On May 21 at 11:00AM JST (5/20 at 10:00PM EDT / 7:00PM PDT), the official Sakura Wars website announced that the series will receive an orchestral concert. The event, named the “Sakura Wars 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert – Kohei Tanaka 40 + 1th Anniversary” will be a live show, celebrating the franchise’s history, as well as Tanaka’s own legacy as a composer.
The concert will be a special one-night event, which will be held on July 28, 2021 at Shibuya’s Orchard Hall. Doors are slated to open at 18:00 JST, with a planned showtime 18:00 JST showtime. As of press time, no digital simulcasts are planned for the show.
Tanaka commented on the news, stating:
For fans who’ve loved Sakura Wars for a long time, I selected songs from the current compositions that are best suited for an orchestra. We are also writing new arrangements for this show.
It was fairly difficult to satisfy new and old fans, alike, but the series’ wealth [of songs] over more than 20 years is so abundant that the task was fun for me.
Key Visual
The poster for the event features a smiling painting of Kohei Tanaka, holding a conductor’s baton. The image is surrounded by a Taisho-inspired motif of flowers and gilded edging, as well as paintings of series protagonists Sakura Shinguji, Erica Fontaine, Gemini Sunrise, and Sakura Amamiya.
Performers
Kohei Tanaka will serve as the event’s emcee, as well as providing piano and vocal performances. He will be joined by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, who will be conducted by Shigeki Miyamatsu.
Six other vocalists are confirmed for the event, all of whom have played prominent roles in the franchise.
- Noriko Hidaka (Erica Fontaine, Sakura Wars 3)
- Yuna Sekine (Sakura Amamiya, Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage)
- Rina Takahashi (Hatsuho Shinonome, Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage)
- Yui Kanchiku (Azami Mochizuki, Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage)
- Juri Hirayu: (Anastasia Palma, Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage)
- Natsume Oki (Clarissa Snowflake, Shin Sakura Taisen the Stage)
Ticketing Information
Tickets went on sale on May 21, at 11:00AM JST (5/2021 at 10:00PM EDT / 7:00PM PDT), and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Up to five tickets can be purchased per patron, with four tiers of tickets available:
- B-Class: 6,800 Yen ($62.45 USD)
- A-Class: 7,800 Yen ($71.64 USD)
- S-Class: 8,800 Yen ($80.82 USD)
- S-Class (With Bonus): 13,800 Yen ($126.74 USD)
In addition to admission, patrons who purchase the S-Class Bonus ticket will receive an autographed replica of Tanaka’s score for Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan, a clear file, and an exclusive tote bag.
About Kohei Tanaka
Kohei Tanaka is a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts’ Faculty of Music and Department of Composition. After graduation, he worked at Victor music for three years, before traveling to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. Upon his return to Japan, Tanaka began full-scale composition and arrangements.
Tanaka has provided the scores for countless prominent anime and video game works, including Sakura Wars, One Piece, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Brave King Gaogaigar. Over his career, Tanaka has composed more than 500 songs for the Sakura Wars, and more than 10,000 compositions overall.
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