Overview
AMABIE is an original maimai composition by OSTER project, debuting in maimai でらっくす Splash PLUS on June 25, 2021. It marked OSTER project's return to the maimai series after a roughly fifteen-month gap, following their earlier contribution "シエルブルーマルシェ" (Ciel Bleu Marché). The track runs at 190 BPM with a duration of roughly 2:18 and carries no vocals, a purely instrumental piece.
The song takes its name from the amabie, a legendary Japanese yōkai, a mermaid-like creature with three legs and a bird-like beak, that first appeared in Higo Province (modern-day Kumamoto Prefecture) during the Edo period. According to folklore, the amabie instructed people to draw its likeness and share it to ward off pestilence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amabie experienced a widespread resurgence as a talisman against disease, a context that gives the song's title layered contemporary meaning alongside its traditional roots.
In-game, AMABIE served as a Perfect Challenge reward song tied to the Takamagahara (高天原) area, unlocking after players accumulated 999 km of total distance, a substantial grind that made it a prestige track during its debut season. The accompanying flavor text describes a narrative scene in which Nigi and Oohime dispatch three small gods to the "Capital of Izumo," only to find it smoldering and engulfed in miasma, a mythic framing that ties the track to the broader Takamagahara world-building.
The music video was produced by Hanamori Hiro, complementing OSTER project's high-energy electronic production with atmospheric visual storytelling.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
5(5)
221 notesDesigner: -|Tap 202Hold 4Slide 5Touch 8Break 2
ADVANCED
8+(8.6)
411 notesDesigner: -|Tap 328Hold 23Slide 25Touch 26Break 9
EXPERT
12(12.4)
612 notesDesigner: ぴちネコ|Tap 374Hold 44Slide 57Touch 77Break 60
MASTER
14+(14.6)
932 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 748Hold 37Slide 59Touch 82Break 6
Trivia
- AMABIE was OSTER project's first maimai original song in roughly one year and three months, following 'Ciel Bleu Marché' (シエルブルーマルシェ) in the Splash base version.
- The song's title refers to the amabie, a legendary Japanese yōkai from Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amabie was widely shared online as a protective symbol against disease, giving the track's name a modern resonance.
- A separate song with the same title exists in Konami's pop'n music 解明リドルズ, but that version is credited to BEMANI Sound Team 'Coyaan', an unrelated composition.
- The MASTER chart (level 14+ / constant 14.6) was designed by はっぴー (Happy), who was also responsible for the notorious HERA chart. Both charts share a signature use of dense vertical-tap patterns, but AMABIE's are placed on the bottom screen rather than the top and unfold in a 7/4 time signature with irregularly spaced TAP notes.
- The EXPERT chart was designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko) and features a notably high Touch-note count (77) and Break-note count (60) for a level-12 chart.
- In its home version (Splash PLUS through UNiVERSE), the Basic chart was originally rated level 6 before being revised down to level 5 starting in UNiVERSE PLUS.
- The Master chart was originally rated level 14 in Splash PLUS through BUDDiES, and was upgraded to 14+ beginning with BUDDiES PLUS.
- The unlock method required players to reach 999 km total distance in the Takamagahara Perfect Challenge area, a substantial grind that kept the song exclusive for many players until it was made default in UNiVERSE PLUS (March 24, 2022, for the Asian version).
- In the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2022), AMABIE was unlockable from November 4, 2022, via distance-based area progression rather than the Perfect Challenge system.
FAQ
- Who composed AMABIE in maimai?
- AMABIE was composed by OSTER project, a veteran creator known for original contributions to the maimai series. The music video was handled by Hanamori Hiro.
- What does AMABIE mean and why is it relevant?
- AMABIE refers to the amabie, a legendary Japanese yōkai that supposedly appeared in Higo Province (modern Kumamoto) during the Edo period. The creature was believed to ward off epidemics, and it experienced a cultural revival during the COVID-19 pandemic as a symbol of disease protection.
- When was AMABIE added to maimai?
- AMABIE was added on June 25, 2021, as part of maimai でらっくす Splash PLUS. It was initially locked behind the Takamagahara Perfect Challenge and became available by default starting with maimai でらっくす UNiVERSE PLUS (March 24, 2022).
- What difficulty is AMABIE's MASTER chart?
- The MASTER chart is rated level 14+ with a difficulty constant of 14.6. It was originally level 14 before being upgraded to 14+ in BUDDiES PLUS.
- Who designed the MASTER and EXPERT charts for AMABIE?
- The MASTER chart was designed by はっぴー (Happy), and the EXPERT chart was designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko).
- What is notable about AMABIE's MASTER chart patterns?
- The MASTER chart features dense vertical-tap sequences on the bottom screen in a 7/4 time signature with irregularly spaced TAP notes, a pattern style that はっぴー also employed on the top screen in HERA.
- Does AMABIE have lyrics?
- No, AMABIE is an instrumental track with no vocals.
External Links
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