Overview
"馬と鹿" (Uma to Shika, lit. "Horse and Deer") is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu (米津玄師), one of Japan's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed pop artists. Originally released as a single in 2019, the track served as the opening theme for the TV drama "ノーサイド・ゲーム" (No Side Manager), a sports drama centered on rugby. The title itself is a playful deconstruction of the Japanese word "馬鹿" (baka, meaning "foolish"), which combines the characters for horse and deer, a linguistic quip that fits the song's lyrical themes of self-deprecation and vulnerability.
In the maimai rhythm game series, "馬と鹿" was added at the launch of maimai でらっくす PLUS (DX PLUS) on January 23, 2020, appearing in the POPS&ANIME (POPS＆アニメ) genre across both Japanese and Asian arcade releases. The Chinese version (舞萌DX) followed later on December 24, 2020. The song was ultimately removed from Asian versions starting with maimai DX UNiVERSE PLUS and from Chinese versions starting with 舞萌DX 2022, making it a time-limited entry in the series. Despite its short in-game length of approximately 1:21 and a notably slow BPM of 91, the Master chart (level 12, designed by はっぴー) and Expert chart (level 8, designed by Jack) offer distinctive rhythm patterns that follow the song's gentle vocal melody and warm instrumental arrangement.
In the maimai rhythm game series, "馬と鹿" was added at the launch of maimai でらっくす PLUS (DX PLUS) on January 23, 2020, appearing in the POPS&ANIME (POPS＆アニメ) genre across both Japanese and Asian arcade releases. The Chinese version (舞萌DX) followed later on December 24, 2020. The song was ultimately removed from Asian versions starting with maimai DX UNiVERSE PLUS and from Chinese versions starting with 舞萌DX 2022, making it a time-limited entry in the series. Despite its short in-game length of approximately 1:21 and a notably slow BPM of 91, the Master chart (level 12, designed by はっぴー) and Expert chart (level 8, designed by Jack) offer distinctive rhythm patterns that follow the song's gentle vocal melody and warm instrumental arrangement.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
1(1)
60 notesDesigner: -|Tap 43Hold 5Slide 2Touch 8Break 2
ADVANCED
5(5)
115 notesDesigner: -|Tap 81Hold 17Slide 3Touch 10Break 4
EXPERT
8(8)
196 notesDesigner: Jack|Tap 122Hold 40Slide 14Touch 16Break 4
MASTER
12(12)
275 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 181Hold 15Slide 40Touch 20Break 19
Trivia
- The song's title "馬と鹿" (lit. "Horse and Deer") is a direct reference to the Japanese word "馬鹿" (baka, fool), which is composed of the kanji for horse and deer; splitting them apart creates the song's title.
- "馬と鹿" was used as the opening theme of the TBS television drama "ノーサイド・ゲーム" (No Side Manager), a rugby-themed drama that aired from July to September 2019.
- Kenshi Yonezu handled all aspects of the song's production: composition, arrangement, lyrics, and vocals.
- The single was released on September 11, 2019, and became a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
- In maimai, the song was added at the launch of maimai でらっくす PLUS on January 23, 2020, in both Japanese and Asian versions.
- The Chinese version of maimai (舞萌DX) received the song on December 24, 2020, nearly a year after the Japanese release.
- "馬と鹿" was removed from the Asian versions of maimai starting with maimai DX UNiVERSE PLUS, and from the Chinese version starting with 舞萌DX 2022, making it no longer playable in those regions on current versions.
- At 91 BPM and approximately 1:21 in length, this is one of the slowest and shortest songs in the maimai DX library.
- The Master chart (level 12) was designed by はっぴー (Happy), while the Expert chart (level 8) was designed by Jack.
FAQ
- Who composed and performed "馬と鹿" (Uma to Shika)?
- The song was composed, arranged, written, and performed entirely by Kenshi Yonezu (米津玄師), one of Japan's most popular singer-songwriters.
- What TV drama was "馬と鹿" used as the opening theme for?
- It was the opening theme for the TBS drama "ノーサイド・ゲーム" (No Side Manager), a rugby-themed sports drama that aired in 2019.
- When was "馬と鹿" added to maimai?
- It was added at the launch of maimai でらっくす PLUS (DX PLUS) on January 23, 2020, in both Japanese and Asian versions. The Chinese version (舞萌DX) received it on December 24, 2020.
- Is "馬と鹿" still playable in current maimai versions?
- It depends on the region. The song was removed from Asian versions starting with maimai DX UNiVERSE PLUS, and from Chinese versions starting with 舞萌DX 2022. It may still be present in older cabinet software but is no longer available in current regional lineups.
- What level is the Master chart of "馬と鹿" and who designed it?
- The Master chart is level 12 with a difficulty constant of 12.0, designed by the charter はっぴー (Happy). The Expert chart (level 8) was designed by Jack.
- What is the BPM of "馬と鹿" and how long is the song in maimai?
- The song has a BPM of 91 and an in-game length of approximately 1:21, making it one of the slower and shorter tracks in the maimai DX song library.
- What does the title "馬と鹿" mean?
- The title literally translates to "Horse and Deer." The two kanji, when combined as "馬鹿" (baka), form the Japanese word for "fool" or "stupid", a deliberate wordplay that ties into the song's lyrical themes.
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