YOASOBI released their new song “Gekijyo” (“The Show”) on Oct. 2. Written as the theme song for Fuji TV’s ongoing Wednesday night drama series Pray Speak What Has Happened, the track complements a powerhouse lineup with renowned playwright Koki Mitani as screenwriter and Japanese superstar Masaki Suda in the lead role.
Marking YOASOBI’s first-ever drama series theme, the song also carries special significance for the duo, as composer Ayase himself joins on vocals for the first time.
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Since its debut, YOASOBI has built its identity as a “unit that turns novels into music,” releasing songs with strong narrative focus. Its concept of fusing stories and music has earned acclaim both in Japan and overseas, as seen in “Yoru ni Kakeru” (“Into the Night”), which became the first song in Billboard Japan chart history to surpass 1.2 billion cumulative streams, and “Idol,” which achieved explosive global success as the opening theme for the anime show【OSHI NO KO】.
In recent years, YOASOBI has also been actively performing live outside of its home country. Last year, the pair headlined shows in four U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York. From the end of last year into this year, they embarked on their Asia arena tour — the largest ever for a Japanese artist — called YOASOBI ASIA TOUR 2024-2025 “cho-genjitsu” (“SURREALISM”). In June, they also successfully headlined a show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley. In many ways, today’s YOASOBI can be seen as stepping onto the global stage as a torchbearer for J-pop.
For this new track, the duo took on the theme that “this world is a stage, and all the people are actors.” The song’s digital-rock sound — with driving yet full-bodied guitars and synths, paired with a dynamic rhythm section — flows naturally from YOASOBI’s recent live-oriented musical direction. With arrangements that strategically pull instruments in and out to evoke vivid imagery, the song unfolds with dramatic twists while maintaining a sense of musical exhilaration. Though highly electronic in approach, the sound is simultaneously physical, striking a remarkable balance.
Meanwhile, the lyrics depict the emotional journey of a protagonist weary of life. To summarize, the protagonist, lost in hopeless days, eventually stumbles upon a deserted dance hall. There, witnessing the beauty of the dancers, they begin to question their own life. Is this the way it should be, or not? Through this reflection, the protagonist comes to see their own life as that of an actor standing on a stage, regaining a sense of purpose and resolve.
Midway through the song, the lyrics pose a striking question: “What if the world all around’s/ A stage in open ground/ Would it mean I now have a role that is set for me?” By likening the world to a stage and seeing ourselves as the actors living on it, this meta motif — while classical in concept — resonates strongly as a universal theme for those of us living today. In fact, in an age where anyone can turn themselves into content or media, self-producing their own persona, this theme hits even deeper than ever.
“Let’s picture rounds of applause/ In this perfected comedy, I dive with all my heart/ The days I spent being laughed at as I fell apart/ Is it tragedy’s art?”
The lyrics reflect the anxieties of modern life, where people submit to the evaluations of others. As expressed in lines like “On a stage of winds, and in the fray,” the protagonist is an actor laid bare to others’ eyes, tossed between applause and ridicule — yet YOASOBI urges them to rise up and “Play the lead with all your life, and may devotion never fade.” This powerful message seems directed not only at listeners but also at the singers themselves.
A notable feature of the track is YOASOBI’s first foray into dual vocals. Right from the start, the listener is struck by ikura’s clear, beautiful voice, complemented gently by Ayase’s singing. The hitmaker has showcased his vocals in his solo work before — for example, with the self-covered Vocaloid track “Yoru Naderu Menou” and his first original solo song “Houwa” demonstrating his talent. More recently, he revealed his cool-toned yet warmly expressive vocals in the collaborative track “From Now!” for the mobile game Monster Hunter Now. But “Gekijyo” marks the first time Ayase has sung as part of YOASOBI.
The duo’s vocals — sometimes in unison, sometimes trading lines — blend perfectly, fitting seamlessly with the ensemble style of the drama series, which portrays the lives of young people. By stepping in front of the mic himself, Ayase, who had previously focused solely on composing, seems to embody the very theme of the song. Singing together also gives the impression that YOASOBI as a unit has entered the next phase in their evolution.
The track’s music video further emphasizes this shift, featuring both Ayase and ikura in live-action for the first time. In a sense, they throw themselves “On a stage of winds, and in the fray.” The visuals, filmed with multiple cameras capturing YOASOBI performing in a full band setup, take on a play within a play structure that mirrors the song’s motif of seeing people as actors. From lyrics to vocals to visuals, the song maintains a consistently unified theme.
With this song, YOASOBI sings about continuing to dance on stage and committing to their roles, even without applause or in the face of ridicule. They urge listeners to “All the way dance” and, “even days with no salvation,” to “Play the lead with all your life.” With this track, YOASOBI seems to be making a statement: in their sixth year, they are stepping onto the global stage as a figure entrusted with representing J-pop. Eyes are on them not just in Japan but around the world, and they appear ready to meet the moment, fully embracing their “role.” In that sense, the song feels like a defining turning point in their career — both a declaration and a promise of what’s to come.
—This article by Azusa Ogiwara first appeared on Billboard Japan