"Kaibutsu"
Single by Yoasobi
from the EP The Book 2
LanguageJapanese
English title"Monster"
A-side"Yasashii Suisei"
ReleasedJanuary 6, 2021
Genre
Length3:26
LabelSony Japan
Songwriter(s)Ayase
Producer(s)Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Haruka"
(2020)		 "Kaibutsu"
(2021)		 "Yasashii Suisei"
(2021)
Alternative cover
Illustration of Legoshi, the main character of Beastars
Limited double A-side single cover
Music video
"Kaibutsu" on YouTube
"Monster" on YouTube

"Kaibutsu" (怪物, lit. "Monster") is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi from their second extended play, The Book 2 (2021). It was released through Sony Music Entertainment Japan on January 6, 2021, the same date as the duo's debut EP, The Book. As an opening theme for the second season of the anime television series Beastars, "Kaibutsu" is about a carnivore trying to coexist with herbivores in a cruel world, based on Jibun no Mune ni Jibun no Mimi o Oshi Atete, written by the anime's writer Paru Itagaki.

Commercially, "Kaibutsu" peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 87 on the Global 200. The double A-side CD single with "Yasashii Suisei", released on March 24, debuted at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart. The song earned four wins for both download and streaming categories of Song of the Year (Japan) and Best 5 Songs at the 36th Japan Gold Disc Award, and received diamond streaming certification from Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). It was featured on Time's 10 Best Songs of 2021 list, becoming the only Japanese song on it. The English version of the song, titled "Monster", was released on July 30.

Background and release

On November 5, 2020, Yoasobi announced to perform the opening theme for the second season of the anime television series Beastars, titled "Kaibutsu". The TV-size version was previewed in the trailer released the same day.[1] The song was based on the novel Jibun no Mune ni Jibun no Mimi o Oshi Atete (自分の胸に自分の耳を押し当てて, "I Press My Own Ear to My Chest"), written by Paru Itagaki, who also wrote and illustrated the manga.[2]

"Kaibutsu" was released to digital music and streaming platforms January 6, 2021. The song was released as a double A-side CD single, together with "Yasashii Suisei" on March 24. The single came in 2 versions: limited edition (anime edition) and fan club limited edition for members of "Club Yoasobi", Yoasobi's official fan club website. Both versions included the original songs, TV size version songs, and non-credit opening and ending video from Beastars. The fan club limited edition also included the acoustic session of "Tabun" and "Ano Yume o Nazotte".[3] Later, the song was included on their second EP The Book 2, released on December 1.[4]

Yoasobi announced to release the English version of "Kaibutsu", titled "Monster" on July 30, alongside the accompanying music video, and aired the full song for the first time on their radio show Yoasobi's All Night Nippon X on July 27. It is the duo's third English song after "Into the Night, and "RGB".[5] Later, the song was included on the duo's first English-language EP E-Side, release on November 12.[6]

Lyrics and composition

"Kaibutsu" is an upbeat fast-paced song with a catchy chorus,[7] tells about a carnivore trying to coexist with herbivores in a cruel world. Although this idea is unrealistic, it still protects the herbivore. To adhere to its ideals, it decides to become strong and confront the whole world.[8] The song is in the key of A-flat minor on the verses and break, C-sharp minor on the first chorus, D-flat major on the bridge and in D minor in the final chorus, and is at 170 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 26 seconds.[9]

Critical reception

American magazine Time ranked "Kaibutsu" number five on its list of the 10 Best Songs of 2021, becoming the only song from a Japanese act on the list, and being described as a "seamless" integration of "a giant pop hook with furious math rock riffs", "jazzy chromatic runs", and "a seismic EDM-esque drop". Additionally, critics said that the song gave "yearning", and "cinematic nature" and was "wholly unsurprised" to be served as the theme song to the anime Beastars.[10]

Commercial performance

"Kaibutsu" debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 of January 18, 2021[11] and peaked at number 2 on the chart of March 31, due to the CD single release.[12] The song also peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Global 200[13] and number 39 on the Billboard Global Excl. US of January 30.[14] "Kaibutsu" was certified diamond for streaming by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) on December 26, 2023, surpassing 500 million streaming, the third song to do so after "Yoru ni Kakeru" and "Gunjō".[15]

