‘We Are!’ singer Hiroshi Kitadani reflects on 25 years with ONE PIECE anthem

Tokyo: In 1999, Fuji TV began airing a new anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s bestselling manga ONE PIECE, with animation by Toei Animation. The series would become one of the longest-running and most internationally successful anime franchises ever made.

Yet Hiroshi Kitadani, the singer chosen to perform its first opening theme, had little reason to expect the assignment would define the next quarter-century of his career.

“We Are!”, released in October 1999 as the anime’s first iconic opening, remains the song most closely tied to the franchise. Looking back on it, Kitadani still speaks with fresh enthusiasm.

“We Are! is a song that changed my life,” he tells. “It is still a precious treasure. I’ve sung it tens of thousands of times, but it’s still a great song.”

More than 25 years on, the track continues to open concerts, episodes, and milestones for ONE PIECE fans worldwide.