Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (Tatami Galaxy) Original Soundtrack – Review

Album Title:	Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei Original Soundtrack
Anime Title:	Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (Tatami Galaxy)
Artist:	Michiru Ooshima, Junji Ishiwatari & Yoshinori Sunahara, Etsuko Yakushimaru
Catalog Number:	KSCL-1613
Release Type:	Soundtrack
Release Date:	August 18, 2010
Purchase at:	CDJapan, Play-Asia

Tracklist
[spoiler]

Track Title	Artist	Time
1. Barairo no Campus Life	Michiru Ooshima	2:23
2. “Watashi” no Theme	Michiru Ooshima	1:34
3. “Watashi” no Theme (Piano Ver.)	Michiru Ooshima	2:03
4. Ozu no Theme	Michiru Ooshima	1:28
5. Kamotaketsunuminokami	Michiru Ooshima	2:08
6. Fumou na Nichijou	Michiru Ooshima	2:12
7. Kyoto, Sakyouku	Michiru Ooshima	1:43
8. Kamo Oohashi	Michiru Ooshima	2:07
9. Akashi-san no Theme	Michiru Ooshima	1:40
10. Kiyamachi no Uranaishi	Michiru Ooshima	2:08
11. Youjouhan to Castella to “Watashi”	Michiru Ooshima	2:16
12. Eiga Circle “Misogi”	Michiru Ooshima	2:42
13. Jougasaki-senpai Bakuro Documentary	Michiru Ooshima	1:36
14. Maru wo Sagashite	Michiru Ooshima	2:34
15. Takasegawa	Michiru Ooshima	1:40
16. Jigyakuteki Dairi Dairi Sensou	Michiru Ooshima	1:58
17. Sekininsha wa Doko ka?	Michiru Ooshima	1:45
18. Renai Sugoroku	Michiru Ooshima	1:38
19. Yojouhan no Amai Seikatsu	Michiru Ooshima	1:58
20. Kakumo Heisateki na Ai no Meiro	Michiru Ooshima	1:55
21. Johnny no Theme	Michiru Ooshima	1:47
22. Kakeochi	Michiru Ooshima	1:55
23. Akogare no Kurokami no Otome	Michiru Ooshima	1:44
24. Himitsu Kikan “Fuku Neko Hanten”	Michiru Ooshima	1:41
25. Toshokan Keisatsu	Michiru Ooshima	2:09
26. Unmei no Akai Ito Kuroi Ito	Michiru Ooshima	1:43
27. Yojouhan Shugisha	Michiru Ooshima	1:49
28. Musuu no Yojouhan	Michiru Ooshima	1:51
29. Yojouhan Ki Owari	Michiru Ooshima	1:43
30. Maru wo Sagashite	Michiru Ooshima, Keiji Fujiwara	1:55
31. Kami-sama no Iu Toori (TV Version)	Junji Ishiwatari & Yoshinori Sunahara, Etsuko Yakushimaru	1:34

[/spoiler]
Review: Michiru Ooshima has this knack for putting in at least one track that’s so beautiful and poignant it’s absolutely unforgettable. Fullmetal Alchemist had a few to choose from, but “Brothers” will be the one most people will point to and more recently, Sora no Woto’s soundtrack boasts “Servante du Feu” and “Un Bol d’Air” (my readers will say “Flanerie” deserves that spot too).

Of all the tracks on Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (also known as Tatami Galaxy), “‘Watashi’ no Theme (Piano Ver.)” is that track. The original “‘Watashi’ no Theme” captures the protagonist’s romanticized thoughts of what awaits him as he enters university through the violin, which depicts an optimist, a dreamer, someone who fully embraces the idealized vision of finding not only a direction in his life, but also that special someone with whom he’ll spend the rest of his life. Beautifully dreamy, it’s a sharp contrast with the piano version, which is far more somber. The piano’s slower tempo has that tragic, empty feeling one gets when one’s ideals are completely shattered resulting in an outflow of regrets, sorrow, and loneliness. As the piece ends, I imagine the character wondering, “what if I chose differently?” That final thought that the piano leaves behind leaves tugs at my heartstrings and I won’t ever forget the impression it left on me.

