ReoNa just debuted her new song Kaibutsu no Shi from her upcoming 3rd single Null―which is releasing on August 28―on 802 Palette, a late-night radio show on which she is a regular host.

The song was written and composed by creator Kegani (LIVE LAB.) when ReoNa was 17-years-old. It received a huge reaction from listeners after it aired on radio with its lyrical content tackling emotions such as pain and fear all laced together with ReoNa’s beautiful vocals.

An animated music video for Kaibutsu no Shi was also posted on ReoNa’s new YouTube channel which just launched. Produced by Minakata Laboratory, the entire video is coloured in sepia tones from start to finish. The video follows a female protagonist who is bullied, has no home to go to, is starved of love and continuously feels loneliness and isolation. The video is sure to stir different emotions in all who watch it.

ReoNa – “Kaibutsu no Shi” Music Video (YouTube EDIT ver.)

The video posted on YouTube is a shortened version; the full version will be available on the DVD that is coupled with First Press Limited Edition copies of ReoNa’s upcoming new single Null.

Before she made her solo debut, ReoNa first lent her voice to Kanzaki Elza, a character featured in the TV anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online which aired in 2018. She continued to release songs with the pseudonym “Kanzaki Elza starring ReoNa” under which she topped digital music charts in Japan. In January this year, she performed the ending theme forget-me-not and the insert song Niji no Anata ni for Sword Art Online: Alicization. She has enjoyed overwhelming success since debuting only a year ago.

In June, she released her single Prologue as Kanzaki Elza starring ReoNa. To promote the release, the singer held a special show entitled Kanzaki Elza starring ReoNa x ReoNa Special Live “Re:AVATAR” at Club Citta in Kanagawa on July 25. Fans could attend the show by filling out the sign-up sheet that was coupled with the CD release.

ReoNa performed both as herself and as Kanzaki Elza in what could then be called a two-act concert. The very special one-night-only show went down a storm.

Fans will be excited to know that ReoNa has already announced another new single. Null will be released on August 28. While that’s one month away, we have been teased with a new promotional artist photo as well as the CD covers for each edition.

Limited Pressing Edition

First Press Limited Edition

Regular Edition

The Limited Pressing Edition is every fan’s dream coming with the single itself, a 48-page photobook, and a DVD containing the Toushindai music video and its making-of footage and the music video. Limited Edition copies are coupled with a DVD featuring the Kaibutsu no Uta music video as well as a lyric book containing photographs shot for this single’s release.

A website for ReoNa’s new project “ReoNa ZERO” has also opened which will be updated with more information on her new single Null.

ReoNa performed Till the End as the theme song for Sword Art Online‘s 10th anniversary.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sword Art Online light novel series, an event titled “SAO Ex-Chronicle” will take place at Akihavara UDX this August. The event will feature the interactive game Sword Skill Challenge which uses the latest motion capture technology by Sony. You can sign-up to attend via the event’s homepage right now until July 28.

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Sword Skill Challenge will be located at the event’s entrance and will open on August 12 for one week only. Using cutting-edge motion capture technology, players will take up the role of familiar faces such as Kirito and Eugeo, and use their entire body to take down and subjugate goblins in real time with their sword skills. The CG models from Bandai Entertainment’s SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris will be used.

This is only one of the many exciting experiences to be had at the SAO Ex-Chronicle event. For more details, check the official website, and if you’re planning a trip to Akihabara this August, don’t forget to sign up in advance for the Sword Skill Challenge.

©2017 Reki Kawahara / KADOKAWA / ASCII Media Works / SAO-A Project
©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

When we think of Gun Gale Online, we think of ReoNa, who is tied to the Sword Art Online arc with her performance as the singing voice of Kanzaki Elza. Her collaboration with the series has led to her coming to perform the manga’s official 10th anniversary theme song.

The song is titled Till the End and we can hear a sneak peek of it for the new commercial for the upcoming Sword Art Online Ex-Chronicle event in Akihabara. Check it out below.

The full song will premiere at the event. The CD containing the track will also be sold there together with the event’s 10th anniversary pamphlets.

©️2017 Reki Kawahara/ ＫＡＤＯＫＡＷＡ ASCII Media Works / SAO-A Project

Eir Aoi’s LIVE TOUR 2019 Fragment oF took her on a journey across the country, performing at eight different locations to approximately 10,000 wild fans. She saw her final tour performance at Kanagawa Kenmin Hall on July 15.  

The overpowering digital rock song UNLIMITED sent an instant surge of energy through the crowd. Her heart-throbbing setlist included a range of big hits that were used as theme songs for the anime Sword Art Online including Iris, INNOCENCE, Cynthia no Hikari, Ryusei and IGNITE . Her strong vocals and the passion etched onto her face enthralled the crowd. 

