Discover King Gnu

King Gnu is one of the biggest acts in today’s Japanese music scene. Formed in 2013, the band quickly rose to prominence with their innovative, genre-blurring music.

Their anime collaborations, including the Jujutsu Kaisen movie and TV series, have brought them global recognition. In 2024, they went on their first Asia tour.

This article answers commonly answered questions about King Gnu.

Who is King Gnu?

King Gnu (pronounced “noo”) is a Japanese rock band. Referring to their sound as “Tokyo New Mixture Style,” the four-member group has incorporated various genres–including rock, R&B, jazz, and J-pop–to create music that’s accessible to the mainstream while being rooted in their experimental roots.

Each King Gnu song reflects the member’s avant-garde approach to music. This, coupled with the great talents of each member, has brought the band massive success.

Who are King Gnu’s members?

King Gnu consists of four members: Daiki Tsuneta, Satoru Iguchi, Kazuki Arai, and Yu Seki. Each member is known for their diverse personalities and talents. 

Learn more about the members below:

Daiki Tsuneta

Vocalist & Guitarist

Daiki Tsuneta (常田大希) is the charismatic leader of King Gnu. He is known for his captivating vocals and remarkable guitar skills.

Tsuneta is the main songwriter for the band, responsible for crafting their unique, one-of-a-kind sound. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, proficient in the cello, bass, drums, and piano.

Outside of King Gnu, Tsuneta’s talents have led to incredible musical projects. He is the founder of the music project millennium parade and the creative label PERIMETRON, which works on most of King Gnu’s music videos.

Fans of Chainsawman fans will recognize Tsuneta in Kenshi Yonezu’s “Kick Back”, where he was involved in the co-arrangement of the song. Check out his performance at Kenshi Yonezu’s concert below. 

Satoru Iguchi

Vocalist & Keyboardist

Satoru Iguchi (井口理) complements Daiki Tsuneta’s vocals with his unique voice and remarkable falsetto abilities. Iguchi is known for his vibrant personality and moving vocals are especially popular during King Gnu’s live concerts. Tsuneta and Iguchi are childhood friends. 

Outside the band, Iguchi also works as an actor in many movies and TV shows. In 2023, he had his first leading role in the movie, In Her Room.

Kazuki Arai

Bassist

Kazuki Arai (新井和輝) handles electric bass, wood bass, and synth bass for King Gnu. He is a highly accomplished musician, having won the Yamaha Big Band Jazz Contest at university. Arai plays a crucial role in maintaining the band’s cohesion and tight sound, earning him the nickname “Professor Arai.” 

Outside of the band, Arai is a talented radio host. He contributes weekly as one of the main personalities on J-Wave Spark.

Yu Seki

Drummer & Sampler

Yu Seki (勢喜遊) is the drummer and sampler operator of the band, responsible for the distinct rhythmic complexity in every King Gnu song. He is known for his extraordinary drumming skills and the creation of unique grooves. 

Outside of the band, Seki is known for his eccentric fashion style and was invited to attend Paris Fashion Week. He is also the only married member of the band.

To get a better glimpse of each member’s personality, check out the music video for Teenager Forever. For this music video, each member was given a lump sum of money to spend on whatever they wished. One member parties abroad, while another gifts a car to their mother. Evidently, the differences become crystal clear.

When did King Gnu debut?

While King Gnu didn’t debut until 2017, the band’s journey began many years before this, when Tsuneta founded the group in 2013. The group previously went by the name Srv.vinci, (and even before this, was Mrs.Vinci.). Over time, the three current members joined Tsunets to form the current group.

As the band evolved, they were officially renamed King Gnu in 2017. Two years later, the group had their major record label debut, releasing their second album Sympa in January 2019, under Ariola Japan.

King Gnu’s big break came in February 2019, with the release of “Hakujitsu.” The massive hit song became one of the top-selling singles of the year and was certified Diamond status by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for over 500,000,000 streams.

The band gained further national recognition after their performance of “Hakujitsu” at the 70th NHK’s New Year show, Kohaku Uta Gassen. Notably, “Hakujitsu” would mark a turning point in the band’s career.

In 2020, their third album CEREMONY debuted at the top of the Oricon Weekly Album Chart and achieved double platinum sales. During the COVID-19 pandemic, King Gnu continued to gain popularity by releasing new music and performing when possible, including at major festivals like FUJI ROCK. 

Overseas, they continued to grow in popularity through their anime tie-ups. Before their major debut was “Prayer X,” which was the anime ending for the Banana Fish series in 2018. In 2021, the King Gnu was featured in the anime series Ousama Ranking, as well as the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film.

King Gnu’s fandom continues to grow. In 2022, King Gnu held their biggest live concert yet at the Tokyo Dome, with over 100,000 fans in attendance. In 2023, they dropped their latest album, The Greatest Unknown, and shared big news about their Dome Tour for 2024.

Internationally, the band went on their first Asia tour, with locations including China, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

King Gnu’s magic can be attributed to the three points below: 

Genre-bending music 

King Gnu songs don’t fit into a single genre box. With Tsuneta as their creative voice, the band’s discography embraces elements from various genres, crafting their distinctive “Tokyo New Mixture Style.” 

