Overview
ザムザ (Zamuza, also romanized as Samsa) is a Vocaloid song by producer てにをは (teniwoha) featuring Hatsune Miku, added to maimai でらっくす BUDDiES PLUS on May 24, 2024. The title is a direct reference to Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Franz Kafka's 1915 novella The Metamorphosis, a man who wakes up one day transformed into a giant insect. The lyrics lean heavily into this imagery, with lines about locking oneself away, a throbbing pain ("ズキズキズキ"), dragging a gaudy tail, and an apple thrown in a moment of alienation, all echoing the story's themes of guilt, bodily horror, and social rejection. teniwoha, known for their distinctive storytelling-oriented Vocaloid works, composed, arranged, and wrote the lyrics, with the music video produced by ORIHARA. The song originally appeared on teniwoha's 2023 album ザムザ before arriving in the arcade rhythm game scene. In maimai, the track entered as part of the BUDDiES PLUS update under the niconico & VOCALOID category. Its MASTER chart, designed by the duo Jack&アマリリス, sits at level 12+ (constant 12.7), while the EXPERT chart was designed by まぐランド at level 9+ (constant 9.6). Outside of maimai, ザムザ also appears in CHUNITHM VERSE (starting May 2025) and received a cover version by 25時、ナイトコードで。 × KAITO from the Project SEKAI franchise.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
1(1)
111 notesDesigner: -|Tap 85Hold 12Slide 4Touch 4Break 6
ADVANCED
6(6)
238 notesDesigner: -|Tap 175Hold 19Slide 4Touch 30Break 10
EXPERT
9+(9.6)
359 notesDesigner: まぐランド|Tap 250Hold 32Slide 36Touch 13Break 28
MASTER
12+(12.7)
634 notesDesigner: Jack&アマリリス|Tap 442Hold 68Slide 53Touch 41Break 30
Trivia
- The title ザムザ (Zamuza) is a phonetic rendering of 'Samsa', Gregor Samsa from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. The song's lyrics recontextualize the story's motifs of transformation, self-loathing, and alienation.
- The song was composed, arranged, and written entirely by teniwoha, a Vocaloid-P known for works such as 'ド屑' and 'うっせぇわ' (as a cover arranger), with a narrative-heavy lyrical style.
- The official music video was created by ORIHARA, who has produced visuals for numerous Vocaloid songs.
- ザムザ was first released on teniwoha's self-titled album ザムザ in 2023 before being added to rhythm games.
- In maimai, the song debuted in the BUDDiES PLUS update on May 24, 2024 for Japanese regions. The Asian version followed on September 27, 2024, and the Chinese version (舞萌DX 2025) on September 24, 2025.
- The song also appears in CHUNITHM VERSE, added on May 8, 2025 in Japan and September 4, 2025 in the Asian version.
- A cover version of ザムザ performed by 25時、ナイトコードで。 × KAITO exists as part of the Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! franchise, highlighting the song's crossover appeal beyond the Vocaloid original.
- The MASTER chart (level 12+, constant 12.7) was designed by the duo Jack&アマリリス, who are known for crafting technically demanding charts in the maimai series.
- The EXPERT chart (level 9+, constant 9.6) was designed by まぐランド (Maguland), another established maimai chart creator.
- The song's BPM is a steady 121 throughout, with no tempo changes, a relatively moderate pace that contrasts with the intensity of its higher-difficulty charts.
FAQ
- Who composed ザムザ (Zamuza / Samsa)?
- ザムザ was composed, arranged, and written by the Vocaloid producer てにをは (teniwoha), featuring Hatsune Miku on vocals. The music video was created by ORIHARA.
- What does the title ザムザ mean?
- The title ザムザ (Zamuza) is the Japanese phonetic rendering of 'Samsa', a direct reference to Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Franz Kafka's 1915 novella The Metamorphosis. The song's lyrics explore themes of transformation, alienation, and bodily horror drawn from the story.
- What version of maimai introduced ザムザ?
- ザムザ was added to maimai でらっくす BUDDiES PLUS on May 24, 2024 in Japan. It arrived later in the Asian version (September 27, 2024) and the Chinese version 舞萌DX 2025 (September 24, 2025).
- What difficulty levels are ザムザ's charts in maimai?
- ザムザ has four DX chart difficulties: Basic (level 1), Advanced (level 6), Expert (level 9+, constant 9.6), and Master (level 12+, constant 12.7).
- Who designed the MASTER chart for ザムザ in maimai?
- The MASTER chart (level 12+) was designed by the duo Jack&アマリリス (Jack and Amaryllis). The EXPERT chart (level 9+) was designed by まぐランド (Maguland).
- Does ザムザ appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes, ザムザ also appears in CHUNITHM VERSE, added on May 8, 2025 in Japan and September 4, 2025 in the Asian version. Additionally, a cover version by 25時、ナイトコードで。 × KAITO exists in Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE!
- What BPM is ザムザ?
- ザムザ has a steady BPM of 121 throughout the song, with no tempo changes.
