Editing Mr. Children (section)

===2001–2006===
In 2001, Mr. Children continued their Q tour, followed by dual "Best Of" albums. Titled ''[[Mr. Children 1992–1995]]'' and ''[[Mr. Children 1996–2000]]'', they were both released on July 11, 2001. Both albums went on to sell a combined total of 4,034,785 copies.<ref name="oricon_albums" /> According to an interview done with [[MTV Japan]] Sakurai stated the best of albums weren't something they had planned on doing yet. During this time, the group was finishing up work for their new upcoming album and had planned to start promoting singles on it. However it was decided that a best of album was needed and so they were released.<ref name="MTV">{{cite web | url=http://www.mtvjapan.com/music/interview/music_interview_detail.php?interview_id=79&pageid=1 | title=MTV Japan Vol.79 Mr.Children interview | work=mtvjapan.com | access-date=2008-05-07 | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017110110/http://www.mtvjapan.com/music/interview/music_interview_detail.php?interview_id=79&pageid=1 | archive-date=2008-10-17 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Four days following the dual album release, the group launched the ‘Popsaurus’ tour, visiting 10 cities and playing 15 shows, lasting from July 15, 2001 all the way through September 25, 2001. A month into the tour their 20th single {{Nihongo|"Yasashii uta"|優しい歌}} was released and used to promote the Wonda Canned Coffee by [[Asahi Soft Drinks]]. Two months after the Popsaurus tour ended, "Youthful Days" was released. Released on November 7, 2001, it was their 21st single and was an insert song for the Japanese drama [[Antique Bakery]]. "Youthful Days" debuted at number-one on Japanese Oricon's Charts in its first week at retail (ahead of [[Mr. Moonlight (Ai no Big Band)]] by [[Morning Musume]], from album [[4th Ikimashoi!]]), and It ended up being their best selling single for the year. The b-side for the single, "Drawing", originally had no commercial tie-in, but two years later was used as the theme song to the 2003 Japanese drama {{Nihongo|''Koufuku no ouji''|幸福の王子}}, Starring former [[Shibugakitai]] member [[Masahiro Motoki]].

Mr. Children released their 22nd single {{Nihongo|"Kimi ga Suki"|君が好き}} on New Year's Day of 2002 (January 1), which was used as a show song in the Japanese drama Antique Bakery.<ref name="AMZ" /> Four months later their tenth original album ''[[It's a Wonderful World (album)|It's a Wonderful World]]'' was released on May 10, the groups' tenth anniversary. The release of the album on their 10th anniversary was not something that had originally intended. As the group was wrapping up recording, Sakurai asked if the album could be released in the spring time. While the group and their management was trying to think of how to promote an album in the spring time, they came up with releasing the album on their 10th anniversary.<ref name="MTV" /> A new tour, titled ''Mr. Children Tour 2002 Dear Wonderful World'' was set to begin later that year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0008004 | title=Mr.Children ニュー・アルバムを引っ提げて、全国ツアーが決定 | trans-title=Mr.Children News – Nationwide tour and new album decided | work=vibe-net.com | access-date=2008-08-09 | language=ja | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214154619/http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0008004 | archive-date=2012-02-14 }}</ref> The previous single "I'll Be" from the ''[[Discovery (Mr. Children album)|Discovery]]'' album was selected to be used as an official theme for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], held in Japan and [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/eng/koreajapan/ | title=2002 FIFA World Cup Official album: Songs of Korea Japan | work=sonymusic.co.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831151735/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/eng/koreajapan/ | archive-date=2009-08-31 | url-status=dead }}</ref> On May 24, 2002 Mr. Children attended the first ever [[2002 MTV Video Music Awards Japan|MTV Video Music Awards Japan]] and topped the awards show by winning 'Video of the Year' for the song "Kimi ga suki", the band also nominated in Best Group Category but losing to [[Backstreet Boys]].