Overview
きゅうくらりん (Kyu-kurarin) is a Vocaloid song by independent producer Iyowa (いよわ), featuring the synthesizer voice KAFU (可不) from KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO. Originally released as a single in 2021, the track became a viral sensation across the niconico and Vocaloid community, surpassing 100 million YouTube views by early 2026. Its frantic 220 BPM tempo, glitchy electronic production, and raw lyrics about anxiety, inadequacy, and the gap between inner turmoil and outward composure resonated widely with listeners.
The song was added to maimai DX FESTiVAL on February 17, 2023, as part of a cross-game rollout that also saw it appear in CHUNITHM SUN and ONGEKI bright MEMORY. In maimai, the MASTER chart (level 13+, designed by はっぴー) is distinguished by its lyric-driven choreography: slide paths, touch note patterns, and structural choices that visually mirror the song's words in a kind of chart-as-storytelling. The EXPERT chart (level 11+, designed by 翠楼屋) shares some of these thematic elements at a lower intensity. A subtle Easter egg ties the chart's 48 Break notes to Iyowa's name through the number 148, a motif that extends to the song's release date as well.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
4(4)
185 notesDesigner: -|Tap 147Hold 15Slide 2Touch 14Break 7
ADVANCED
7(7)
324 notesDesigner: -|Tap 245Hold 38Slide 8Touch 29Break 4
EXPERT
11+(11.6)
630 notesDesigner: 翠楼屋|Tap 445Hold 101Slide 27Touch 7Break 50
MASTER
13+(13.7)
859 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 484Hold 196Slide 114Touch 17Break 48
Trivia
- The MASTER chart contains exactly 48 Break notes, a reference to the artist Iyowa: the syllables い・よ・わ can be associated with the numbers 1, 4, and 8 respectively, forming 148. The release date of February 17 can also be read nonstandardly as 'month 1, day 48', reinforcing the same motif.
- The MASTER chart by はっぴー includes numerous lyric-visualization gimmicks: entangled slide patterns for the line 'ぐちゃぐちゃした心' (a messed-up heart), an empty touch-slide shape for '空っぽが埋まらないこと' (the empty space that won't fill), and a right-side break slide that reaches its endpoint faster than its left counterpart to illustrate 'あなたの右どなり' (to your right).
- For the lyric 'ああ虹がかかっている空' (ah, a rainbow in the sky), the chart uses a 6→3→6 reciprocating slide that arcs across the top of the screen, a pattern that also appears in the EXPERT chart (as a one-way break slide rather than a round trip).
- The line '諦めたって言わなくちゃ' (I have to say I gave up) is represented by crossed slide patterns forming an X (バツ), a visual pun on 'wrong' or 'no good' in Japanese. The subsequent '愛した罰を受けるから' (because I'll receive punishment for loving) doubles down with crossed touch slides followed by four crossed single break slides, another バツ pun linking 'punishment' to the X shape.
- During the 'ひどく優しい' (terribly gentle) section, the chart notably eases up in density. This is a deliberate wordplay: 優しい (gentle/kind) and 易しい (easy/gentle in difficulty) share the same reading 'yasashii' in this pun context.
- Teardrop-shaped slides (starting at position 1 and ending at position 8) appear during the lyric '胸で泣けたなら' (if I could cry on your chest), visually scoring the moment as a falling tear.
- The very end of the chart features a 'ちゅうぶらりん' slide sequence matching the song's final line. ちゅうぶらりん describes a dangling, suspended state, both physically and emotionally, evoking limbo or hanging.
- The song reached 100 million views on YouTube by early February 2026, cementing its status as one of Iyowa's most streamed works.
- The FULL SYNC title earned when completing the song is 'ああ 幸せになっちまうよ' (Ah, I'll become happy), a line drawn from the song's lyrics.
- Iyowa composed, arranged, wrote the lyrics, and created the music video for きゅうくらりん entirely on their own, making the track a highly personal, single-authored work.
FAQ
- Who composed きゅうくらりん?
- きゅうくらりん was composed, arranged, and written by independent Vocaloid producer Iyowa (いよわ), who also created the song's music video. The vocals are provided by KAFU (可不), a voice synthesizer developed by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO.
- What does きゅうくらりん (Kyu-kurarin) mean?
- The title きゅうくらりん is a coined word by Iyowa without a standard dictionary definition. The song contrasts it with the related term ちゅうぶらりん (chūburarin), which describes a dangling or suspended state, both literally and emotionally. In the maimai chart, the final lyric is represented by a slide pattern that visually suggests hanging in suspension.
- What version of maimai did きゅうくらりん first appear in?
- きゅうくらりん was added to maimai DX FESTiVAL on February 17, 2023, and has remained available in all subsequent versions including BUDDiES and PRiSM across Japan, international, USA, and Chinese regions.
- What difficulty is きゅうくらりん on MASTER and who designed the chart?
- The MASTER chart is level 13+ (difficulty constant 13.7) with 859 notes, designed by はっぴー (Happy). The EXPERT chart is level 11+ (constant 11.6) with 630 notes, designed by 翠楼屋 (Suirouya).
- What is the 148 reference in きゅうくらりん's maimai chart?
- The MASTER chart contains 48 Break notes, referencing Iyowa's name via the number 148 (い=1, よ=4, わ=8). The release date of February 17 can also be interpreted as 'month 1, day 48' in a non-standard counting system, extending the 148 motif beyond the chart itself.
- Is きゅうくらりん available in other rhythm games?
- Yes, きゅうくらりん appears across three SEGA rhythm game titles: maimai DX (since FESTiVAL), CHUNITHM (since SUN, January 2023), and ONGEKI (since bright MEMORY, March 2024).
- What are the lyrics of きゅうくらりん about?
- The lyrics explore themes of anxiety, self-consciousness, emotional emptiness, and the pressure to maintain a happy facade. The narrator describes a 'messed-up heart,' fears being discovered as hollow, and grapples with feelings of being suspended in a state of limbo, captured in the recurring self-description 'きゅうくらりん.'
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