Anime & Manga News

Rock Band OLDCODEX to Disband After Second 'Free!: The Final Stroke' Movie's Theme Song

by Vindstot
Dec 27, 2021 4:00 AM | 41 Comments

Tokyo-based rock band OLDCODEX announced on Monday that they will end activities on April 22, 2022—the release date of the second Free!: The Final Stroke anime movie and its theme song—marking it their final performance.

In a statement, the band apologized for the sudden announcement and thanked the fans for their support over the past 12 years. The official fan club OLDCODEX MOBiLE MEMBER'S and the OLDCODEX MOBiLE MEMBER'S. STORE will close in March 2022, ahead of their disbandment. The band reaffirmed that they will continue to produce music with a sense of gratitude and asked for continued support to that end. The original soundtrack of the second Free!: The Final Stroke movie will include the theme song.

The announcement comes approximately four months after OLDCODEX went on hiatus in August due to the vocalist Ta_2's (Tatsuhisa Suzuki) poor health. The band subsequently canceled their appearance at the Animelo Summer Live 2021: Colors music festival and the release of their 19th single Heading to Over - Version:Free, the theme song of the first Free!: The Final Stroke movie.

Suzuki also put his voice acting career on hiatus in August, citing the same reason. He has since been replaced in a number of titles, including Ultraman Season 2 by Tomoaki Maeno, Pokemon (2019) (Pokemon Journeys: The Series) by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, and Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha 2nd Season (The Misfit of Demon King Academy 2nd Season) by Yuuichirou Umehara.

The Tokyo Revengers production committee announced on Monday that Suzuki will be replaced as Ken Ryuuguuji in the second season, Seiya Kessen-hen (Christmas Showdown) arc. However, he will continue to star as Makoto Tachibana in the Free! anime franchise.

Suzuki launched OLDCODEX with producer, singer-songwriter, and ROSARYHILL's vocalist and keyboard player Ron, guitarist Yohske Yamamoto, and drummer Kazuhito Saegusa under Lantis' sub-label GloryHeaven in 2009. Yamamoto and Saegusa left the band in 2010, followed by Ron in 2012. Suzuki teamed up with painter and lyricist YORKE. in 2010.

OLDCODEX is best known for performing theme songs for the Kuroko no Basket (Kuroko's Basketball) anime series, the Free! (Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club) anime series, God Eater, Servamp, and Keishichou Tokumubu Tokushu Kyouakuhan Taisakushitsu Dainanaka: Tokunana (Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit).

OLDCODEX official site: https://www.oldcodex.com/
OLDCODEX official Twitter: @OLDCODEX_NEWS

Source: Music Natalie, Oricon News

20 of 41 Comments Recent Comments

Bro Cancel Culture in Japan was on another Level... Holy Shit man

Apr 8, 2022 8:36 AM by davidyodo24

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
i don't know shit about russia entertainment field. so i can't say anything about that. however contract breaching is taken very seriously in japan. he reveal company secret is warranted to get his future contract terminated.


But that's just one company. I doubt he had any secrets as the vocalist of this band or Free ikemen's VA.
and he pretty much terminated from his agency too, that's it. he is free to go to another agency, well, will another agency willing to take him after such record and lost appeal that made him sell? good luck.

Dec 31, 2021 2:34 PM by Kuma

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:


In Russia, several Russian VAs in their telegram / instagram accounts shared some spoilers from large Western projects they were working on. Why didn't this cause any scandal?
i don't know shit about russia entertainment field. so i can't say anything about that. however contract breaching is taken very seriously in japan. he reveal company secret is warranted to get his future contract terminated.


But that's just one company. I doubt he had any secrets as the vocalist of this band or Free ikemen's VA.

Dec 31, 2021 9:21 AM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
YES, breaching contract is really big deal. especially project that hasn't even announced yet. show he isn't a trustable individual.