<ref name="mtv" /> Two months after the release of the new album, Mr.Children's 23rd single "Any", was released on July 11, 2002 and used to promote NTT DoCoMo Group ''10th Anniversary''. The group was not able to properly promote the single. As preparations for the new tour were beginning and promotion for the new single were being done, lead singer Sakurai was hospitalized on July 21, 2002, after a blockage in his [[cerebellum]] was detected.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2002_07/g2002072308.html | script-title=ja:ミスチル桜井が漏らした重病のホンネ | trans-title=Serious illness of Mr.Children's Sakurai leaked | work=zakzak.co.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208024823/http://www.zakzak.co.jp/geino/n-2002_07/g2002072308.html | archive-date=2012-02-08 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Iloveu">{{cite web | url=http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2005/08/index.shtml | title=Japan Entertainment News – August 2005 | work=japan-zone.com | access-date=2007-08-10 }}</ref> The ''Mr. Children Tour 2002 Dear Wonderful World'' was canceled and all group activities were put on a temporary hiatus. While recovering, Sakurai wrote a song called "Hero", that was inspired by his hospitalization.<ref name="illness">{{cite web | url=http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0010454 | title=Mr.Childrenついに活動再開。ファン待望の新曲をリリース | trans-title=Mr.Children activities restarted. A new song fans are looking forward to is released | work=vibe-net.com | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208140655/http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0010454 | archive-date=2012-02-08 }}</ref> The song was released as the group's 24th single on December 11, 2002 and was used in NTT DoCoMo Group ''10th Anniversary'' commercial. The first press version of the single included a [[DVD]] where, in addition to a '''Mr. Children 2002 documentary -Hero-'' that was aired, the singer talked about his hospitalization and inspiration for the song. On November 15, 2002 Mr.Children's website announced the band's return to the stage for a "stew of home pride"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0010648 | title=Mr.Children 一夜限りの復活公演が決定!! | trans-title=Mr.Children A recovery performance for one night only decided! | work=vibe-net.com | access-date=2008-08-09 | language=ja | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214154634/http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0010648 | archive-date=2012-02-14 }}</ref> with a one night only live,  December 21, 2002 the group returned to the stage for a single concert, later released on DVD, titled ''Wonederful World on Dec. 21''.

The group remained quiet for most of 2003. Sakurai helped to launch Artists' Power Bank ([[AP Bank]]), a non-profit environmental financial institution,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.apbank.jp/en/ | title=AP Bank official website | work=apbank.jp | access-date=2008-05-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501142255/http://www.apbank.jp/en/ | archive-date=2008-05-01 | url-status=dead }}</ref> in June. [[Sakamoto Ryuichi]], a well known composer, came up with the initial idea to build a wind-power plant. With the help of Sakurai and music producer Takeshi Kobayashi, their goal later became to invest in environmentally friendly projects, such as renewable energy,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web-japan.org/trends/business/bus050610.html | title=The Eco-Friendly Bank | work=web-japan.org | access-date=2007-06-16 }}</ref> and as of 2007, participated in other social issues such as helping the victims of a Chuetsu offshore earthquake in Niigata Prefecture on July 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000033862&m=jpop
 | title=Bank Band、配信限定で新曲を急遽リリース…その理由は？ |trans-title=Bank Band releases a new song by download only… the reason? | work=barks.jp | access-date=2007-10-23 }}</ref> Near the end of the year, Mr. Children re-grouped and released their 25th single {{Nihongo|"Tenohira/Kurumi"|掌/くるみ}}. It became their first double a-side single with "Tenohira" receiving no commercial tie-in, and "Kurumi" used to promote {{Nihongo|''NTT DoCoMo''|NTTドコモ}}. The single was a hit and became Mr.Children's best selling single since 2001's "Youthful Days" single.<ref name="oricon_singles" />

