A Song with Passion Amidst Seriousness! Araki and Horie Shota on the “9-nine- Ruler’s Crown Double Single”

The “Megami’s Voice” interview series from Megami Magazine features artists who perform theme songs for anime and games, discussing their music. The October 2025 issue is excited to present an interview with Araki and Horie Shota, celebrating the release of their 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown Double Single.

The duo delves into the creative process behind the anime’s intense opening theme and share their insights into the beloved 9-nine- series.

Araki

Horie Shota

Newfound Passion in Melody and Vocals

— Horie-san, you’ve lent your talent to the original 9-nine- game series by composing and arranging many of its theme songs. Could you tell us about your initial thoughts when you received the request to create “ResoNAnce,” the opening theme for the anime 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown?

Horie-san: When the TV anime adaptation was greenlit, a producer with whom I’ve had a long-standing relationship approached me, asking if I’d be interested in handling the opening theme. Reflecting on it, I’ve been involved with 9-nine- for about six or seven years, so naturally, I was incredibly delighted to receive this offer.

— “ResoNAnce” features Araki-san on vocals, marking the first time a male vocalist has performed a theme song for the 9-nine- series. How did this decision come about?

Horie-san: By the time I received the offer, Araki-san was already confirmed as the artist. As you rightly pointed out, Yonekura Chihiro-san had previously been in charge of the theme songs, so I was certainly surprised by the choice of a male vocalist. Furthermore, male vocalists aren’t frequently spotlighted in game-related music, so I felt a profound sense of responsibility to deliver something truly special.

— Araki-san, were you surprised when you were offered the role of singing the opening theme song?

Araki-san: I was absolutely astonished! I haven’t had many opportunities to handle anime theme songs as a solo artist, and more than anything, given that Yonekura Chihiro-san had previously performed the theme songs, I initially thought that original fans might harbor some complex feelings. However, it was also a tremendous honor, so I eagerly accepted, fueled by a strong desire to take on the challenge and, hopefully, win over any reservations with my performance.

Horie-san: When a new individual steps into a work with a rich history, there’s always a mix of excitement and a touch of apprehension, a feeling of “Am I truly the right person for this?”

Araki-san: Now that the singing is done, I can confidently say, “I’m glad it was me!” (laughs).

— Were there any specific elements you consciously focused on, considering this is the first male vocal for the 9-nine- series and an anime track?

Horie-san: The 9-nine- series has always maintained a serious, underlying atmosphere, and in previous compositions, I’ve consistently woven in a motif of tension. My aim was to echo that in the anime’s opening theme. However, for this particular song, I truly wanted to express the deep passion and explosive energy inherent in the world of 9-nine- more vividly than ever before. Regarding the vocals, my focus was less on it being a “male” vocal and more on crafting a song that perfectly suited Araki-san’s unique style. Araki-san is an extraordinary singer who can unleash boundless energy, and what’s even more impressive, he possesses the control to masterfully manage that explosive power. He’s also adept at building the progression leading up to that energy release, so I was keen on leveraging that incredible talent.

Araki-san: When I first heard the track, my immediate thought was, “Wow, that key is unusually high!”

Horie-san: I would have lowered it if you had mentioned anything, but since you didn’t say a word, I left it as is (laughs). I’ve had the pleasure of working with Araki-san many times, but even now, I can’t quite pinpoint his absolute limit. That’s precisely why I completely entrusted Araki-san with how far he wanted to push his vocals.

Araki-san: Listening to the melody demo, even before any temporary vocals were laid down, I was immediately struck by its intricate composition, the stunningly beautiful chorus, and the simmering passion embedded within—it truly felt like a signature Horie-san creation. After hearing the song, I felt that since a male vocalist would be performing it, I wanted to infuse it with a certain “humanity.” So, instead of my usual powerful, aggressive singing style, I aimed for a more emotionally nuanced delivery.

— The lyrics were penned by Yamaguchi Tako-san, who has also been responsible for the lyrics of theme songs in the original game series 9-nine-. What was the collaborative process like?

Horie-san: My typical approach is to first develop the melody to a certain extent, and once the arrangement is somewhat solidified, I then request the lyrics. This time was no different, but I also made sure to communicate, “If suitable phrases come to mind, I’m absolutely willing to modify the melody, so please don’t feel compelled to force words into the existing musical structure.” Yamaguchi-kun possesses a strong academic background in music and remarkably high overall musical skill. For “ResoNAnce,” he once again demonstrated his ability to grasp the song’s entire dynamic range, beautifully capturing the work’s inherent tension and inorganic seriousness, while also delicately portraying the smoldering, passionate emotions beneath the surface. I felt he provided lyrics that truly allowed the melody to shine.

Araki-san: The manager who was working with me during the song’s production was very well-versed in 9-nine-, and explained to me that it’s a genre where everyday life suddenly plunges into the extraordinary, involving artifact-based supernatural abilities. The lyrics skillfully translated that sense of the extraordinary into words and perfectly expressed the underlying tension. When singing, I consciously aimed to imbue my voice with that tension, while also being mindful of the melody’s beauty and the resonant qualities indicated by the title “ResoNAnce.”

— We hear that Araki-san handled the recording entirely by himself. Is that true?

Horie-san: Araki-san’s recording process is a bit of a black box; I’ve never actually been present for any of his sessions.