In Russia, several Russian VAs in their telegram / instagram accounts shared some spoilers from large Western projects they were working on. Why didn't this cause any scandal?
i don't know shit about russia entertainment field. so i can't say anything about that. however contract breaching is taken very seriously in japan. he reveal company secret is warranted to get his future contract terminated.

Dec 31, 2021 2:59 AM by Kuma

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:


Are you saying that the dude lost a number of high-profile roles and a contract with a musical group due to the fact that he is too dumb to keep his mouth shut under the terms of one of the contracts? And we still have a number of female VAs who have lost their careers in idol franchises due to cheating on their boyfriends.
YES, breaching contract is really big deal. especially project that hasn't even announced yet. show he isn't a trustable individual.


In Russia, several Russian VAs in their telegram / instagram accounts shared some spoilers from large Western projects they were working on. Why didn't this cause any scandal?

Dec 31, 2021 1:52 AM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
again, suzuki is mostly terminated due to breaching NDA agreement, not because cheating.


Are you saying that the dude lost a number of high-profile roles and a contract with a musical group due to the fact that he is too dumb to keep his mouth shut under the terms of one of the contracts? And we still have a number of female VAs who have lost their careers in idol franchises due to cheating on their boyfriends.
YES, breaching contract is really big deal. especially project that hasn't even announced yet. show he isn't a trustable individual.

Dec 31, 2021 12:58 AM by Kuma

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:


Are we again returning to the topic that a stupid act supposedly ceases to be a stupid act if it does not affect someone's money and reputation? This - it reminds me quite a lot of the way companies think in the same country with the Stars and Stripes flag.
again, suzuki is mostly terminated due to breaching NDA agreement, not because cheating.


Are you saying that the dude lost a number of high-profile roles and a contract with a musical group due to the fact that he is too dumb to keep his mouth shut under the terms of one of the contracts? And we still have a number of female VAs who have lost their careers in idol franchises due to cheating on their boyfriends.

Dec 31, 2021 12:56 AM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
because it offend the potential market. ishiyama far right point is mostly internal japan issue. none involved with overseas policy.


Are we again returning to the topic that a stupid act supposedly ceases to be a stupid act if it does not affect someone's money and reputation? This - it reminds me quite a lot of the way companies think in the same country with the Stars and Stripes flag.
again, suzuki is mostly terminated due to breaching NDA agreement, not because cheating.

Dec 31, 2021 12:50 AM by Kuma

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:


Then why was Horikoshi forced to apologize and adjust the plot even for referring to war criminals in describing the bad guy? Why, when the screenwriter of the Girl who jumped over time insulted the monument to WWII Chinese women, this also caused a scandal and he disappeared from the public field for several years?
because it offend the potential market. ishiyama far right point is mostly internal japan issue. none involved with overseas policy.


Are we again returning to the topic that a stupid act supposedly ceases to be a stupid act if it does not affect someone's money and reputation? This - it reminds me quite a lot of the way companies think in the same country with the Stars and Stripes flag.

Dec 30, 2021 11:43 PM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
most author usually refrain from political comment because those made them unappealing. but japanese public usually couldn't care less if they express their opinion either. industry may say otherwise if it's really danger their market. see that isekai manga and anime that went cancelled because author racist remarks. digimon writer literally some "5g control the world" kind of guy. look it up. but he didn't cancelled just yet.


Then why was Horikoshi forced to apologize and adjust the plot even for referring to war criminals in describing the bad guy? Why, when the screenwriter of the Girl who jumped over time insulted the monument to WWII Chinese women, this also caused a scandal and he disappeared from the public field for several years?
because it offend the potential market. ishiyama far right point is mostly internal japan issue. none involved with overseas policy.

Dec 30, 2021 11:38 PM by Kuma

ExaltedChampion said:
RobertBobert said:


That is, if you do not constantly appear in front of the cameras and do not participate in stupid TV shows, then nobody cares about your public persona? Are you seriously saying that if the author of Conan now starts publicly supporting Trump, and the author of ReZero becomes involved in selling drugs, then this will not cause any scandal with the influence on their work?