In 2004, Sakurai started a solo project titled Bank Band, which became a spin-off of [[AP Bank]]. As Bank Band, Sakurai released a first album, titled {{Nihongo|"Soushi Souai"|沿志奏逢}}, which contained covers of two Mr. Children songs, "Hero" and "Yasashii Uta".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/bankband/disco.html | title=Toy's Factory – Bank Band Discography | work=toysfactory.co.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207164136/http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/bankband/disco.html | archive-date=2012-02-07 }}</ref> Mr. Children released their eleventh album on April 4, 2004, titled {{Nihongo|"[[Shifuku no Oto]]"|シフクノオト}}, which came with a documentary DVD showing the group working and talking about the concept behind the album. To help promote the album, Mr. Children used the song {{Nihongo|"Tagatame"|タガタメ}} in '[[Nissin Foods|Nissin]] Cup Noodle – NO Border' commercials and as the 'News 23' theme song. According to Sakurai, {{Nihongo|"Tagatame"|タガタメ}} is
{{cquote|a message song with impact… (that) is carved within the depths of the heart of a person.<ref name="nissin">{{cite web | url=http://www.nissinfoods.co.jp/com/news/news_release.html?nid=714 | title=-日清カップヌードル 新広告展開-「NO BORDER」TVCFオンエア開始のご案内 |trans-title=-Nissin Cup-o'Noodles New advertisement development- "NO BORDER" information on TVCF broadcast starting | work=nissinfoods.co.jp | access-date=2008-08-11 | language=ja}}</ref>}}
In the following month, they released their 26th single, "[[Sign (Mr. Children song)|Sign]]", on May 26, which was used as the theme song to the Japanese drama ''[[Orange Days]]''<ref name="AMZ" /> and went on to win the Song of the Year award at the 46th annual [[Japan Record Awards]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/contents/entertainment/list/record.htm | script-title=ja:日本レコード大賞・最優秀新人賞 | trans-title=Japanese Japan Record Grand Prix and the best rookie of the year award | work=[[Sports Hochi]] | access-date=2007-06-27 | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101035737/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/contents/entertainment/list/record.htm | archive-date=2014-01-01 }}</ref> ten years after their win for 'Innocent World'.

Most of the 2005 was spent working on a new album. As a solo act, Kazutoshi Sakurai appeared at Golden Circle vol.7 on February 28, 2005. Finally on June 29, 2005 the group released their 27th single {{Nihongo|"Yojiken Four Dimensions"|四次元 Four Dimensions}}. The single became a monster hit selling 569,000 copies its first week, and ending with 925,632 copies sold.<ref name="oricon_singles" /> As a quad a-side single, all four songs had a commercial tie in. {{Nihongo|"Mirai"|未来}} promoted 'Pocari Sweat', "and I love you" promoted '[[Nissin Foods|Nissin]] Cup Noodle – NO Border', {{Nihongo|"Running High"|ランニングハイ}} became the theme song for the Japanese movie 'Fly Daddy Fly', and {{Nihongo|"Yooidon"|ヨーイドン}} was used as a promotional song for [[Fuji TV]]'s educational program 'Kodomo bangumi Ponkikkiizu, Gachagachapon'. Even though it was released as a single, it was classified as an album by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. A month later the group attended Kazutoshi Sakurai's 3-day festival '[[ap bank fes]]’ 05' from July 16, 2005 through July 18, 2005, followed by 'SETSTOCK '05' at Kokuei bihoku kyuuryou park on July 23, 2005 and 'Higher Ground 2005' at Umi no nakamichi kaihinkouen outdoor theater on July 30, 2005. Three months later on September 21, 2005, ''[[I Love U (Mr. Children album)|I Love U]] (I♥U)'', Mr.Children’s 12th original album, was released. Two months later Dome Tour 2005 'I Love U' began, running from November 12, 2005 through December 27, 2005 and were only the fourth artist in Japanese history to play at the Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, Nagoya and Fukuoka dome's.<ref name="Iloveu" /> The tour ended in Tokyo Come where they played to 45,000 fans, bringing the tour total to almost 390,000 fans.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2005/12/index.shtml | title=Japan Entertainment News – December 2005 | work=japan-zone.com | access-date=2008-08-10}}</ref> By the end of the year the group managed to pass the 45 million mark in sold records.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/m-station2005-4-1.html | title=MUSIC STATION SPECIAL アーティスト別 CDトータルセールスランキング TOP50！|trans-title=MUSIC STATION SPECIAL Classification of artist CD total sales ranking TOP50! | work=musictvprogram.com | access-date=2007-06-21 | language=ja}}</ref>

