Cycle I: Coming on Strong
The Hidden Voice
Record ~ Kawaii · Tracks
THE HOUSE OF ZAN — Zan
The music collected here accompanies Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii Edition, a collection of twenty-six encounters with Emika Hanamori, or Emi for short.
Each Heart Track was selected to accompany a particular Record, reflecting something about its subject, atmosphere, or the personality experiencing it. Sometimes the connection is immediate. Other times, the music offers another perspective on what Emi has to say.
The music is part of the intended experience, but the writing doesn’t depend on it to be understood.
Where the original Cycle I Records draw much of their musical identity from female-led alternative rock of the 1990s, the Kawaii Edition moves primarily through Japanese pop music from the mid-2010s onward, particularly female vocalists and groups.
That includes energetic dance-pop, electronic music, atmospheric compositions, and songs that don’t fit quite so comfortably into one category.
The selections weren’t made simply because they sounded kawaii or belonged to a particular genre. Each needed to contribute something worthwhile to its accompanying piece, whether by reinforcing an idea, introducing a different emotional perspective, or capturing something about Emi herself.
There are also a couple of deliberate departures from the collection’s usual musical direction.
The Vapors’ “Turning Japanese” and Brina Palencia’s “Party! Join Us” have their own relationships with the Records they accompany, even though neither belongs to the musical space surrounding most of the other selections.
The opening and closing arrangements provide something different again: the excitement of entering a world and the feeling of eventually having to leave it.
One selection deserves particular recognition. Konnichiwa Tokyo’s “Cosmic Girl,” especially its official music video, helped inspire Emi’s personality and the world I imagined her inhabiting. Its influence runs throughout the collection, far beyond its role as the first Record’s Heart Track.
The tracks below follow the reading order of the collection. Links lead to official music videos where available, with other official recordings or performances identified separately.
Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii — Starting the Cycle
Opening Arrangement: ♡ SUMMONERS 2+ — DeCIDE
Watch Official Music Video — Short Version
1-1 · Starting Point! ~ Konnichiwa…
Heart Track: ♡ Konnichiwa Tokyo — Cosmic Girl
Watch Official Music Video
1-2 · Onward and Upward! ~ Mite Hoshii Dake?
Heart Track: ♡ CHAI — N.E.O.
Watch Official Music Video
1-3 · Great Expectations! ~ Kitai Shisugi?
Heart Track: ♡ CUTIE STREET — Error404♡
Watch Official Music Video
1-4 · Sacrifice of Control! ~ Tebanaseru?
Heart Track: ♡ Neko Hacker feat. Nanahira & Wotoha — TBC Hacker
Watch Official Music Video
1-5 · Learning Through Experience! ~ Ima no Watashi?
Heart Track: ♡ DAOKO — ShibuyaK
Watch Official Music Video
1-6 · Objects in Space! ~ Jibun no Supēsu?
Heart Track: ♡ Yunomi feat. TORIENA — Oedo Controller
Watch Official Music Video
1-7 · The Gift of a Maybe! ~ Nani o Misetai?
Heart Track: ♡ asmi — PAKU
Watch Official Music Video
1-8 · What/ever! ~ Hitotsu Dake?
Heart Track: ♡ Wednesday Campanella — Butterfly
Listen to Official Full Recording
1-9 · Reality of Fantasy! ~ Mō Sukoshi?
Heart Track: ♡ MONDO GROSSO feat. Hikari Mitsushima — Labyrinth
Watch Official Music Video
1-10 · Handle With Care! ~ Arigatō Dake?
Heart Track: ♡ Reol — THE SIXTH SENSE
Watch Official Music Video
1-11 · Getting Ahead? ~ Iya tte Ii?
Heart Track: ♡ The Vapors — Turning Japanese
Listen to Official Full Recording
If you’d rather not interrupt the wonderfully kawaii atmosphere of this playlist, I can’t blame you.
The Vapors’ original recording remains the intended Heart Track for this piece, but there’s another option worth exploring.
Kirsten Dunst performed a cover of the band’s 1980 hit “Turning Japanese” in Akihabara Majokko Princess, a short film created by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami in collaboration with director McG for the 2009 exhibition Pop Life: Art in a Material World at London’s Tate Modern.
If you’d prefer to keep the female vocals and stay a little closer to the collection’s kawaii aesthetic, that’s the alternative I’d recommend.
1-12 · From Darkness! ~ Kowai Mono mo?
Heart Track: ♡ Ado — MIRROR
Watch Official Music Video
1-13 · For What It’s Worth! ~ Kore de Yokatta?
Heart Track: ♡ YUC’e — Future Cαndy
Listen to Official Recording
1-14 · Earthbound Backtrack! ~ Dō Kanjita?
