Zipang - Main Theme

One song I had been listening to over and over again only a few months ago was the main theme to the TV anime "Zipang".  Similar to the American movie "The Final Countdown", "Zipang" is about a modern day Japanese SDF naval vessel that is suddenly and mysteriously transported back in time to World War II.  There actually aren't too many anime shows that I've watched from beginning to end, but the concept behind "Zipang" intrigued me and I became hooked.  The show, like the manga it is based on, is surprisingly even handed about the conflict, and refreshingly condemning towards the Japanese Empire's political machinations of the time.  Although the show doesn't come out quite as strongly as I would have liked against imperialism, the modern day Japanese characters never even consider taking the Japanese side of the conflict.  Rather, the moral dilemma comes from whether they should stay out of it entirely, or intervene to force a hasty and slightly less bloody end to the war.  In the end, even this second option becomes complicated when an imperial officer, learning of the future in store for Japan, decides to try and negotiate a Japanese surrender that would maintain much of its occupied territories.  And the stage is set for an engrossing, thought provoking anime.

The music in "Zipang", composed by Toshihiko Sahashi, uses a catalog of canned music which is then reused as the mood of a particular scene dictates.  Although this song is titled "Main Theme", it is used many times in the series - generally when a conflict is coming to a head, or when an episode is ending in a cliffhanger.  In fact, the reason this particular song stuck with me is because it is used for the cliffhanger of the final episode.  Unfortunately, a season two was planned but never created (the manga goes on for longer), and so the show ends without any resolution whatsoever.  Despite this tragic flaw, the show is a great piece of dramatic sci-fi and highly recommended, as is its soundtrack.

Album info: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=MJCD-20025