Hani Remon Soda

Hanī Remon Sōda (Honey Lemon Soda, 2025) is a 12-episode Japanese animated TV series based on a manga, that was earlier adapted into a 2021 live action film. In short, after viewing one episode, it is a very predictable story of adolescent love, nostalgic feelings and rather uncomplicated, but feasible, universal emotions, which can be found in countless similar series and films. Yet, this universal nostalghia, regardless how limited they are featured in other Japanese TV series and films, are often supported by soothing, relaxing and emotionally beautiful original scores, of which Akira Kosemura music for Hanī Remon Sōda is exemplary.

A quote from an earlier written review of Kosemura' Ao no Ōkesutora:
''Literally, innumerable Japanese animated series have gone before, but indeed the score features an endlessly inspiring cliché; the solo piano. Kosemura's solo piano theme, ordinarily alludes to the growing bond between Aono and Akine, and is full of melancholy, enchantment and embodies an instantly recognizable Japanese touch''

It comes as no surprise that solo piano plays a major role in the score of Hanī Remon Sōda. The enchanting melodic score is further enriched by the use of strings, acoustic guitar and the help of co-writers Hollie Kenniff (ambient elements) and Julia Kent (cello performances) on a variety of tracks. Kosemura expressed that the inclusion of these two 'internationally acclaimed artists' was something very different and unique from the usual Japanese animated score, which I do not fully agree with. More than twenty years ago, Japanese series, films and games began to noticeably use international orchestras, allowing foreign composers to write the music and since then saw more international collaborative musical efforts. However, the vast majority of musical scores are still produced domestically.

The score is flawlessly executed and offers an unequivocally relaxing and melodic musical experience that captures all the recurring emotions of adolescence, from sadness to joy. In some of the tracks, the ambient, atmospheric sounds reflect the theme of sorrow and disappointment by using appropriate, distant and ethereal atmospheric sounds, as heard in cues such as From Far Away. While these are a a collaborative effort, they are not that different from the electronics in previous works by Kosemura.

With so many similar scores out there - there is a huge playlist market for advocates of such music - it is remarkable how well the saturated end result still offers almost complete satisfaction.



Tracklist
01 Honey Lemon Soda - Main Theme 2:28
02 Overflowing 3:15
03 You're My Sunshine 4:19
04 Brand New Days 3:02
05 The World In Colors 2:55
06 Magic Of Love, Pt.1 2:53
07 Sparking Like Soda Pop 2:25
08 Reflection Of Joy 3:07
09 Views In Summer 3:06
10 Distance Between Us 3:14
11 Dark Past 1:51
12 More Intense 2:12
13 Rainy Day 2:46
14 At Eventide 3:09
15 From Far Away 3:03
16 Into The Dark 3:15
17 Blank Mind 2:38
18 Magic Of Love, Pt.2 2:35
19 CHANGE 2:20
20 You're My Sunshine - Piano Version 2:40
21 Uka & Kai 2:26

Disc length 59:39


01 ハニーレモンソーダ - メインテーマ 2:28
02 溢れる想い 3:15
03 あなたは光 4:19
04 はじまりの季節 3:02
05 色づく日常 2:55
06 恋の魔法 I 2:53
07 胸の鼓動 2:25
08 弾む光 3:07
09 夏の光景 3:06
10 ふたりの距離 3:14
11 消えない記憶 1:51
12 強くなりたい 2:12
13 雨の日に想う 2:46
14 暮れなずむ空に 3:09
15 遠くで聞こえる 3:03
16 ネガティブ思考 3:15
17 白の境界 2:38
18 恋の魔法 II 2:35
19 変わりたい! 2:20
20 あなたは光 - ピアノバージョン 2:40
21 羽花と界 2:26

Disc length 59:39



(25-02-2025)