Gunjō (song)

"Gunjō" (群青, lit. "Ultramarine") is a song recorded by Japanese music duo Yoasobi, featuring uncredited chorus of Plusonica, from their debut EP, The Book (2021). It was released on September 1, 2020, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Inspired by Tsubasa Yamaguchi's manga Blue Period and based on a story text Ao o Mikata ni, the song is described as "a cheering song that inspires listeners by immersing themselves in what they like and expressing what they see."^[1][2]

"Gunjō"
Single by Yoasobi
from the EP The Book
Language	Japanese
English title	"Blue"
Released	September 1, 2020 (2020-09-01)
Genre	J-pop
Length	4:08
Label	Sony Japan
Songwriter(s)	Ayase
Producer(s)	Ayase
Yoasobi singles chronology
"Tabun" (2020) "Gunjō" (2020) "Haruka" (2020)
Music video
"Gunjō" on YouTube "Blue" on YouTube

"Gunjō" was featured on Bourbon's Alfort Mini Chocolate advertisement.^[3] Additionally, it was also used as a theme of Dance One Project '21, a project that supports high school's dance club held by Nippon TV's morning show Sukkiri,^[4] and accompanied the 2022 94th High School baseball tournament entrance march.^[5] The music video was uploaded on December 1,^[6] and surpassed 100 million views on May 30, 2022.^[7] The English version, titled "Blue", was released on October 29, 2021, alongside the accompanying music video.^[8]

Live performances

Yoasobi performed "Gunjō" for the first time as a full group, including band members, and Plusonica on the YouTube channel The First Take, uploaded on February 26, 2021.^[9] After the EP The Book 2 announcement, Yoasobi appeared on Nippon TV's Best Artist 2021 and gave a televised debut performance of the song on November 17.^[10] They also performed the song at 72nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31. The show depicted Ikura standing on the escalator to downstairs to perform on the stage, where Ayase, the band members, and the orchestra gathered there.^[11]

Track listing

• Digital download and streaming^[12]

1. "Gunjō" (群青) – 4:08

• Digital download and streaming (English version)^[13]

1. "Blue" – 4:08

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from The Book liner notes.^[14]

Song

• Ayase – songwriter, producer
• Ikura – vocals
• Alfort creative team – based story writer
• AssH – guitar
• Plusonica – chorus
• Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
• Masahiko Fukui – mixing
• Niina Ai – artwork cover design

Music video

• Atsushi Makino – director
• Tōru Akamatsu – cinematographer
• Keigo Suzuki – lightning director
• Tomomi Kawano – art
• Toshirō Tabata – editor

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Gunjō" Chart (2020–2021) Peak position Global 200 (Billboard)^[15] 44 Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[16] 6 Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)^[17] 9 US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[18] 14 Chart performance for "Blue" Chart (2021) Peak position Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)^[19] 13

Year-end charts 2020 year-end chart performance for "Gunjō" Chart (2020) Position Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[20] 91 2021 year-end chart performance for "Gunjō" Chart (2021) Position Global Excl. U.S. (Billboard)^[21] 90 Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[22] 8 Japan Streaming (Oricon)^[23] 7 2022 year-end chart performance for "Gunjō" Chart (2022) Position Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[24] 16

Certifications

Certifications for "Gunjō"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)^[25]	Platinum	250,000^*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)^[26]	Platinum	100,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Gunjō"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	September 1, 2020 (2020-09-01)	Digital download streaming	Original (Japanese)	Sony Japan	^[12]
	October 29, 2021 (2021-10-29)		English ("Blue")		^[13]

References

1. "YOASOBIが新曲「群青」9月リリース、合唱パートにぷらそにか参加". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 20, 2020. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
2. "YOASOBI、新曲「群青」のCMストーリーテキスト＆コラボ映像を公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 1, 2020. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
3. "YOASOBIの新曲「群青」心震わせる応援ソング、杉野遥亮出演CM曲に起用". Fashion Press (in Japanese). December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
4. "YOASOBI、「群青」が『スッキリ』による全国高校生ダンス部応援企画のテーマ曲に". Barks (in Japanese). June 18, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
5. "センバツ入場行進曲はYOASOBIの「群青」 選手にエール". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). January 14, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
6. "YOASOBI、ブルボン「アルフォートミニチョコレート」CMソング「群青」MVを本日プレミア公開 CMの新バージョンも本日よりオンエア". Musicman (in Japanese). December 1, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
7. "YOASOBI、「群青」のMVがYouTubeで1億回再生を突破". The First Time (in Japanese). May 30, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
8. "YOASOBI「群青」の英語版楽曲「Blue」スッキリの高校生ダンス部応援企画テーマ曲をアレンジ". Fashion Press (in Japanese). Carlin Inc. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
9. "YOASOBIが「THE FIRST TAKE」で"群青"披露、ぷらそにかと共演". Cinra (in Japanese). February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
10. "【ベストアーティスト】YOASOBI、人気曲「群青」TV初披露 来年の抱負は「有観客ライブを頑張りたい」". Oricon (in Japanese). November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
11. "【紅白】2度目出場のYOASOBI、「群青」の歌詞を一部変更パフォーマンス「みんなだ！」と絶叫". Encount (in Japanese). December 31, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
12. Yoasobi (September 1, 2020). "Gunjou – Single". Apple Music (US). Retrieved May 7, 2022.
13. Yoasobi (October 29, 2021). "Blue (English Version) – Single". Apple Music (US). Retrieved May 7, 2022.
14. Yoasobi (2021). The Book (booklets). Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
15. "Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
16. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2021/03/15 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 10, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
17. (in Japanese). Oricon. March 29, 2021. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
18. "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
19. (in Japanese). Oricon. November 8, 2021. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
20. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2020" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
21. "Year-End Charts Billboard Global Excl. U.S. 2021". Billboard. from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
22. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2021". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
23. "【オリコン年間ランキング2021】Snow Man、唯一のミリオン達成で「シングル」年間1位 / ストリーミングランキング 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
24. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
25. "Japanese digital single certifications – YOASOBI – 群青" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 20, 2022. Select 2021年12月 on the drop-down menu
26. "Japanese single streaming certifications – YOASOBI – 群青" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 26, 2021. Select 2021年3月 on the drop-down menu

External links

• on Bourbon official website
• English translation of Make Blue Your Ally