Overview
甲賀忍法帖 (Kouga Ninpocho) is a thunderous heavy metal track by the Japanese band Onmyo-za (陰陽座), best known to anime fans as the opening theme of Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (バジリスク ～甲賀忍法帖～). Originally featured on the band's tenth studio album 臥龍點睛 (Garyoku Tensei), the song entered maimai MiLK PLUS in November 2018 and remained playable until its removal in September 2021. Composed by vocalist-bassist 瞬火 (Matatabi), the track delivers relentless double-kick drumming, galloping guitar riffs, and the band's signature blend of traditional Japanese melodic sensibilities with European-style power metal. Beyond its anime roots, 甲賀忍法帖 found a second life in internet meme culture through "Basilisk Time", a MAD video of a foreign man dancing exuberantly to the song, and the maimai MASTER chart deliberately includes a slide pattern that closely mirrors that viral dance, making the chart itself a playful nod to the meme.
Videos
Charts
STD
BASIC
4(4)
145 notesDesigner: -|Tap 124Hold 4Slide 9Break 8
ADVANCED
6(6)
237 notesDesigner: -|Tap 189Hold 21Slide 19Break 8
EXPERT
9+(9.6)
402 notesDesigner: LabiLabi|Tap 284Hold 34Slide 53Break 31
MASTER
11(11)
576 notesDesigner: 緑風 犬三郎|Tap 389Hold 28Slide 71Break 88
Re:MASTER
12+(12.6)
668 notesDesigner: 華火職人|Tap 490Hold 48Slide 112Break 18
Trivia
- 甲賀忍法帖 is the opening theme of the 2005 anime Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, a dark romantic tragedy about two rival ninja clans in 17th-century Japan.
- The song was originally released on Onmyo-za's tenth studio album 臥龍點睛 (Garyoku Tensei), which debuted in 2005.
- Composer and lyricist 瞬火 (Matatabi) is the vocalist and bassist of Onmyo-za, a band known for their oni/demon-themed stage personas and lyrical themes drawn from Japanese folklore and history.
- The maimai MASTER chart, designed by 緑風 犬三郎 (Ryokufu Inusaburō), features a slide section that deliberately reenacts the movements from the viral 'Basilisk Time' MAD video, a clip of a foreign man dancing energetically to the song that became a popular internet meme.
- The Re:MASTER chart (level 12+, constant 12.6) was designed by 華火職人 (Hanabi Shokunin) and holds the highest note density in the set with 668 total notes, including 490 Taps and 112 Slides.
- The song was removed from maimai on 2021/09/16, making it unavailable in current arcade rotations, though it may still be played on cabinets running earlier software versions.
- In addition to its anime opening role, 甲賀忍法帖 was also used as a theme song for a pachislot machine based on Basilisk, further cementing its association with the franchise.
- The song's title translates literally to 'Kouga Ninja Art Scroll', referencing the secret technique scroll that drives the plot of the anime.
FAQ
- Who composed 甲賀忍法帖 (Kouga Ninpocho)?
- The song was composed and written by 瞬火 (Matatabi), the vocalist and bassist of the Japanese heavy metal band Onmyo-za. Arrangement was handled by the band as a whole.
- What anime is 甲賀忍法帖 from?
- It is the opening theme of Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls (バジリスク ～甲賀忍法帖～), a 2005 anime series about rival ninja clans caught in a tragic love story.
- What difficulty levels does 甲賀忍法帖 have in maimai?
- The song has five standard charts: Basic (4), Advanced (6), Expert (9+), Master (11), and Re:Master (12+). The Expert chart was designed by LabiLabi, Master by 緑風 犬三郎, and Re:Master by 華火職人.
- What is 'Basilisk Time' and how does it relate to the maimai chart?
- Basilisk Time is a viral MAD video of a foreign man dancing exuberantly to 甲賀忍法帖. The maimai MASTER chart includes a slide pattern designed to closely mimic the movements from that dance, making it an inside joke for players familiar with the meme.
- Is 甲賀忍法帖 still playable in maimai?
- The song was removed from maimai on September 16, 2021. It is no longer available on current arcade versions, though it can still be played on older software builds.
- What BPM is 甲賀忍法帖?
- The song runs at a consistent 178 BPM throughout all charts.
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