Lol, what the hell is this?

And if it's just the Chinese market, why did Horikoshi still take it as seriously as possible and make an apology / character change?


Don't change the goal post. Also stop bring US politic in and think people in other countries share the same view as the US in every matters. My point is clearly stated that Suzuki public image which is what he is selling no longer worth anything after the scandal. Would people still buy works by a controversial author? A lots of people would still buy it because most people don't care about those things or spend time on social media. Would people still buy someone public image after it been tainted? Absolutely no.

As for Hori case, China is still one of the major market for manga and anime, way bigger than in the US. Making an apology is just economical sense.


But Horikoshi is not a public person, why should we think about things like markets and other shit ... oh, because public persona is not the only thing that matters and that non-public authors also have such things as reputation and brand?

And you continue to argue that if the author is not public, then the destruction of his reputation cannot affect his public image. Yes. This conversation is useless.

Dec 30, 2021 9:17 PM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
ExaltedChampion said:


You still doesn't seem to understand, all of examples you gave are authors, who SELL THEIR WORKS, not their PUBLIC IMAGE, while Suzuki SELL HIS PUBLIC IMAGE, so when his public image got damaged, it effectively a damaged product and no companies want to buy it anymore. It's like someone try to sell an painting but the painting got damaged so the price drop or no one want to buy it anymore.

As for Hori case, it's more the company try to appeal to the China market. Really the outrage mostly came from Chinese, same as the screenwriters case. You seem to think outrage outside of Japan somehow also mean that the Japanese themselves also has the same outrage.


That is, if you do not constantly appear in front of the cameras and do not participate in stupid TV shows, then nobody cares about your public persona? Are you seriously saying that if the author of Conan now starts publicly supporting Trump, and the author of ReZero becomes involved in selling drugs, then this will not cause any scandal with the influence on their work?

Lol, what the hell is this?

And if it's just the Chinese market, why did Horikoshi still take it as seriously as possible and make an apology / character change?


Don't change the goal post. Also stop bring US politic in and think people in other countries share the same view as the US in every matters. My point is clearly stated that Suzuki public image which is what he is selling no longer worth anything after the scandal. Would people still buy works by a controversial author? A lots of people would still buy it because most people don't care about those things or spend time on social media. Would people still buy someone public image after it been tainted? Absolutely no.

As for Hori case, China is still one of the major market for manga and anime, way bigger than in the US. Making an apology is just economical sense.

Dec 30, 2021 9:12 PM by ExaltedChampion

ExaltedChampion said:
RobertBobert said:


Then why was Horikoshi forced to apologize and adjust the plot even for referring to war criminals in describing the bad guy? Why, when the screenwriter of the Girl who jumped over time insulted the monument to WWII Chinese women, this also caused a scandal and he disappeared from the public field for several years?



So you're literally saying that shit stops being shit because of the details?


You still doesn't seem to understand, all of examples you gave are authors, who SELL THEIR WORKS, not their PUBLIC IMAGE, while Suzuki SELL HIS PUBLIC IMAGE, so when his public image got damaged, it effectively a damaged product and no companies want to buy it anymore. It's like someone try to sell an painting but the painting got damaged so the price drop or no one want to buy it anymore.

As for Hori case, it's more the company try to appeal to the China market. Really the outrage mostly came from Chinese, same as the screenwriters case. You seem to think outrage outside of Japan somehow also mean that the Japanese themselves also has the same outrage.


That is, if you do not constantly appear in front of the cameras and do not participate in stupid TV shows, then nobody cares about your public persona? Are you seriously saying that if the author of Conan now starts publicly supporting Trump, and the author of ReZero becomes involved in selling drugs, then this will not cause any scandal with the influence on their work?

Lol, what the hell is this?

And if it's just the Chinese market, why did Horikoshi still take it as seriously as possible and make an apology / character change?

