Overview
極圏 (Kyokuken) is a high-energy instrumental collaboration that crossed into maimai FiNALE as part of the 5th Tenkaichi Otogesai (天下一音ゲ祭), a cross-company rhythm-game festival uniting SEGA, KONAMI, Bandai Namco, and TAITO titles. Originally debuting in KONAMI's SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS, the track brings together two heavyweight figures from opposite sides of the rhythm-game composition scene: cosMo@Bousou-P, renowned for his Vocaloid speedcore epics 初音ミクの消失 and 初音ミクの激唱, and dj TAKA (Takayuki Ishikawa), a cornerstone BEMANI sound producer whose work spans the beatmania IIDX series and beyond.
The title 極圏 refers to the polar circles, the 66°33′ latitude lines marking the Arctic and Antarctic, conjuring a sense of extreme, boundary-pushing territory that mirrors the track's relentless 207 BPM tempo. The jacket illustration was contributed by syuri22, cosMo's wife and longtime creative partner. Under the collaborative alias Usagi Aiko-kai (うさぎ愛好会), she has provided vocals, lyrics, and artwork for numerous SOUND VOLTEX releases alongside cosMo.
In maimai FiNALE, 極圏 launched on December 13, 2018 as an AOU arcade-exclusive title before rolling out to all arcades, including international cabinets, on April 11, 2019. The Master chart (level 14, constant 14.4), designed by 華火職人 (Kanon Oguni), and the Expert chart (level 12+, constant 12.9), designed by 小鳥遊さん (Takanashi-san), both underwent upward level adjustments across subsequent maimai DX versions, reflecting the community's recognition of their true difficulty.
Videos
Charts
Trivia
- 極圏 was originally created for KONAMI's SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS before crossing over into maimai, CHUNITHM, 太鼓の達人, and GROOVE COASTER as part of the Tenkaichi Otogesai event series.
- The song's title 極圏 (kyokuken) refers to the polar circles found at approximately 66°33′ latitude in both hemispheres, the Arctic Circle in the north and the Antarctic Circle in the south.
- cosMo@Bousou-P and dj TAKA had not collaborated directly before this track; the project was arranged under the SOUND VOLTEX banner as a VS battle-style composition.
- The jacket artwork was illustrated by syuri22, cosMo's wife, who performs vocals and writes lyrics alongside him in SOUND VOLTEX under the circle name Usagi Aiko-kai (うさぎ愛好会).
- 極圏 contains no vocals, it is a purely instrumental speedcore track driven by aggressive synth leads, breakbeat sections, and a relentless 207 BPM kick pattern.
- In maimai FiNALE, 極圏 was initially exclusive to AOU-member arcades. It became widely available in all Japanese and international arcades from April 11, 2019.
- The song also appears in CHUNITHM, where its Master chart (level 13→14+) was designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko), with dj TAKA himself credited as the chart designer under the alias 【暴龍天】dj TAKANASHI.
- The Master chart (level 14, constant 14.4) was designed by 華火職人 (Kanon Oguni), known in the maimai community for crafting technically demanding high-level charts with dense note clusters.
- The Expert chart (level 12+, constant 12.9) was designed by 小鳥遊さん (Takanashi-san), a prolific maimai notes designer whose charts often feature expressive slide patterns.
- Over successive maimai DX versions, the difficulty levels of 極圏's charts have been adjusted upward: Expert rose from 11 to 12+, and Advanced from 8+ to 9, reflecting revised difficulty evaluations.
FAQ
- Who composed the maimai song 極圏?
- 極圏 is a collaboration between cosMo@Bousou-P (known for Vocaloid speedcore tracks like 初音ミクの消失) and dj TAKA (Takayuki Ishikawa), a veteran BEMANI sound producer. Both composers are credited under the SOUND VOLTEX label.
- What does 極圏 mean and why was it chosen as the title?
- 極圏 (kyokuken) translates to 'polar circle', the 66°33′ latitude lines that define the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The title evokes extremes and boundaries, fitting the track's relentless 207 BPM speedcore style.
- Which maimai version introduced 極圏?
- 極圏 was added to maimai FiNALE on December 13, 2018, initially as an AOU arcade-exclusive title through the 5th Tenkaichi Otogesai event. It became widely available on April 11, 2019, including on international cabinets.
- What rhythm games besides maimai feature 極圏?
- 極圏 debuted in SOUND VOLTEX III GRAVITY WARS and later appeared in CHUNITHM STAR, 太鼓の達人 イエローVer., and GROOVE COASTER 3EX DREAM PARTY as part of the Tenkaichi Otogesai cross-company event.
- Who designed the Master and Expert charts for 極圏 in maimai?
- The Master chart (level 14, constant 14.4) was designed by 華火職人 (Kanon Oguni). The Expert chart (level 12+, constant 12.9) was designed by 小鳥遊さん (Takanashi-san).
- Does 極圏 have lyrics?
- No, 極圏 is a purely instrumental track with no vocal elements. It features aggressive synthesizer leads, breakbeat sections, and driving percussion at 207 BPM.
- Is 極圏 available on international (non-Japanese) maimai cabinets?
- Yes, 極圏 was made available on all international maimai cabinets from April 11, 2019. In Asian English versions, the song title and artist are displayed unchanged from the original Japanese.
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