Kaikai Kitan
First opening theme for Jujutsu Kaisen by Eve.
Unknown · via Wikipedia: Kaikai Kitan · Fair use
"Kaikai Kitan" (Japanese: 廻廻奇譚; lit. 'Round Round Mysterious Story') is a song by Japanese singer Eve, released on October 3, 2020, through Toy's Factory. It served as the first opening theme for the anime *Jujutsu Kaisen*.
The track was Eve's first release in ten months. After learning his song would open the anime, Eve—a longtime reader of the manga—said he was "impressed" and reflected on how the protagonist Yuji Itadori's life and battles resonated with him. To create the music, he reread the entire manga series to refine his vision of the story. He initially produced a 90-second demo, then expanded the chorus with a large, chorus-like development at the anime director's request, aiming for a "violent" melody. Eve noted that his naturally light voice required him to figure out how to deliver a heavy, dark, and fast-paced song, calling it a deeply felt piece.
Musically, "Kaikai Kitan" is an upbeat track with a fast, heavy sound and a dramatic melody. The first verse relies on a quick band sound with solid guitars, while the second verse's A-melody shifts to a trap-influenced mid-tempo groove. The lyrics weave in elements of *Jujutsu Kaisen*'s plot, with phrases that echo the fate of protagonist Yuji Itadori and hint at future events.
The music video, directed by Yuichiro Saeki, features anime footage and was released on YouTube on November 20, 2020. It surpassed 100 million views on April 13, 2021, and a live video presentation was uploaded on March 26, 2021, to mark the milestone.
Critics praised the song. Satoru Ryusei of Real Sound noted that it blends a typical anime song sound with the light and dark sides of sorcerers who move forward despite dark pasts. Kari Komatsu of Rockin' On described the under-four-minute track as packed with sounds and arrangements, including effective vocal effects, that vividly capture the struggle to navigate a chaotic world. The song also influenced Tatsuya Kitani when he wrote the opening for *Jujutsu Kaisen*'s second season, "Where Our Blue Is".
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Eve
- Ep
- Kaikai Kitan/Ao no Waltz
- Released
- 2020-10-03
- Recorded
- 2020
- Genre
- Rock
- Length
- 3:39
- Language
- Japanese
- Label
- Toy's Factory
- Prev Title
- Snow
- Prev Year
- 2019
- Next Title
- Promise
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On August 11, 2020, it was announced that the single would be used as the opening theme song for the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, which would begin airing from October. The release date was revealed on September 19, and at the same time, the third promotional video of the animation using this song was released on YouTube. Eve, who had been reading the manga for some time, said he was "impressed" that his song was chosen as the opening song, and commented that there were many moments when Itadori's life and fights made him reflect. He created the music thinking about how he could accompany this energetic work.
Producing the song, Eve reread the manga from the first volume to the last and redefined the image of the work. He first produced a 90-second demo and then, at the request of the anime director, added a large chorus-like development to the chorus part to add a violent melody. Eve stated, "I think my voice is pretty light, so they made me think about how to sing a heavy, dark, fast-paced song with that voice. I hadn't been conscious of my songwriting until now, so it was a song that I had a deep feeling for."
The music video, directed by Yuichiro Saeki, uses footage from the anime. It was released on YouTube on November 20, 2020 and surpassed 100 million views on April 13, 2021. On March 26, 2021, a live video presentation was released on YouTube to celebrate the video reaching 100 million views.
Reader's Guide
"Kaikai Kitan" holds significance as the first opening theme for the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, a role that brought the song widespread recognition. Its composition, characterized by a fast and heavy sound with a dramatically developing melody, reflects the energetic and dark themes of the series. The song's lyrics overlap with the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen, with phrases recalling the fate of the protagonist Yuji Itadori and foreshadowing future events. Critical reception highlighted the song's ability to represent both light and dark sides of sorcerers, as well as its rich arrangement and effective vocal effects. The song's influence extended to the opening for the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen, "Where Our Blue Is", where singer Tatsuya Kitani was influenced by "Kaikai Kitan". The music video's rapid accumulation of over 100 million views on YouTube underscores the song's popularity and lasting impact within the anime music landscape.
Did You Know?
- The song was Eve's first release after his last song 10 months earlier.
- The music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube on April 13, 2021.
- The singer Tatsuya Kitani was influenced by 'Kaikai Kitan' when writing the opening for the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen.
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