Yorushika | |
|---|---|
 Yorushika's logo | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2017 (2017)–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Website | yorushika |
Yorushika (ヨルシカ) is a Japaneserock duo founded in 2017. The group is composed ofN-buna, aVocaloid producer, and Suis, a female vocalist. They are known for their juxtaposition of "passionate" and "upbeat" production and instrumentation fused with heavier lyrical content, which often explore ideas such as love and human emotion and draw from works of literature includingMasuji Ibuse andJules Verne.[1][2]
The duo is extremely secretive, never publicly revealing their faces. N-buna stated that he does not want the creator to take precedence over the work.[3]
The name "Yorushika" is taken from a lyric in their song "The Clouds and the Ghost", "yoru shika mō nemurezu ni" (夜しかもう眠れずに; meaning "now without being able to sleep except at night").[4] The eye-designed logo mark is a motif of two moons facing each other and also serves as a clock hand, portraying the time "from 6:00 to night".[5]
Prior to the formation of Yorushika, N-buna already had a sizeable following onNiconico, a Japanese video hosting website, first releasing vocaloid music on the platform in 2012. His 2013 song "Tōmei Elegy" (透明エレジー) reached first on the platform's daily vocaloid ranking.[6] Additionally, he has produced two albums throughU&R records [ja], a subsidiary of Niconico's ownerDwango.[7][8]
According to an interview withNatalie, N-buna and Suis met through a common acquaintance; Suis was a longtime fan of N-buna's vocaloid work. Suis first appeared as a guest vocalist during N-buna's two solo concerts in Tokyo.[4][9] N-buna reached out to Suis to form Yorushika as part of N-buna's effort to find a "more human" voice to use in his music, as opposed to vocaloid.[1] Since then, the two have released threeextended plays and three full albums, all of which charted on both theOricon Albums Chart and theBillboard Japan Hot 100 Albums Chart. Yorushika's popularity grew explosively, with critics noting that the lyrics seemed to strike a chord with younger audiences.[1] Additionally, the song "Just a Sunny Day for You" (ただ君に晴れ,Tada Kimi ni Hare) also became popular in video appTikTok.[10]
As of May 2023, their faces and detailed profiles have not been disclosed,[11] as they want their audiences to listen to their music without "preconceptions". They have hosted live performances before, but the etiquette of concerts in Japan is a strict no-image policy until told otherwise.[12] In their live performances, such asthis one on their official YouTube channel, they often use backlighting on stage to obscure their faces, further maintaining their anonymity.[13]
In 2020, they provided the theme song "Ghost in a Flower" (花に亡霊,Hana ni Bōrei), the insert song "Night Journey" (夜行,Yakō), and the ending song "Liar" (嘘月,Uso Tsuki;lit. 'Lying Moon'), for the animated filmA Whisker Away.[14][15]
In 2022, they provided the theme song "Left-Right Confusion" (左右盲,Sayūmō) for the movieEven If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight and "The Fruits of the Earth" (チノカテ,Chinokate) for the Japanese TV dramaRenovation like Magic (魔法のリノベ,Mahō no Rinobe).[16]
In 2023, they provided the song "Setting Sun" (斜陽,Shayō), the opening theme song for the first season of the anime seriesThe Dangers in My Heart, and the song "Telepath" (テレパス,Terepasu), the opening theme song for the anime seriesKaina of the Great Snow Sea.
In 2024, Yorushika provided the song "Sunny" (晴る,Haru),[17] the second opening theme song for the anime seriesFrieren: Beyond Journey's End, Yorushika also participated in a tribute album for the bandCreep_Hyp, where they covered the song "Yū, Sansan" (憂、燦々),[18] They also provided the song "Aporia" (アポリア),[19] as the ending theme song for the anime seriesOrb: On the Movements of the Earth. Additionally, they have released the song titled "Sun" (太陽,Taiyou),[20] which serves as the theme song for the movieShotai, directed by Michihito Fujii.
