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Shinunoga E-Wa

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"Shinunoga E-Wa"
Song
External videos
video icon Shinunoga E-wa
video icon Fujii Kaze - "Shinu no ga Iiwa" Live at Nippon Budokan (2020)

Shinunoga E-Wa (死ぬのがいいわ, Shinunoga E-Wa) is a song by Fujii Kaze, included on his album HELP EVER HURT NEVER. It was released on May 20, 2020 by HEHN RECORDS / Universal Music.

Overview

On the YouTube Live "HELP EVER HURT NEVER Listening Party (LiveStream)" broadcast on May 18, 2020 (around the 35:40 mark)[3], Fujii Kaze called this a song he himself described as "It's crazy unique song", and said:

After moving to Tokyo, on the way home from shopping the phrase "Anata to kono mama o-saraba suru yori shinu no ga ii wa" (Rather than parting like this from you, I'd rather die) just came down to me. I thought, the lyrics and melody have quite a Showa feel, but combined with this trap-style modern beat, it ended up being a wonderfully unique, interesting song — I'm super satisfied with it, Iutemasu kedo more

Note that it was not released as a single.

In a later December 2022 interview, Fujii Kaze himself explained the true meaning of the lyrics, including the meaning of "you (anata)", which surprised many fans who said "it sounds completely different from before".[4][5]

Sudden buzz overseas

Although released in 2020, from late July 2022 the song spread overseas, especially in Thailand[6].

In August 2022, Fujii Kaze himself referred to the spread in Thailand on Twitter (X)[7].

In addition to Thailand, spread on Spotify viral charts was confirmed in Vietnam and Malaysia, and from late August it began ranking on Spotify's "Daily Top Songs" in various Asian countries. It also began to chart in Japan in a kind of reverse import[8][9].

Beyond Thailand, the play count rose centered on Asia, and YouTube views topped 10.96 million[10].

On September 9, 2022, due to its global spread, it entered Spotify's "Weekly Top Songs Global (September 2 – 8, 2022)" at #176 for the first time[11]. Spotify plays were spreading worldwide, as confirmed.

The columnist Shiba Tomonori discussed the global phenomenon following Fujii Kaze's NHK Kōhaku appearance announcement, recapping the buzz around "Shinu no ga Iiwa".[12]

Yahoo!News commentator Tokuriki Motohiko discussed whether the global hit of "Shinu no ga Iiwa" might open the door for other Japanese artists to break overseas.[13]

Charts

Spotify

Top Songs Global · September 23 - 29, 2022 #72 Shinunoga E-Wa
Top Songs Global · September 23 - 29, 2022
  • Topped the "Spotify Japan Trending Chart (September 7)" at #1[14]
  • Entered "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global (September 2 – 8, 2022)" at #176 for the first time[11].
    • Charted at #117 on "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global (September 9 – 15, 2022)"[15]
    • Charted at #79 on "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global (September 16 – 22, 2022)"[16]
    • Charted at #72 on "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global (September 23 – 29, 2022)"[17]
  • Charted on "Daily Viral Songs" in every country where Spotify operates[18][19][20]
  • Spotify Annual Ranking 2022 (second wave): Fujii Kaze "Shinu no ga Iiwa" reported as receiving big response from overseas[21]
  • Spotify also presented its 2023 wrap rankings of music & podcasts that buzzed during the year, in both global and Japan editions[22]

Apple Music

  • Charted at #97 on "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking" (period: August 29 – September 4, 2022)[23].
    • Charted at #54 on "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking" (period: September 5 – 11, 2022)[24].
    • Charted at #28 on "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking" (period: September 12 – 18, 2022)[25].
    • Charted at #28 on "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking" (period: September 19 – 25, 2022)[26].

Billboard

  • Entered Billboard Global Charts "Billboard Global 200 (WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2022)" at #188[27][28]
  • Charted at #15 on Billboard JAPAN's "TikTok Weekly Top 20"[29].
  • Charted at #64 on Billboard JAPAN "Streaming Songs preliminary TOP100" (period: August 22 – August 28, 2022)[30].
  • Charted at #65 on Billboard JAPAN "Streaming Songs Chart" (period: August 28 – September 3, 2022)[31].
    • Charted at #31 on Billboard JAPAN "Streaming Songs Chart" (period: September 4 – September 11, 2022)[31].
    • Charted at #24 on Billboard JAPAN "Streaming Songs Chart" (period: September 12 – September 18, 2022)[31].
  • On September 12, 2024, Billboard JAPAN reported that Fujii Kaze achieved a triple crown ("3冠") thanks to "Shinu no ga Iiwa" and "Michiteyuku", with Lotus Juice / Takahashi Azumi and XG topping in two countries.[32]

Genius

  • Charted at #1 on GeniusCharts "Genius HOT TOP 100". The English translation also entered at #9 simultaneously[33].

Certifications

  • United States: Gold (RIAA, June 2024). On June 18, 2024, "Shinu no ga Iiwa" was awarded its first US Gold Disc certification, marking the first time a Fujii Kaze song received a US RIAA certification.[1][2]
  • Taiwan: Platinum (album certifications also awarded). Real Sound reported in July 2023 that two of Fujii Kaze's albums achieved Platinum and Gold sales in Taiwan, while "Shinu no ga Iiwa" continued to dominate viral charts.[34]

Thoughts on this song

In an interview with MUSICA (May 2022 issue, pp. 48–49), Fujii Kaze said about "Shinu no ga Iiwa":

This song has strong song-quality strength I think, and it's also doing something new...... when that balance comes together I get a strong sense of satisfaction, so "Shinu no ga Iiwa" is a song I really love.

