Silent Siren Returns to Anime With Tanuki to Kitsune

≈ 2 min read
Silent Siren Returns to Anime With Tanuki to Kitsune
Image source: AniList

For Japan fans, this is a neat comeback story with a clear crossover angle, because it connects a long-running J-pop rock act with a beloved anime title. If you like tracking how band names, song titles, and show themes work in Japanese, this one’s worth a look.

Silent Siren is back on anime duty with Nikoichi!

Silent Siren has been chosen to perform the theme song for TV Tokyo's (tanuki, raccoon dog) to (kitsune, fox), and the song title is Nikoichi!. According to the official announcement on prtimes.jp, this is the band’s first anime tie-in in eight years, which makes the pairing feel like a proper comeback rather than a routine promo slot.

The timing matters too. The new single is set for digital release on October 5, and the news was revealed at SHE SCREAM ROCK Vol.3, a band-focused event that Silent Siren itself hosts. That gives the announcement a live, fan-facing feel, not just a quiet press release. Not bad, right?

Why this collaboration stands out

What most people don’t know is that anime tie-ins can be a big marker in a band’s career, especially in Japan, where opening and ending themes often become the first song many viewers associate with a group. Silent Siren already has that history, and this return after eight years gives the project extra weight.

The best part is that Tanuki to Kitsune is a good fit for a group known for bright, melodic pop rock. Tanuki and kitsune are classic figures in Japanese folktales, so the title already carries a playful, slightly mischievous mood. If you’re learning Japanese, those two words are also worth memorising, because they show up everywhere from children’s stories to jokes and pop culture references. My tip: when a band song title uses short, catchy words like nikoichi, pay attention, because Japanese titles often lean on sound and rhythm as much as literal meaning.

Eight years later, the comeback angle matters

Here’s the thing: eight years is a long gap for any anime collaboration. According to the information shared by Skream!, Silent Siren's previous anime-related songs came out back in 2018, including Sakura Saku Aoi Haru and Go Way!. That makes Nikoichi! a noticeable return to the anime space, not just a one-off release.

For the band, this kind of move can do two things at once. It reminds older fans that Silent Siren are still active in the J-pop rock scene, and it introduces the name to anime viewers who may not have followed the band before. That brings us to a classic Japan music pattern, where an anime theme can work like a bridge between fandoms. See what I mean?

Japanese learning angle: titles, timing, and fandom language

While we're at it, this announcement is a small but useful lesson in how Japanese media news is often written. You’ll see release dates, tie-in labels like anime (kyoiku, education) rather than that exact phrase, and a lot of emphasis on the word haishi, meaning connection or pairing, when a song is linked to a show. Even without reading full Japanese articles, spotting names like TV Tokyo, release dates, and title song language helps you decode the basics fast.

For example, Tanuki to Kitsune is easy vocabulary to recognise once you know tanuki means raccoon dog and kitsune means fox. Both animals have strong cultural meaning in Japan, and that gives the anime title extra personality before the story even starts. Wild, isn’t it? The title alone already tells you this won’t be a generic fantasy show.

What I especially like is that this kind of news is simple on the surface, but rich in context. You get the band comeback, the anime tie-in, the TV Tokyo label, and a neat vocabulary lesson in one go. Simply brilliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Silent Siren's new anime song?

The band will perform Nikoichi!, the theme song for TV Tokyo's Tanuki to Kitsune.

How long has it been since Silent Siren last did an anime tie-in?

According to the official announcement, it has been eight years.

When will the new song be released?

The digital release is scheduled for October 5.

Sources

  1. prtimes.jp official announcement
  2. Skream! news article
  3. JEU.VIDEO article

more Japan news on jpnerd.com

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