Overview
Dancing☆Samurai (ダンシング☆サムライ) is a VOCALOID original song performed by Kamui Gackpo (神威がくぽ), the samurai-themed voicebank developed by Internet Co., Ltd. using the voice of Japanese singer Gackt. Composed, arranged, and written by mathru, also known as Kanimiso-P (かにみそP), the track joined maimai PLUS at its launch on December 13, 2012, making it one of the earliest songs in the maimai catalog.
On NicoNico Douga, Dancing☆Samurai became the first Gackpo original song to surpass 1 million views, a milestone that cemented its status within the VOCALOID community. Its lyrics blend feudal samurai bravado with club-culture imagery: a dancing warrior who cuts down anyone unable to keep the rhythm, punctuated by the repeated battle cry "harakiri kisama!" (腹切れ貴様ぁ!). The chorus exhorts listeners to "raise a storm on this dance floor" and live as a true samurai.
Over maimai's lifespan, the song's chart difficulty underwent notable inflation. The Master chart debuted at level 9 in the original PLUS build and climbed steadily through version updates, eventually settling at level 12+ (constant 12.7) by the FESTiVAL era, a testament to how the game's difficulty expectations evolved. Both the Expert and Master charts were designed by the long-running maimai charter 譜面-100号 (Fumen -100 gou). The Master chart in particular is Tap-heavy, with 495 Tap notes out of 564 total. In maimai DX, the song received a new jacket illustration and its original dancing-routine video was replaced with a still image of the updated artwork.
Videos
Charts
Trivia
- Dancing☆Samurai was the first Kamui Gackpo original song on NicoNico Douga to surpass 1 million views.
- The song was added to maimai PLUS at launch on December 13, 2012, placing it among the earliest tracks in the series.
- The Master chart's difficulty has risen dramatically over maimai's versions: starting at level 9 in PLUS, it climbed through 10, 10+, 11, 12, and ultimately 12+ by FESTiVAL.
- Both the Expert and Master charts were designed by 譜面-100号 (Fumen -100 gou), a charter who contributed to many early maimai songs.
- The Master chart is unusually Tap-heavy: 495 of its 564 notes are Taps (87.8%), with only 24 Holds, 36 Slides, and 9 Breaks.
- In maimai DX, the song received a new jacket and its original dancing-routine video was replaced with a still image of the updated jacket.
- In the Asian English and Chinese (舞萌) versions, the title is romanized as Dancing☆Samurai and the artist credit omits the (かにみそP) suffix.
- A DX Collection title called '侍' (Samurai) is unlockable by achieving ALL PERFECT on the Master chart of either Last Samurai or Dancing☆Samurai in a single credit.
- The song's in-game genre category shifted over time: it launched under VARIETY, moved to niconico from GreeN PLUS onward, and eventually settled under niconico & VOCALOID from PiNK onward.
- The song runs 2 minutes and 11 seconds in length.
- The original maimai jacket featured a hand-drawn samurai illustration, while the DX version adopted a cleaner, more stylized look.
FAQ
- Who composed Dancing☆Samurai for maimai?
- The song was composed, arranged, and written by mathru, also known as Kanimiso-P (かにみそP). The vocals are performed by the VOCALOID voicebank Kamui Gackpo (神威がくぽ).
- When was Dancing☆Samurai added to maimai?
- It was added to maimai PLUS at launch on December 13, 2012, making it one of the earliest songs in the game's history.
- What difficulty is the Master chart of Dancing☆Samurai?
- The Master chart is level 12+ with a difficulty constant of 12.7. It has 564 total notes, the majority of which (495) are Tap notes.
- Who designed the Expert and Master charts for Dancing☆Samurai?
- Both the Expert (level 11) and Master (level 12+) charts were designed by the charter 譜面-100号 (Fumen -100 gou).
- What is the meaning behind Dancing☆Samurai's lyrics?
- The lyrics depict a dancing samurai on a club floor cutting down anyone who can't keep the rhythm, blending feudal warrior imagery with modern dance culture. The recurring line 'harakiri kisama' (腹切れ貴様ぁ!) became a fan-favorite exclamation.
- Why did Dancing☆Samurai's Master difficulty increase so much over time?
- The Master chart started at level 9 in maimai PLUS and was gradually raised across versions to match the rising difficulty standards of maimai, ultimately reaching level 12+ in FESTiVAL. This reflects how the game's overall challenge curve shifted rather than any specific chart revision.
- Is Dancing☆Samurai available in all maimai regions?
- Yes, it is available in the Japanese, International, USA, and Chinese (舞萌) versions of maimai.
- Did Dancing☆Samurai get a new jacket in maimai DX?
- Yes, it received a new jacket illustration in maimai DX. The original video featuring a dancing routine was replaced with a still image of the new jacket.
- What VOCALOID voicebank sings Dancing☆Samurai?
- Kamui Gackpo (神威がくぽ), a samurai-themed VOCALOID voicebank developed by Internet Co., Ltd. and modeled after the voice of Japanese singer Gackt.
