From Haikyuu!! to Europe: Burnout Syndromes Kick Off Long-Awaited World Tour
After a six-year wait, Japanese rock trio Burnout Syndromes—famous for their electrifying anthem 'FLY HIGH!!' from Haikyuu!!—are making a powerful return to Europe. They're kicking off a long-anticipated world tour with stops at major anime conventions like Dokomi in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Since forming in middle school, the band has become a staple in anime soundtracks, lending their sound to series like Gintama, Dr. Stone, and more. We sat down with them to talk about their global comeback, their creative process, and how they ended up shaping the sound of one of anime’s most beloved series.
Thank you so much for taking the time today.
Yes, thank you for having us!
Can you tell us how the band got started?
We formed the band when we were about 13 years old, so during middle school. That means this year is our 20th anniversary. Since then, we’ve had the chance to contribute songs to several popular anime, like FLY HIGH!!, ヒカリアレ (Hikari are), and PHOENIX.
How did you get involved in creating anime theme songs?
When it comes to anime themes, there’s a process—kind of like a competition. A lot of bands submit songs, and the anime production company chooses one for the opening or ending. That’s how FLY HIGH!! was selected, and later ヒカリアレ (Hikari are) and PHOENIX were chosen in the same way.
So your songs have been chosen three times?
That’s right. We’re really grateful.
How did your music career change after FLY HIGH!! aired?
Honestly, it didn’t change drastically at first. It wasn’t like things exploded overnight. But gradually, especially during the pandemic when more people around the world started watching anime, our name spread internationally. That’s when we really started noticing a difference.
Were you fans of Haikyuu!! before being involved with the anime?
Personally, I wasn’t reading it back then, but Ishikawa (one of our members) was already reading Jump, where Haikyuu!! was serialized. So he was familiar with it from the start.
Is the creative process different when writing an anime theme song versus a regular album track?
Yes, it’s quite different. When we work on an anime theme, we start by reading the manga thoroughly. We really try to understand the story and its themes—what it’s trying to say. Once we’ve grasped that, we write from the perspective of the fans—thinking about what they would want to hear.
When it comes to albums, on the other hand, it’s more about expressing our own current feelings and ideas. So yeah, the processes are very different.
Was FLY HIGH!! written specifically for Haikyuu!!?
Yes, it was. We received the news that this anime was being made and that they were accepting theme song submissions. We read the manga and thought, "Wow, this is such a cool sports story!" I became a fan myself right away, so it was a lot of fun to write the song. I just thought, "This is the kind of track I’d want to hear if I were watching the show," and that became FLY HIGH!!.
Where do you usually get your musical inspiration from?
Rather than everyday experiences, we’re more inspired by other works—like manga, films, or music by overseas artists. We draw a lot from art in general.
You recently performed in Germany. What was that like?
This is our second time in Germany—the last time was six years ago. Back then, we only had two anime songs in our setlist, like FLY HIGH!! and ヒカリアレ (Hikari are). But this time, we had many more songs to share, and it felt like people were coming specifically to see us. That was a great feeling.
How was the audience's reaction?
We’d heard that Dokomi is Europe’s biggest anime event, and the crowd was massive. We’ve performed in Europe before, but this was probably the biggest and most energetic response we’ve experienced so far. Their excitement really lifted us up—it felt like our performances became more powerful because of the crowd's energy.
Are there any differences between audiences in Germany and Japan?
Definitely. German fans are very polite and respectful—they follow rules and don't interrupt. In that way, they feel similar to Japanese fans.
Fans in places like the U.S. or Brazil are more expressive and spontaneous—they cheer loudly and freely. It’s a different vibe. But the German fans gave us this strong sense of respect, like they didn’t want to get in the way of the performance, and that really stood out to us.
Did you have a chance to explore Düsseldorf?
Yes, on the first day we went to three different places. We really like soccer, so we were happy to see the statue of Lukas Podolski. We also walked along the river—the city was beautiful. It left a really good impression on us.
Are there any future projects or collaborations you can talk about?
There are some things already in the works, but unfortunately, we can’t talk about them publicly just yet—even though we want to! So please look forward to it.
Maybe someday we’ll even get to collaborate with a German artist.
We’ve done a lot of anime theme songs, so we think there’s probably at least one that people already know. We hope you’ll check us out on streaming services or YouTube—please give our music a listen!
Thank you very much!
Thank you!