This approach incorporates rock, R&B, jazz, and J-pop, resulting in a unique sound that attracts a wide range of listeners. King Gnu hopes to create music that is accessible to mainstream audiences in Japan. As a result, their approachable melodies and Japanese lyrics with a pop music feel make their music paradoxically mysterious and straightforward.

Musical Complexity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXn8mnYvCwM

Additionally, each King Gnu song is marked by an overwhelming musicality. Their music features intricate arrangements, frequent key changes, orchestration with strings and brass instruments, and mechanical sounds from samplers.

Their pieces are as complex to perform as they were to create. This creates an opportunity for each member to showcase their musical prowess. Each member’s high skill level is evident, indicating that there is truly no boundary for how big King Gnu will become.

Exceptional Members 

As above mentioned, what sets King Gnu apart is the exceptional talent in their band. Indeed, each member’s high level of musical skill adds an unconventional and exciting dimension to their live performances. Their diverse talents outside of King Gnu are equally as impressive as their contributions to the band.

Furthermore, the band refrains from centering frontman, or any single member by exploring each member’s multifaceted musical abilities.

As Tsuneta notes, “We want to be adventurous musically. I think King Gnu has that adventurous spirit more than other bands. That’s something we can’t compromise.” 

What are 5 King Gnu Songs from The Greatest Unknown?

The Greatest Unknown, King Gnu’s most recent album, showcases the band’s signature style.

Many of the featured songs have already been released as popular J-pop hits. The album further elevates these pieces through indescribably smooth preludes and postludes, as well as newer, album versions of past hits.

Here are five King Gnu songs from the album to add to your playlist. (Check out every King Gnu anime song).

SPECIALZ

“SPECIALZ” is a recent gem from “The Greatest Unknown” album. This King Gnu song serves as the opening theme for the “Shibuya Incidents” arc in the second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen. The song features an addictive melody that has also captured the hearts of international fans.　

Chameleon

“Chameleon” is a notable track written as the theme song for Fuji TV’s monthly drama based on the manga of the same name, Mystery to Ie Nakare. 

The lyrics of “Chameleon” delve into the multifaceted nature of humanity. As Tsuneta explains, “I wrote this song believing that there is love within trying to understand the complexities of human beings, without giving up.” This King Gnu song beautifully encourages the listener to embrace the process of unraveling the truths within each of us.

Listen to the Greatest Unknown for: A beautiful prelude, ”MIRROR” and postlude, ”DARE??”, to this popular King Gnu song. ”MIRROR” provides a strong introduction to the entire album.

STARDOM

“STARDOM” captures the great determination and journey to achieve stardom. Written as one of the theme songs for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the fast beat and strong percussion of this King Gnu song capture the excitement and exhilaration of the stadium. The lyrics, with the repetition of the words “just one more step,” illustrate the continuous grit and determination required to achieve greatness.

Listen to The Greatest Unknown for: The album version, with an extended intro for extra excitement.

雨燦々 (Ame Sansan)

“Ame Sansan” is a beautiful musical piece with an important message: to accept life’s inevitable transitions with open hearts, even in uncertain times. 

The title is loosely translated to “shining rain,” combining an expression that is often used to describe sunlight with another describing pouring rain. This paradoxical twist perfectly captures the bittersweet message woven into the lyrics.

“Ame Sansan” encourages us to navigate the complexities of life and to find beauty amidst change.

Listen to The Greatest Unknown for: The prelude song, “SUNNY SIDE UP”, where a child-like voice interweaves into the main piece. 

三文小説 (Sanmon Shosetsu)

“Sanmon Shosetsu” explores the theme of self-acceptance in time’s passage. This King Gnu song metaphorically likens life to a “Sanmon Shousetsu,” loosely translated as a novel of low value, portraying the struggles and uncertainties that individuals encounter as they age. 

The song delves into the intricacies of relationships, the acceptance of oneself and others despite imperfections, and the discovery of solace in simple, shared moments of joy. 

Listen to the The Greatest Unknown for: 

  • The album version, with quite a different, lighter feel from its original counterpart.
  • The prelude, “仝,” and postlude “ЯOЯЯIM”.
    • Similar to the intro ”MIRROR,” the ending song provides a beautiful conclusion to the entire album.

What are some King Gnu anime songs?

Check out our article on every King Gnu song used as an anime opening or ending song.

To sum it up…

King Gnu is a spectacular musical powerhouse that has captivated audiences with their innovative “Tokyo New Mixture Style”.

  • The four multitalented band members each bring a different, unique trait and talent to strengthen the group. 
  • King Gnu’s unique approach to music, coupled with their versatile sound and powerful lyrics, has earned them a special place in the hearts of music enthusiasts. 
  • “The Greatest Unknown” is a musical treasure trove for King Gnu enthusiasts. Both long-term fans and newcomers are sure to find something to love from this exceptional album.
  • For anime enthusiasts, check out every King Gnu song in anime.

King Gnu songs defy categorization and limitations. As the band’s ever-growing discography continues to impress, the band continues to push the boundaries of music.

Indeed, King Gnu continues to leave an indelible mark on today’s Japanese music scene. It’ll be exciting to see what this group comes up with next. Follow them using the links below.

Follow the artist

Official Website: https://kinggnu.jp/

Instagram:

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingGnu_JP

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kinggnuSMEJ 

Check out other artist introductions and articles on utatune.

King Gnu songs

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