The CD single "Kaibutsu / Yasashii Suisei" debuted and peaked at number 2 on the Oricon Singles Chart for the chart issue date of April 5, 2021, selling 23,761 copies,[16] and also number 2 on the Billboard Japan Top Single Sales chart, selling 27,275 copies for the chart issue date of March 31, 2021.[17]

Music video

The music video "Kaibutsu" was premiered on January 13, 2021, directed by Rina Mitsuzumi, with 2D animation by Kaori Onishi and motion graphics by Jun Matsuda and Cafuu.[7] The music video depicts the conflict and determination of the main character, Legoshi, that wears a sense of speed and darkness.[18] The music video surpassed 100 million views on June 22[19] and 200 million views on April 4, 2022.[20]

Live performance and cover

Yoasobi premiered the live performance "Kaibutsu" for the first time in their first online concert—Keep Out Theater on February 14, 2021, where the song was the number fifth.[21] The duo gave a television debut performance of the song at the 63rd Japan Record Awards on December 30, alongside "Yasashii Suisei", and "Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara".[22]

On February 4, 2021, A cover of "Kaibutsu" by Japanese singer Masayuki Suzuki was released as a promotional single from his 35th anniversary cover greatest hit album Discover Japan DX, scheduled for release on February 23.[23]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Kaibutsu"
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2022 Best Opening Sequence Nominated [24]
Japan Gold Disc Award 2022 Song of the Year by Download (Japan) Won [25]
Best 5 Songs by Download Won
Song of the Year by Streaming (Japan) Won
Best 5 Songs by Streaming Won
Reiwa Anisong Awards 2021 Best Work Award Nominated [26]
Best Artist Song Award Won [27]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ayase

Digital download and streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Kaibutsu" (怪物)3:26
Total length:3:26
Digital download and streaming – English version
No.TitleLength
1."Monster"3:26
Total length:3:26
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Kaibutsu"3:26
2."Yasashii Suisei" (優しい彗星)3:35
3."Kaibutsu" (TV Size version)1:30
4."Yasashii Suisei" (TV Size version)1:26
Total length:9:58
DVD – limited edition
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."TV Anime Beastars Season 2 Opening Non-Credit Video / Yoasobi 'Kaibutsu'" (TVアニメ「BEASTARS」 第2期オープニング ノンクレジット映像／YOASOBI「怪物」)Yamashita Toshiyuki1:31
2."TV Anime Beastars Season 2 Ending Non-Credit Video / Yoasobi 'Yasashii Suisei'" (「TVアニメ「BEASTARS」 第2期エンディング ノンクレジット映像／YOASOBI「優しい彗星」」)Kōhei Kadowaki1:31
Total length:3:02
Blu-ray – fanclub limited edition
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."TV Anime Beastars Season 2 Opening Non-Credit Video / Yoasobi 'Kaibutsu'" 1:31
2."TV Anime Beastars Season 2 Ending Non-Credit Video / Yoasobi 'Yasashii Suisei'" 1:31
3."Tabun" (acoustic session)Jun'ichi Hirayama5:02
4."Ano Yume o Nazotte" (acoustic session)Hirayama4:27
Total length:12:31

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Kaibutsu"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[46] Platinum 250,000*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[47] Diamond 500,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Kaibutsu"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various January 6, 2021 Original (Japanese) Sony Japan [48]
Japan March 24, 2021
  • Limited
  • fanclub limited
 [3]
Various July 30, 2021
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 English ("Monster") [49]

