Starting March 30, Ae! group steps into the space of everyday magic as they take on the new theme song for ABC TV’s long-running morning program Ohayo Asahi desu (おはよう朝日です). The track, titled “Kono Asa wa,” (この朝は) doesn’t just introduce a broadcast—it gently reshapes the emotional temperature of the Kansai morning.
For a group that has always carried their hometowns close to their chest, this moment feels less like an assignment and more like a return. Whether on concert stages, in theater productions, variety shows, or even commercial campaigns, Ae! group has steadily built a presence that feels both expansive and unmistakably personal.
Comprised of Yoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano—all born and raised in Kansai—their chemistry has always been anchored in a shared language of humor, rhythm, and instinct. Ae! group has never performed from a distance; their energy has always been rooted in something tangible, something lived-in. And now, that same sincerity is being threaded into the first light of the day, into kitchen breakfasts and hurried commutes, into the quiet rituals that begin before the city fully wakes.
But what makes this morning feel especially luminous is the creative lineage behind it. The song is written by Noriyuki Makihara, a name synonymous with melodies that understand people before they even understand themselves. His involvement marks a rare return to providing songs for STARTO ENTERTAINMENT groups—his first since SMAP, and his first in five years overall since his work on Takuya Kimura’s “UNIQUE.” There’s a sense, listening to the promise of this collaboration, that Makihara isn’t just composing a tune, but offering a kind of emotional architecture—something sturdy enough to hold both hope and hesitation.
And then, layered into that foundation, comes Hyadain. Known not only for his vibrant, unpredictable arrangements but also as a familiar voice on the program itself, Hyadain bridges the gap between studio and screen, between creation and commentary. His touch adds a certain sparkle—a playful lift that keeps the song from ever feeling too heavy, even as it reaches for something sincere. Fans may remember his work on “Banzai Disco” from their debut album D.N.A, a track that pulsed with the same sense of joy and theatrical energy. Here, that same instinct is softened, reshaped into something gentler, but no less intentional.
Together, the trio of Ae! group, Makihara, and Hyadain forms something quietly powerful: a Kansai morning built not just on routine, but on recognition. There’s something almost poetic in the way their paths meet here—local voices who never quite left home, now entrusted with shaping how that home wakes up. Recognition of where you come from. Recognition of how far you’ve grown. Recognition of the small courage it takes to begin again, day after day.
“This morning,” as the title softly insists, isn’t abstract. It’s this one. The one you’re in. The one that asks nothing more than for you to show up—and maybe, if the melody catches you at the right moment, to believe that something good can still unfold.
Ahead of the song’s full debut on the 30th, Ohayo Asahi desu will begin offering glimpses into its creation starting March 24. It’s a fitting gesture, letting viewers witness not just the finished product, but the process—the laughter, the trial and error, the human texture behind what will soon feel effortless.
Because in the end, that’s what Ae! group have always understood best: mornings aren’t perfect. They’re messy, unfinished, sometimes reluctant. But with the right song, they can also be a little kinder. A little brighter. And just enough to carry you forward.
Ae! group Comments
Yoshinori Masakado
We’re happy to share that an Ae! group song has been chosen as the theme song for Ohayo Asahi desu! I hope it becomes a song that adds even more color to a program that already brightens everyone’s mornings. Please show love to both the song and the show!
Seiya Suezawa
It’s truly an honor to have a song written for us by Noriyuki Makihara, and we’re also incredibly grateful and happy that Ae! group gets to perform the theme song for Ohayo Asahi desu. I’d be really glad if people could listen to it before heading to work or school and feel like, “Alright, let’s do our best today!”
Ken Kojima
I think we’ve received a refreshing song that’s perfect for the morning. It might even stand out among Ae! group songs for how gentle and calm it is. In a way, this track could be a “challenge” for us as a group. It’s a huge honor, and we’re putting a lot of passion into it, so I hope we can deliver that energy to viewers through Ohayo Asahi desu.
Masaya Sano
Ohayo Asahi desu is a show I’ve loved and watched since I was little, so it makes me really happy that Ae! group gets to perform its theme song. And on top of that, having Noriyuki Makihara provide the song—it just makes me incredibly happy. I think it’s a wonderful track that will brighten everyone’s mornings, and I hope it becomes a song that people will continue to love for a long time.
Noriyuki Makihara Comment
Ever since I was in elementary school, when I thought of a morning program, I thought of Ohayo Asahi desu. I still remember being deeply moved by its unique style—there was a woman named Acchan who would play the electone live instead of using a jingle to signal the time. As someone who loved instruments, that left a big impression on me. If I remember correctly, the theme song back then was “Ashita no Sora” by Kamifūsen—a classic that everyone in Kansai knows.
Now, more than 40 years later, I never imagined I would be given the opportunity to create a theme song for it myself. It’s truly an honor. Whether it’s raining, sunny, or even storming, mornings are filled with a kind of hope called “a beginning.” I wrote this song with the hope that people would feel, “This morning didn’t come for anyone else—it came for me.”
The idea of a world where each person’s own sounds begin their morning was beautifully brought to life in the arrangement by Hyadain, who is also a commentator on the show. I absolutely love it. His arrangement went beyond anything I imagined—it completely got me! I’d love to peek inside his mind.
This was our first time working together on music, and I’m really glad it was for Ohayu Asahi desu. And I’m truly happy that Ae! group are the ones singing over the sound we created. Just thinking about Kansai mornings beginning with their fresh and powerful voices is exciting, isn’t it? I hope their singing becomes a kind of “have a good day” for everyone.
Hyadain Comment
I’ve been a huge fan of Noriyuki Makihara since I was young, so being able to contribute as an arranger to a new Ohayo Asahi Desu colored by his music feels incredibly special. I worked on the arrangement with the hope of helping people feel more positive in the morning.
Ae! group’s wonderful vocals add even more color to the track. I also adjusted the vocal balance to highlight them as a vocal group. I hope this song will brighten a new kind of morning for everyone in Kansai!
