Two of Japan’s most iconic voices have come together in a collaboration that is already being hailed as historic. KENSHI YONEZU, the chart-topping singer-songwriter behind global hits like KICK BACK and Lemon, has teamed up with legendary artist HIKARU UTADA for the haunting new track “JANE DOE,” the official ending theme to the highly anticipated CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC.
Marking the first-ever collaboration between Yonezu and Utada, the track was written and composed by Yonezu, with Utada lending their singular voice to the performance. Alongside today’s music release, fans were also treated to the unveiling of the official music video, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tomokazu Yamada.
A Meeting of Galaxies
The “JANE DOE” music video unfolds on a train station platform, where passengers cross paths in fleeting, delicate moments. Yonezu and Utada—dressed in stark black—sit apart on benches, their quiet presence creating a gravitational pull toward one another. Yamada, known for his visually poetic works like Yonezu’s Lemon and Utada’s Mine or Yours, describes the video as:
“We spin endlessly in the darkness of the universe, exerting light gravitational pull upon one another. Even when we are close enough to touch, we are all distant stars. This is truly a collision of galaxies.”
Words from the Artists
For Yonezu, the collaboration was both serendipitous and profoundly moving:
“At first, I didn’t know who would sing it. But as the song evolved, I realized no one else but Utada-san could bring it to life. The first time their voice entered the track—melancholic, yet sweeping like wind—I gasped. It was an honor.”
Utada reflects on the challenge and beauty of merging their artistry with Yonezu’s:
“We are both uncompromising singer-songwriters. In creating this, we discovered new sides of ourselves while remaining true to who we are. I hope listeners can feel that in the song.”
A Historic Moment in J-Pop
“JANE DOE” arrives at a pivotal moment in Yonezu’s career. His recent release, IRIS OUT—also part of Reze Arc—debuted at #2 on Spotify’s Top Songs Debut Global Chart and shattered records by achieving the highest daily play count ever recorded on Spotify Japan for six consecutive days. Meanwhile, his Chainsaw Man TV anime theme, KICK BACK, made history as the first-ever Japanese song to earn RIAA-Platinum certification in the U.S.
IRIS OUT’s music video, released September 15, has already surpassed 10 million YouTube views, climbing to #4 on the Global YouTube Daily Music Videos Chart and further cementing Yonezu’s status as a global cultural force.
Chainsaw Man Returns to the Big Screen
CHAINSAW MAN – THE MOVIE: REZE ARC opened in Japan on September 19, instantly claiming the top spot at the weekend box office and even outpacing Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. The film will arrive in the United States on October 24, 2025, with worldwide distribution by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
With “JANE DOE,” Yonezu and Utada don’t just collaborate—they create a once-in-a-generation musical moment. A collision of artistry, vision, and soul, the track captures fleeting encounters, quiet gravitational pulls, and the bittersweet weight of human connection—perfectly mirroring the heart of Reze Arc.
