Gekijō (Yoasobi song)

"Gekijō"
Single by Yoasobi
LanguageJapanese
English title"The Show"[1]
ReleasedOctober 2, 2025
GenreElectronic rock
Length3:18
Label
SongwriterAyase
ProducerAyase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Watch Me!"
(2025) 		"Gekijō"
(2025)
Music video
"Gekijō" on YouTube

"Gekijō" (Japanese: 劇上; lit. 'on the stage') is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released as a single through Echoes and Sony Music Entertainment Japan on October 2, 2025. The song serves as a theme for the Fuji TV television serial drama series Pray Speak What Has Happened (2025), the duo's first time to perform a song for the medium, and that features vocals from the member Ayase.

Musically, "Gekijō" is an upbeat electronic rock about the former stage actor protagonist questioning his role in life while watching a dance performance at a dance hall, resulting in regaining a positive attitude, as well as modern people's anxiety about being evaluated by others, based on the series writer Kōki Mitani's autobiographical short story Gekijō Monogatari. The song's music video stars Ayase and Ikura for the first time, alongside the supporting band and the series casts Masaki Suda and Fumi Nikaido.

Background and release

On September 2, 2025, the new Fuji TV Wednesday 22:00 slot's television serial drama series Pray Speak What Has Happened was announced.[2] During the series' test screening event on September 21, Yoasobi announced via the video that they would perform a theme for the series, titled "Gekijō".[3] The song is the duo's first song that provides for television drama and features vocals from the member Ayase.[4] Yoasobi teased the snippets of the song on September 28 and 30, and October 1 via their social media.[5] The duo discussed the song production's behind-the-scenes during their sixth anniversary livestream via YouTube on October 1.[6] The full-length version was released to digital music and streaming platforms the next day, the day after the series' first episode airing.[7]

Composition and lyrics

"Gekijō" was sourced from the autobiographical short story Gekijō Monogatari (劇場ものがたり; lit. 'theater story'), written by Pray Speak What Has Happened writer Kōki Mitani,[8] which was available for reading since October 1 via FOD.[9] Centered on the theme of "the world is a stage, and all humans are actors," and condensing the current state of the duo,[10] Yoasobi themselves called the song their own response to William Shakespeare's phrase "all the world's a stage" from his pastoral comedy As You Like It.[11] The song is described as an upbeat[12] electronic rock with "driving yet powerful" guitar and synthesizer, and dynamic rhythm,[13] and has 130 beats per minute.[14] Ine Tanaka from Eiga Channel commented that the song is "very Reiwa feel", despite the 1980s Shōwa setting of the series.[15] Rockin'On Japan's Tomoyuki Mori praised the song "levates the dire current situation into a sparkling pop song."[16]

Lyrically, "Gekijō" depicts the emotional transition of a hopeless and tired-of-life male[A] protagonist. He arrives at a quiet dance hall, and, while watching a dance performance, begins questioning his role in life by comparing it to a performer on the stage. It results in the protagonist regaining a positive attitude and making a decision by reminiscing about his time as a stage actor.[13] The song also reflects the modern people's anxiety about the mercy of being evaluated by others, as a performer who is exposed to the gaze of the audience, tossed about between applause and ridicule. However, it is still encouraged to live life to the fullest.[13]

Music video

Pray Speak What Has Happened casts Masaki Suda (left) and Fumi Nikaido (right) star on the "Gekijō" music video.

An accompanying music video for "Gekijō", directed by Pennacky, premiered on October 8 at 23:15 JST, immediately after the second episode of Pray Speak What Has Happened aired, preceded by a teaser video two days before.[17] Unlike the previous animated works, it became the first live-action music video that stars Yoasobi's members Ayase and Ikura, as well as its supporting band: guitarist AssH, bassist Sota Morimitsu, drummer Hiroki Oono, and keyboardist Yomn.[18]

The music video, as a theme of the song, depicts a "story within a story", with multiple cameras held by camera operators filming Yoasobi and the supporting band while performing without the audience's applause and jeers.[13] The video also featured cameos of Masaki Suda and Fumi Nikaido, ensemble casts of Pray Speak What Has Happened. It shows both actors reading scripts and acting while directing themselves.[19]

Promotion and live performances

Yoasobi debuted the live performance of "Gekijō" at the Morioka show of Wandara Hall Tour on October 10, 2025, and included it on the tour's setlist.[20] Then, the duo performed the song at the music event Zozofes, held at K-Arena Yokohama on October 13,[21] which the footage was uploaded via their YouTube on October 22.[22] The duo appeared on the Pray Speak What Has Happened special episode of the music variety show The Weekly 99 Music on October 15, alongside Suda, Nikaido, and Mitani.[23]

Credits and personnel

  • Ayase – vocals, writer, producer, instruments
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Rockwell – guitar
  • Kōki Mitani – based story writer

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Gekijō"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 2, 2025
[27]

Notes

  1. ^ "Gekijō" uses the first-person pronoun boku (僕), which implies boyishness.