For the encore, she performed Tsuki wo Ou Mayonaka, which is the new opening theme song for the anime Granbelm. The urgent beat of the song energised the audience, who were dancing and singing as one. For the last song, she performed AURORA, which she especially prepared for this day only. 

“There are times that I just cannot sing this song, but seeing the encouraging and excited faces of my fans gave me the support I needed to sing,” she said.

Eir Aoi: Tsuki wo Ou Mayonaka Music Video

https://youtu.be/haJjUmsJnlw

After the encore was over, there was a surprise for the fans. The music video for Tsuki wo Ou Mayonaka, the new theme song for the anime Granbelm, was played before the crowd. Fans could not contain their wild joy at being the first people to watch the video. The music video was just released on July 16 at 8pm, so please check it out. 

Before she made her solo debut, ReoNa first lent her voice to Kanzaki Elza, a character featured in the TV anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online which aired in 2018. She continued to release songs with the pseudonym “Kanzaki Elza starring ReoNa” under which she topped digital music charts in Japan. In January this year, she performed the ending theme forget-me-not for Sword Art Online: Alicization. Since her debut just a year ago she has enjoyed huge success and plenty of sold out headline shows.

The singer dropped a cover of Bad Day earlier this year on YouTube, a song by Canadian musician Daniel Powter who last performed in Japan 7 years ago.

ReoNa is known for having posted vocal covers of western musicians since she was 18-years-old. Her Bad Day cover was uploaded in January this year.

Daniel Powter saw the cover himself and posted comments on both ReoNa’s Facebook and Instagram pages, expressing his desire to perform a duet with her on stage with a different song. The two have stayed in touch together since then, and fans will be pleased to hear that the duo will perform together at Billboard Live TOKYO in Roppongi, Tokyo on June 24.

Daniel Powter released his latest album Giants in December 2018. Japanese fans will be excited to see his long-awaited return.

The album contains a total of 8 tracks including Perfect For Me and a re-recorded version of his hit song Bad Day. Powter and ReoNa are scheduled to perform his duet song Survivor from the album which he originally sang together with Chinese singer Kelly Yu. Powter explains that he wrote the song drawing from his experiences of being bullied in the past for simply playing the violin. ReoNa too has stated her experiences of being bullied during school, making the song a significant match for them.

SACRA MUSIC―a music label under Sony Music Labels―held a music event entitled SACRA MUSIC FES.2019 -NEW GENERATION- at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19. This non-stop live show housed a 360° stage in the centre of the venue on which artists signed to the label dazzled a total of 12,000 fans across the weekend.

This was the first live event of its kind by SACRA MUSIC. The show’s subtitle “New Generation” refers to artists both signed to the label and the new generation of artists leading the music scene into the future. The line-up feature a diverse array of talent and genres spanning voice actors to rock bands, idols, virtual YouTubers and more.

The line-up for both days included ASCA, Ayano Mashiro, =LOVE, Luna Kaguya, GARNiDELiA, ClariS, Soma Saito, SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], Sangatsu no Phantasia, Spira Spica, TrySail, halca, PENGUIN RESEARCH, and ReoNa. A live band of skilled musicians dubbed the “SACRA BAND” also took to the stage to aid in performing various hits songs and anime songs. Virtual YouTuber Luna Kaguya performed as an opener, and EGOIST also made a surprise performance on screen, fusing the 2D world with the 3D world.

Several special collaborations also took place throughout the festival where artists banded together to perform covers as well as perform each others’ songs. This included ClariS x TrySail, Mikiha (Spira Spica) x halca, Soma Saito x Yoji Ikuta & Shota Horie (PENGUIN RESEARCH), GARNiDELiA x Ayano Mashiro, and ASCA x ReoNa.

At the end of the first night, Eir Aoi appeared as a secret guest to perform three songs including her first single Ryuusei. At the end of the second night, LiSA was the secret guest, who performed several songs including her latest number Gurenge. The two also came together to sing each of their respective hits IGNITE and Rising Hope.

A teaser video was also shown for two new SACRA MUSIC projects titled BATON=RELAY and Tenka Soul. The concerts are only set to continue growing bigger and better.

Yamanashi amusement park Fuji-Q Highland is set to hold a collaborative campaign with Sword Art Online: Alicization from April 27 to June 2. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the park and the 10th anniversary of the Sword Art Online light novel series.