‘Watashi’ no Theme

[audio:02 tatami.mp3]

‘Watashi’ no Theme (Piano Ver.)

[audio:03 tatami.mp3]
The protagonist’s theme isn’t the only one that shines. Ozu’s theme, carried mostly by the clarinet, is unsettling and mysterious. This presentation jibes well with his ghoulish appearance and his penchant for scheming; you can never really tell whose side he’s on until it’s too late, and the clarinet captures that effectively through the way the piece slinks along while the accordion adds a slimy touch to top it off. Akashi’s theme also has an aura of mystery about it, but that’s only because she seems like an unreachable ideal (think yamato nadeshiko here). The music captures her prim, no-nonsense nature and though it doesn’t quite succeed at nailing her idiosyncrasies, its melody is soothing and charming, which works since she is a calming, stabilizing presence in the protagonist’s life and he really does enjoy her company.

Akashi-san no Theme

[audio:09 tatami.mp3]
As good as the character themes are, they only form one part of what makes this album enjoyable. The rest of it lies in the music’s depiction of the hijinks and shenanigans of the protagonist’s college experience. His adventures end mostly in disaster and regret, but they can be a wild ride if you listen to tracks like “Kamo Oohashi,” which sounds wonderful in its use of dissonance. The way it crescendos in and out highlights the risks and dangers he gets put into, and the methodical pace in which it flows sounds like someone’s machinations being set into motion, bringing all involved to the brink of disaster.

Kamo Oohashi

[audio:08 tatami.mp3]
From the other tracks, you get an idea for the scale of the protagonist’s efforts at fitting in. “Eiga Circle ‘Misogi’” has all the ham-handedness of an epic movie with its larger than life personas, nailing down the film club’s direction in the process. “Jigyakuteki Dairi Dairi Sensou” is meant to be silly and ridiculous in the vein of a spaghetti western with its flamboyant introduction that suggests the players involved taking part in an elaborate display of saber-rattling before finishing the confrontation once and for all. But amidst that are tracks like “Maru wo Sagashite” which channels a yearning tone borne out of wanderlust. Sung by Higuchi in one the earlier episodes, the guitar and strings possesses a sense of finality and preparedness in moving on, suggesting to us that his job is done and that he’s ready to see new sights to quench his thirst for enlightenment, knowledge, or whatever else it is he seeks.

Jigyakuteki Dairi Dairi Sensou

[audio:16 tatami.mp3]

Maru wo Sagashite

[audio:30 tatami.mp3]
As I clued you in above, the protagonist’s adventures don’t end well, and nowhere is that depicted better than in “Yojouhan to Castella to ‘Watashi,’” which is seeped in loneliness, hopelessness, and despair. The piano’s poignant melody illustrates the extent of the protagonist’s dejection and the tragic feeling that accompanies it makes him easy to empathize with. But there is hope, there is redemption. The protagonist, when deprived of the experiences finally realizes what was lost. “Yojouhan Ki Owari” describes this sudden realization perfectly, and the trumpets and the strings create a call to action, urgently pushing the protagonist to proactively seek out his oasis of happiness through the experiences he might not have noticed before. That the instrumental portion of the OST closes on out on that track is fitting, leaving behind the message that you might not necessarily get what you’re looking for when you do something, but there will be moments to cherish and experiences to take in, so enjoy them for what they are. Don’t ever lose sight of that.

Yojouhan to Castella to ‘Watashi’

[audio:11 tatami.mp3]

Yojouhan Ki Owari

[audio:29 tatami.mp3]
Tatami Galaxy’s soundtrack just goes on to demonstrate just how versatile and consistent a composer Michiru Ooshima is and that no matter what genre or show she’s assigned, she will put forth a solid effort each and every time. This soundtrack won’t eclipse her fine work with Sora no Woto, but it sure is an enjoyable outing, especially when paired with a show that is one of the best to come out this year.

Rating: Very Good