Overview
Tanaka (田中) is a standout entry from THE BMS OF FIGHTERS XVII (BOFXVII) that found a home in maimai でらっくす FESTiVAL at the version's launch in September 2022. Composed by Rissyuu (立秋) with vocals by Choko (ちょこ) and a music video by Ishio Masato (石王マサト), the song is driven by an irresistibly high-energy J-pop/electronic sound at 186 BPM. What makes Tanaka genuinely singular, however, is its lyrical gimmick: nearly every word is constructed from just three morae, "ta" (た), "na" (な), and "ka" (か), and their combinations. Lines like "田中、棚買った" (Tanaka bought a shelf) and "田中、刀買った" (Tanaka bought a sword) spin a rapid-fire stream of puns and homophones entirely within this self-imposed phonetic cage. The title itself is a nod to Rissyuu's previous BOF entry 竹 (Take), which placed 4th in BOFXVI; "Tanaka" is the fourth-most-common Japanese surname, making the song a meta-sequel about rank and naming. In maimai, the track is represented by a 14.3 Master chart designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko) loaded with dense Touch-note patterns, and an Expert chart at 12.1 by 翠楼屋 (Suirouya). A long version titled 田中（多田中ver）appears on the GroundbreakinG 2021 -BOFXVII COMPILATION ALBUM-.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
5(5)
186 notesDesigner: -|Tap 139Hold 29Slide 6Touch 7Break 5
ADVANCED
8(8)
359 notesDesigner: -|Tap 284Hold 24Slide 7Touch 34Break 10
EXPERT
12(12.1)
661 notesDesigner: 翠楼屋|Tap 464Hold 74Slide 28Touch 81Break 14
MASTER
14(14.3)
892 notesDesigner: ぴちネコ|Tap 571Hold 85Slide 80Touch 110Break 46
Trivia
- Tanaka was originally created for THE BMS OF FIGHTERS XVII (BOFXVII), the annual Be-Music Source song contest, where it finished 9th overall. Its BMS genre was listed as 日本４位 (Japan 4th Place), continuing the fourth-place theme.
- The song was directly inspired by Rissyuu's own previous BOF entry 竹 (Take), which placed 4th in BOFXVI. Tanaka (田中) is the fourth most common surname in Japan, creating a numerical and thematic link between the two songs.
- The lyrics are written almost entirely using only the syllables た (ta), な (na), か (ka), and the sokuon っ, a severe phonetic constraint that generates dozens of punning phrases such as 棚買った (shelf bought), 鉈買った (scythe bought), 高かった (was expensive), and 戦った (fought).
- Tanaka is Rissyuu's third song to appear in maimai, following プナイプナイせんそう and 竹, both of which also appeared in earlier maimai versions.
- A long version of the song, titled 田中（多田中ver）, was released on the GroundbreakinG 2021 -BOFXVII COMPILATION ALBUM-.
- Tanaka was also added to CHUNITHM SUN on October 27, 2022, with charts designed by じゃこレモン and ミストルティン@漢字2文字変えたら田中.
- The maimai DX Collection titles for Tanaka are all common Japanese surnames: 佐藤 (Sato) for Basic AP, 鈴木 (Suzuki) for Advanced AP, 高橋 (Takahashi) for Expert AP, and a special 中田 (Nakata) for achieving ALL PERFECT with mirrored notes. A victory title 田中、勝った！ (Tanaka Won!) is also available.
- The collection item 田中変拍子:46回 requires 46 plays of the song, possibly a numerological reference, though no official explanation has been given.
- The song runs approximately 2 minutes and 13 seconds in length.
- The Master chart (14.3) by ぴちネコ features 892 notes including 110 Touch notes and 46 Break notes, making it a demanding course for players seeking high-level clears.
FAQ
- Who composed the song Tanaka?
- Tanaka was composed, arranged, and written by Rissyuu (立秋), with vocals by Choko (ちょこ). The music video was created by Ishio Masato (石王マサト).
- What is unique about the lyrics of Tanaka?
- The lyrics of Tanaka are written almost entirely using only the syllables ta (た), na (な), and ka (か), plus the sokuon (っ). Every line combines these sounds into wordplay-laden phrases like 'tana o katta' (bought a shelf) and 'natagatta' (brandished a scythe), all while telling a micro-story about a character named Tanaka.
- Where did the song Tanaka originally come from?
- Tanaka debuted at THE BMS OF FIGHTERS XVII (BOFXVII), a Be-Music Source song contest, where it placed 9th overall. It was subsequently added to maimai DX FESTiVAL and CHUNITHM SUN.
- Why is the song called Tanaka?
- The title Tanaka (田中) is Japan's fourth most common surname. It references Rissyuu's earlier BOF entry Take (竹), which finished 4th in BOFXVI, tying the two songs together through the concept of fourth place. The BMS genre was even labeled 日本４位 (Japan 4th Place) as an inside joke.
- What difficulty is Tanaka's Master chart?
- Tanaka's Master chart is level 14 with a difficulty constant of 14.3, designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko). It contains 892 notes total: 571 Taps, 85 Holds, 80 Slides, 110 Touch notes, and 46 Breaks.
- Who designed the Expert and Master charts for Tanaka in maimai?
- The Expert chart (level 12, constant 12.1) was designed by 翠楼屋 (Suirouya), and the Master chart (level 14, constant 14.3) was designed by ぴちネコ (Pichineko).
- What are the DX Collection titles for Tanaka?
- Players can earn surname-themed titles: 佐藤 (Sato) for Basic ALL PERFECT, 鈴木 (Suzuki) for Advanced ALL PERFECT, 高橋 (Takahashi) for Expert ALL PERFECT, and 中田 (Nakata) for a mirrored ALL PERFECT clear. A victory title 田中、勝った！ (Tanaka Won!) is also available.
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