Kyary Kustodian Pamyu gets to work in “Isshin Doutai” for another Ninjala song

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has a song out and it’s yet another song for Ninjala. Marking what I think is her fourth song for the franchise. The first two being the Steve Aoki remix of “Ninja Re Bang Bang” and “Gum Gum Girl” which were used for the free-to-play Nintendo Switch game, and the third being “Maybe Baby” which was as the theme song for the TV show.

Everything Kyary does from now on is just gonna end up being for Ninjala. If she’s not selling air fresheners and wig shampoo, then she’s releasing a song for Ninjala.

Why was the “Ninja re Bang Bang” not re-released and re-named “Ninjala Bang Bang”?

The marketing team need to get it together.

“Isshin Doutai” is a MUCH better song than “Maybe Baby”, and it would have fit right in on her fifth studio album Candy Racer. Even the music video shares similar colour schemes and the same whimsy as the Candy Racer album shoot did.

“Isshin Doutai” continues Nakata’s trend of barely writing any lyrics, but the repetition is masked better here by the song structure. We get an actual middle eight for starters. And the music in the song itself features a lot of subtle variations. The underlying chord choices coming out of the hook seem vary each time, which is unconventional, but a cool quirk, even if it does throw you a little. And it’s also a very Nakata thing to do.

It really is a shame that Japan isn’t a market known for album re-releases, because a Candy Racer re-release with “Isshin Doutai”, “Maybe Baby”, a couple of remixes would be a really good look. Especially for now, when Kyary is promoting her 10th anniversary. She’s promoting Ninjala more than her 10th anniversary though. Because, of course.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Isshin Doutai | © 2022

Kyary’s team are to be commended when it comes to the majority of her music videos. Because not only has the creative direction in Kyary’s music videos remained consistent as fuck, but they continue to be worth watching. And despite the surrealism of Kyary’s music videos, we’re increasingly getting instances where real life things which have happened to her or affected her are working their way into her video. With “Gentenkaihi” it was trying to deal with moving beyond the Kyary from the early years. In the instance of “Isshin Doutai”, it’s the injury she sustained back in July 2021.

It’s unfortunate that at a point in Kyary’s career where she’s managed to deliver decent music and visuals which are still on brand, but evolved in some way, that her popularity remains flat. Once Kyary’s sales fell off, that really seemed to be it, and no matter what Kyary does, nothing seems to be recovering. But Kyary’s still able to tour and get some money, and she’s smartly branched out into launch her own business ventures, so a bitch which be fine. I think she’s honestly resided with the fact that she’s just not a top Oricon selling act any more. She probably never expected to be with Nanda Collection. How successful the singles from that album were and how that album blew up surprised A LOT of people, even off the back of the success of Pamyupamyu Revolution, which I think many figured was a one hit fluke.

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💿 Pamyu Pamyu album reviews: Candy Racer | Japamyu | Pikapika Fantajin | Nanda Collection
📀 Pamyu Pamyu Special edition: Super Pamicom