Dec 30, 2021 8:40 PM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
most author usually refrain from political comment because those made them unappealing. but japanese public usually couldn't care less if they express their opinion either. industry may say otherwise if it's really danger their market. see that isekai manga and anime that went cancelled because author racist remarks. digimon writer literally some "5g control the world" kind of guy. look it up. but he didn't cancelled just yet.


Then why was Horikoshi forced to apologize and adjust the plot even for referring to war criminals in describing the bad guy? Why, when the screenwriter of the Girl who jumped over time insulted the monument to WWII Chinese women, this also caused a scandal and he disappeared from the public field for several years?

ExaltedChampion said:


Again, this is Japan, not the U.S. What the creator doing in their private is their own business. What Watsuki and Ishiyama sell is their works, not their public persona. They didn't market themselves as pillar of virtual for people to worship, it's their works is what matter to the general public. In fact most mangaka in Japan is very private about their personal life, unlike in the US. Suzuki however did, his entire work is about his public image and how the public see him. They maybe in the same entertainment industry but they in difference parts which sell difference things. What Suzuki sell is effectively got tarnish by his actions.

As for Watsuki case, he bought those magazines before they became illegal to own in Japan but failed to dispose of them after Japan banned them. So his crime isn't buying illegal goods, it was failed to dispose of illegal goods. Also it not much of a scandal in Japan, plus he already apologize and payed his fine so for most Japanese, he already payed for his crime.

But in the end, my point is that what Suzuki sell is no longer have buyers (his public image) so why should companies still support him? And not to mention his unprofessional conduct when it come to reveal companies secret.


So you're literally saying that shit stops being shit because of the details?


You still doesn't seem to understand, all of examples you gave are authors, who SELL THEIR WORKS, not their PUBLIC IMAGE, while Suzuki SELL HIS PUBLIC IMAGE, so when his public image got damaged, it effectively a damaged product and no companies want to buy it anymore. It's like someone try to sell an painting but the painting got damaged so the price drop or no one want to buy it anymore.

As for Hori case, it's more the company try to appeal to the China market. Really the outrage mostly came from Chinese, same as the screenwriters case. You seem to think outrage outside of Japan somehow also mean that the Japanese themselves also has the same outrage.

Dec 30, 2021 8:36 PM by ExaltedChampion

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:


So, when a public and well-known author creates a fake for right-wing propaganda, is this a purely private matter? Imagine the situation in the United States if Spielberg or Burton had a secret Twitter account where they supported the tea-drinking movement.
most author usually refrain from political comment because those made them unappealing. but japanese public usually couldn't care less if they express their opinion either. industry may say otherwise if it's really danger their market. see that isekai manga and anime that went cancelled because author racist remarks. digimon writer literally some "5g control the world" kind of guy. look it up. but he didn't cancelled just yet.


Then why was Horikoshi forced to apologize and adjust the plot even for referring to war criminals in describing the bad guy? Why, when the screenwriter of the Girl who jumped over time insulted the monument to WWII Chinese women, this also caused a scandal and he disappeared from the public field for several years?

ExaltedChampion said:
RobertBobert said:


So, when a public and well-known author creates a fake for right-wing propaganda, is this a purely private matter? Imagine the situation in the United States if Spielberg or Burton had a secret Twitter account where they supported the tea-drinking movement.



If all this is legal, then why was he detained and it became a scandal? Also, do you deny that manga is part of the entertainment industry? Even so, AoT and Kenshin as franchises have long been outside of just a manga.


Again, this is Japan, not the U.S. What the creator doing in their private is their own business. What Watsuki and Ishiyama sell is their works, not their public persona. They didn't market themselves as pillar of virtual for people to worship, it's their works is what matter to the general public. In fact most mangaka in Japan is very private about their personal life, unlike in the US. Suzuki however did, his entire work is about his public image and how the public see him. They maybe in the same entertainment industry but they in difference parts which sell difference things. What Suzuki sell is effectively got tarnish by his actions.

