AiNA THE END is a unique artist on the Japanese music scene. She began her career in 2015 with BiSH, before going solo after their split in 2023. Singer, composer and choreographer, she blends rock, J-pop and contemporary dance with a very personal energy. Today, she lends her voice to the opening credits of DAN DA DAN Season 2 with the track “On The Way”.
In this exclusive interview, she reflects on her journey, her love for the series, and how she captured its unpredictable energy in song. What’s more, she’s preparing a world premiere that will thrill her fans… Discover the surprise at the end of the article!
The highly anticipated new season is now here and fans around the world will be able to stream it on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Muse, and ADN.
Key Visual:
Before you read the full interview, you can listen to “On The Way”:
AnimeTV: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
AiNA THE END: Hello, I’m AiNA THE END. I began my career in 2015 as a member of BiSH, a punk band without instruments. BiSH disbanded in June 2023, and I am now working as a solo artist. I have been studying dance since I was a child and was in charge of choreographing BiSH’s performances. I am a singer-songwriter and also create my own dance choreography.
How would you describe your musical style?
AiNA THE END: My musical style is in ROCK and J-POP, but I also love R&B and dance music. I’ve been dancing since I was four years old, so I often sing and dance simultaneously on stage. My dance style is primarily contemporary, and I freely express myself through both singing and dancing.
How did the DAN DA DAN anime collab go?
AiNA THE END: I was so happy to be able to create a song for one of my favorite series, DAN DA DAN! Both the manga and the anime are really entertaining. Momo-chan is adorable. What I especially love is Momo’s sharp tongue and straightforwardness, and Okarn’s scientific, talkative nature. The contrast between them is fascinating, and I also enjoy the story’s pacing.
I also like that the aliens and monsters that appear are not too scary but have a cute charm to them. When making the opening song, the anime production asked for a fast-paced feel, but overall, I created the music based on the feelings I got from DAN DA DAN itself.
What inspired you to write/perform “On The Way”in the DAN DA DAN universe?
AiNA THE END: I wanted to write a love story inspired by Okarun and Momo from DAN DA DAN. I focused on their small feelings of affection and the courage that love gives them to keep fighting. Honestly, DAN DA DAN is a series I never get tired of reading, so I wanted to create a song I wouldn’t get tired of listening to either.
To achieve that, I decided to include many different sections in the music with distinct vibes. The A melody is quite low-key, the B melody has a chill atmosphere, and the C melody is catchy. The chorus carries the fast-paced energy typical of a theme song.
For the lyrics, I took memorable lines from DAN DA DAN Season 2 and wrote a love song expressing the idea that being able to fight to protect someone is truly a blessing.
In your track, we hear you say ‘Dan Da Dan,’ as in the opening theme performed by Creepy Nuts. Was that your own idea, or did the anime’s producers and creators ask you to incorporate ‘Dan Da Dan’ into the track?
AiNA THE END: Yes, that’s right! It was my idea to include the shout ‘Dan Da Dan!’
I asked Shin Sakiura, who co-wrote the song with me: “Can we create a section here where I can say ‘Dan Da Dan’?”
It wasn’t in the original plan, but we worked it in and made that melody happen.
I included that phrase so everyone can enjoy the song together with the DAN DA DAN anime. I hope you’ll enjoy it alongside me! It would make me so happy if the audience chants ‘Dan Da Dan!’ together during live shows.
Your voice often seems to vacillate between raw strength and fragility. Was this an intentional choice on this track?
AiNA THE END: I’m happy. Thank you.
I try my best to live strongly, but sometimes people around me say it feels like I might disappear. Maybe that feeling came through in the song. It wasn’t conscious at all it just came out naturally.
Have you watched the first season of DAN DA DAN? If yes, do you have a favorite character?
AiNA THE END: Of course, I’ve watched both the original manga and the anime! I really love Turbo-Granny, Momo-chan, Okarun… wait, what?! I guess I love all of them! But if I had to pick, Jiji is my favorite character!
If “On The Way” were to be sung by a character from the series, which one would you say most closely matches its energy?
AiNA THE END: I think it’s Momo-chan!
What do you think of the fans’ enthusiasm?
AiNA THE END: DAN DA DAN is incredibly popular worldwide, and I really think that’s amazing. Since it’s such an exciting series, I want even more people to discover it. And I hope we can all sing “On The Way” together!
Do you have any last message you would like to spread to your fans around the world?
AiNA THE END: To everyone who loves DAN DA DAN! I love DAN DA DAN too. Let’s continue enjoying it together! Please also support the opening theme, “On The Way”! I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you!
Artist photo:
More about AiNA THE END:
AiNA THE END started her career in 2015 as a member of the “instrument-free punk band” BiSH, and made her major-label debut the following year. In 2021, she released her first self-written solo album, ‘THE END’, marking the start of her solo career. When BiSH sadly disbanded in June 2023, she continued as a solo artist.
She has also provided theme songs for a number of anime series and films, including the ending theme ‘Red:birthmark’ for Season 2 of ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury’, ending theme ‘The Spell’ for ‘The Apothecary Diaries’, and theme song ‘Love Sick’ for ‘Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain’.
In addition to her activities as a recording artist, in 2022 she played the role of Janis Joplin in the first ever Japanese production of Broadway musical ‘A Night with Janis Joplin’; while in October 2023, she played her first leading big-screen role in the film Kyrie’, directed by Shunji Iwai, for which she won numerous prestigious awards.
Tickets to her solo tour Grow The Sunset in March 2024 and her first ever headline show at the Nippon Budokan titled ENDROLL in September 2024 sold out completely.
She released her third solo album ‘RUBY POP’ on November 27, 2024 – her first new album in three years. This was followed in December by her first ever overseas solo concert, held in Taiwan. Her ongoing Harinezumi Smile tour began in January 2025, visiting eight cities across Japan.
■ AiNA THE END links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aina_THEEND
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/aina_BiSH
Staff X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/aina_THEEND
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainatheend_official/
Official website: https://ainatheend.jp/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ainatheendofficial
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/7932903646
SURPRISE (Exclusive): AiNA THE END to perform her first-ever Western live performance in 2025!
©Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA, DANDADAN Production Committee
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