The full details of the "special tracks" on each disc of Yuzu's all-time best album, "Yuzu Iroha 1997-2017," to be released on Wednesday, April 26th, have now been revealed. It has been announced that the album will include luxurious collaborations of Yuzu songs with three popular artists who have close ties to Yuzu: Ikimonogakari, back number, and SEKAI NO OWARI. "Yuzu Iroha 1997-2017" is a comprehensive best-of album with 50 songs across 3 CDs, perfect as an introduction for fans, those who have listened to Yuzu before, and those who are just starting to listen to Yuzu, as they celebrate their 20th anniversary. During the selection process, discussions arose about "what interesting things we can do because it's our 20th anniversary," and the idea of collaborations with three "junior musicians" with whom Yuzu has close ties in various ways emerged. Afterward, Yuzu personally offered the opportunity to each artist, and all three groups readily accepted. The result was a magnificent track that transcended label boundaries, going beyond simple covers or tributes. Ikimonogakari, currently on hiatus, recorded their tracks from around autumn to the end of last year. "Natsuiro" was the song they performed at their first street live show as a trio—Kiyoe Yoshioka, Yoshiki Mizuno, and Hotaka Yamashita—which was the catalyst for Ikimonogakari's formation, and they had previously performed together at live events hosted by Yuzu. For this project, they chose "Iro Toridori," released in 2013, based on Ikimonogakari's image, and worked on the track while exchanging arrangement ideas. With back number, they created a band session of their 5th single, "Sayonara Bus" (released in 1999), which Iyori Shimizu had previously stated he enjoyed listening to during media appearances. SEKAI NO OWARI, whose members Fukase (Vo) and Nakajin (Gt) first met through Yuzu, performed a session of Yuzu's early song "Kanashimi no Kasa" (included in their 2nd album "Yuzuen," released in 1999) at the members' strong request. These three songs, each imbued with the stories and feelings of the three groups, can only be heard here. <Artist Comments> ■Ikimonogakari The three members of Ikimonogakari admired Yuzu and performed street live shows in high school. 。 English: So, I was really happy when I heard about this collaboration, and from the demo to the recording, I sang with excitement and had a wonderful time! "Iro Toridori" is a very lively song, and I think it's a song that conveys the fun atmosphere of collaborating with Yuzu! I hope everyone who listens to the song will enjoy it!!! (Kiyoe Yoshioka) If the group "Yuzu" hadn't existed, the story of the three of us wouldn't have even begun, so this collaboration is like a baby bird returning to its parents. Being able to participate in this special album celebrating their 20th anniversary was, in short, like a dream come true for us. Kitagawa-san, Iwasawa-san, thank you so much... so much. (Yoshiki Mizuno) We are very honored to have been asked by Yuzu to collaborate with us. If it weren't for Yuzu, "Ikimonogakari" wouldn't exist. Recording with such senior figures in music, street performances, and Kanagawa was a very valuable and purely fun experience. The song turned out like a treasure chest has been turned upside down, so please enjoy it. (Yamashita Hotaka) ■ back number I love the original song so much that I didn't want to change it too much, and I thought it would be good if people who have listened to the original song as much as we have could listen to it without feeling any discomfort. So, I played and sang straightforwardly so that the refreshing sadness of Sayonara Bus would not disappear, but would be conveyed as powerfully as possible. I was幸せthat my first ever cover was this song, in this form, with these people. (Iyori Shimizu) ■ SEKAI NO OWARI I became friends with Nakajin because I drew the Yuzu mark on my indoor shoes, and that led to the current SEKAI NO OWARI, so we cannot express how miraculous this collaboration is for us. The song "Kanashimi no Kasa" that we sang as adults has become a warm rain, like a passing shower falling in the sunlight filtering through the trees. (Fukase) ■Yuzu To commemorate our 20th anniversary, we released our best album "Yuzu Iroha 1997-2017," and we were thinking about what interesting thing we could do that no one else had ever done before. That's when the idea for this collaboration came to us, which is neither a cover nor a tribute. We reached out to three artists who are younger than us, but whom we have great respect for, and who are neither our seniors nor our contemporaries. The recording sessions were exciting and full of new discoveries for us as well, and new life was breathed into "Iro Toridori," "Sayonara Bus," and "Kanashimi no Kasa." Thank you, Ikimonogakari, back number, and SEKAI NO OWARI! <Product Information> Released April 26, 2017 (Wed) YUZU 20th Anniversary ALL TIME BEST ALBUM "Yuzu Iroha 1997-2017" [3 CDs, 50 songs] SNCC-86931 List price: ¥3,500 + tax First press edition: Three-sided case packaging Special website: http://www.senha-yuzu.jp/special/yuzuiroha/