Far East Groove, the ensemble headed by composer Yasuharu Takanashi, will kick off their European and British tour titled “The Battle for Glory” on September 30. The act plans to play shows in Finland, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain. Information on tickets and further tour details is located toward the bottom of this piece.
Yasuharu Takanashi contributed to the original score of Naruto (2002) as part of the Musashi Project, a venture that merged traditional Japanese melodies with rock instrumentation. After the series’ popularity soared, he was asked to create the music for its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden. Over the years, he has composed for numerous acclaimed anime, such as Fairy Tail, Log Horizon, Zombieland Saga, Record of Ragnarok, Bastard‼ Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy, and Reincarnated as a Sword.
We had the chance to chat with the composer back in 2023 and again in 2024. In this fresh conversation, we spoke with Yasuharu Takanashi about his brainchild Far East Groove, the forthcoming European and British tour, and a selection of his well‑known anime scores.
Q: Takanashi-san, if you could create an anime soundtrack based on your own life, what would it sound like?
A: I think it would be a passionate piece, brimming with dreams and adventure.
Q: You named Far East Groove after Musashi Project’s debut album. What elements from Musashi Project did you aim to keep, and what did you intend to set aside?
A: Kobari-san, the founder and producer of Musashi, used to say he wanted to bring the band global exposure. I wanted to continue that vision. In Naruto lingo, it’s like the “Will of Fire.”
Q: Far East Groove is set to perform in ten European cities, including your first UK show. What are you most excited about for this tour?
A: Most of all, I’m eager to meet fans across Europe. I’ll be visiting some countries for the first time, which makes me very excited.
Q: Far East Groove also performed at the Rock Imperium Festival in Spain last year. What did you take away from that show, and how were the Spanish audiences?
A: The crowd at Rock Imperium Festival gave Far East Groove a wonderfully warm reception. The view from the stage was spectacular. I also drew inspiration from many facets of the other bands, including their shows, production, and musicianship.
Q: The UK show on ‘The Battle for Glory’ tour marks your first performance there. Are you adjusting the setlist for audiences more familiar with Naruto versus Fairy Tail?
A: We tweaked the setlist as much as possible to ensure fans of both series could enjoy the performance.
Q: The global anime‑concert scene (including Symphonic Anime, your China tours, and Rock Imperium) has expanded quickly. Where do you see it heading next?
A: Music has always been said to have no borders. I hope this momentum keeps expanding, giving people everywhere more chances to share and enjoy music.
Q: Anime themes are now everywhere on Spotify playlists, YouTube covers, and TikTok clips. Has that altered how you write a battle theme, considering it could be streamed independently?
A: The core of my compositional approach remains unchanged.
Q: Which ninja technique from Naruto would you pick for yourself, and why?
A: Shadow Clone Jutsu! I reckon I could accomplish a lot in the same timeframe [laughs].
Q: The Naruto 20th‑anniversary episodes are still unreleased. Are you still involved with scoring them, and can you share any details about that music?
A: Stay tuned—something is coming.
Q: Why do you think many of the most popular tracks from Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are the sad ones?
A: I believe it stems from the depth of the original story. If fans feel that way about the music, I’m genuinely happy.
Q: If you could pick any kind of magic from Fairy Tail, which would you choose and why?
A: I’d love to have the ability to summon Celestial Spirits like Lucy. It would make life constantly more enjoyable.
Q: I recall starting to watch Fairy Tail because of its main theme, which is really compelling even if you’re not familiar with the story. What emotions were you aiming to convey with that music?
A: I’m glad you enjoyed it—thanks. The music came to me while I was reading the original manga, and I pictured European landscapes vividly.
Q: Dragons often appear in heavy metal art and themes. Did that influence you to make the track “Dragon Force” more intense? What were you imagining while writing that song?
A: ‘Dragon Force’ originated from a request by sound director Shoji Hata-san, who wanted an even more intense version of the main theme.
Q: Your track “BEYOND THE QUEST” for Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest sounds heavier than ever. How did you end up working with Noora Louhimo, and did you see it as a chance to push your music further?
A: I’d been a big admirer of Noora’s voice for a while. While in Finland for the first time, I caught Battle Beast’s show and went to see them. Hearing Noora perform live was truly inspiring. I approached her backstage and said, “I’d love to collaborate with you someday!” She was really supportive. When I got back to Japan, I immediately contacted the Fairy Tail team and insisted, “We need a song featuring Noora on vocals!” [laughs]
Q: My favorite of your pieces is the main theme for Log Horizon, which many fans feel captures the feel of an epic video game boss battle. Was that your intention? Were you already familiar with MMORPGs and their music before this project?
A: I’m glad you mentioned Log Horizon. In my view, it’s a soundtrack that should reach a wider audience.
Q: Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2 is coming in 2026, and you previously mentioned it would feature more “hard rock‑style tracks.” With the music completed, how would you describe this season’s sound compared to the first?
A: The upcoming season includes even more battle action than the first. To complement that, I created a bunch of metal tracks with fresh challenges. I’m excited for everyone to hear them.
Q: You previously said Johannes Nilsson and Akinari Suzuki were essentially your apprentices, and you wanted them to have the same chances you did. Two years later, how has that worked out? Are they at a stage where you can step back?
A: Johannes and I are collaborating on a fresh project right now. Stay tuned.
Our thanks go out to Yasuharu Takanashi for sharing his thoughts on his iconic tracks. If you’d like to see some of them performed live, tickets for the nearest shows can be found through the links below:
| Date | City, Country | Venue | Ticket Information | Guest Band |
| September 30 | Helsinki, Finland | On The Rocks | Buy tickets | Night People |
| October 2 | London, United Kingdom | Dingwalls | Buy tickets | – |
| October 4 | Warsaw, Poland | Hybrydy | Buy tickets | Anime Symphony Rock |
| October 5 | Berlin, Germany | SO36 | Buy tickets | – |
| October 6 | Munich, Germany | Ampere | Buy tickets | – |
| October 11 | Paris, France | Pan Piper | Buy tickets | – |
| October 13 | Barcelona, Spain | Wolf | Buy tickets | Strangers |
| October 14 | Madrid, Spain | Revi Live | Buy tickets | Strangers |
Check out more anime at Latest anime & manga news.
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