#kumapower

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Utada for GQ Magazine Japan, May 2026

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Utada in Burberry for GQ Magazine Japan, "Creativity Awards" edition, May 2026

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Kenshi Yonezu x Hikaru Utada's ending theme song for the recent Chainsaw Man full length animation movie.

The song is written by Yonezu with some mastering work by Yaffle.

Yonezu spoke in various interviews that he wrote this song specifically as an offer to Utada, and that he couldn't imagine anyone else for the vocals.

Utada really hits the melancholic but powerful feel of the song. It's rare that we see her lend vocals to someone else's production, so I feel like it's a special chance to see her incredible vocal quality and range in another light.

Yonezu, roughly 10 years Utada's junior, mentioned that as a child the song that left a huge impression on him was "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau koro." For him, that song represented the complicated emotions often at odds with each other during the sensitive teenage years. He was in awe of Utada's talent and introspection since that time, so this collaboration was a dream come true for him.

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Been a while since we got to see Hikaru-paisen’s home studio setup!

I loved the segment showing her working on music at home in 仕事の流儀’s (Japanese documentary show) episode on her from several years back. I’m still hunting for a recording of that episode but haven’t found it since…

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Zane Lowe is such a great interviewer! We’re so lucky to get this HOUR long discussion with Hikaru. I think Hikki’s interviews in English feel more genuine and introspective. I really want to translate this into JP so perhaps the Japanese speaking fans can get to know this side of Hikaru more. 🩵🩵🩵

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First time I've heard this Demo version of First Love that Utada recorded when she was 15. To this day she still goes by this process of finding the sound and melody first before crafting any lyrics. So cool to hear her search for those notes, and even cooler to witness a fragment of such an iconic song in the making. According to the OP's comment, there is a rumor that the backtrack of First Love was made with this Yamaha QY-20.

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ONE HOUR interview of Hikki on GOLDNRUSH Podcast, a fantastic platform that highlights the stories of multicultural Japanese creatives. There will definitely be Eng subtitles provided by the channel soon. I learned a lot of new things about her through this episode!

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Utada is going to be on Satoh Takeru's Youtube channel tomorrow night! Looks like we'll be seeing her kick butt in Tetris!!! Love that she's still got it

Header: "Takeru-kun, you sure you don't need handicap on? 😏"