LE SSERAFIM, Yuzu, Hayato Kadono, and Akina Nakamori release a playlist to celebrate the New Year on Apple Music

■”I selected songs from the Showa era that brought possibilities to the Japanese music industry, as well as songs from the Heisei and Reiwa eras, as well as my favorite Japanese songs.” (Akina Nakamori)

Apple Music’s limited playlist project “New Year Starters 2025” to support those taking a new step has been released.

This Apple Music original project has become a tradition at the beginning of the year. In 2025, gorgeous artists from LE SSERAFIM, including SAKURA & KAZUHA, Yuzu, and Hayato Sumino, and continuing from 2024, Akina Nakamori, were in charge of song selection.

A variety of playlists carefully selected to celebrate the new year will add a touch of beauty to the start of the year. Don’t miss the comments from each artist, including their reasons for selecting their songs and messages for the new year.

In addition, Kentaro Ochiai and Mino, who are the host DJs of Apple Music’s radio program, are also participating, and guest playlists from the past four years and fun collections that you can choose according to your mood are also available. Don’t miss the Apple Music exclusive New Year DJ Mix by DJ KOCO aka SHIMOKITA, who is attracting attention both domestically and internationally.

■LE SSERAFIM (SAKURA＆KAZUHA)
To welcome the new year, SAKURA and KAZUHA from LE SSERAFIM have selected a playlist. They share their favorite songs as well as recommendations for how to spend the year comfortably.

SAKURA selected songs by artists from various countries that she is fascinated by, while KAZUHA focused on memorable songs and the messages contained in the songs. The playlists created by the two of you can be enjoyed in a variety of situations, such as when you want to improve your mood or when you want to relax.

■Yuzu
Regarding the idea behind creating the playlist, Yuji Kitagawa says, “I chose the songs based on the theme of Acoustic Guitar Selection, where the acoustic guitar shines in the songs.” Based on the playlist theme, Koji Iwasawa also listed his favorite songs.

It’s a lineup that can be enjoyed by people of all generations, including Neil Young, John Lennon, Oasis, Mr. Big, Led Zeppelin, and more, allowing you to see what they were like when they were guitar kids.

■Hayato Sumino
In 2024, Hayato Sumino released his world debut album “Human Universe” and showed his original vision to the world. To mark the beginning of the new year, he has released a unique playlist that conveys the deep charm of classical music. The collection includes a wide variety of songs, including masterpieces by pianists he admires, orchestral pieces perfect for the fresh air of the New Year, and choral pieces that fill you with a solemn mood.

“Even in a small room, you can feel the vastness of nature, and even in a dimly lit bed, you can look up at the sky. This mysterious power is one of the reasons I love classical music,” says Kadono. Be sure to check out the carefully selected songs that will give you that feeling.

■Akina Nakamori
Continuing from 2024, Akina Nakamori will appear in this project in 2025 as well. “2025 is the 100th year of the Showa era. I have selected songs from the Showa era that brought possibilities to the Japanese music industry, as well as songs from the Heisei and Reiwa eras, as well as my favorite Japanese songs.” As you can see, this playlist features songs from various genres such as rock, pop, R&B, and dance music, allowing you to experience the charm of the diverse songs that have been produced by the Japanese music scene.

In 2024’s “New Year Starters”, Nakamori chose his own song “Fin” as the last song, but this time, pay attention to the fact that he starts with “Fin -JAZZ-“. Let’s celebrate the beginning of the new year with a number of masterpieces that continue to shine through the ages.