Heart Track: ♡ NANAOAKARI — Discommunication Alien
Watch Official Music Video
1-15 · Saturn Return! ~ Ōdishon?
Heart Track: ♡ CANDY TUNE — TUNE MY WAY
Listen to Official Recording
1-16 · Neptune Nowhere! ~ Anata ga Kimeru?
Heart Track: ♡ YOASOBI — Gunjō
Watch Official Music Video
1-17 · Jupiter Obsession! ~ Hontō ni Okita?
Heart Track: ♡ ZUTOMAYO — Obenkyou Shitoiteyo
Watch Official Music Video
1-18 · Uranus Joy! ~ Hanashite Minai?
Heart Track: ♡ Kyary Pamyu Pamyu — Kira Kira Killer
Watch Official Music Video
1-19 · Pluto Reversal! ~ Sūji de Wakaru?
Heart Track: ♡ TOMOO — Super Ball
Watch Official Music Video
1-20 · Mars Bars! ~ Mite Morau Dake?
Heart Track: ♡ chelmico — Easy Breezy
Watch Official Music Video
1-21 · Venus Breakdown! ~ Sore ga Hoshikatta?
Heart Track: ♡ SWEET STEADY — Pajama Party!
Watch Official Music Video
1-22 · Mercury Memories! ~ Naisho ni Shite?
Heart Track: ♡ picco feat. Sanso Nakamura — Tokyo Future Girl
Listen to Official Recording
1-23 · Moon Shades! ~ Watashi no Mama?
Heart Track: ♡ Hoshimachi Suisei — Stellar Stellar
Watch Official Music Video
1-24 · Sun Stroke! ~ Issho ni Warau?
Heart Track: ♡ Brina Palencia — Party! Join Us
From the closing credits of Funimation’s English-language adaptation of Shin Chan.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate an official music video or authorized standalone upload for this track. Rather than link to an unofficial copy, I’ve intentionally left this selection without a listening link.
1-25 · Universal Truth! ~ Dare ga Kimeta no?
Heart Track: ♡ FRUITS ZIPPER — NEW KAWAII
Watch Official Music Video
1-26 · The Great Beyond! ~ Hontō ni Owari?
Heart Track: ♡ BABYMETAL — THE ONE
Watch Official Music Video
Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii — Breaking the Cycle
Closing Arrangement: ♡ MINMI — Shiki no Uta
Listen to Official Original Japanese Recording
Watch Official Music Video — English Version
The twenty-six Heart Tracks, together with the opening and closing arrangements, form the complete musical sequence for Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii Edition, following the same order as the pieces they accompany.
Each selection has its own relationship with Emi and the experience unfolding around her. Some may become more meaningful after reading their corresponding Records, while others might introduce an entirely different impression of what she’s saying.
For the individual pieces and their complete reading order, visit Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii Edition — Table of Contents.
For a more extensive look at the development of Emi and the decisions behind the musical selections, read Kawaii by Design: The Creation of Cycle I: The Record ~ Kawaii Edition.
The original collection has a musical identity of its own. You can explore those selections through Cycle I: The Record — Companion Tracks.
For other rooms in The House of Zan, return to the House Map.
Music & Rights Notice
The selection and placement of each Heart Track are deliberate parts of the editorial and artistic curation of the material presented. Artist names, song titles, and recordings are identified for reference and attribution.
The thematic, symbolic, or interpretive relationship created between a track and the material presented reflects the original editorial and artistic interpretation of that pairing. It does not imply that the artist intended, adopted, or endorsed that interpretation unless explicitly indicated otherwise.
Each identified Heart Track refers to the selected musical work and recording. A linked music video, live performance, promotional recording, remix, or alternate version should not be understood as replacing that selection unless explicitly stated.
Links prioritize official or authorized music videos where available. When no corresponding music video could be verified, official recordings or performances may be provided instead and identified accordingly.
The visual presentation of a music video is not necessarily part of the artistic pairing with the written Record. Where a video’s imagery contributes to the creation or interpretation of the work, that relationship is identified separately.
Availability may change by region or over time because uploads and access restrictions are controlled by third parties.
The original writing, commentary, editorial structure, and creative selection, sequencing, placement, and presentation of referenced music are part of the original authorship presented here. No claim is made to copyright in the underlying third-party musical works or sound recordings.
Artists, songwriters, performers, labels, publishers, and other rights holders whose music is identified, referenced, or linked are not represented as affiliated with or participating in the material presented. Their identification does not imply authorization, approval, sponsorship, affiliation, participation, or endorsement unless explicitly indicated otherwise.
All rights in the identified musical works and sound recordings remain with their respective rights holders. No ownership of third-party music or recordings is claimed.