As for Watsuki case, he bought those magazines before they became illegal to own in Japan but failed to dispose of them after Japan banned them. So his crime isn't buying illegal goods, it was failed to dispose of illegal goods. Also it not much of a scandal in Japan, plus he already apologize and payed his fine so for most Japanese, he already payed for his crime.

But in the end, my point is that what Suzuki sell is no longer have buyers (his public image) so why should companies still support him? And not to mention his unprofessional conduct when it come to reveal companies secret.


So you're literally saying that shit stops being shit because of the details?

Dec 30, 2021 8:20 PM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
historically, female fans is more forgiving to cheating than female fans. but again, the specific suzuki case is too severe for agency to just turn blind on it. NDA breaching is much much severe than just personal controversy.


So, when a public and well-known author creates a fake for right-wing propaganda, is this a purely private matter? Imagine the situation in the United States if Spielberg or Burton had a secret Twitter account where they supported the tea-drinking movement.
most author usually refrain from political comment because those made them unappealing. but japanese public usually couldn't care less if they express their opinion either. industry may say otherwise if it's really danger their market. see that isekai manga and anime that went cancelled because author racist remarks. digimon writer literally some "5g control the world" kind of guy. look it up. but he didn't cancelled just yet.

Dec 30, 2021 4:31 PM by Kuma

RobertBobert said:
Kuma said:
historically, female fans is more forgiving to cheating than female fans. but again, the specific suzuki case is too severe for agency to just turn blind on it. NDA breaching is much much severe than just personal controversy.


So, when a public and well-known author creates a fake for right-wing propaganda, is this a purely private matter? Imagine the situation in the United States if Spielberg or Burton had a secret Twitter account where they supported the tea-drinking movement.

ExaltedChampion said:


First what Ishiyama and Watsuki sell isn't their persona and public image, it's their works. What Suzuki sell is his public image. It's literally his job to be love by the public. Second, they are in a completely difference industry, their might be some overlap but Ishiyama and Watsuki are both authors in the manga and anime industry while Suzuki is in the entertainment industry, mainly idol and celebrity. Third, Watsuki didn't got caught while buying child porn, he got caught possessing magazine he bought while they are still legal (and even so the models in those magazine is around 14-15). Japanese view on that issue is difference from the West since they have difference age of consent and view on sex. What I am saying what Watsuki did isn't something that most people in Japan view as serious enough to blacklist him forever (remember the case have been years), plus he already payed his fine. But in the end, the issue for Suzuki here is that his job is about creating a perfect public image and he failed at that, thus most companies in Japan see no reason to work with him.


If all this is legal, then why was he detained and it became a scandal? Also, do you deny that manga is part of the entertainment industry? Even so, AoT and Kenshin as franchises have long been outside of just a manga.


Again, this is Japan, not the U.S. What the creator doing in their private is their own business. What Watsuki and Ishiyama sell is their works, not their public persona. They didn't market themselves as pillar of virtual for people to worship, it's their works is what matter to the general public. In fact most mangaka in Japan is very private about their personal life, unlike in the US. Suzuki however did, his entire work is about his public image and how the public see him. They maybe in the same entertainment industry but they in difference parts which sell difference things. What Suzuki sell is effectively got tarnish by his actions.

As for Watsuki case, he bought those magazines before they became illegal to own in Japan but failed to dispose of them after Japan banned them. So his crime isn't buying illegal goods, it was failed to dispose of illegal goods. Also it not much of a scandal in Japan, plus he already apologize and payed his fine so for most Japanese, he already payed for his crime.

But in the end, my point is that what Suzuki sell is no longer have buyers (his public image) so why should companies still support him? And not to mention his unprofessional conduct when it come to reveal companies secret.

Dec 30, 2021 8:56 AM by ExaltedChampion

Kuma said:
RobertBobert said:
Huh man, over the past few years 2-3 female idols have been fired and disappeared from the industry just for cheating on their boyfriends. Maybe this guy is really an asshole, but lately the industry is really getting too serious about this topic. It feels like the Japanese are just fed up with contract pureness and have decided to go to the opposite extreme.
historically, female fans is more forgiving to cheating than female fans. but again, the specific suzuki case is too severe for agency to just turn blind on it. NDA breaching is much much severe than just personal controversy.


