. Please tell us about the highlights.

Chihara: I am building the setlist around the keyword “classic”. Generally, “classic” often refers to Western art music, but it also includes meanings like “something excellent that is evaluated across generations” or “something that has been long established and highly regarded in various fields”. This time, I carefully selected songs while valuing these meanings of the word.

For example, the ending theme song for the TV anime Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, “Hare Hare Yukai,” which is scheduled to be performed this time, is, in a way, an “anime song classic”. It’s a song known by many people across generations and borders, and I believe it’s a song that should truly be etched in the history of anime music.

Actually, I’m still preparing, constantly thinking, “What is an anime song classic? What is a Minori Chihara classic?”. Of course, compared to music genres like classical music, the history of anime songs might still be short. Nevertheless, it might become a classic in the true sense one day. This is also a wish I hold. Nothing would make me happier than for the songs to be loved by many people for a long time, transcending time.

*Check Yoshuu Nooto Page 2 for details on the setlist!

――Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the symphonic concert and those who are considering buying a ticket.

Chihara: Anime songs used to be synonymous with subculture, but now they are becoming one of the important keys for Japanese artists to succeed globally, aren’t they? In fact, because I have been in charge of many anime theme songs myself, I have had more opportunities to perform overseas. I feel that the boundary between so-called mainstream culture and subculture is becoming blurred in modern anime songs.

In such a context, collaborating with “billboard classics,” which produces concerts for artists who represent Japan, could, in a sense, become a precious moment where mainstream culture and subculture intersect.

Of course, entertaining the audience with my performance is important, but if I were to say something ambitious, I hope that we can create a moment together with the audience where the value of the anime song culture is further enhanced. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Kawaguchiko Stella Theater!