References

  1. ↑ "アニメ「BEASTARS」2期OPはYOASOBI、板垣巴留が楽曲のもとになる小説書き下ろし". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Natalie. November 5, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "YOASOBI、新曲「怪物」がオープニングテーマを務めるTVアニメ『BEASTARS』とのコラボレーションMVプレミア公開決定". Spice (in Japanese). Eplus. January 12, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "3月24日(水)「怪物 / 優しい彗星」CDリリース決定！本日より予約受付開始！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. ↑ "YOASOBI、12月に新作リリース&日本武道館2daysで初の有観客ライブ決定". Oricon (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  5. ↑ "YOASOBI、「怪物」の英語バージョン「Monster」7/30配信リリース決定。本日24時からの"YOASOBIのオールナイトニッポンX"で初フルOA". Skream! (in Japanese). Geki-Rock. Skream!. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "YOASOBI、初の英語版第1弾EP『E-SIDE』11/12リリース。"群青"英語Verの"Blue"配信＆MV公開も". Rockin'On (in Japanese). October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Topham, Michelle (January 13, 2021). "YOASOBI's 'Kaibutsu' will be a huge hit — BEASTARS Season 2 opening theme is awesome". LeoSign. LeoSign. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  8. ↑ Yutorina (February 3, 2021). "YOASOBI「怪物」歌詞の意味を徹底解釈！自身を貫く大切さを教えてくれる？". Utaten (in Japanese). IBG Media. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Key and BPM of 怪物 by YOASOBI". Musicstax. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ Chow, Andrew R.; Lang, Candy (December 5, 2021). "The 10 Best Songs of 2021". Time. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2021/01/18 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2021/03/31 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Global Excl. US". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ "YOASOBI「怪物」が『一般社団法人日本レコード協会』2023年11月度ストリーミング認定・ダイヤモンド認定!". WWS Channel (in Japanese). December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ "YOASOBI、初のCDシングル「怪物/優しい彗星」が初登場2位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon ME. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  17. ↑ "【ビルボード】Sexy Zone「LET'S MUSIC」176,844枚を売り上げ総合首位に初登場 YOASOBI「怪物」総合2位に上昇". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  18. ↑ "YOASOBI、新曲「怪物」がオープニングテーマを務めるTVアニメ『BEASTARS』とのコラボレーションMVプレミア公開決定". Eplus (in Japanese). Eplus. Spice. January 12, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  19. ↑ "YOASOBI、「怪物」MVがYouTubeにて1億回再生を突破 1億回再生記念アート公開". CDJournal (in Japanese). CDJournal. CDJournal. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  20. ↑ "YOASOBI、「怪物」MVの再生回数が2億回を突破". The First Time (in Japanese). April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ Shiba, Tomonori (March 1, 2021). "＜ライブレポート＞YOASOBI初ライブ【KEEP OUT THEATER】を振り返る 興奮を拡散させる"仕掛け"も考察". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ "YOASOBI、『輝く！日本レコード大賞』歌唱曲発表 「怪物」「優しい彗星」「もしも命が描けたら」フルサイズで初披露". Real Sound (in Japanese). December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  23. ↑ "鈴木雅之が歌うYOASOBI「怪物」と玉置浩二「メロディー」カバー先行配信". Natalie (in Japanese). February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  24. ↑ Coats, Cayla (February 10, 2022). "Meet the Winners of This Year's Anime Awards". Crunchyroll. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ "The Japan Gold Disc Award 2021". Japan Gold Disc Award (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  26. ↑ "令和3年アニソン大賞". Anisong Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  27. ↑ "「令和3年アニソン大賞」は宇多田ヒカルの「シン・エヴァ」主題歌、スカートとPUNPEEらも受賞". Natalie (in Japanese). December 20, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Yoasobi Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Yoasobi Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation [ 2021/03/31 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  31. ↑ 怪物/優しい彗星 – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  32. ↑ "週間 合算シングルランキング 2021年04月05日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Yoasobi Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  34. ↑ "週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2021年08月09日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2021-03". Oricon. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Year-End Charts Billboard Global 200 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2021". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation Year-End 2021". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Oricon Top 100 Singles: 2021". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  40. ↑ "【オリコン年間ランキング2021】BTS、年間アーティストセールストータル１位 海外アーティストで初の快挙 / 合算シングル 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2023 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2023 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  45. ↑ ""JAPAN HOT 100"15周年を記念したオールタイムTOP50発表 1位は米津玄師「Lemon」". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Japanese digital single certifications – YOASOBI – 怪物" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 20, 2022. Select 2021年12月 on the drop-down menu
  47. ↑ "Japanese single streaming certifications – YOASOBI – 怪物" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 26, 2023. Select 2023年11月 on the drop-down menu
  48. ↑ "Monster - Single". Apple Music. Apple Inc. January 7, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  49. ↑ "英語版第3弾となる「Monster」(「怪物」英語Ver.)が7/30(金)配信リリース決定！本日7/27(火)24時からの『YOASOBIのオールナイトニッポンX』で初フルオンエア！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
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