In 2025, Yorushika contributed the song "Snake" as the second ending theme for the animeOrb: On the Movements of the Earth.[21] They also performed the song "Martian" (火星人), which serves as the opening theme for the second season of theShōshimin Series adaptation.[22] They also provided the song "Playsick" (プレイシック,Pureishikku), serving as the soundtrack for a Daihatsu commercial video, titled "To the Sea".[23] They also provided the song "Shura" (修羅), as the theme song for a drama series calledWe still don't know the school rules of that planet.[24]
Supporting members[25]
| Title | Details | Peak positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [26] | JPN Cmb. [27] | JPN Hot [28] | |||
| That's Why I Gave Up on Music | 5 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Elma |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Plagiarism |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Magic Lantern | — | 19 | 5 | ||
| Nininshō[30] |
| TBA | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
| Title | Details | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [26] | JPN Cmb. [27] | JPN Hot [28] | ||
| The Summer Grass Is Getting in My Way[a] |
| 32 | — | 35 |
| A Loser Doesn't Need an Encore[a] |
| 5 | 29 | 6 |
| Creation |
| 4 | 4 | 4 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [31] | JPN Cmb. [32] | JPN Hot [28] | ||||
| "Deep Indigo" (藍二乗) | 2018 | — | — | — | That's Why I Gave Up on Music | |
| "Parade" (パレード) | 2019 | — | — | — | ||
| "A Hole Opened Up in My Heart" (心に穴が空いた) | — | — | 44 | Elma | ||
| "Rain with Cappuccino" (雨とカプチーノ) | — | — | 95 | |||
| "Night Journey" (夜行) | 2020 | — | — | 39 | Plagiarism | |
| "Ghost in a Flower" (花に亡霊) | — | 10 | 6 | |||
| "Prostitution" (春ひさぎ) | — | 38 | 23 | |||
| "Thought Crime" (思想犯) | — | 35 | 25 | |||
| "Plagiarism" (盗作) | — | — | 30 | |||
| "Eat the Wind" (風を食む) | — | — | 49 | Creation | ||
| "Spring Thief" (春泥棒) | 2021 | — | 27 | 23 | ||
| "Matasaburō" (又三郎) | — | 35 | 17 | Magic Lantern | ||
| "The Old Man and the Sea" (老人と海) | — | — | 43 | |||
| "Howl at the Moon" (月に吠える) | — | — | 31 | |||
| "Bremen" (ブレーメン) | 2022 | 12 | — | 22 | ||
| "Left-Right Confusion" (左右盲) | — | 31 | 11 | |||
| "Chinokate" (チノカテ) | — | — | 27 | |||
| "Telepath" (テレパス) | 2023 | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Algernon" (アルジャーノン) | — | 24 | 16 | Magic Lantern | ||
| "451" | — | — | — | |||
| "Setting Sun" (斜陽) | — | 44 | 30 | Non-album single | ||
| "Moonbath" (月光浴) | — | — | 89 | Nininshō | ||
| "Sunny" (晴る) | 2024 | — | 11 | 8 | ||
| "Rubato" (ルバート) | 12 | — | 69 | |||
| "Forget It" (忘れてください) | — | 49 | 36 | |||
| "Aporia" (アポリア) | — | 42 | 31 | |||
| "Sun" (太陽) | — | — | 35 | |||
| "Snake" (へび) | 2025 | — | — | 43 | ||
| "Martian" (火星人) | — | 26 | 20 | |||
| "Shura" (修羅) | — | — | 33 | |||
| "Play Sick" (プレイシック)[30] | — | — | 53 | |||
| "Akane" (茜) | 2026 | — | — | 41 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
| Title | Year | Peaks | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Cmb. [32] | JPN Hot [28] | ||||
| "Say It" (言って。) | 2017 | — | — | The Summer Grass Is Getting in My Way | |
