Editing Mr. Children (section)

===1992–2000===
On May 10, 1992, Mr. Children's debut album, ''[[Everything (Mr. Children album)|Everything]]'', was released and represented the long journey they took to get to this point. Three months later their first single {{Nihongo|"[[Kimi ga Ita Natsu]]"|君がいた夏}} was released on August 21, 1992. After the release of the single the group held two tours for the album, both held between September 23, 1992 and November 5 of the same year, the '92 Everything Tour comprising ten and the '92 Your Everything Tour consisting of twelve performances. To cap off the year and lead them into the next, Mr. Children released their second album, ''[[Kind of Love]]'' and their second single {{Nihongo|"[[Dakishimetai]]"|抱きしめたい}} on December 1, 1992. "Dakishimetai" was later used as an insert song for the [[Japanese television drama|Japanese drama]] {{Nihongo|''Pure''|ピュア}}.<ref name="AMZ">{{cite book | title = The distance to "HOME" | publisher = Kadokawa television | series = 別冊カドカワ総力特集 Mr.Children |trans-title=Separate volume Kadokawa special issue Mr.Children | year = 2007 | pages = 167–170 | language = ja | isbn = 978-4-04-894488-5 }}</ref> Shortly after, a new tour called '92–93 Kind of Love Tour started and lasted from December 7, 1992 till January 25, 1993.

In 1993, with the completion of the band's tour they began work on for their third album. The first single of the new year to be released was "[[Replay (Mr. Children song)|Replay]]", released on July 1, 1993 and used in {{Nihongo|''[[Ezaki Glico|Glico]] [[Pocky]]''|グリコポッキー}} commercials. On September 9, 1993 their third album ''[[Versus (Mr. Children album)|Versus]]'' was released, but failed to bring the group into the spotlight. They continued on and held a new tour. The '93 Versus Tour was held from September 23 until November 5 and had the band holding nine performances. Shortly after, "[[Cross Road (song)|Cross Road]]" was released on November 10, 1993, which was used to promote the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Dousoukai''|同窓会}}. The single was not a hit, but through word of mouth "[[Cross Road (song)|Cross Road]]" gained popularity and after 22 weeks sold over a million copies and later, though released in 1993, managed to become the fifteenth best selling single in [[Oricon]]'s 1994 yearly charts.<ref name="misuchiru" /> Sakurai confessed years later as to not liking his works up to this point. According to him:

{{cquote|I thought I had to be like Mr. Children's pop music star. That's why I tried my best to play the role.<ref>{{cite news | title = BACKSTAGE PASS - NO.176| pages = 8–24  | language = ja | publisher = Shinko music entertainment | date = April 1997 }}</ref>}}

On June 1, 1994 a new single called "[[Innocent World]]" was released and used a promotional song for the soft drink {{Nihongo|''Aquaerius Ioshisu''|アクエリアス イオシス}}. The single solidified the groups popularity with its sales, managing to sell 1,935,830 copies<ref name="oricon_singles" /> and becoming the No.&nbsp;1 selling single in [[Oricon]]'s 1994 yearly charts.<ref name="misuchiru" /> Afterwards work began on their fourth original album ''[[Atomic Heart (album)|Atomic Heart]]''. The album was released on September 1, 1994 and became the band's highest selling album to date.<ref name="oricon album">{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/41005/ | script-title=ja:ミスチル、ニューアルバム完成！|trans-title=Mr.Children and new album completion! | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-06-22 | language=ja}}</ref> Due to the huge success the band received from the album and "Innocent World" single, the groups popularity built up creating the {{Nihongo|"Mis-chil Phenomenon"|ミスチル現象}} in Japan.<ref name="misuchiru">{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/11477/ | script-title=ja:篠原涼子、"リレハンメル"でブレイク！ |trans-title=Ryoko Shinohara breaks away by "Lilly hammer"! | work=Oricon Style | publisher=[[Oricon]] | date=2006-02-07 | access-date=2008-05-08 | language=ja}}</ref>

