On March 4, Japanese vocal and dance group PassCode released “Liberator,” which was also named as the opening theme song for anime Roll Over and Die. With “Liberator” marking a new chapter for the group, PassCode dove into the story behind the single in an e-mail interview, while reflecting on their musical journey and future ambitions.
PassCode has been active for over a decade now. How do you feel your sound and musical identity have evolved over the years? How would you describe your style now?
Nao Minami: Having been active as the same team for 10 years, our challenge is keeping what makes us unique while refining our sound even further. Live shows have been a major factor in PassCode’s growth, and I feel like we continue to evolve together with our fans. I think each member’s individual style has finally become established.
Looking back on your career, what have been some of your favorite or most memorable moments?
Nao Minami: My favorite story is hearing that overseas fans are studying Japanese by listening to my MCs. Although, since I often use rough language during live shows, I’m not sure it’s the most appropriate study material (laughs).
Kaede Takashima: The 2022 concert at Nippon Budokan left the biggest impression on me. It was right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the group going through some changes, it was a performance we managed to pull off after overcoming a lot of challenges.
Hinako Ogami: The 2022 Nippon Budokan concert also stands out to me. What struck me most was how happy the fans and our families were on the day we announced it and on the day of the show, probably even more than we were. Because it was during COVID, we couldn’t hear the audience’s voices, which felt a little lonely at the time, but looking back, I’m glad we got to do it, since it’s probably a situation we’ll never experience again.
Emily Arima: Both the U.S. and Asia tours were so much fun! The streets and food were so different from Japan, which was refreshing and exciting. I was really happy to see fans in every country enjoying the concerts so much!
Your single “Liberator” is also the opening theme song of anime ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword. Can you tell us more about the making of this song, and what you hope to convey through it?
Kaede Takashima: After reading the original manga, we made sure that “Liberator” fully reflected the world of the story. It’s a song about striving to become stronger to protect something important and reminds listeners of the true value of the bonds between people.
Speaking of “liberation,” if you suddenly had a completely free day with no obligations, how would you spend it?
Hinako Ogami: I love eating and traveling abroad, so I’d like to visit a country I’ve never been to and eat lots of foods I’ve never tried. I’d also like to go somewhere with lots of nature and do activities like hiking.
You toured the U.S. in 2023, and carried out an Asia tour in 2024. Do you have any plans for overseas activities this year?
Emily Arima: We don’t have any plans yet, but I want to go! So many people came to our U.S. and Asia tours, and I want them to see how PassCode has evolved. I also want to visit countries we haven’t been to yet!
As a group and as individuals, what are your goals for 2026?
Nao Minami: I want to do lots of things that will surprise and delight our fans. One of my goals is to go on an overseas tour and perform live in front of everyone.
Kaede Takashima: Personally, my goal this year is to get stronger physically so that I can keep running around during live shows and still have energy until the very end!
Hinako Ogami: My goals are to perform live in places we’ve never been before and to make better use of social media. Personally, I also want to study English a bit more…
Emily Arima: I want to release lots of songs! I’ll work hard so we can deliver great performances even with new tracks.
