PROJECT R.E.D. – Second Installment Announced: Kakusei Hunter Omega Horn

The final episode of Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, the first entry in the new tokusatsu video series PROJECT R.E.D.—a project named after the initials of the English title "Records of Extraordinary Dimensions" for the Japanese phrase Chōjigen Eiyūtan ("Chronicles of Heroes from Extraordinary Dimensions") and centered on "red heroes"—aired on the 19th.

On the same day, the event "Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity 'Super Gavan-tastic' Talk Show! – A Limit-Breaking Encounter Between the Space Sheriff and the Hunter!" was held at Theater G-Rosso in Tokyo's Korakuen.

During the event, a surprise announcement revealed the second installment of PROJECT R.E.D.: Kakusei Hunter Omega Horn.

The new series will premiere on July 26 and will air every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on TV Asahi and its affiliated stations.

The event also revealed the show's theme song. The announcement that Miyu Irino would perform the theme song, titled "SHOUT Lalala VIVA!", was met with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.

(Here's the video of the event. Around 27:40 is the announcement of Miyu as the music artist performing the OP, followed by happy reaction from the audience 😁)

(You can take a listen to the TV size version of the song I found):

Irino Miyu: Audition & Recording for Spirited Away

(To ppl who are unfamiliar with how high school works in Japan: What the host meant was that the classes barely interact with each other, so it must have been quite a scary situation for first-year high schooler Miyu to be in with uperclassmen 😅)

Btw, the core themes in the musical The Prayers of Elcos (or „The Wishes of Elcos“) are individual creativity and being true to yourself. It's quite interesting that little Miyu's first exposure to the performing arts was this musical and that it ultimately led him to where he is now. Because Miyu's been always living by these principles as an actor and artist.😊

Miyu said in an interview for the Meiji University where he graduated (translated here), getting a higher education has been always a priority in his family. So he never considered what he was doing as a child actor a job or even a possible career path until he entered the second year at the University. It was more like a hobby, or club activity, that he did outside of school. But he always enjoyed acting and that's why he was able to continue it for so long until he finally decided to pursue it professionally.

More trivia related to his parents: (Because Miyu mentioned his parents, I thought I could include some here.🥰)

The reason Miyu first traveled to the United Kingdom with his mother was related to the stage production of A Christmas Carol, in which he appeared as a child.

According to Miyu, when he was in elementary school and performing in A Christmas Carol, his mother wanted him to experience the original culture behind the production. As a result, she took him and some fellow child actors to England. During that trip, they watched theater performances in Bristol rather than London.

Miyu has said that the experience left a strong impression on him. It later contributed to his affection for the United Kingdom, leading him to visit the country again on personal trips and during his language-study stay in 2017.

When Miyu had a hard time doing a laughing voice, his mother would accompany him to the recording studio and tickle him from behind.😂

(This is my picture btw, with my own Colo-Miyu plushie and the puny-puny figure of Miyu's Kiramune chara 😊)

Mangaka and artist Kouga Yun, who created the character designs for Gundam 00, went to Miyu's live concert and blogged about it. Apparently, she's a Miyu fan too and she went to his live shows before several times.😁

Irino Miyu's live concert!

I went to Miyu Irino-san’s live concert.

First impressions: it was incredibly fun! 🥰 And I learned a lot from it too.

The venue was the newly renovated Kanadevia Hall (formerly TDC Hall) inside Tokyo Dome City.

This was his first solo live tour in two years. The crowd was really fired up 🤭, and everyone was standing from the very start. His singing was excellent! I mean, you might say, “Of course he’s good—he’s both a voice actor and a singer,” but we all know there are plenty of cases where that’s not true, right! Irino-san is genuinely skilled: his voice is pleasant, and you can clearly hear every line in the lyrics. Compared to what I remembered from seeing him live before (I’ve seen his live shows several times before), his performance felt more powerful and captivating!

The setlist had great variety—fun songs, uplifting songs, refreshing songs—and it was put together really well. I was especially surprised and happy that he sang “VOICE ~Koko kara Hajimaru Ai~”. That song comes from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Voice Actor Single series, where he performed it as his character, Saji Crossroad (actually, Gundam 00 is an anime where I worked on the original character concepts! 😏). He also sang “Hoshifuru Umi” from Cosmic Princess Kaguya (apparently a favorite of his). He even played guitar. And of course, he performed his new song “Odoroki no Ko”, plus even an unreleased track—such amazing fan service!

His desire to entertain with everything he has was incredible, yet he didn’t come across as overbearing—he had a relaxed, straightforward presence. It was clear he knows exactly what he wants to do, and that vision came through directly. It was a live show that really makes you want to support him.

The unique rules—no penlights, no encore—also reflected a clear sincerity: “I want you to focus on the music,” “I want you to enjoy yourselves freely,” “I’ll give everything in the main set.” It’s entertainment, but also firmly an artist’s work.

Through his interactions with the audience, his exchanges with the supporting band members, and his introductions of the songwriters, you could really feel the strength of his connections with people. The whole show was full of his artistic philosophy—it was truly inspiring and educational.

