Overview
吉原ラメント (Yoshiwara Lament) is a VOCALOID/UTAU original song by composer and lyricist 亜沙 (Asa), featuring the fan-made UTAU voicebank Kasane Teto (重音テト) on vocals. The song paints a melancholic portrait of a courtesan in Edo-period Yoshiwara, Japan's historic red-light district, weaving imagery of rain, cosmetics, and transactional romance into a lament about lost freedom and performed affection. First uploaded to niconico on December 21, 2012 (sm18395392), the track quickly became a staple of the UTAU repertoire and later crossed into rhythm-game territory. It joined maimai MURASAKi on April 18, 2017 as part of the niconico & VOCALOID genre, and subsequently appeared in SEGA's other arcade rhythm titles, オンゲキ R.E.D. and CHUNITHM NEW PLUS. In maimai, the Master chart (designed by はっぴー) stands out for its extremely low Hold-note count, just 10 holds across 849 total notes, while packing 194 Slide notes into a dense, fast-paced layout at 191 BPM. The Expert chart, designed by rioN, offers a demanding 11+ (11.6) intermediate challenge. Across maimai versions the song has seen several difficulty re-ratings, reflecting its enduring presence in the rotation.
Videos
Charts
Trivia
- The song was originally uploaded to niconico on December 21, 2012 (sm18395392) as a Kasane Teto original, making it one of the most recognized UTAU tracks in the rhythm-game crossover circuit.
- Composer 亜沙 (Asa) handled composition, arrangement, lyrics, and bass recording. Guitar was performed by Kei Hirosue, and the original video was produced by 小山乃舞世.
- The title 吉原ラメント (Yoshiwara Lament) directly references the Yoshiwara pleasure district of Edo-period Tokyo. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a courtesan, using period-appropriate diction such as 'ござんす' and 'おいでくんなまし.'
- In the Asian English localization of maimai, the song title is romanized as YOSHIWARALAMENTO and the artist as Asa.
- The Master chart contains only 10 Hold notes, an unusually low number for a 13+ (13.8) chart, while featuring 194 Slide notes, making it a slide-heavy endurance test.
- The song's BPM of 191 sits at a brisk pace that challenges both finger speed and stamina on higher difficulties.
- The song was later added to オンゲキ R.E.D. on February 11, 2021, and to CHUNITHM NEW PLUS on June 23, 2022 (with a staggered Asian release on October 27, 2022 and a Chinese release on March 28, 2024).
- The Expert chart (designed by rioN) and Master chart (designed by はっぴー) have both undergone level rebalancing across maimai versions, the Expert chart rose from 10 to 11+ and the Master chart from 12 to 13+ over the game's lifespan.
FAQ
- Who composed 吉原ラメント (Yoshiwara Lament)?
- The song was composed, arranged, and written by 亜沙 (Asa), who also played bass. The vocals are performed by the UTAU voicebank Kasane Teto (重音テト), with guitar by Kei Hirosue.
- What is 吉原ラメント about?
- The song tells the story of a courtesan in Edo-period Yoshiwara, Japan's famous red-light district. The lyrics describe the performance of love and affection for paying clients, the loss of personal freedom, and the melancholy of a life bound by fate, all set against recurring imagery of rain and flowers.
- When was 吉原ラメント added to maimai?
- It was added on April 18, 2017, as part of the maimai MURASAKi version, under the niconico & VOCALOID genre.
- What are the chart difficulty levels for 吉原ラメント in maimai?
- In its current balance, the Standard charts are: Basic 4, Advanced 8, Expert 11+ (level constant 11.6), and Master 13+ (level constant 13.8). There is no Re:Master chart.
- Who designed the Expert and Master charts for 吉原ラメント in maimai?
- The Expert chart was designed by rioN, and the Master chart was designed by はっぴー (Happy).
- What makes the Master chart of 吉原ラメント unique?
- The Master chart has only 10 Hold notes out of 849 total notes, an unusually low count for a 13+ chart, while featuring 194 Slide notes. This makes it a particularly slide-intensive, high-speed endurance chart at 191 BPM.
- Does 吉原ラメント appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes. It was added to オンゲキ R.E.D. on February 11, 2021, and to CHUNITHM NEW PLUS on June 23, 2022 (with later releases in Asian and Chinese regions).
Related Songs
炉心融解
iroha(sasaki)／kuma(alfred)
471113
MURASAKi (紫)
ネトゲ廃人シュプレヒコール
さつき が てんこもり
57+10+13+
MURASAKi (紫)
Just Be Friends
Dixie Flatline
47+10+12+
MURASAKi (紫)
StargazeR
骨盤P
57+10+12+
MURASAKi (紫)
だんだん早くなる
40mP
38101212+
MURASAKi (紫)
ココロ
トラボルタ
379+12
MURASAKi (紫)
ゆっくりしていってね！！！
今日犬
5811+13+
MURASAKi (紫)
チュルリラ・チュルリラ・ダッダッダ！
和田たけあき(くらげP)
681113
MURASAKi (紫)