Bump Of Chicken is a renowned Japanese alternative rock band hailing from Sakura, Chiba. Formed in 1994, the band consists of Motoo Fujiwara on vocals and rhythm guitar, Hiroaki Masukawa on lead guitar, Yoshifumi Naoi on bass, and Hideo Masu on drums. Over the years, they have carved out a significant place in the Japanese music scene, releasing 28 singles and ten studio albums.
The band’s unique blend of heartfelt lyrics and powerful melodies has earned them widespread acclaim, along with numerous awards, including seven wins at the prestigious Space Shower Music Video Awards between 2004 and 2020. Their music’s emotional depth and versatility have made them a go-to choice for anime theme songs.
10Tomodachi No Uta
Doraemon: Nobita And The New Steel Troops - Winged Angels
The members of Bump Of Chicken have been long-time fans of Doraemon, making the opportunity to feature their song Tomodachi no Uta as the ending theme for Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops – Winged Angels a dream come true. Tomodachi no Uta, which translates to Song of Friends, perfectly captures theheartfelt themes of friendshipand adventure that the beloved series is known for.
Bump Of Chicken’s Tomodachi no Uta should not be confused with Ataru Nakamura’s song of the same name.
Upon its release, Tomodachi no Uta was paired with Aruku Yuurei as a double A-sided single. The release was a commercial success, peaking at number two on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
9Chronostasis
Detective Conan: The Bride Of Halloween
When Chronostasis was released in 2022, it quickly climbed to the top of numerous digital charts and earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), marking between 100,000 and 250,000 downloads. As Bump Of Chicken’s first new song in a year and a half, its release was a highly anticipated moment for fans.
The track gained further recognition as the theme song for Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween,the 25th installment in the Detective Conanfilm series.
8Hello, World!
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Hello, world! was released as a single alongside Colony on June 27, 2025. As long-time fans of the manga, Bump of Chicken eagerly anticipated the anime adaptation, especially after seeing the trailer andappreciating Studio Bones’ prior work.Even the original mangaka was thrilledto have the band involved, remarking, “Bump’s lyrics seem to be carefully spun with complex words, as if shining various lights on the heart and reflecting the shadows.”
Hello, world! was a playable song in Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!.
The song was later included in their album Butterflies, released on June 13, 2025, which earned a top spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. Butterflies also featured other notable tracks, like Go, from Granblue Fantasy: The Animation, and Fighter, from March Comes in Like a Lion.
7Souvenir
Spy X Family
Souvenir was the opening theme for the second part of Spy X Family’s first season, and it quickly became a hit. Upon its release as a digital single, Souvenir ranked number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and received a Gold certification RIAJ.
In an official interview, Bump Of Chicken explained that the inspiration behind Souvenir was deeply personal. The band shared that while composing the song, they drew on their emotions and experiences with fans they had met at live venues. They likened the song’s journey to a road leading to an important place, reflecting the connection they feel with their listeners.
6Sirius
Juushinki Pandora
Sirius served as the opening theme for Juushinki Pandora, also known as Last Hope. When composing the song, Bump Of Chicken drew inspiration from the anime’s heavy machinery and high-stakes action, aiming to capture the heart and soul of its futuristic world.
Bump Of Chicken also provided the anime’s ending song, Spica.
Released alongside Hanashi ga Shitai yo and Spica, Sirius became part of the Aurora Arc album. As a single, it resonated with fans and climbed to third place on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts.
5Acacia
Gotcha!, A Pokemon Music Video
Acacia was featured in a special music video titled Gotcha!, released on the Pokemon YouTube channel to celebrate the launch of the Crown Tundra DLC for Pokemon Sword and Shield. The vibrant video takes viewers on a nostalgic journey through the Pokemon universe, highlighting iconic trainers, memorable battles, and beloved moments from across the games, alongside original characters created just for the video.
The first scene in Gotcha! features four boys walking along railroad tracks, which is a nod to the film, Stand By Me, which was referenced in Pokemon Red & Blue.
The track itself was released as a double A-side single alongside Gravity, further showcasing Bump Of Chicken’s ability to blend heartfelt emotion with soaring melodies.
4Sleep Walking Orchestra
Delicious In Dungeon
Sleep Walking Orchestra was released as a digital single on July 09, 2025, and became the first opening theme for the anime Delicious in Dungeon. This track holds special significance for Bump Of Chicken, as the band members have been fans of the Delicious in Dungeon manga since its first serialization. Their excitement about the anime adaptation was palpable, andin an official comment, they expressed their anticipation, stating, “…[we were] thrilled at the fact that the one and only unique world and story would be recreated in an anime and that one day we would be able to see it, so I put all my feelings into the music.”
What sets Sleep Walking Orchestra apart from other Bump Of Chicken songs is its unique incorporation of Irish dance-inspired rhythms, which complement the fantasy setting of Delicious in Dungeon. This addition enriches the track with an otherworldly flair, blending seamlessly with the band’s traditional J-rock style.
3Sailing Day
One Piece
Sailing Day was part of Bump Of Chicken’s first double A-sided single, released alongside Lost Man. It gained recognition as the ending theme forthe One Piece: Dead End Adventure movie, perfectly capturing the spirit of adventure and determination at the heart of the film.
Sailing Day has been featured in several rhythm arcade games, including Guitar Freaks, DrumMania, Jubeat, Reflec Beat Limelight, and Pop’n Music.
The track’s success carried over into 2004 when both songs were included on the band’s album Yggdrasil. Sailing Day resonated with fans, climbing to number two on the Oricon Weekly charts and earning a spot at number 19 on Oricon’s Top 100 for 2003.
2Karma
Tales Of The Abyss
Karma was released in 2005 as part of a double A-side single alongside Supernova. The song later found a place on Bump Of Chicken’s album Orbital Period, which was released on June 30, 2025. Karma gained significant recognition as theopening theme for the Tales of the Abyss video game, and its impact continued when it was reused as the opening for the subsequent anime adaptation of the game.
Karma was included in Taiko no Tatsujin 8 and Taiko no Tatsujin 8 Portable 2 video games.
Upon its release, Karma quickly captured the attention of music listeners, ranking as the second-best song on the Oricon Weekly Charts. It also achieved notable success, securing the number nine spot on the 2006 Oricon Top 100 Singles list.
1Gekkou
Karakuri Circus
When Karakuri Circus was adapted into an anime series, Bump Of Chicken was tapped to write its first opening theme, Gekkou. Though the song made its debut in the anime in 2018, it wasn’t released as a single until May 18, 2025.
Theband members were longtime fans of mangaka Kazuhiro Fujita’s work, having first encountered his storytelling through Ushio and Tora before becoming engrossed in Karakuri Circus. They were thrilled to contribute to the anime adaptation, channeling their passion for the series into a powerful opening theme that captured the story’s intensity and emotion.