Araki-san: There’s no engineer either; I manage everything from recording to delivering the final track entirely on my own. In fact, if Horie-san had been watching, my vocal quality might have dipped due to nerves (laughs).

Horie-san: It’s not always the case that having direction during recording necessarily yields better results. If an artist approaches the song with their own clear vision and passion, I believe something truly wonderful can emerge regardless of the recording environment.

Araki-san: However, this time, I was provided with very thorough materials and temporary vocals, which made it much easier to deeply understand the song and perform it. Initially, there was talk of recording in a studio. But then, Horie-san and other staff members said, “Araki-san has been doing it alone for many years, and he has all the necessary equipment, so you can safely leave it to him.” That level of trust was incredibly reassuring and empowering.

Horie-san: If there’s a request for discussion during the production phase, we’ll certainly talk, but my philosophy is that if the creative team’s vision is aligned in the same direction, then everyone should be free to work independently towards that shared goal. Of course, for this particular song, we had initial discussions with Araki-san and the manufacturer, but after that, there were no additional meetings, and the recording was completed smoothly. From my perspective, since I entrusted the track to Araki-san, even if the nuance had been slightly different from what I had originally envisioned, I likely wouldn’t have requested any retakes. I firmly believe that in singing, true charm often arises from serendipitous moments and raw emotion, rather than solely pursuing absolute perfection.

Araki-san: That’s precisely why the human element truly resonates within the song, making it even more impactful and beautiful.

Horie-san: Both Araki-san and I share a bit of a “bandman” mentality; we often find it more engaging when things are a little unconventional or “out there” rather than perfectly calculated and precisely executed. Don’t you think there’s more profound meaning in collaborating with others when you construct something using elements beyond just what resides within your own internal world?

Araki-san: Absolutely. I’m definitely the type who aims for the maximum impact rather than just a perfect score of 100.

— What were your impressions when you first saw the opening animation sequence with your song playing?

Araki-san: It felt almost too good to be true, but it was certainly a fascinating and surreal sensation to hear my voice emanating from the television.

Horie-san: Personally, I’m the type who prefers to binge-watch an entire series once it’s completed. For the first and second episodes, I’ll typically review the visuals to see if there’s any further feedback to offer, but once a song is completed, I feel it transitions from being a production element to belonging to the artist and the listener. Given my long-standing involvement with this project, simply seeing the characters moving and animated was a straightforward joy.

— Is there anything specific you’d like listeners to pay attention to or check out when listening to the song?

Horie-san: For me, my main hope is that listeners will simply enjoy it in whatever way they prefer. “ResoNAnce” introduced Araki-san’s vocals as a fresh element, resulting in a distinct kind of energy unleashed compared to our previous songs. I genuinely feel we succeeded in making that particular aspect especially memorable.

Araki-san: The A-melody and B-melody are sung with a lower, darker tone, and I believe we’ve successfully infused a unique essence that sets it apart from previous 9-nine- series theme songs. I hope listeners can approach it with an open mind and find it both engaging and familiar to their ears.

— Reflecting now, what aspects of the 9-nine- series do you believe have garnered such widespread love and appreciation?

Horie-san: It’s the meticulously crafted story and its intricate foreshadowing, the stylish battle sequences, and the mysterious narrative devices—essentially, the exquisite way the entire world is constructed. And underlying that high production quality, it’s the genuine portrayal of human emotions that truly ignites the spirit. I believe that it’s human will and affection that ultimately break through overwhelming circumstances, so the straightforward depiction of such universal themes across all generations is also something I deeply appreciate.

Araki-san: While I’m not intimately familiar with the original work, the first episode of the anime immediately plunged me into a whirlwind of developments involving artifacts and supernatural abilities, which truly resonated with my inner chuunibyou. I believe it contains elements that can captivate a wide audience, even first-time viewers, so I’m definitely looking forward to binge-watching the entire series once it finishes airing.

— Finally, please share a message with your readers.

Horie-san: With “ResoNAnce,” the opening theme song for 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown, I consciously aimed to create something that would instantly make people think, “This is cool!” or “This sounds intriguing!” I’d be genuinely pleased if it successfully fulfilled that role. If you found the work or Araki-san’s vocals captivating, I sincerely hope you’ll give it many listens.

Araki-san: I believe “ResoNAnce” has become a song that can deeply resonate with the emotions of the characters depicted in 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown. Just as the title “ResoNAnce” suggests, I sang it with the heartfelt desire to create a track where the feelings of the work, the viewers, and all the users can echo and connect. My goal was to craft a song that could serve as an inviting gateway to 9-nine-, even for those unfamiliar with the series, and reach out to them. I’d be absolutely delighted if you feel that connection. Please pay close attention to the seriousness and the beautiful melodies in conjunction with the opening animation.

Artist Profiles

Single Information

9-nine- Ruler’s Crown Double Single
Released
Clear Rave Co., Ltd.
2,750 yen (tax included)

This is the theme song single for the TV anime 9-nine- Ruler’s Crown. It includes two tracks: the opening theme song “ResoNAnce,” performed by Araki and composed/arranged by Horie, and the ending theme song “Pale Blaze,” performed by Yonekura Chihiro-san and composed/arranged by Horie.

(C) Clear Rave, Marvelous, Good Smile Film

<Megami Magazine Editorial Department>

_

Source