Where Our Blue Is

Where Our Blue Is^[a] (青のすみか, Ao no Sumika, lit. 'House of Blue') is the third EP by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuya Kitani. It was released on July 19, 2023, by Mastersix Foundation. The title track serves as the third overall opening theme song for the Jujutsu Kaisen anime television series.

Overview

It was released in two editions: the standard edition and the first press limited edition.^[1] The standard edition includes the title song, the self-cover version of the song "Love Song (featuring Eve)", and two other tracks.^[1] The first press limited edition includes the DVD of the live performance of the one-man tour "Unknot/Reknot" held at Zepp DiverCity (Tokyo) on October 15, 2022.^[1] On June 26, the EP was available to pre-order on iTunes and pre-add or pre-save on Apple Music and Spotify. While the standard edition features a cover of two hands touching one another, the first press edition front and back covers show Jujutsu Kaisen character Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto instead. Anichoice praised the design of the cover.^[2]

The title track "Where Our Blue Is" was pre-released as a single worldwide on July 7, 2023.^[3] It peaked at number two in the Billboard Japan Hot 100,^[4] the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart,^[5] and the Billboard Japan Streaming Songs chart.^[6] The music video for it was released on YouTube on July 13, 2023.^[7] It was filmed in the desert of Dubai.^[8]

Composition

The song is based on the concept of "farewell peculiar to youth". In producing the music, Kitani received an offer from the anime production side, "A song with a refreshing impression based on the theme of youth". He said it was difficult. The school chime (Westminster Quarters) phrase is used in part of the song. Revealing the changes that have sprouted in order to save memories of youth and "deliver".^[9]

Kitani was able to quickly create something like the first seed for "Where Our Blue Is", but it was difficult after that. The first arrangement of this song was completely different, with a slower BPM, more sad elements, and a bit of a guitar on a club beat. The singer tried to make a version that was closer to that, and what he came up with was a guitar rock with a fast BPM and a sense of speed. When asking the director to listen to those two, he said, "It's about the middle." After all, the melody and lyrics are the same, but the finished product is different. Eve's "Kaikai Kitan" was a major inspiration for the song. "Scar", which he wrote as the first opening theme song for the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime television series, is one of them, and when he was writing the chorus of "Where Our Blue Is", Kitani was thinking about that. Straight as much as possible, twisted in other places. At the beginning of the song, there is a sound like "Corn!" which makes the listener feel like they are back in the womb. When people put in that kind of sound effect to attract the listener and help them grow up.^[10]

For Jujutsu Kaisen, the video primarily deals with the youth of Gojo and Geto, with an emphasis on blue backgrounds, like the lyrics say. The opening contrasts with the ending theme, "Akari", which uses a more relaxed melody and also makes emphasis on Gojo and Geto's friendship. Collab Cafe praised the opening as it will make people listen to it several times.^[11]

Accolades

Personnel

Where Our Blue Is

• Tatsuya Kitani – lyrics, music, vocals, arrangement, programming, bass guitar, guitar
• Osamu Hidai – drums
• Tetsuya Hirahata – piano
• Norio Teruuchi – mixing engineer

Have a nice end!

• Tatsuya Kitani – lyrics, music, vocals, arrangement, bass guitar
• Mizore – arrangement, programming, guitar
• Masashi Uramoto – mixing engineer

Love Song (cover)

• Tatsuya Kitani – lyrics, music, vocals, programming, arrangement, bass guitar, guitar
• Masashi Uramoto – mixing engineer

Where Our Blue Is (instrumental)

• Tatsuya Kitani – music, arrangement, all other instruments
• Tetsuya Hirahata – piano
• Osamu Hidai – drums
• Norikatsu Terūchi – mixing engineer

All tracks mastered by Hidekazu Sakai. All tracks recorded and mixed at Sony Music Studios Tokyo (Minato, Tokyo, Japan)

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

References

1. ^ "Tatsuya Kitani reveals TV anime "Jujutsu Kaisen" "Kaidama/Tamaori" OP theme "Ao no Sumika" anime-drawn cover art and tracks. Title song pre-released on 7/7". Skream !. Geki Rock Entertainment. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
2. ^ "五条悟＆夏油傑イラスト画像『呪術廻戦』2期OP「青のすみか」ジャケット". Anichoice. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
3. ^ "Tatsuya Kitani saves memories of youth with "Ao no Sumika", the opening theme of "Jujutsu Kaisen" A change that sprouted in order to "deliver" also revealed". Real Sound｜Real Sound. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
4. ^ "Hot 100". Billboard Japan. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
5. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Download Songs | Charts". Billboard Japan. Hanshin Contents Link. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
6. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Streaming Songs". Billboard Japan. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
7. ^ "青のすみか / キタニタツヤ - Where Our Blue Is / Tatsuya Kitani" (in Japanese, en). YouTube. キタニタツヤ / Tatsuya Kitani. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
8. ^ Department, Skream! Editorial. ""Kaidama/Tamaori" OP theme "Ao no Sumika" MV released". Skream!. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
9. ^ "キタニタツヤ、『呪術廻戦』OPテーマ「青のすみか」で救う青春時代の記憶 "届ける"ために芽生えた変化も明かす". Real Sound. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
10. ^ "キタニタツヤ、『呪術廻戦』OPテーマ「青のすみか」で救う青春時代の記憶 "届ける"ために芽生えた変化も明かす" (in Japanese). Real Sound. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
11. ^ "呪術廻戦 第2期 五条と夏油の眩しく戻れない日々描いたOP&ED映像解禁!". Collabo Cage. July 7, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
12. ^ "第46回アニメＧＰ" (in Japanese). chikimato.net. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
13. ^ Hazra, Adriana (March 2, 2024). "All the Winners of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024". Anime News Network. Archived March 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
14. ^ "Daruma du Meilleur Opening" (in French). Mangacollec. Archived June 13, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
15. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of August 19, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of August 16, 2023" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
17. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – Week of August 16, 2023" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
18. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2023-08-21" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived August 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
19. ^ "Taiwan Songs: Week of August 26, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
20. ^ "World Digital Song Sales: Week of July 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
21. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2023-07". Oricon. Archived August 9, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
22. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2023 Year-End" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2023 Year-End" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
24. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング2023】King & Prince、「シングル」「アルバム」ともにミリオン達成で「音楽」3ジャンルで首位 YOASOBI「アイドル」が3冠 | デジタルシングル(単曲)ランキング 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 20, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
25. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2024 Year-End" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
26. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation – 2024 Year-End" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 6, 2024.

Notes

1. ^ The official English translated title.

External links

• Ao no Sumika (First Press Limited Edition) | Discography | Kitani Tatsuya | Sony Music Official Site
• Ao no Sumika (Regular Edition) | Discography | Kitani Tatsuya | Sony Music Official Site