Vocalist ASH from ASH DA HERO, a fan of the Ultraman series since childhood, recently lent his voice to Ultraman Omega’s opening theme “Bright Eyes” and ending theme “Missing Link“. With Ultraman being part of childhoods for generations since the 60s across Asia, we explore what it was like for ASH to perform these iconic theme songs and how they reflect the evolving sound of tokusatsu (special-effects hero shows), including the introduction of metalcore elements.

Additionally, the second cour of Ultraman Omega has recently begun, with the new opening theme “Kyoukai Revolution” by ASH featuring MindaRyn. Although this song isn’t covered in the interview, it’s exciting to see it continue the trend of incorporating heavier, metal-inspired sounds.

: Vocalist ASH from the band ASH DA HERO.

The Ultraman series has been a cultural icon for nearly 60 years. Given its influence on your childhood and Japan as a whole, how did you approach performing the opening theme “Bright Eyes”?

It’s truly an honor. From NARASAKI, who composed the music, and Matsui, who wrote the lyrics, I received a song of great importance. The moment I first heard the demo, I thought, “This is Ultraman”.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Ultraman series since childhood, right up to now. For all six years of elementary school, I used to write letters to Ultraman. I would even get replies, and reading those letters was part of my childhood.

That’s why, with all my love for Ultraman, I put my heart into singing every single note, hoping to give courage to the children who will grow up watching Omega. Who knows, maybe among those kids, there will be someone who dreams of becoming a musician and one day sings a theme song like I did. I want to keep passing the baton into the future.

: Ultraman Omega, featuring lead actor Kondo Shori.

That’s really inspiring to hear. With that in mind, what emotions did you want to express through your performance of the song?

It’s a song about the importance of believing in yourself to the very end. I sang with both power and delicacy, staying true to the lyrics and aiming for a delivery that really moves the listener.

特撮ドラマ『ウルトラマンオメガ』オープニング主題歌「BRIGHT EYES」ASH

Watch this video on YouTube

You also contributed rap to the ending theme “Missing Link” by MindaRyn, who is originally from Thailand. How do you think combining your performance, her international background, and Ultraman’s legacy brought something new to the music scene?

I sang with the hope of sharing it not just in Japan, but with the whole world. While honoring the traditional public image of Ultraman, I feel the result also carries a sense of the future.

While “BRIGHT EYES” showcased the classic heroic tokusatsu sound, “Missing Link” takes on a modern metalcore style. How do you think this change in musical approach reflects tokusatsu’s evolution?

I see it as a kind of innovation. We based the song on metalcore, blending in an anison style. Above all, I believe it’s most important for the music to be catchy. I hope this song will become one of the new standards for the future.

MindaRyn feat. ASH - Missing Link (特撮ドラマ『ウルトラマンオメガ』前期エンディングテーマ) | Music Video

Watch this video on YouTube

ASH DA HERO has recently released the album “HYPERBEAT”, what makes this album stand out compared to your previous albums?

I created it with the theme of “connecting the world”. It’s an ambitious album, made entirely without guitars. I believe we’ve created a new kind of rock.

Please leave a message to your overseas fans!

Thank you always for your passionate support! Our hearts are always with you. Please keep listening to ASH DA HERO!

倍返し(feat.ラッパ我リヤ) / ASH DA HERO

Watch this video on YouTube

It’s inspiring to see how Ultraman shaped ASH’s journey and fueled his growth as an artist. We can’t wait to see how he continues to push tokusatsu music to new heights!

If you enjoyed the music featured in this interview, you can grab it via the links below. ASH DA HERO’s latest album, HYPERBEAT, is particularly interesting, as it offers a mixture of rock and is well worth a listen.