Have you heard of the band Yorushika?
They became widely famous with "Just a Sunny Day for You (Tada Kimi ni Hare)," and recently gained attention again with the opening song "Haru" for the second season of the TV anime Frieren:Beyond Journey's End.
Yorushika is a band formed in 2017 by composer n-buna, who was also a Vocaloid producer, and vocalist suis. They made their debut in 2019.The support members include guitarist Mitsuyasu Shimotsuru, keyboardist Tetsuya Hirahata, drummer Masack, and bassist Tatsuya Kitani, who gained major recognition with the opening song "Ao no Sumika" from Jujutsu Kaisen!!!
Many people might not have known about this, right?
I’ve always been a fan of Yorushika, so I definitely knew about Tatsuya Kitani. But when I tell my friends or people around me about it, they’re often really surprised!
In this post, I would like to introduce the gear ofYorushika's bassist Tatsuya Kitani along with what the appeal of this band is from my perspective as a bassist.
The equipment used is referenced from the BASS MAGAZINE Web, published on September 12, 2022.
♪Just a Sunny Day for You (Tada Kimi ni Hare) Music Video
♪Haru Music Video
Darkglass Electronics / Microtubes B7K V2 Bass Preamp
First, let's introduce the Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B7K V2, a bass preamp.In addition to its 4-band EQ (Low, Lo Mids, Hi Mids, Treble), the Microtubes B7K V2 features an Attack switch that allows you to adjust the high-end strength during attack in three levels, and a Grant switch that lets you adjust the low-end strength of the drive in three levels.Since it allows for precise sound shaping, this product is highly recommended for those who play across various genres.
As a side note, personally, the tracks with the most amazing bass in Yorushika's music are "Rain with Cappuccino (Ame to Cappuccino)" and "Prostitution (Haruhisagi)". The slap groove in the intro of "Rain with Cappuccino" is absolutely irresistible. I love the bouncy bassline—it really makes me imagine raindrops falling on a puddle. Also, the undulating bassline during the chorus is incredibly soothing!
♪Rain with Cappuccino (Ame to Cappuccino) Music Video
Prostitution (Haruhisagi) has a catchy slap bass phrase in the intro that’s used throughout the entire track, and it’s one of those phrases that gets stuck in your head. Despite being relatively simple, it’s so cool and satisfying that it makes you want to play it yourself! The walking bassline in the chorus is also fantastic—such a lively, danceable phrase that I really love. Haruhisagi is a song that reflects the concept of creating music aimed at the masses, almost like selling oneself short, and the lyrics are really deep. I highly recommend paying close attention to the lyrics as you listen!
♪Prostitution (Haruhisagi) Music Video
BOSS / BC-1X Bass Comp Bass Compressor
Next up is the BOSS BC-1X Bass Compressor. The BC-1X is part of BOSS's X series, which uses their proprietary "MDP" (Multi-Dimensional Processing) technology. To put it simply, this digital technology analyzes the incoming sound and applies effects tailored to it. Thanks to this technology, no matter what kind of bassist, bass, or phrase you play, it preserves the natural tone of the sound while offering smooth, natural compression.
It’s incredibly easy to use, making it highly recommended for all bassists who haven’t yet used a compressor. Plus, the design is pretty charming, with silver knobs and the red, yellow, and green light indicators that add a nice touch of style.
On a related note, recently, Yorushika released a live performance video of "Neko to Tsuki no Dance" on YouTube. I've been to many of Yorushika's live shows, and I truly feel that their concerts are unlike any other artist's. There’s something unique and irreplaceable about the experience—it’s not just a regular live show, it’s an immersive, one-of-a-kind performance that really resonates with you.
When you think of a live show, you might picture standing, raising your hands, and singing along, but a Yorushika concert is best described as "theater." The audience sits in their seats and simply watches, refraining from vocalizing. There’s only applause between songs. There’s no traditional MC—rather, the performance is a reading of a story written by n-buna, with the music woven in between the narrative. It creates a completely different atmosphere from what you might expect from a typical live performance.
In the recently released "Neko to Tsuki no Dance" live video, an actor performed a one-person play, with the music being played in between the segments. This was a slight departure from the usual format, as the band was always present on stage within the set, and animal sounds, like birds flapping their wings and other nature-inspired noises, were played by the instruments themselves. The whole experience drew me in completely, creating an indescribable atmosphere—I found myself captivated, watching the performance over and over again.
Many of the songs performed were from their latest album "Gento", which also features unique elements that you won’t find in the works of other artists. It’s an incredible album, but describing it in detail would take a while, so I’ll make sure to introduce it properly another time!
I’d love to talk more about the live performance itself, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I really encourage you to experience it firsthand!
♪ Neko to Tsuki no Dance Live performance video
The last piece of gear I’ll introduce is the ELECTRO-HARMONIX MICRO POG, an octave pedal. "POG" stands for Polyphonic Octave Generator, and it generates both octave-up and octave-down sounds.
For bass, adding a sub-octave creates powerful low-end tones, giving your sound more depth and richness. It’s perfect for those who want a thicker, more dynamic sound. Additionally, when used with guitar, the MICRO POG can handle not just single notes but also chords, allowing for a broader range of sounds and textures.
How was it?
In this issue, I introduced the gear of Yorushika's bassist Tastuya Kitani, along with the songs of Yorushika. I hope it helped both longtime fans and newcomers get a sense of what makes Yorushika special.
There’s still a lot more I’d love to share about Yorushika, so I hope to talk more about them next time!
To say goodbye, I'll leave you with "Eat the Wind (Kaze wo Hamu)", a song that feels perfect for when the cool autumn breeze is in the air. Enjoy!