| "A Loser Doesn't Need an Encore" (負け犬にアンコールはいらない) | 2018 | — | — | A Loser Doesn't Need an Encore | |
| "Hitchcock" (ヒッチコック) | — | — | |||
| "Just a Sunny Day for You" (ただ君に晴れ) | 36 | 22 | |||
| "That's Why I Gave Up on Music" (だから僕は音楽を辞めた) | 2019 | 33 | 20 | That's Why I Gave Up on Music | |
| "Nautilus" (ノーチラス) | — | 62 | Elma | ||
| "Miyakoochi" (都落ち) | 2023 | — | 95 | Magic Lantern | |
| "Yū, Sansan" (憂、燦々) | 2024 | 30 | 31 | Moshi mo Umarekawattanara Sotto Konna Koe ni Natte | |
| "Darma Grand Prix" | 2025 | 13 | 12 | Dear Jubilee: Radwimps Tribute | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||
| Title | Details | Peaks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN DVD [36] | JPN BD [37] | ||
| Yorushika Live "Zense" | 3 | 5 | |
| Yorushika Live "Gekkō" |
| 5 | 3 |
| Yorushika Live "Moon and Cat Dance" |
| 2 | 5 |
| Yorushika Live 2024 "Zense" |
| 5 | 6 |
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Fireworks Beneath My Shoes" | 2017 | Second Origami |
| "Say It" | Ootori | |
| "Semi-Transparent Boy" | 2018 | Minakata Laboratory |
| "Hitchcock" | Ootori | |
| "Just a Sunny Day for You" | Popurika | |
| "The Clouds and the Ghost" | ||
| "Deep Indigo" | ||
| "Parade" | 2019 | Ootori |
| "That's Why I Gave Up on Music" | Popurika Magotsuki | |
| "A Hole Opened Up in My Heart" | Kawasaki Kenji | |
| "Rain with Cappuccino" | Popurika | |
| "Nautilus" | Kohta Morie | |
| "Night Journey" | 2020 | Hiroshi Kamebuchi |
| "Ghost in a Flower" | Popurika | |
| "Prostitution" | Takuya Katsumi | |
| "Thought Crime" | Rabbit Machine | |
| "Plagiarism" | Tetsuya Nagato | |
| "Eat the Wind" | Kyotaro Hayashi | |
| "Spring Thief" | 2021 | Kohta Morie |
| "Matasaburō" | Takuya Katsumi | |
| "Howl at the Moon" | Ryu Kato | |
| "Bremen" | 2022 | Rabbit Machine |
| "Left-Right Confusion" | Kohta Morie | |
| "The Fruits of the Earth" | Ryo Ichikawa | |
| "Telepath" | 2023 | Rabbit Machine |
| "Algernon" | Takuro Oishi | |
| "Miyakōchi" | Atsuyo Kanamori | |
| "Setting Sun" | Yutaro Kubo | |
| "The First Night" | Ryu Kato | |
| "Moonbath" | Yutaro Kubo | |
| "Sunny" | 2024 | Kohta Morie |
| "Forget It" | MimicryMeta | |
| "Aporia" | Ryu Kato | |
| "Sun" | Tetsuya Nagato Yasuhiko Shimizu | |
| "Snake" | 2025 | Satou Miyo |
| "Martian" | N-Buna Kohta Morie | |
| "Shura" | N-Buna | |
| "August, A Certain, Moonlight" | DMYM/No.734 |
Tours
| One-off
|
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD Shop Awards | 2021 | Grand Prize (Red) | Plagiarism | Nominated | [38] |
| Finalist Award | Won | ||||
| Japan Gold Disc Award | 2020 | Best 5 New Artists | Yorushika | Won | [39] |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | 2020 | Best Japanese Act | Nominated | [40] | |
| Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Best of Listeners' Choice: Japanese Song Powered bySpotify | "Sunny" | Pending | [41] |
| Space Shower Music Awards | 2021 | Best Pop Artist | Yorushika | Nominated | [42] |
「雲と幽霊」の2番に「夜しかもう眠れずに」っていう歌詞があるんですけど、以前から「夜しか眠れない」っていう言葉が頭の中にあって、だからこの曲にもこういう歌詞を付けたんです。そのフレーズが好きで、語感もすごくよかったしそこから取りました。