There are still upcoming performances in Osaka, Fukuoka, and the Tokyo final, so if you’re interested, I highly recommend going! 🤭

'A New Dawn' Japanese Premiere Q&A Talk (subbed)

And love the little bit they shared from their experience in Berlin. The french team trying to get them eat raw oyster was quite funny. But yeah, french people are very proud of their cuisine lol.

Btw, when I was in Berlin to watch the premiere, there were quite a few japanese people there as well. Also, people were surprised to learn about Miyu's age. Some thought he was around Hagiwara Riku's age.😂 It's also quite cute how both him and Hagiwara Riku hit off immediately, that even the host commented on that, saying that they acted like old friends.😁

It's also funny that they admitted how they were paying attention to the audience's reaction in front of them, bc I was also conscious of the fact that they were sitting behind me, and it was kind of a strange feeling too to be in the same room with Miyu, while watching the movie with him and the others.😂

Also, just as a wholesome side note, the director actually went to the first venue in Tokyo of Miyu's live concert Humor is Human and then tweeted about it.🥰

Abema TV Yoasobi - Lucky number

Other important events I can think of where 9 was involved:

Miyu debuted as a solo music artist in 2009.

He got cast for the first time as the main role in a movie in 2009 (Monochrome Girl)

Miyu was 29, when he went on hiatus to study abroad (something he always wanted to do but was constantly told no by his agency until he finally pushed through).

The 10th anniversary of Kirafes was in 2019.

Miyu released "Live your dream" in 2019, which is the first album where he wrote all the lyrics of the songs himself. It's also a very personal album, because most of them were written while he was abroad.

In 2019, he got his first baddie role on stage in "Bodyguard", which then was also the first japanese adaption of the classical stage musical.

He got married on September 3rd, the 9th month of the year.

I'm sure that there are other important events in his life we don't know about ofc, but these are what comes to my mind.

年を取るごとに格好良くなっているって意味わかんないっ！！！！🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

HMV

In his recent appearance on the Radio Show, TBS Connect, Miyu talked about his trip to Berlin.

He then mentioned how an actor he admired and respected once said to him that he should go watch the stage plays there because he could learn a lot from these experiences. Miyu went there on his senpai's advice during his overseas study and was so impressed that he visited the city the following year again. Then, Covid happened and he couldn't go after that. So, this year he was finally able to go again, when he was in Berlin for the international film festival (he watched four plays within two days).

Miyu actually mentioned that senpai several times before, but on TBS he finally revealed the name and it was Nakajima Shuu. I looked a bit into the actor and learned that he passed away tragically in 2017 after a fall from the stage. And I noticed that it was the year, when Miyu was away for his overseas study...

Well, after Miyu came back, he released "Live Your Dream", an album where he wrote all the songs and 誰からも愛されるあなたのように was one of them. In few interviews prior, he said that the lyrics were inspired by his admiration and respect for a senpai. He didn't say who and I assumed he meant a seiyuu senpai. But when I listened to the song, I thought that the song and lyrics sounded melancholic and like yearning for someone past who is dear to you (I usually have a lighthearted image of Miyu with his seiyuu senpai...)

Hearing about Nakajima-san now made me think that Miyu was probably writing the song for him, like sort of a personal memoir. I imagine it must have been quite a shock to Miyu, learning of his passing while being abroad. And by the sound of how Miyu talked about his first trip to Berlin, Nakajima-san probably gave the advice right before Miyu went abroad...😢

It's just my guess though, but when I talked about it with a friend and then went back to listen to the song again, with that new info in the back of my mind now, I feel that it may not be that farfetched. Now, the song feels even more special and much more personal.

Here's the translated english version of 誰からも愛されるあなたのように:

A breeze blows when I least expect it When I casually look back, I catch the scent of those days A presence I can feel from far away Wrapped in that favourite coat That mischievous smiling face Even if it’s just a dream, let me hear it once more

Like you, who was loved by everyone Holding a kindness that connects people Today, I—yeah Will live, live, live, live, live on

In empty space, I can still feel something in the air Even if I can’t see it—yeah, it's definitely there “Love you” sounds almost like a joke But I can hear a voice calling our names, ah

Like you, who was loved by everyone Holding a strength that connects lies and truth Today, I—yeah Will live, live, live, live, live on

The time I spent with you now feels like a dream So many things happened I met so many people I saw and heard so many things And I realized there’s still so much I don’t know

Feeling that changes me I miss you, thinking of you who aren’t here now But you’re probably watching from somewhere today too That’s why I’m standing here now, ah ah

Until now, and from here on, I’ll stand right here Until now, and from here on, I’m sure I’ll keep standing Until now, and from here on, I’ll stand right here Until now, and from here on, I’m sure I’ll keep standing

The miso meat bun looks soo delicious!!😋🥟

This looks scary. 😂 Btw, I always thought that Miyu is so good at making faces. さすが舞台役者！😁