Overview
"Ultimate Senpai" (アルティメットセンパイ) is a VOCALOID pop song by Pinocchio-P (ピノキオピー) featuring Hatsune Miku, originally released as a single and album on August 7, 2020. The track follows the misadventures of a hapless "Ultimate Senpai", a character who bumbles through life eating stale hamburgers, singing atop radio towers, getting beaten up for overconfidence, and papering over his turmoil with a show of remorse. The song's fast-paced, self-deprecating lyrics and energetic synth-pop arrangement have made it a fan favorite on niconico and YouTube, where the official music video (also directed by Pinocchio-P) visualizes the chaotic inner life of its protagonist.
The song joined the maimai DX lineup on August 20, 2021, with the Splash PLUS update, classified under the niconico & VOCALOID genre. Its four DX charts range from Basic (level 2) to Master (level 13.1). The Expert chart was designed by 畳返し, while the denser Master chart, carrying 743 total notes with a heavy concentration of Slide (95) and Touch (46) patterns, was crafted by サファ太. Outside of maimai, the song has no other music game appearances, making this its exclusive rhythm-game home.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
2(2)
134 notesDesigner: -|Tap 109Hold 11Slide 2Touch 11Break 1
ADVANCED
6(6)
324 notesDesigner: -|Tap 236Hold 34Slide 9Touch 32Break 13
EXPERT
9(9)
424 notesDesigner: 畳返し|Tap 274Hold 54Slide 38Touch 33Break 25
MASTER
13(13.1)
743 notesDesigner: サファ太|Tap 523Hold 45Slide 95Touch 46Break 34
Trivia
- Pinocchio-P is a prolific VOCALOID producer whose other maimai appearances include "Common World Domination" (ありふれたせかいせいふく) and "Slow Motion" (スローモーション).
- The song debuted on niconico on August 7, 2020 (sm35818693) alongside a self-produced music video, before the physical album release.
- Regional release dates varied: Japan received the song with Splash PLUS on August 20, 2021; the Asian version followed on January 7, 2022; and the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2022) added it on November 4, 2022.
- The Basic chart was originally assigned level 4 at launch in Splash PLUS, but was revised down to level 2 starting with the UNiVERSE PLUS update.
- The lyrics include the line "頭の中では お花が咲いてる" (inside my head, flowers are blooming), contrasting the character's outward self-pity with hidden confidence.
- The Master chart, with a level constant of 13.1, contains 743 notes, notably dense for its level, featuring 95 Slide and 46 Touch notes that demand precise multi-touch coordination.
- 畳返し (Seiji Katou), designer of the Expert chart, is a long-time maimai charter known for crafting accessible yet engaging patterns in the mid-difficulty range.
- サファ太, designer of the Master chart, frequently creates high-density DX charts that emphasize slide patterning and touch-note integration.
- At 2 minutes and 21 seconds, the song is compact but packs substantial lyrical and musical content, matching the restless energy of its subject.
- Outside of maimai, Ultimate Senpai has no appearances in other music games, making it exclusive to the series among rhythm-game platforms.
FAQ
- Who composed and produced Ultimate Senpai?
- Ultimate Senpai was composed, arranged, and produced by Pinocchio-P (ピノキオピー), a well-known VOCALOID producer, with lyrics also written by him and vocals provided by Hatsune Miku.
- When was Ultimate Senpai added to maimai?
- The song was added to maimai DX Splash PLUS on August 20, 2021 in Japan. Asian regions received it on January 7, 2022, and the Chinese version arrived on November 4, 2022.
- What is the song Ultimate Senpai about?
- The lyrics follow a chaotic and self-sabotaging upperclassman ("senpai") who stumbles through life making mistakes while maintaining a facade of remorse, though inside, as one line puts it, "flowers are blooming." It is a comedic yet poignant character study.
- What level is the Master chart for Ultimate Senpai?
- The Master chart is level 13 with a difficulty constant of 13.1, designed by サファ太. It contains 743 notes including 95 Slide notes and 46 Touch notes.
- Who designed the Expert and Master charts for Ultimate Senpai in maimai?
- The Expert chart was designed by 畳返し (Seiji Katou), and the Master chart was designed by サファ太.
- Does Ultimate Senpai appear in any rhythm games other than maimai?
- No. Ultimate Senpai currently has no appearances in any other music or rhythm games, it is exclusive to the maimai series.
- What genre is Ultimate Senpai classified under in maimai?
- In maimai, Ultimate Senpai is classified under the niconico & VOCALOID (niconico＆ボーカロイド) genre.