Fuji-Q has much planned for the collaboration. The standout event is a screening of Symphonic Alicization Orchestra Special Edition, a special 40-minute compilation of the Sword Art Online Alicization series that aired from October last year to March this year. The video will contain character songs from the CD’s that were coupled with limited pressing DVD and Blu-ray copies of the anime.

The park will also have announcements read by characters from the series, a Sword Art Online puzzle quest, stamp rally, photo spots, a themed menu, original merchandise and more.

A colourful firework display will also be held from May 1 to 4 while ADAMAS by LiSA plays, the opening theme for the anime series.

Rapid buses with SAO artwork on them have also been running since April 13.

People who use Fujiyama Onsen or the cabin and lounge Highland Station which are connected to the park will also received an original postcard. Additionally, there is a collaborative accommodation plan taking place at PICA Lake Saiko Fuji as well as a special photo spot of the Blue Rose Sword at the Narusawa Ice Caves.

Before she made her solo debut, ReoNA first lent her voice to Kanzaki Elza, a character featured in the TV anime series Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online which aired in 2018. She continued to release songs with the pseudonym “Kanzaki Elza starring ReoNa” under which she topped digital music charts in Japan.

Now, for the first time since her mini album release ELZA on July 4 last year, the singer will release a new single under the pseudonym.

The title of the 3-track single is Prologue and will tell the story of how the artist Kanzaki Elza came to be, her way of life and why she sings. First Press Limited Edition copies will feature a short story illustrated written by Keiichi Sigsawa, the author of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. Both the story and CD cover are illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi.

It has also been announced ReoNa will release another single will release another single this summer containing songs from before she made her solo debut.

ReoNa is set to perform her first ever Zepp Tokyo solo show on October 10, the same date as her birthday.

Sword Art Online: Alicization is getting its own themed cafe which will open on March 23 on the fifth floor of SEGA Akihabara 4th.

Food Menu #1: ¥1,200 Each (March 23, 2019 – April 5, 2019)

The cafe will introduce three different food menus, with the first arriving on March 23, the second on April 6 and the last on April 20.

The first menu will include the above-pictured Alicization Aincrad Stew Rice and Alicization Alice Synthesis Thirty Golden Carbonara. A selection of drinks and desserts will also be served. Fans can also get their hands on an original coaster when ordering from the menus.

Drink Menu: ¥600 Each (Tax Included) *Will be served across all menus

Dessert Menu: ¥600 Each (Tax Included) *Will be served across all menus
Kirito’s Milk Coffee Parfait / Eugeo’s Fruit Parfait / Alice’s Mango Milk Tea Parfait

A selection of merchandise, including limited edition SEGA collaborative items, will also be sold at the cafe. For every ¥2,000 spent at the item shop with tax included, you will receive a limited edition bromide photo.

The cafe is a must-visit for SAO fans coming to Akihabara this spring.

Online retailer AMNIBUS began taking orders for two t-shirts from the TV anime series My Hero Academia and Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online on March 4.

My Hero Academia – “Cut & Sewn T-Shirt”

This t-shirt is modelled on the one worn by Midoriya in season three episode 50. It has written on it カットソー in Japanese which means “cut and sewn.” The shirt has a thin silhouette and low neck.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online – Graphic T-Shirt

This SAO t-shirt features a huge illustration of Llenn on the front and her beloved P90 submachine gun “P-chan” on the back.

Wear them outdoors, wear them at an event―wherever you wear them represent your favourite series with these awesome-looking new t-shirts.

ReoNa stepped into the spotlight last year for her role as Kanzaki Else the TV anime series Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online which aired in April and has since gone on to earn stark recognition, performing the ending theme song forget-me-not for the Sword Art Online: Alicization as well as reaching No. 1 in New Artist lists.

The singer’s first ever solo tour across Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka is now underway.

Titled ReoNa Live Tour 2019 “Wonder 1284”, the singer’s debut solo tour began at Banana Hall in Osaka on February 23 and will take her for a further 4 performances in Nagoya, Fukuoka and Tokyo respectively. Despite being her first, all dates for the tour have completely sold out.

The first show at Banana Hall saw a set list of some of the singers most iconic songs, brand new singles, tracks performed as Kanzaki Elsa, covers and more. The sold out venue spawned riveting excitement while the air still feel gentle and somehow nostalgic.

Before performing the final song, ReoNa announced that she will perform at Zepp Tokyo on October 20 this year, her birthday when she is to officially become 21 years old, causing the crowd to burst in a flurry of cheers.

The Zepp show is titled ReoNa ONE-MAN Live “Birth 2019”. Pre-sale tickets went on sale via ReoNa’s official fan club on February 23 at 21:00 (JST).

Photos by 渡邉一生