Hot Hits from Pachinko and Pachislot! A Special Feature on Hype-Inducing Anthem Tracks

Scarlet BalletMay’n

May’n「Scarlet Ballet」Music Video

This is the familiar number used as the opening theme for the anime Aria the Scarlet Ammo.

The singer is May’n, also known for her role as Sheryl Nome in Macross Frontier.

It was released in May 2011 as May’n’s fourth single.

Crafted by Daisuke Asakura, the track delivers an exhilarating digital rock sound that’s incredibly cool.

The lyrics, filled with a resolve to fight for what one wants to protect while carrying unwavering conviction, sync perfectly with her powerful yet heartrending high-tone vocals.

You can practically feel that surge of excitement you get the moment it plays in a pachinko parlor just by listening to the song!

Keiji, the flower that blooms on the battlefieldKobayashi Sachiko

[MV] Sachiko Kobayashi 'The Flower Keiji That Blossoms in Battle' [Hana no Keiji: Kabuki Itten] #Pachinko

One of the theme songs from the Hanano Keiji series, widely acclaimed as Newgin’s greatest masterpiece.

I’m sure many people are hooked on its irresistible groove, which rivals, if not surpasses, the series’ biggest hit, Noburo Kakuta’s “Yossha Otoko Uta.” The lyrics are a must-hear too, with one bold line after another, like “A man shines only when he fights; the battlefield is a man’s stage.” And with Sachiko Kobayashi—the final boss of the enka world—singing it, how could you not get excited? I highly recommend it even to those who don’t play pachinko or pachislo!

GARO: Savior in the DarkJAM Project

GARO ~SAVIOR IN THE DARK~

I once read an article in a magazine claiming that many people started watching the tokusatsu show Garo because of pachinko.

A popular high-risk, high-return pachinko machine became a hot topic for its flashy reach performance, where “Garo’s face suddenly covers the machine.” The Garo series has produced many hit songs, and this track, “GARO ~SAVIOR IN THE DARK~,” was also popular as the latter-half opening theme of GARO.

Its fast-paced, soaring rock chorus is addictive—you can listen to it over and over.

There might even be people who play pachinko just to hear this song.

A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko

“Cruel Angel’s Thesis” MUSIC VIDEO (HD ver.) / Zankoku na Tenshi no Te-ze “The Cruel Angel’s Thesis”

Wasn’t it Yoko Takahashi who first made many of us aware of the idea of a “voice-actor artist”? Every time the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion aired in reruns, its popularity only grew, and its theme song, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” captivated not just anime fans but numerous artists as well.

Just hearing the intro makes your spirits go, “Whoa!” One of the song’s charms is how words with a slightly chuunibyo feel—like “cruel,” “angel,” and “thesis”—are accepted so naturally.

The pachinko series CR Neon Genesis Evangelion, released in 2004, has become a long-running hit with sequels produced continuously.

Startin’Hamasaki Ayumi

Ayumi Hamasaki / Startin’

With an up-tempo sound that races in from the intro and instantly boosts the listener’s energy, this is a number by Ayumi Hamasaki.

It portrays a strong will to face one’s self-doubt, overcome inner conflict, and move forward, leaving you feeling encouraged as if given a push from behind.

Released in March 2006, this memorable work updated Hamasaki’s record for the most No.

1 singles by a female artist.

It was also used as the theme for the PlayStation 2 game “Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams,” making it a powerful track that inspires the courage to take on new challenges.

STILL ALIVEHotei Tomoyasu

Tomoyasu Hotei / HOTEI – STILL ALIVE

This is a hard rock number by Tomoyasu Hotei that evokes a life-or-death battle unfolding in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

It was written specifically for a project tied to the hugely popular manga Fist of the North Star.

The innovative sound that slams in right before the first verse—said to express the protagonist’s scream through the guitar—sends listeners’ excitement soaring.

The track was released as a single in August 2010.

In the pachislot game Pachislot Fist of the North Star: Legends of the Post-Apocalyptic Savior, it plays during ART when Toki accompanies you in a special situation, making it a divine anthem that signals a big win for pachinko fans.

Take back the love!!kurisutaru kingu

[High Quality] Take Back the Love! (Subtitled).mp4

Every boy tried to imitate the protagonist Kenshiro’s “Atatatata…!” as he fights for love.

The manga Fist of the North Star, which has continued to be cherished across generations, has also been a massive hit in its pachinko machine form.

The song “Ai wo Torimodose!!,” which was also the anime’s opening theme, is probably the track people most want to hear during a big win.

The title “Ai wo Torimodose!!” (“Take Back the Love!!”) also shows great copywriting flair, as if it were directed at Kenshiro’s rivals who forgot love and rushed headlong into battle.