References

  1. ^ "YOASOBI Reach New Heights with 'Gekijyo (The Show)' for Netflix Drama 'Pray Speak What Has Happened'". Noise11. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  2. ^ "三谷幸喜25年ぶり民放GP帯連ドラ脚本、菅田将暉主演で半自伝的ストーリー描く 共演は二階堂ふみ、神木隆之介、浜辺美波". Eiga.com (in Japanese). October 11, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  3. ^ "三谷幸喜×菅田将暉「もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう」舞台あいさつ". TV Guide (in Japanese). September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "YOASOBI、連ドラ主題歌初担当 三谷幸喜×菅田将暉「もしがく」完成披露試写会でサプライズ発表". Modelpress (in Japanese). September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  5. ^ Citations:
  6. ^ "YOASOBI、結成6周年当日にトーク番組を生配信". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "主題歌はYOASOBIの書き下ろし『劇上』! 三谷幸喜、菅田将暉ら登壇イベント内でサプライズ解禁『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』". Mezamashi Media. September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "YOASOBI、三谷幸喜ドラマの主題歌に決定! 連ドラ楽曲提供は初". Cinema Today (in Japanese). September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "三谷幸喜による「もしがく」の原作短編小説「劇場ものがたり」が無料配信". TV Guide (in Japanese). October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  10. ^ "YOASOBI 10月期 水10ドラマ『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』主題歌となる新曲「劇上」の原作小説 三谷幸喜書き下ろし『劇場ものがたり』が本日18時に公開!". Entame Rush (in Japanese). October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  11. ^ "YOASOBI ドラマ主題歌の新曲MVを10/8公開。メンバー&菅田将暉らも出演". De Colum (in Japanese). October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Mori, Tomoyuki; Ishii, Eriko (October 10, 2025). "スピッツ、RADWIMPS、YOASOBI、ポルノグラフィティ、羊文学、BE:FIRST......注目新譜6作をレビュー". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d Ogiwara, Azusa (October 12, 2025). "<コラム>YOASOBI、初のドラマ主題歌×ツインボーカル曲「劇上」に込められた"舞台に立ち続ける者"の覚悟". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  14. ^ Ito, Misaki (October 22, 2025). "YOASOBIにとって"劇上"は真のデビュー曲かもしれない――Ayase & ikuraのWボーカル、ドラマ「もしがく」主題歌と初めてづくしの新曲が伝えるメッセージとは?". Mikiki (in Japanese). Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  15. ^ Tanaka, Ine (October 4, 2025). "総勢26人「全員主役級」は吉と出るか、凶と出るか? 気になる初回の評価は? ドラマ『もしがく』第1話考察&感想". Eiga Channel (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Mori, Tomoyuki (November 3, 2025). "YOASOBI『劇上』 / 与えられた舞台で踊れ、幕が下りるまで". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  17. ^ "YOASOBI、ドラマ『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』主題歌「劇上」MV公開決定。自身初となるYOASOBI本人出演の実写MVに". Barks (in Japanese). October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  18. ^ "YOASOBI、ドラマ『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』主題歌「劇上」MV公開決定! MVには菅田将暉、二階堂ふみも登場". The First Times (in Japanese). October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "YOASOBI10月期水10ドラマ 『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』主題歌となる新曲「劇上」MVを10/8(水)23:15にYouTubeプレミア公開決定!". PR Times (in Japanese). October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  20. ^ "YOASOBIライブ2025岩手セトリ"WANDARA"感想レポ/座席表も". Mu-Holic (in Japanese). October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "ZOZOの20周年イベントに山田涼介が登場 YOASOBIやLE SSERAFIMらと共演". Kai-You (in Japanese). October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "YOASOBI、ドラマ主題歌の新曲「劇上」のMVを今夜プレミア公開". Pia (in Japanese). October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  23. ^ "菅田将暉、二階堂ふみ、三谷幸喜氏、YOASOBIが選ぶ80年代ソング 「もしがく」SP、ドラマ撮影秘話も放出 フジ系「週刊ナイナイミュージック」". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of October 15, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Singles: 2025-10-13" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  26. ^ "Billboard Japan Download Songs – 2025 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  27. ^ "フジテレビ 10月期水10ドラマ 『もしもこの世が舞台なら、楽屋はどこにあるのだろう』主題歌を担当! 三谷幸喜書き下ろし私小説を元に制作した新曲「劇上」を10/2(木)に配信リリース決定!". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
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