So, when a public and well-known author creates a fake for right-wing propaganda, is this a purely private matter? Imagine the situation in the United States if Spielberg or Burton had a secret Twitter account where they supported the tea-drinking movement.

ExaltedChampion said:
RobertBobert said:


Ishiyama set up a fake Twitter account for far-right posts and retweets, and he got nothing for it. Kenshin's author was literally caught by the hand while buying child pornography and the industry forgave him a couple of years later. But judging by the latest news, cheating on your partners is the worst evil in the anime industry.


First what Ishiyama and Watsuki sell isn't their persona and public image, it's their works. What Suzuki sell is his public image. It's literally his job to be love by the public. Second, they are in a completely difference industry, their might be some overlap but Ishiyama and Watsuki are both authors in the manga and anime industry while Suzuki is in the entertainment industry, mainly idol and celebrity. Third, Watsuki didn't got caught while buying child porn, he got caught possessing magazine he bought while they are still legal (and even so the models in those magazine is around 14-15). Japanese view on that issue is difference from the West since they have difference age of consent and view on sex. What I am saying what Watsuki did isn't something that most people in Japan view as serious enough to blacklist him forever (remember the case have been years), plus he already payed his fine. But in the end, the issue for Suzuki here is that his job is about creating a perfect public image and he failed at that, thus most companies in Japan see no reason to work with him.


If all this is legal, then why was he detained and it became a scandal? Also, do you deny that manga is part of the entertainment industry? Even so, AoT and Kenshin as franchises have long been outside of just a manga.

Dec 30, 2021 7:11 AM by RobertBobert

RobertBobert said:
ExaltedChampion said:


Maybe don't show off your lack of knowledge. The issue here isn't just that he cheated, it's who he cheated and what he did after that. His professional is all about the public image so of course there gonna be a problem when his dirty laundry got reveal. Also he broke contract of the company by leaking the movie song to his mistress so the company doesn't want to work with him anymore. Then he deny it for awhile until he can't deny it anymore. Also about Watsuki case, he already gave a public apologize and payed his fine according to the law, in the eye of the public he already pay for his crime.


Ishiyama set up a fake Twitter account for far-right posts and retweets, and he got nothing for it. Kenshin's author was literally caught by the hand while buying child pornography and the industry forgave him a couple of years later. But judging by the latest news, cheating on your partners is the worst evil in the anime industry.


First what Ishiyama and Watsuki sell isn't their persona and public image, it's their works. What Suzuki sell is his public image. It's literally his job to be love by the public. Second, they are in a completely difference industry, their might be some overlap but Ishiyama and Watsuki are both authors in the manga and anime industry while Suzuki is in the entertainment industry, mainly idol and celebrity. Third, Watsuki didn't got caught while buying child porn, he got caught possessing magazine he bought while they are still legal (and even so the models in those magazine is around 14-15). Japanese view on that issue is difference from the West since they have difference age of consent and view on sex. What I am saying what Watsuki did isn't something that most people in Japan view as serious enough to blacklist him forever (remember the case have been years), plus he already payed his fine. But in the end, the issue for Suzuki here is that his job is about creating a perfect public image and he failed at that, thus most companies in Japan see no reason to work with him.

Dec 30, 2021 4:18 AM by ExaltedChampion

RobertBobert said:
Huh man, over the past few years 2-3 female idols have been fired and disappeared from the industry just for cheating on their boyfriends. Maybe this guy is really an asshole, but lately the industry is really getting too serious about this topic. It feels like the Japanese are just fed up with contract pureness and have decided to go to the opposite extreme.
historically, female fans is more forgiving to cheating than female fans. but again, the specific suzuki case is too severe for agency to just turn blind on it. NDA breaching is much much severe than just personal controversy.

Dec 30, 2021 2:24 AM by Kuma

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