Aina The End on the DANDADAN Season 2 Opening Theme “Kakumei Dochu”
The popular “CD & Blu-ray RELEASE INTERVIEW & REVIEW” feature, regularly found in Animedia magazine, is renowned for spotlighting the hottest anime theme songs and providing fascinating interviews with the artists behind them. For the October 2025 issue, the spotlight was on DANDADAN Season 2’s opening theme, “Kakumei Dochu.” We had the privilege of speaking with Aina The End, a former member of BiSH and now a thriving solo artist, who performed the song. Here, we present an extended version of that interview, including parts that couldn’t be featured in the magazine!
The Genesis of “Kakumei Dochu”
――When did you receive the offer to perform the TV anime DANDADAN‘s opening theme?
The offer came during a period when I was continuously producing tie-up songs, including “Frail,” the theme song for the movie Hen na Ie. At that time, I felt that while creating songs for specific works didn’t always go as planned, it was a valuable learning experience. Amidst all that, I received an offer for the theme song of DANDADAN, a series I’ve loved for a while, and I remember feeling incredibly motivated, thinking, “I’m going to grow even more before I create this song!”
――So you were a fan of DANDADAN even before the offer came in.
Yes, absolutely. I’ve seen works themed around aliens or yokai separately, but never a series that combines them both. I found that aspect incredibly interesting, so I was reading the manga even before the anime adaptation was announced. And honestly, with the anime, the series has transformed into something even more incredible. There were lines in the manga where I wondered, “How would this be pronounced?” but the voice actors delivered them with the utmost skill, creating an astounding captivating power.
――When did you first watch the anime?
I was given the chance to watch the animation right when it was fresh off the press. What really struck me was how Creepy Nuts-san’s (honorific omitted in conversation) first season opening theme, “Otonoke,” boldly incorporated the title DANDADAN. The accompanying visuals were also incredibly immersive and truly impressive.
――Your song “Kakumei Dochu” also features phrases that echo the title, like “Dandan Dadadan.”
I created that part with the strong desire to infuse the essence of “Otonoke” into our song. As BiSH, I actually had the opportunity to perform alongside Creepy Nuts-san (honorific omitted in conversation) and we often appeared together on TV. So, I felt a personal connection to them, and I crafted that phrase out of deep respect. To be honest, when I received the offer, I was thrilled to be taking over the OP theme from them.
――What was your initial approach to creating the theme song?
First and foremost, I decided I couldn’t approach it with the mindset of merely “adding a flourish to the work.” DANDADAN is such a captivating series that I felt if I didn’t create a song with the ambition to really lead the show, it wouldn’t resonate with anyone. I also kept in mind that I wanted to cram all the diverse elements of the series—like its romantic comedy and occult themes—into the 89 seconds of TV broadcast. I knew it would be incredibly challenging to pack so much content into such a short time, so I started the production feeling a lot of pressure.
――This song is credited as a joint composition and lyric by you and Shin Sakiura-san.
When I started this project, I knew I would be quite demanding. So, I reached out to Shin-kun, hoping to work with someone who could embrace my requests and bring them to life. We’ve been friends for about 10 years, and being the same age, it’s easy for us to express our opinions freely. On top of that, Shin-kun’s musical sense is absolutely brilliant. He doesn’t fill the music with sound; instead, he creates spaces that allow the listener to pour their emotions into it. I thought that combining Shin-kun’s ‘spaces’ with my passion could lead to a wonderful chemical reaction.
――How did the production process unfold?
First, I just poured out all my ideas to Shin-kun. He then suggested, “Let’s create it through a session,” and so, with Shin-kun playing the guitar, I sang continuously for about six hours, laying down the broad framework. Honestly, I’m not usually good at making songs through sessions. I often try too hard to match the other person and struggle to come up with my own melodies. But with Shin-kun, we have such an open and honest relationship that we were able to take this approach. After establishing the general structure, I took it home to flesh out the details. Even when I got stuck in a rut, Shin-kun provided various advice. I feel like he really guided me through the whole production.
――Were there any challenging aspects in the composition?
The B-melody, starting with “kurai tonneru no kabe” (dark tunnel wall), was particularly challenging to create. This section wasn’t part of the initial framework we decided during our session; I added it later because I wanted to express the dark undertones of DANDADAN. However, finding the right balance for that darkness was difficult. Making it too melancholic, like Radiohead, felt a bit too heavy, but going for a free-spirited Björk vibe seemed to stray too far from an anime song. I also felt that if I brought the mood down too much here, it wouldn’t connect well with the chorus’s progression, so I experimented with various techniques to create it.
Lyrical Choices and Performance
――How did you write the lyrics?
During the session, I didn’t decide on the lyrics; I was singing in a “nyanyanya” sort of way, so I took it home and carefully crafted them. I decided most of the phrases myself, but Shin-kun offered ideas for some crucial parts. The phrase “kokora de abarechatte mo ii kana” (Is it okay to go wild around here?) actually came from him, and it adds such a nice flavor, doesn’t it? On the other hand, a phrase I created that I particularly like is “unaru ze” (I’ll growl). I don’t think many people have started a chorus with a growl before, so I feel like I’ve unleashed something good there. Initially, I thought about quoting a line from the series, “naeru ze” (It’s depressing). But when I actually tried singing it, I realized it made me feel depressed too. So, I changed it to the phrase we have now.
――What did you keep in mind when singing?
Not overdoing it. I always have this desire to surpass my previous work, and during recording, I often feel overwhelmed, thinking, “Why can’t I do more?” As a result, my singing can become too forceful, and when I listen back, I sometimes think, “Did I overdo it?” But this time, Shin-kun was there, helping me find that balance so I wouldn’t go overboard. He even advised me, saying, “Aina, you’re more of a monster than you realize, if you do any more, it’ll become unlistenable.” It was a valuable learning experience, especially since I’d wanted to learn more about subtractive songwriting.
――Could you share your impressions of the opening animation?
At the moment of “kurai tonneru no kabe,” Okarun and Momo walk towards the sunset, and that sunset then transforms into a golden orb. It was incredibly moving, to the point of making me cry. Also, the first verse used in the TV anime was written from Okarun’s perspective, the protagonist of this work. It seems the animators understood this, as they included shots from his point of view. When I saw that, I felt nothing but immense gratitude.
――Finally, please give a message to everyone eagerly anticipating the CD release.
This is my first time releasing a single CD as a solo artist, and I truly feel fortunate that it’s “Kakumei Dochu.” So, I genuinely hope everyone will get their hands on the CD. Also, because this is the opening theme for DANDADAN, I believe people from many different countries will be listening to the song. If you’d like, I’d be incredibly happy if you all created and enjoyed versions in other languages, and I’d love to hear them myself if any are made!
Product Information
[CD+Blu-ray] Kakumei Dochu
2,200 yen (tax included)
By Ichino Daigo