The band also had Takeshi Kobayashi produce two new tours for them. The first tour, named after the "[[Innocent World]]" single was held from September 18 to December 18. The band also released their sixth single "[[Tomorrow Never Knows (Mr. Children song)|Tomorrow Never Knows]]" on November 10, 1994 which was used as the theme song to the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Wakamono no Subete''|若者のすべて}}. The song was written while the group was on tour,<ref name="MS2006" /> was later voted in 2006 as fans No.&nbsp;1 all-time favorite song on [[Music Station]],<ref name="MS2006" /> and is currently the third highest selling drama tie-in single in Japan.<ref name="drama123">{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/41246/ | title=2006年ドラマ主題歌No.1は!? |trans-title=2006's No.1 drama theme song? | work=Oricon Style | publisher=[[Oricon]] | date=2007-01-15 | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja}}</ref> The next single, {{Nihongo|"[[Everybody Goes (Chitsujo no Nai Gendai ni Drop Kick)]]"|everybody goes -秩序のない現代にドロップキック-}} was released on December 12, 1994, though originally intended to be the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of "[[Tomorrow Never Knows (Mr. Children song)|Tomorrow Never Knows]]".<ref name="9600TF">''Mr. Children 1996–2000'' album booklet</ref> To end the year, "[[Innocent World]]" won the Song of the Year award at the 36th annual [[Japan Record Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1994.htm | script-title=ja:第36回日本レコード大賞 | trans-title=The 36th Japan Record Grand Prix | work=jacompa.or.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615040106/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1994.htm | archive-date=2008-06-15 }}</ref>

In 1995, the second half of the Atomic Heart tour started, lasting from January 1 to February 2. Mr. Children also became involved in charity work, doing a collaboration song with [[Keisuke Kuwata]] of [[Southern All Stars]]. The single {{Nihongo|"[[Kiseki no hoshi]]"|奇跡の地球}} was used as the theme song for the Act Against AIDS campaign, was produced by Mr. Children and written by Kuwata. To promote the single and the campaign, they held a one-month tour from April 18 until May 14, entitled {{Nihongo|''Live UFO '95 Rock Opera "Acoustic Revolution with Orchestra" Kiseki no hoshi''|Live UFO '95 Rock Opera "Acoustic Revolution with Orchestra" 奇跡の地球}}, where the group did cover songs of many English speaking artists such as [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Bob Dylan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/sas/live/data/liveufo95.html | title=LIVE UFO '95 桑田佳祐＆Mr. Children "Acoustic Revolution with Orchestra" 奇跡の地球(ほし) | trans-title='LIVE UFO '95 Kuwata Keisuke & Mr.Children "Acoustic Revolution with Orchestra" Kiseki no hoshi' | work=jvcmusic.co.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324093137/http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/sas/live/data/liveufo95.html | archive-date=2009-03-24 | url-status=dead }}</ref> During the tour the group was also filming a documentary/concert movie called ''Es ~Mr. Children in Film~''. It was released in theaters on June 6, 1995,<ref name="tieup123">{{cite book | title = The distance to "HOME" | publisher = Kadokawa television | series = 別冊カドカワ総力特集 Mr.Children (Separate volume Kadokawa special issue Mr.Children) | year = 2007 | pages = 168 | language = ja | isbn = 978-4-04-894488-5 }}</ref> preceded by the group's eight single "[[Es (Theme of Es)]]" on May 10, to promote the movie. Two months later the group held an open air tour titled {{Nihongo|''-Hounen Mansaku- Natsu matsuri tour Sora [ku:]''|-Hounen Mansaku- 夏祭り1995 空[ku:]}} from July 16 to September 10, during which the ninth single, {{Nihongo|"[[See-Saw Game (Yūkan na Koi no Uta)]]"|シーソーゲーム 〜勇敢な恋の歌〜}} was released on August 10.

On February 6, 1996 Mr. Children's tenth single {{Nihongo|"[[Namonaki Uta]]"|名もなき詩}} was released, to promote the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Pure''|ピュア}} and also for Daio Paper's {{Nihongo|''Elleair''|エリエール}} commercial. The single went on to become Japan's highest first week selling single of all time<ref name="mcori" /> (which was later broken by idol group AKB48) and is currently Japan's eighth highest selling drama tie-in single.<ref name="drama123" /> The success of the single was also a surprise for Sakurai, who admitted to spending very little time writing the song.<ref name="9600TF" /> Two months later, on April 5, 1996 the group's eleventh single {{Nihongo|"[[Hana (Mémento Mori)]]"|花 -Mémento-Mori-}} was released, followed by their fifth original album {{Nihongo|''[[Shinkai (album)|Shinkai]]''|深海}} on June 24 and their twelfth single {{Nihongo|"[[Machine Gun o Buppanase (Mr. Children Bootleg)]]"|マシンガンをぶっ放せ -Mr.Children Bootleg-}}, on August 8. To close the year, the Regress or Progress Tour started and lasted from August 24, 1996 to March 28, 1997. The group visited 14 cities and held 55 concerts.

