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Anime NYC 2025: JAM Project Talks With Anime Herald
🕑 Added 2025-11-27 02:29:00 +0000 UTCNote: Due to time constraints, this will be published on Anime Herald's main site on December 1, 2025. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Author: Seth Burn
Editor: Samantha Ferreira
Interview Location: Anime NYC 2025
Anime Herald: Who were your heroes growing up?
Masami Okui: Cutie Honey.
Masaaki Endoh: Ultraman.
Hironobu Kageyama: When I was entering elementary school, that’s when Ultraman started. That was my spirit hero.
Hiroshi Kitadani: Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
Yoshiki Fukuyama: Ultraseven. I have all of the VHS cassettes. I have all of the DVDs. I have all of the Blu-Rays. I went to see Dan Moroboshi in person.
Anime Corner: How has your approach to creating music for One-Punch Man changed, if at all, since creating music for season one?
Hironobu Kageyama: Technically speaking, the process has remained the same. I just try to make it as much “not anisong” as possible. I want to make it rock, with a heavy sound.
Manga Mavericks: JAM Project’s opening themes for One-Punch Man have become iconic. When you were creating the theme for season one, did you expect so much attention?
Hironobu Kageyama: I had no clue! It was very unexpected. When I visit outside of Japan, all of the fans know the song by heart. In America, in Europe. “Oh my gosh, everyone loves this song.” That took all of us by surprise.
JAM Project: Even the people from the American embassy. I went to get a visa. The officer asked me what songs I sing. I said One-Punch Man. The officer said “Oh my god, that’s cool!”
Anime Trending: This year marks the band’s 25th anniversary since it was founded in 2000. What have you learned about yourselves throughout your many years of performances, tours, and recording?
Masami Okui: It has been twenty-three years since I joined JAM Project. Before I joined JAM Project, I already had a ten-year professional career as a singer. When I entered this group, there were already four male singers with powerful voices. It gave me a different perspective in terms of singing, both technically, and expression-wise. My voice became deeper and more powerful. I didn’t have that range when I was doing solo performances. That has changed me. I love how I sing now even more than before.
Masaaki Endoh: I performed as a solo singer previously. JAM Project has taken me to places I never imagined I would perform, both inside of Japan at huge venues, and internationally outside of Japan, around the world.
Hironobu Kageyama: This was my first time being the leader of a group in my life. Compared to performing solo, I became more of a director. This person might be better for this solo, or maybe this part should be in the performance and we can cut this part. This group helped me develop that type of direction.
Hiroshi Kitadani: Through these twenty-five years with JAM Project, through all the events and recordings I’ve attended, it has given a richness to my career and my personal life as well.
Yoshiki Fukuyama: Before I joined JAM Project, I played guitar and sang some vocals in a band for twelve years. Back then, I didn’t recognize myself as a singer. But in JAM Project, you have to mainly sing. I learned everything from these other four band members over the years.
Anime Herald: What does it feel like to return to One-Punch Man for season three after singing the OP in season one?
Hironobu Kageyama: In terms of recording the song, it’s not like I can decide I want to record the lead song for season three. The producer came to me and told us we will be singing the OP for season 3. When I heard the news, I was very honored and happy.
Anime Corner: Do any aspects of your song creation process change when creating music for anime versus creating music in general?
Hironobu Kageyama: When we record anime songs, we have a competition among the members of the band. Then, the producer picks the song. I’m always searching for unique ideas that no one has done before. For “THE HERO!!: Ikareru Kobushi ni Hi o Tsukero”, the first theme song of One-Punch Man, I was thinking, “How can I make it unique, so only JAM Project could record the song?” That’s what I think about during the process of making music.
Manga Mavericks: Did you take a different approach for season three of One-Punch Man than you did for season one?
Hironobu Kageyama: This time, we collaborated with Babymetal. We wanted to add the cuteness and catchyness from Babymetal to our music style. We have recorded collaborative, awesome songs for season three.
Anime Trending: Your live performances are always energetic and electric. Where do you draw that energy from and how important are audiences for elevating that energy?
JAM Project: It’s the audience, period. We give them 100%, 1000%, but then the audience comes back to us with more than that. It’s like a positive tornado.
Anime Herald: Thank you very much.
JAM Project: Thank you!
Comments
Anime Herald
Oh wow... I hope you had fun! They put on such a great show
Tyler Waldman
How apropos for me to see this while in Tokyo, waiting outside Magic Spice, with tickets to see JAM twice this weekend!
