Hey, music loving bees! We couldn’t be more excited when we sat down with Hikaru Amano of rising J-Pop sensation ARCANA PROJECT!
Consisting of five talented members from DEARSTAGE and Lantis, ARCANA PROJECT brings a fresh vibe to the Japanese pop music scene. Each member—Ura Sakurano, Hana Hanamiya, Shion Aida, Aozora Sora and Hikari Amano—has a worldview inspired by tarot cards and adds their unique voices and talents to create diverse music experience.
Join us for a chat with Hikaru as she talks about her experiences and aspirations with ARCANA PROJECT. Who knows, you might find your next J-Pop!
Exclusive interview with Hikari Amano (ARCANA PROJECT)
Thank you, Hikaru, for taking the time to chat with us! So, let’s start from the beginning. How did the name ARCANA PROJECT come about? Did you all come up with this?
The name “ARCANA PROJECT” was actually decided from the beginning! When I heard about the audition, I went for it. The name “ARCANA” comes from the tarot card ARCANA. Each member has a tarot card that he controls. I’m responsible for the stars!
Can you share with us your experience and connection to the song “Eureka”?
The lyrics of “Eureka” were written by Masato Nakayama. “Eureka” is a nostalgic song about friendship with friends from “SYNDUALITY: Noir” and is a very warm song.
What was your first reaction when you found out your song was going to be used in an animation?
I joined this group because I wanted to sing anime songs, so I was very moved when I saw anime images and ARCANA PROJECT songs on TV, and I watched them over and over again!
What made you feel that SYNDUALITY: Noir was a perfect fit for your music, and what are your thoughts on the series?
Members look forward to the anime every week! One of the charms of “Eureka” is the overlapping harmonies of the five members in the final chorus, which I think fits the grand world of “SYNDUALITY: Noir” very well.
In that sense, are there any animated series that you would love to compose music for if you could?
There are upright and reversed tarot cards, and all the anime songs I’ve been responsible for so far are like upright and full of hope! However, one day I want to try a song that depicts despair like the opposite position, and I want to challenge a dark anime song!
Are you interested in exploring different types of music genres in the near future? If so, what type would it be?
I like songs with English lyrics and a fast tempo, so I’m happy to accept the challenge and deliver a cool ARCANA PROJECT!
What do you think is one of the biggest challenges for you as an up-and-coming team?
We are thinking of ways to get more people to watch our live performances, and we are not only working hard to improve our performances, but also to improve our SNS!
Do you have any encouraging words for new artists?
Before joining ARCANA PROJECT, I had no experience singing in public, so I was always nervous no matter what the situation was when I first debuted, so I made some mistakes. Therefore, I think it is important to relax, do your best in moderation, and not be intimidated!
Your music has slowly started to spread around the world. Was that always the goal or just something that happened naturally?
Through our music videos and SNS, we received many comments and happy reactions from people overseas, which reminded us that the influence of animation is truly amazing.
As we wrap up our conversation, we’d like to express our gratitude again, Hikaru. Before we part ways, could you share your insights into the long-term plans for ARCANA PROJECT?
I want to continue singing anime songs and hope to gain new anime fans through the singing of ARCANA PROJECT! I want to bring excitement to a lot of people through music. I also want to do a lot of live performances outside of Japan!
ARCANA PROJECT’s melodies spread like wildfire beyond Japan, proving that good music knows no borders. With Hikari Amano dreaming big and looking forward to the future of ARCANA PROJECT, we eagerly await the next chapter of their musical legacy. If you want to be a part of their adventure, go stream their songs and follow them on SNS!
Contact the ARCANA Project
Streaming link: lnk.to/arcanaproject
Official website: arcana-project.com
X (Twitter): x.com/arcanaproject
Instagram: instagram.com/arcana_project
YouTube channel: youtube.com/@arcanaprojectofficialchann6708
TikTok: tiktok.com/@arcana_project