Overview
美しく燃える森 (Utsukushiku Moeru Mori, "The Beautifully Burning Forest") is a cover song that has been part of maimai since the arcade rhythm game's original launch on July 11, 2012. The track is a cover of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's original composition, written by bassist Tsuyoshi Kawakami with lyrics by vocalist and saxophonist Atsushi Yanaka. The original version featured Okuda Tamio (of the rock band Unicorn) on guest vocals, but the maimai cover replaces his delivery with an unidentified female vocalist, giving the song a distinctly different texture while preserving the bright, ska-infused brass-band arrangement that defines Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra's sound.
Over maimai's version history, the song's in-game genre classification shifted more than most tracks: it debuted as J-POP, was reclassified as POPS during the GreeN through ORANGE PLUS era, and finally settled into POPS & ANIME (POPS＆アニメ) from PiNK onward. Its MASTER chart, designed by 畳返し (Seiji Katō), holds a unique place in the game's history as the designer's only MASTER-difficulty contribution to the maimai series. The chart is occasionally featured as a Boss Otomodachi battle selection. Visually, the song received an updated jacket illustration when maimai でらっくす launched, and its original animated background video was replaced with a static display of the new artwork, a change that marked the transition from the original maimai presentation to the DX era.
Videos
Charts
Trivia
- The original version of 美しく燃える森 by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra features Okuda Tamio (奥田民生) from the rock band Unicorn as a guest vocalist. The maimai cover uses an unidentified female vocalist instead, giving the song a distinctly different vocal character.
- The MASTER chart was designed by 畳返し (Seiji Katō / Tatamigaeshi), and it is the only MASTER-difficulty chart he ever contributed to the maimai series, making it a notable piece of chart-design history.
- The song was present from the very first day of maimai's operation (July 11, 2012), making it one of the oldest continuously available tracks in the game's library.
- The song's in-game genre changed multiple times: it began as J-POP, was reclassified as POPS during the GreeN through ORANGE PLUS era, and later settled into POPS & ANIME (POPS＆アニメ) from PiNK onward.
- In Asian English releases of maimai, the song is displayed as 'Utsukushiku Moeru Mori' by 'Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.'
- The Expert chart was designed by 譜面-100号 (Fumen -100 gou), a notes designer whose numbered alias appears on several early maimai charts.
- The song's jacket was updated for maimai でらっくす, and the original animated background video was replaced with a static display of the new jacket art.
- The song runs approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds in length.
- Composition is credited to Tsuyoshi Kawakami, bassist of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, with lyrics by Atsushi Yanaka, the band's vocalist and saxophonist.
- The MASTER chart features 375 total notes with only a single Slide note, an unusually low Slide count for a level 10+ chart.
FAQ
- Who composed 美しく燃える森?
- The song was composed by Tsuyoshi Kawakami, bassist of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, with lyrics written by vocalist and saxophonist Atsushi Yanaka.
- What version of maimai added 美しく燃える森?
- 美しく燃える森 was included at the very launch of the original maimai arcade game on July 11, 2012.
- Is 美しく燃える森 a cover song in maimai?
- Yes, it is a cover of the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra song of the same name. While the original features guest vocalist Okuda Tamio, the maimai version uses a female cover vocalist.
- Who designed the MASTER chart for 美しく燃える森?
- The MASTER chart was designed by 畳返し (Seiji Katō / Tatamigaeshi). This chart is notable as his only MASTER-difficulty contribution to the entire maimai series.
- What is the MASTER difficulty level of 美しく燃える森?
- The MASTER chart is rated level 10+ with a difficulty constant of 10.6. It features 375 notes with only a single Slide note, an unusual trait for a chart at this difficulty.
- What genre does 美しく燃える森 belong to in maimai?
- It is currently classified under POPS & ANIME (POPS＆アニメ). Earlier in the game's history it was categorized as J-POP, then POPS, before settling into its current genre.
- What is the English title of 美しく燃える森?
- In Asian English versions of maimai, the song is displayed as 'Utsukushiku Moeru Mori,' which translates roughly to 'The Beautifully Burning Forest.'
- Why is the MASTER chart of 美しく燃える森 considered notable?
- The MASTER chart was designed by 畳返し, who contributed only one MASTER chart to maimai, this one. The chart is also known for its unusually low Slide note count (1 Slide out of 375 total notes), a rarity for a 10+ chart, and it is sometimes featured as a Boss Otomodachi battle selection.
