Yoko Kanno and Cornelius are composing the background music to UNIQLO’s Wake Up app, available in iOS and Android devices. It’s an application that greets you in the morning with the weather, with soothing music in the background. Kanno’s name and short profile is in the Android and iOS application download stores, I just checked

Sorry that screenshot is not the debut day which should show that it’s at #6, but at least we know that it climbed on the second day.:p

Sakamichi no Melody is very nicely arranged. I can’t stop listening to it.

By the way, the anime is also of excellent quality. I am starting to think that drama is more Watanabe’s expertise. Remember the Genius Party short films? Why he chose a simple drama between two kids, unlike the other directors  who made something strange or crazy? I think it’s because *this* is his choice genre.

As expected, the SMAP single made it at the top, with 135298 in the Oricon index 

UPDATE (May 4, 2012): Bump for release week.
UPDATE (April 4, 2012): Jacket art added.
UPDATE (March 13, 2012): More release details added.

YUKI will be performing the Sakamichi no Apollon OP, entitled “Sakamichi no Melody [trans: Sakamichi's Melody].

Title: Playball / Sakamichi no Melody [Regular Edition]
Price: Y971 (Y1020 Tax incl.) [USD $11.65]
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Details: Sakamichi no Melody is composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno, lyrics by YUKI.
Purchase from CDJapan.

Title: Playball / Sakamichi no Melody [with DVD, Limited Edition]
Price: Y1429 (Y1500 Tax incl.) [USD $17.14]
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Details: Sakamichi no Melody is composed and arranged by Yoko Kanno, lyrics by YUKI. This edition includes a bonus DVD with promotional footage and a sticker featuring an illustration of the anime.
Purchase from CDJapan.

Source: natalie.mu

Just a heads up to everyone, the first set of the Sakamichi no Apollon video sets will be released this July 27.

(All of the releases for Sakamichi appear to have been rushed, with the series being only 12 episodes long. It’s a really nice series, do check it out.)

UPDATE (April 28, 2012): Jackets added.
UPDATE (April 24, 2012): Track list added.
UPDATE (April 3, 2012): PV added.
UPDATE (March 13, 2012): CD and DVD release details added.

NHK announced that they will publish a song entitled “Hana wa Saku [trans: Flowers are Blooming], composed by Kanno, with lyrics by Shunji Iwai. As many would remember, a strong earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan last year, and affected the home town of our dear Yoko Kanno. They will be publishing this song as the first year commemoration of the earthquake, and the proceeds of the song will go to the rehabilitation of the affected areas.

Shunji Iwai is also from the Miyagi Prefecture. Singing for this piece are 33 (and counting) singers, actors, actresses, and sports figures who come from Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima. You may check the confirmed list here in Oricon News.

There will be a concert entitled “A Year from the Earthquake, A Concert to Tomorrow” on March 11, 2012 which marks the first year since the earthquake struck, in which this song will be performed.

They said that the music recording is done, and they are currently in the process of recording the vocals. There will also be a music video with the singers, directed by Shunji Iwai, the lyricist who is also a director.

Release Details:

Release Title: NHK “Ashita e” Higashi Nihon Daishinsai Fukko Shien Song Hana wa Saku [Regular Edition]
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Price: Y952 (Y1000 Tax incl.) [approx. USD $11.42]
Purchase from CDJapan.

Release Title: NHK “Ashita e” Higashi Nihon Daishinsai Fukko Shien Song Hana wa Saku [with DVD, Limited Edition]
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Price: Y1429 (Y1500 Tax incl.) [approx. USD $17.1]
Purchase from CDJapan.

Track List:

CD/DVD Release:
1. Hana wa Saku (Sang by the Hana wa Saku Project)
2. Hana wa Saku (Sang by AKB48′s Karen Iwata)
3. Hana wa Saku (Sang by Members from The Little Singers of Tokyo)
4. Hana wa Saku (Instrumental)

DVD First Press Bonus:
1. Hana wa Saku (Original Full Version)
2. Hana wa Saku with AKB48′s Karen Iwata singing
3. Photos and Videos of “Hana wa Saku”