Mr. Children's 13th single, "[[Everything (It's You)]]", was released on February 5, 1997, with the title track used as the theme song to the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Koi no Bakansu''|恋のバカンス}}. A month later, on March 5 ''[[Bolero (Mr. Children album)|Bolero]]'', Mr. Children's sixth album was released. Soon after, rumors started of the group disbanding. Sakurai's reply: "The band will dissolve only when we have no more talent and have relationship problems with each other." Yet the group then decided to take some time off. Nakagawa and Suzuki start a side project band called ''Hayashi Hideo'', and joined by Kenji Fujii from [[My Little Lover]] and [[Sawao Yamanaka]] from [[The Pillows]], went on a club tour.<ref name="9600TF" />

On February 11, 1998, they released their 14th single {{Nihongo|"Nishi e Higashi e"|ニシエヒガシエ}}, theme song to the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Kira kira Hikaru''|きらきらひかる}}. The group was still on hiatus during this time and made no live performances to promote the single and did not appear in the music video for the song. Finally on October 21, 1998, Mr. Children officially re-grouped and released their 15th single, {{Nihongo|"Owarinaki Tabi"|終わりなき旅}} with the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Naguru Onna''|殴る女}} using it as their theme song.<ref name="AMZ" /> The song remains a public favorite in voting polls, Oricon citing its inspirational lyrics as the reason.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://contents.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/45512/ | title=ZARDに支えられた･･･ 夢を追いかけるときに聴きたい曲No.1 |trans-title=Supported by Zard… song I'd like to hear when running after the dream No.1 | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-07-15 | language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/43277/ | title=ZARD「負けないで」、14年経っても輝きは失われない |trans-title=ZARD 'Makenaide', 14 years later, blaze isn't lost | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-07-15 | language=ja}}</ref>

On January 13, 1999, {{Nihongo|"Hikari no Sasu Hou E"|光の射す方へ}}, their 16th single, was released, followed by their seventh album, ''[[Discovery (Mr. Children album)|Discovery]]'', on February 3, 1999. Sakurai compared his approach to the songwriting for the record to surfing:

{{cquote|There is a way of riding on waves, not only on big waves, but also small waves. Look at it to see how to catch it. It's something similar to composing.<ref name="9600TF" />}}

Eleven days later they began the Discovery Tour '99, from February 14 to July 12, where the group visited 16 cities and held 42 shows. During the tour, Mr. Children released their 17th single "I'll Be" on May 12, which was used in {{Nihongo|Shiseido's|資生堂}} ''Sea Breeze'' commercials. Though originally released on the ''[[Discovery (Mr. Children album)|Discovery]]'' album, the song was re-released as a single with a lighter beat. The single was not a success and became Mr. Children's lowest selling single since "[[Cross Road (song)|Cross Road]]". During the Discovery Tour '99, an idea for a live album was brought up. It was released as a 500,000 copy limited edition on September 8, 1999 and called ''[[1/42]]'' (referring to one of the 42 shows in the tour). Most of the tracks were recorded on June 16, 1999 at the Makomanai ice arena, while the bonus track "Dakishimetai" was recorded at the Okinawa Ginowan-Shi seaside park.<ref name="9600TF" /><ref name="OHP" />

At the beginning of a new century {{Nihongo|"Kuchibue"|口笛}}, released on January 13, 2000 became the group's 18th single. While "I'll Be" failed to be a success, "Kuchibue" proved to be a hit selling 724,070 copies.<ref name="oricon_singles">{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/21151/ | title=Mr.Children、待望のニューシングル「箒星」リリース決定！|trans-title=Mr.Children, and long-awaited new single "Houkiboshi" release decision! | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-10-04 | language=ja}}</ref> On August 9, 2000, their 19th single "Not Found" was also used as the theme song to the Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Bus Stop''|バスストップ}}, followed a month later by their 9th original album ''[[Q (album)|Q]]'' on September 27, 2000. The band went to New York to record this album, where they re-recorded some of their old [[Indie (music)|indie]] material and for the first time, producer Takeshi Kobayashi performed with the band on a recording.<ref>Hallelujah Document, Sony TELEVISION (2001)</ref> The cover for the album was shot bought Size, Inc. at the [[Bonneville Salt Flats]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | last = Embry | first = Jessie | author2 = R. Shook | title ="The Perfect Backdrop": Uses of the Bonneville Salt Flats | url = http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/sports/salt_flats.htm | access-date = 2008-08-11 }}</ref> The album was not a favorite amongst fans for various reasons and became their first album since ''[[Atomic Heart (album)|Atomic Heart]]'' to not sell over one million copies.<ref name="oricon album" /> ‘Concert tour Q’ started, visiting 13 cities and holding 35 concerts between October 15, 2000 and February 24, 2001.<ref name="OHP">{{cite web | url=http://www.mrchildren.jp | title=Mr.Children official website | work=mrchildren.jp | language=ja}}</ref>