Kenshi Yonezu -- Karasu（烏）

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Well, World Cup 2026 is now a little over a week old now, and so far, my biggest impression is that we are getting a lot of tied games this time around.

Toronto, one of the host cities for the event, has been quite busy entertaining, feeding and quenching the thirst of the tourist masses flowing in. I'm hoping that everyone has been enjoying themselves. As for me, I'll be happy just staying home.

For the past few months, this song has been filling the airwaves at NHK to represent the national broadcaster's share of showing the sports tournament. It's been a couple of years since I've covered a Kenshi Yonezu（米津玄師）song but I've got another opportunity with his latest digital single "Karasu" (The Raven) which was only released a few days ago.

I guess it's a Yonezu characteristic to bring in some of the whimsical and classical to one of his songs, and "Karasu" is no different. By the way, the video was filmed at one of the Imabari Shipbuilding Corporation's facilities in Shikoku, I believe. According to the J-Wiki article for "Karasu", Yonezu came up with the title after the bird on the emblem of the Japan Football Association. Plus, he also mentioned that he had become friends with one raven at his house when he was a kid. Of course, Yonezu was responsible for words and music, and the translation of the lyrics can be found at "Lyrical Nonsense".