Kenshi Yonezu released a short anime for his song 'Karasu' in collaboration with MAPPA on June 25, 2026, and recently provided the theme song 'Yodaka' for the fifth live-action Kingdom film. His song 'IRIS OUT' won Best J-POP Song at Music Awards Japan 2026.
Kenshi Yonezu's recent output shows a sustained pattern of high-profile collaborations and chart success. On June 25, 2026, he and animation studio MAPPA released a short anime for his song 'Karasu,' the 2026 NHK Soccer Theme. The video uses a pencil-drawn visual style and matches the first chorus. It is the third collaboration between Yonezu and MAPPA, following the Chainsaw Man opening theme 'KICK BACK' (2022) and the theme for the Chainsaw Man - Reze Arc film 'IRIS OUT' (2025). The song itself was released digitally on June 15 and achieved six chart crowns in its first week, including No. 1 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 and Oricon's streaming and digital single rankings. It is Yonezu's 20th overall No. 1, the most for a solo artist in history. The short anime is timed to the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the song scheduled to air on NHK's soccer broadcasts.
In May 2026, TOHO Movies debuted a trailer for Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen, the fifth live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga, announcing Yonezu's theme song 'Yodaka.' The film opens in Japan on July 17, with Kento Yamazaki and director Shinsuke Sato returning. At Music Awards Japan 2026, held on June 13, Yonezu's 'IRIS OUT' won Best J-POP Song and swept Best Japanese Song in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. The awards event, now in its second year, had over 70 categories voted on by more than 5,000 music industry professionals. Together, these stories establish Yonezu as a dominant force in both music and anime crossovers, with multiple concurrent projects and record-breaking chart performance.
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Jun 25
Kenshi Yonezu and animation studio MAPPA have released a short anime for the song "Karasu," the 2026 NHK Soccer Theme. The video, published on YouTube on June 25, 2026, was produced by MAPPA and marks the third collaboration between the musician and the studio, following the Chainsaw Man opening theme "KICK BACK" (2022) and the theme for the Chainsaw Man - Reze Arc film "IRIS OUT" (2025). The short anime matches the first chorus of the song and uses a pencil-drawn visual style, showing a person earnestly chasing a ball while a crow soars overhead. The song itself was released digitally on June 15 and achieved six chart crowns in its first week, including No. 1 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 and Oricon's weekly streaming and digital single rankings. It is Yonezu's 20th overall No. 1, the most for a solo artist in history. The short anime is timed to the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the song scheduled to air on NHK's soccer broadcasts.
Jun 14
The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) held the Grand Ceremony for Music Awards Japan 2026 on June 13 at Toyota Arena Tokyo. Sakanaction's "Kaiju," the theme song for the TV anime "Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite," won Best Anime Song. It was the band's first anime theme song. Lead vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi said during the ceremony that the manga's author, Uoto, pushed for the band to be involved. Sakanaction also won Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rock Band/Solo Artist, among other awards, totaling eight wins. Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" from the "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" won Best J-POP Song and swept Best Japanese Song in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Mrs. Green Apple won Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year, plus Best J-POP Artist and the Fandom Special Award. HANA won New Artist of the Year. The Best Original Score for Animation went to the "Lazarus" soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points. Ado won Largest Live Audience (International). The awards event, now in its second year, had over 70 categories voted on by more than 5,000 music industry professionals.
May 27
TOHO Movies debuted a new trailer for Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen, the fifth live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom manga. The trailer announces Kenshi Yonezu's theme song "Yodaka." The film opens in Japan on July 17, with Kento Yamazaki reprising his role as Xin and Shinsuke Sato returning to direct.