Renai Circulation

Did You Know?

• The song won the Character Song Award at the Heisei Anisong Grand Prix for the decade 2000–2009.
• The song "Tokyo Mauve" by Polkadot Stingray was inspired by Hanazawa and resembles "Renai Circulation."
• J-Cast described the song as a "light pop tune" that makes use of Hanazawa's vocals.

Background and release

"Renai Circulation" first appeared as the opening theme of episode 10 of Bakemonogatari, "Nadeko Snake, Part 2", broadcast on September 11, 2009 on Tokyo MX. It was released as a limited edition CD bonus with volume 4 of the DVD and Blu-ray home releases, originally scheduled for December 29, 2009 but postponed to January 27, 2010. Digital services also carried the song on that date. A wider physical release came on December 21, 2011 via the soundtrack album Bakemonogatari Ongaku Zenshū Songs & Soundtracks.

Composition and lyrics

Satoru Kōsaki composed the song and Meg Rock wrote the lyrics. Kōsaki wanted Hanazawa to rap gently, drawing inspiration from Shibuya-kei music and Japanese hip-hop artist Kaseki Cider. The track combines rap elements with a "funky tune" and a light pop melody, featuring a brass section, single-note guitar, and glockenspiel. The lyrics depict Nadeko's feelings for the main character Koyomi Araragi, with Hanazawa using a clear, whisper vocal to convey Nadeko's "maiden heart." The chorus opens with the onomatopoeia fuwa-fuwari, meaning "fluffy." A line plays on Nadeko's name and yamato nadeshiko: "I will try without the 'shi' — I mean, I will try if it would cost my life!" Later character songs for Nadeko, such as "Mousou Express" (2013) and "Caramel Ribbon Cursetard" (2024), reference or respond to "Renai Circulation."

Live performances

Hanazawa performed "Renai Circulation" as an encore on her 2015 "Live 2015 Blue Avenue" tour. In 2019, she sang it as a special guest at the BTV Universal New Year's Eve Snow and Ice Song Festival in Beijing, and later that year at a concert in Shanghai and at Monogatari Fes: 10th Anniversary Story. She performed the song on her 2022 "Live 2022 Blossom" tour, at Animelo Summer Live 2022, and at Dream Entertainment Live in October 2022. In 2023, she included it in a medley at the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards.

Cultural impact

After its 2010 release, "Renai Circulation" inspired cover dances and mash-ups on Niconico. Nadeko won first place in a Bakemonogatari character poll, with some voters citing the song. In 2018, the song went viral on TikTok in China. In 2019, Xiaomi posted a parody version on Bilibili using processed voice clips of CEO Lei Jun. In 2021, an English cover by Lizz Robinett spread the song globally on TikTok, becoming an Internet meme. Hanazawa stated in 2022 that the song's success led to more character song offers and helped her know her voice. The song was used as an ending theme for the NHK Educational TV program Sukusuku Ko Sodate in 2022.