Sakurazaka46 Release the 'What's "KAZOKU"?' MV as 15th Single Drops June 10 — Opening Theme for 'Mission: Yozakura Family' Season 2
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Sakurazaka46 released their 15th single 'Lonesome rabbit / What's "KAZOKU"?' on June 10 and unveiled the music video for the title track. The song serves as the opening theme for Season 2 of the TV anime 'Mission: Yozakura Family,' with Hikaru Morita taking the center position. The double A-side single features a 22-member lineup drawn from the group's second and third generations, presenting a new formation alongside a high-profile anime tie-in.
The MV is set inside a 'home' where reality and imagination intersect: furniture moves on its own and mountains of mattresses appear as fantasy spills into the real world. Director Takuto Shinbo, working with the group for the first time, balances narrative imagery with dance performance.
Anime tie-ins continue to function as a gateway connecting Sakamichi-group songs with overseas listeners. 'Mission: Yozakura Family' reaches international audiences through streaming platforms, creating a path from the opening credits to the song's streaming and MV pages.
From a production standpoint, an anime opener has to work both as a roughly 90-second on-air edit and as a full-length track. Decisions about where the chorus lands and how long the intro runs are made with the tie-in in mind, and synchronizing the release with the broadcast schedule directly shapes first-week streaming numbers.
Also Watch: 'Lonesome rabbit'
The MV for 'Lonesome rabbit,' the other A-side, is also available. Its cooler, sharper world contrasts with 'What's "KAZOKU"?' and showcases the group's strength as a dance act.
ZEN Editorial View: Pairing an anime tie-in with the debut of a new formation lets a single release speak to domestic fans and international anime audiences at the same time — a layered design worth studying for independent creators as well.
Sources: Natalie / Billboard JAPAN
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