Overview
アイデンティティ (Identity) is a cover version of the 2010 single by サカナクション (sakanaction), one of Japan's most distinctive rock/electronic bands. The original song was released on August 4, 2010 as sakanaction's third major-label single and later included on their fifth studio album DocumentaLy. In Japan, the track gained wide recognition through its use as a commercial song for 東進ハイスクール (Toshin High School) in their "340万人の高校生へ" campaign.
The maimai cover was added to the game at its very launch on July 11, 2012, making it one of the earliest tracks available. The original version of the song had previously appeared in KONAMI's jubeat series, and the maimai cover brought it to a new rhythm-game audience. Over its lifespan in maimai, the song's in-game genre classification shifted: it debuted under J-POP, became POPS from GreeN onward, and is listed under POPS＆アニメ (Pops & Anime) in the current categorization system. The song was ultimately removed from the arcade version on March 19, 2015, though it survives in offline and regional builds.
The lyrics, written and composed by sakanaction frontman Ichiro Yamaguchi, grapple directly with the song's title theme, a narrator searching for their own identity, comparing themselves to others, and questioning why the concept of "individuality" feels so elusive. The refrain of "アイデンティティがない 生まれない らららら" ("I have no identity, it won't be born, la la la la") turns existential uncertainty into a catchy, self-deprecating hook that became a signature moment in the band's catalog.
Videos
Charts
Trivia
- アイデンティティ was one of the songs included in maimai's initial launch lineup on July 11, 2012.
- The song was removed from all arcade units on March 19, 2015, making it one of the earlier deletions in the series' history.
- The original version of アイデンティティ by サカナクション previously appeared in KONAMI's jubeat series before the maimai cover was added.
- The song was used as a television commercial tie-in for 東進ハイスクール's '340万人の高校生へ' (To 3.4 Million High School Students) campaign.
- In 舞萌 (the Chinese version) and Asian English releases of maimai, the title and artist are romanised as 'Identity' and 'sakanaction'.
- The song's in-game genre changed over the course of its availability: it was classified as J-POP in the original maimai and maimai PLUS, became POPS from maimai GreeN through maimai ORANGE, and is listed as POPS＆アニメ in the current genre system.
- The chart designers for the Expert and Master difficulties are listed as (無し), meaning they were not credited or assigned a named designer.
- The song's BPM is a steady 140 throughout, with no tempo changes.
FAQ
- Who composed アイデンティティ?
- The song was composed and written by Ichiro Yamaguchi (山口一郎), the frontman and principal songwriter of the Japanese band サカナクション (sakanaction).
- When was アイデンティティ added to maimai?
- The song was available from the very launch of maimai on July 11, 2012, as one of the game's initial tracks.
- Is アイデンティティ still playable in maimai?
- No. The song was removed from arcade units on March 19, 2015. It may still be playable on offline or older builds, but it is not available on current online machines.
- What is アイデンティティ about?
- The lyrics explore a sense of personal identity crisis. The narrator measures themselves against others, questions why they cannot find their 'true self,' and repeats the refrain 'I have no identity, it won't be born', blending existential anxiety with a catchy, almost playful melody.
- What difficulty levels does アイデンティティ have in maimai?
- The song has four Standard charts: Basic Lv5, Advanced Lv7, Expert Lv8, and Master Lv9, all at a steady BPM of 140.
- Did the original アイデンティティ appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes. The original version by サカナクション was previously added to KONAMI's jubeat series before the maimai cover was made.
- What genre is アイデンティティ in maimai?
- It is classified under POPS＆アニメ (Pops & Anime). Earlier in the game's lifecycle, it was categorized as J-POP (maimai and maimai PLUS) and then POPS (maimai GreeN through maimai ORANGE).
