Vocalist Vicke Blanka is blowing up big, with theme songs for several anime, TV dramas and commercials in Japan, while his music has received sustained attention from around the world, racking up some 200 million plays on streaming services. Today (February 12) he releases his latest single, “Ponytail”, along with an accompanying music video.

This breaking Japanese singer-songwriter disregards genres such as pop and rock to deliver his own brand of melodic music. Among his various tracks for popular TV shows and commercials in Japan, “Black Rover” and “Black Catcher” – his two opening theme tunes for the anime series Black Clover – have been especially successful, finding massive audiences both in Japan and overseas.

“Black Rover”, which was the opening track for Season 3 of Black Clover, has generated more than 50 million plays on streaming services outside of Japan, while fan-made cover videos of the song have totaled some 100 million plays on YouTube. Among these, versions by anime-song cover artists Raon Lee and BLINDING SUNRISE have received over 10 million and 4 million plays on YouTube, respectively. Truly, the song has been performed and adored by a variety of artists around the world.

Amid all of this worldwide recognition, Vicke Blanke today releases his latest single, “Ponytail”, along with a music video. “Ponytail” is a delicate mid-tempo ballad with a springtime theme tinged with the melancholy of fleeting romance. The track was arranged by Akimitsu Honma, who has produced hit artists such as Porno Graffitti and Ikimonogakari. The track’s powerful and touching sound perfectly carries Vicke Blanka’s ephemeral melody line.

The music video stars Hinako Sakurai, a rising young actress who is currently attracting a lot of attention in Japan. It follows two young people as they follow their dreams; the past and the present intersect, and their story unfolds with both joy and sorrow. With themes of opening the door to something new, taking a bold step and making a fresh start, it is perfect for springtime.

Be sure to check the music video in question below, along with the digital streaming link for “Ponytail” here!