In preparation for the 2026 SPYAIR European tour, we interviewed the rock group SPYAIR to discuss how this key moment reflects their professional journey, their standing in anime soundtracks, their famous ties to Haikyu!!, and what they aim to achieve ahead.
The lineup—KENTA on drums, MOMIKEN on bass, YOSUKE handling vocals, and UZ managing guitar and programming—will hit Europe again after a span of eight years. The tour opens on October 30, taking the quartet through Vienna, Paris, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, London, and Milan.
To coincide with the tour, SPYAIR launched “BEST OF ANIME,” a collection that showcases both their freshly recorded anime songs and new renditions of beloved old anime themes. It features “Awake,” the band’s latest piece and the opening theme for The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, and is accessible on every major streaming service.
Interpretation support was used for this interview; responses are attributed to the band as a group unless specified otherwise.
Q: If you had to choose, which volleyball position (setter, hitter, libero, etc.) would you pick and why?
YOSUKE: My choice would likely be outside hitter because I’ve always enjoyed an offensive role in sports and like being the one who scores.
UZ: I’d pick setter; I played that position on my school’s volleyball team for a season.
MOMIKEN: I’m drawn to libero because there’s nothing better than blocking a spike the opponent thinks is a guaranteed point, keeping the rally alive until they lose their confidence.
KENTA: I’d be a left‑side hitter, willing to keep swinging until my arm gives out if I’m entrusted with that role.
Q: Why do you think your music made a strong connection with the Haikyu!! franchise?
UZ: Back in 2023, when YOSUKE first joined and we were starting a fresh SPYAIR chapter, we were at a crossroads. The chance to write the theme for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle gave us “Orange,” a track that has now out‑streamed every previous song worldwide, opening us up to a broader audience. In truth, Haikyu!! is the primary reason we’re still making music today.
MOMIKEN: Since our debut we’ve hit several pivotal moments that could have altered our path. Each time we’ve been linked to Haikyu!!, and that connection has steered us through tough periods. Because of the series’ reach, not only in Japan but globally, more listeners have discovered SPYAIR, and many are eager to see us live.
Q: What are the advantages of having history with the franchise when you start working on a new song?
MOMIKEN: Our first tie‑in was the 2014 opening “Imagination” for season one, followed by “I’m a Believer” and “One Day” over the next six years. When we were asked for the Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle theme, we wanted it to feel like the apex of our work so far. To do that we wove snippets of the earlier song lyrics into the new track, “Orange.” That depth came only from our long‑standing relationship with the franchise, and the result became one of our most recognizable songs.
Q: Are there any other sports you would like to perform songs about?
KENTA: We think SPYAIR’s sound meshes well with sport‑themed projects, so we’d love to take on any sport‑related work. We’ve already delivered songs for a Japanese sports university and the B.LEAGUE (Japan’s pro basketball circuit), so soccer could be our next target!
Q: Fans are also fond of your songs for Gintama, which highlight the emotional aspects of the story. Are you fond of any particular character or scene that inspired you when creating the songs?
YOSUKE: The character Hasegawa.
UZ: The character Kagura.
MOMIKEN: The character Tsukuyo.
KENTA: The character Jirocho Doromizu.
Q: Your latest anisong is “Awake” for The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System. Could you share with us what the creation process was like?
UZ: Before we began, we played a festival alongside some heavier rock groups, and their sets really pushed us. Taking that vibe and the anime’s world into account, we aimed for a track that’s heavy, intense, and fast, with a structure built for an exciting live performance.
MOMIKEN: The lyrical core is about pressing forward through daily life until you finally arrive where you’re headed. The music itself sparked the idea, leading me to keep the words simple and sincere.
YOSUKE: I do a lot of screaming on this song, and I actually crafted the first scream myself. When I first heard the demo I wanted the scream to carry meaning, not just be noise, so I worked in the phrase “until the day I die,” which I was really into at the time.
KENTA: My usual drumming links notes smoothly, but for this song I deliberately made each hit sharp and distinct, giving every stroke its own punch. It was a big challenge because I’d never concentrated all my energy on a single, powerful hit before, and doing so actually highlighted each hit’s power.
Q: Considering you have been active for around two decades, what does this new tour mean for SPYAIR?
UZ: Whether we’re recording or playing live, we always try to have as much fun as possible. Over roughly twenty years we’ve seen many highs and lows, building up a lot of history together. The fact that we can still drop new music and take the stage is huge for us, so above all we just want to keep enjoying making music as a band.
Q: As this is not your first time in Europe, are there any places you would like to visit in Europe during your tour?
YOSUKE: I love vintage clothing, so I’m excited to hunt down thrift stores in each country we visit. I also want to soak up the scenery and local culture everywhere we go.
UZ: When I travel abroad I usually spend free time wandering the streets to soak up the atmosphere and local vibe. Since we’ll be hitting a lot of countries for the first time on this tour, I’m really looking forward to it.
MOMIKEN: In places we’ve been before I’d like to see what I missed—maybe the Musée d’Orsay in France for some art and tea. For first‑time stops, I’m eager to hear authentic classical music in Vienna and taste real Italian carbonara in Italy. Honestly there are endless things on my list!
KENTA: Since we’ll be visiting many new countries, I’m looking forward to exploring the streets and soaking up each place’s vibe. I’m also really excited about souvenir hunting!
Q: Do you have any goals as a band for the near future, such as a country or venue where you would like to perform?
KENTA: Recently we’ve gotten chances to go to places we haven’t visited in ages and even to new venues. We want to build on that and increase the number of countries where we can regularly stage our own headline shows.
YOSUKE: This year our outdoor headline series JUST LIKE THIS debuted overseas in Korea, following its Japanese run. Our dream is to push JUST LIKE THIS even further and bring it to many more nations around the globe.
Q: Finally, could you share a message with your fans in Europe?
A: It’s been eight years since we last played Europe, but SPYAIR is still SPYAIR, unchanged. Just as we were eight years ago, we want you to enjoy our music and live shows with us. Whether we’re reconnecting with fans we haven’t seen in years or meeting you for the first time, we’re determined to make this tour unforgettable and can’t wait to see you all!
Our thanks go to SPYAIR for discussing the significance of this new tour and sharing insights into some of their most memorable anime tracks. We’re confident fans will appreciate both “BEST OF ANIME” and the upcoming European dates.
Explore more anime titles at Latest Anime & manga info.
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