The first single for 2006, was their 28th single {{Nihongo|"Houkiboshi"|箒星}} released on July 5, 2006 and used as the promotion song for [[Toyota]]'s "Tobira wo akeyou" commercial and as the theme song to NTV's 2006 [[FIFA World Cup]] broadcasting. Due to the groups involvement with [[ap bank fes]]. '06, there were no magazine or radio promotions, and only 3 live performances were done to promote the single. However the commercial tie-in's for the single proved to be a success and "Houkiboshi" was voted No.&nbsp;3 as the favorite commercial song for 2006<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/25619/ | title=10年前のあのヒット曲がCM曲好感度に登場！|trans-title=The hit song 10 years ago appears as CM song favorite | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-09-08 | language=ja}}</ref> and voted as the favorite winter song heard in the summer.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/31651/ | script-title=ja:夏に聴いても心に響く冬の曲！？夏ソングじゃないイチ押し！|trans-title=The winter song appealing even if it's heard in summer!? The Ichi influence which isn't a summer song! | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-09-08 | language=ja}}</ref> Ten days following the release of 'Houkiboshi', Mr.Children participated in the 3 day festival, [[ap bank fes]] '06, where they performed "Hero", "Strange Chameleon", "Owarinaki tabi", and "Hokiboshi".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.apbank-ecoreso.jp/06/livereport/0717.html | title=ap bank fes. '06 official live report | work=apbank-ecoreso.jp | access-date=2007-09-08 | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208052756/http://www.apbank-ecoreso.jp/06/livereport/0717.html | archive-date=2012-02-08 }}</ref> One month later Mr.Children were special guests at The Mujintou fes. 2006 and performed "Mirai", "Innocent world", "Hokorobi", "Sign", "Owarinaki tabi", "Worlds end", and "Houkiboshi".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mujintou-fes.com/report/mrchildren/ | title=Mr.Children （8/27 SPECIAL GUEST） | work=mujintou-fes.com | access-date=2007-09-08 | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016140323/http://mujintou-fes.com/report/mrchildren/ | archive-date=2007-10-16 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Shortly after Mr.Children announced a joint tour with fellow Japanese rockers [[the pillows]], known as 'Mr.Children & the pillows new big bang tour ~This is Hybrid Innocent~'. The tour was held from September 26, 2006 through October 11, 2006. On November 15, 2006, the group released their 29th single {{Nihongo|"Shirushi"|しるし}}, which was used as the theme song {{Nihongo|''[[14-year-old Mother|Jyūyonsai no Haha]]''|14才の母}}, by [[Nippon Television|NTV]], a controversial television drama about [[teenage pregnancy|underage pregnancy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ntv.co.jp/14/ | title=14才の母 (Jyūyonsai no Haha) | work=ntv.co.jp | access-date=2007-06-16 | language=ja}}</ref> Kazutoshi Sakurai had begun writing the song in February 2006<ref name="production" /> and finished writing in March 2006.<ref name="production">{{cite book | title =The production process of "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 = 159–160 | language = ja | isbn = 978-4-04-894488-5 }}</ref> and shot the promotional video in September 2006.<ref>{{cite book | title =The production process of "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 = 164 | language = ja | isbn = 978-4-04-894488-5 }}</ref> One of the b-sides of single was a re-recording of Mr. Children's 2003 song "Kurumi", used as a theme song in the movie {{Nihongo|''Koufuku na Shokutaku''|幸福な食卓}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/35265/ | title=Mr. Children、「くるみ」が映画主題歌に決定！|trans-title=Mr.Children 'Kurumi' decide as a movie theme song! | publisher=[[Oricon]] | access-date=2007-06-21 | language=ja}}</ref>