Akira Kushida, Koorogi 73, and SHINES are closely connected music entities primarily known for their work on anime and tokusaku theme songs from the late 1970s through the 1980s. Akira Kushida is a Japanese singer who has performed numerous opening and ending themes for television series. Koorogi 73 was a Japanese backing vocal group active from 1972 to 1990, known for providing chorus work for various well-known singers in the anime and tokusatsu genres. The group’s name comes from the Japanese word for cricket, and it was initially intended to be active only from 1972 to 1973. SHINES is another chorus group that frequently collaborated alongside Koorogi 73 on various recordings.

Akira Kushida is widely recognized for his powerful vocal performances on theme songs for popular franchises. One of his most notable credits is the opening theme Honoo no Kinnikuman (Blazing Kinnikuman) for the Kinnikuman television series. The track appears on the 1984 album Kinnikuman 2 ~Akuma Kishi, Akuma Choujin Theme Kyokushu~, where Kushida is the featured vocalist with chorus provided by Koorogi 73 and SHINES. Kushida also performed the first opening theme for the same series, Kinnikuman Go Fight!, as well as the third opening theme, Kinnikuman Sensation. Beyond Kinnikuman, Kushida performed the opening theme Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan for the Super Sentai series, which also featured Koorogi 73. His extensive discography includes theme songs for Uchuu Keiji Gavan, Uchuu Keiji Sharivan, Uchuu Keiji Shaider, Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion, Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya, and Kidou Keiji Jiban. In later years, he contributed to series such as Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger and Dragon Ball Super with the track Ultimate Battle.

Koorogi 73 functioned primarily as a chorus unit, though they occasionally performed as lead vocalists. The group was formed in 1972 with founding members including Takafumi Tsushima, Tatsuya Kishi, Riyuki Makinori, Noriyuki Maki, and Masanori Sato. The lineup changed several times over the years, with Masatake Okura joining in 1973 and Hiroki Ueno joining in 1977. The group was known for their distinctive backing vocals on numerous anime and tokusatsu theme songs, including the ending theme for Himitsu Sentai Gorenger alongside Isao Sasaki. They also performed the ending theme for Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory titled Cybertron Banzai. Their last known recording was for the anime Akuma-kun in 1990, after which the group ceased producing new work.

SHINES appears as a credited chorus group alongside Koorogi 73 on several recordings from the mid-1980s. On the Kinnikuman 2 album, SHINES is credited with chorus on the opening theme Honoo no Kinnikuman performed by Akira Kushida and on the ending theme Kinnikumanbo performed by Akira Kamiya. The same chorus collaboration appears on the 1986 release Kinnikuman 4 Kinnikuman Family-hen, where SHINES again provides chorus alongside Koorogi 73 for the opening theme Honoo no Kinnikuman and the ending theme Kinnikumanbo. SHINES is also credited on the 2018 compilation album Hiroaki Serizawa Anime Golden Hitstory for chorus work on multiple tracks including Kinnikuman Go Fight!, Honoo no Kinnikuman, and Kinnikuman Sensation.

The collaboration between Akira Kushida, Koorogi 73, and SHINES represents a significant partnership within the anime music industry of the 1980s. Their work on the Kinnikuman franchise, particularly the enduring theme Honoo no Kinnikuman, remains a notable example of the energetic and melodic style that defined anime theme songs of that era.