He also said that even though he doesn't usually listen back to his own songs much, he ends up listening to this one quite often[35].

Music Video

Video shown at LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Stadium Live

Reception

Kawatani Enon

Singer Kawatani Enon, in his review of the album HELP EVER HURT NEVER, wrote:

Personally, I feel this is the first Japanese R&B with the power to win over the public since Utada Hikaru. What I particularly thought was wonderful on this album was the song "Shinu no ga Iiwa". The lyrics and melody of the part "Three meals a day, I'd rather have you / Rather than parting from you like this / I'd rather die" are truly the best. I was deeply, genuinely smitten — to think such a love song existed. The lyrics are straightforward yet not straightforward at all. Conversely, the sound is not straightforward yet it lands as straightforward. This gap of gaps. Despite supposedly carrying many weapons, the appearance is so clean — where on earth are the weapons hidden? It's truly mysterious. I couldn't do this; I'm in awe.

He praised this song highly[36].

Ogiwara Azusa

Music freelance writer Ogiwara Azusa analyzed the overseas viral hit and published the analysis in a Real Sound article.

According to her analysis, "fan love" was a major factor that produced the big buzz.

Many of the posts use this song with footage of the user's favorite idol or anime character, freely turning their "fan love" into content. Sharing this within fan communities is what produced the major buzz.

She also analyzed the trend of this global viral hit, contrasting it with other J-POP overseas hits:

Unlike the typical pattern with Japanese music going overseas — where "the meaning of the lyrics doesn't get across, only the fun of the sound and melody is exported" — the lyrics are properly translated and shared with their meaning intact.

[37]

THE FIRST TIMES

THE FIRST TIMES reported that overwhelming "Shinu no ga Iiwa" performance footage left a chain of fans speechless.[38]

Live footage

In response to the overseas buzz, the NAN NAN SHOW 2020 performance at Nippon Budokan was urgently released.

　　　　

Fujii Kaze - "Shinu no ga Iiwa" Live at Nippon Budokan (2020)

  • Released: August 23, 2022

Self Liner Notes

According to Fujii Kaze's official self liner notes (released during the HEHN official Listener Party and within the official app),

He explained that the central phrase came down to him after he moved to Tokyo. He sees the unusual combination of Showa-style melody and lyrics with a contemporary trap-style beat as what makes this song impressively peculiar.

[39][40][41].

Coachella 2026

"Shinunoga E-Wa" was performed as the ninth song in Fujii Kaze's set at Coachella 2026 Week 1 (April 11, 2026, Mojave Tent).[42] The performance marked the first Coachella appearance by a male Japanese solo artist, drawing approximately 18,000 attendees.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:Cite news
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite news
  3. ↑ Fujii Kaze - "HELP EVER HURT NEVER" Listening Party (LiveStream), May 18, 2020, at 35m40s mark. Retrieved 2022-10-03. YouTube
  4. ↑ Template:Cite news
  5. ↑ Template:Cite news
  6. ↑ "#FujiiKaze's "#ShinunogaEWa" enters the Spotify Viral 50 Thailand chart at #7🇹🇭‼️". Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  7. ↑ "Fujii Kaze [@FujiiKaze] tweet: "Looks like 'Shinu no ga Iiwa' is spreading on TikTok in Thailand"". X (formerly Twitter). 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2023-01-07. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  8. ↑ "Shinunoga E-wa 8/12 Thailand 🥇 Vietnam 🥈 Malaysia #36". Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  9. ↑ "Shinunoga E-wa Japan🇯🇵#185🆕✨ Thailand🇹🇭#37↓(36) Malaysia🇲🇾 #73↓(69) Vietnam🇻🇳#154↑(159) Singapore🇸🇬 #91↓(78) Indonesia🇮🇩 #144↑(151)". Retrieved 2022-09-09.
  10. ↑ "Shinunoga E-Wa". Fujii Kaze. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 ""Believer" by Imagine Dragons has been on Top Songs Global the longest, at 292 weeks straight". Fujii Kaze. Retrieved 2022-09-09.176 NEW Track image Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze 176 — 1 6,166,191
  12. ↑ Shiba Tomonori (2022-12-04). "<Column> Following his NHK Kōhaku appearance: a recap of the global phenomenon of Fujii Kaze's "Shinu no ga Iiwa"". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  13. ↑ Tokuriki Motohiko (2023-01-10). "Will the global hit of Fujii Kaze's "Shinu no ga Iiwa" open the door overseas for Japanese artists?". Yahoo!News. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ ""Forget Me" by Lewis Capaldi is the highest new entry on Top Songs Global at #57. Top Songs Global · September 9 - 15, 2022". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  16. ↑ ""Shut Down" by BLACKPINK is the highest new entry on Top Songs Global at #1. Top Songs Global · September 16 - 22, 2022". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  17. ↑ ""Believer" by Imagine Dragons has been on Top Songs Global the longest, at 295 weeks straight. Top Songs Global · September 23 - 29, 2022". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  18. ↑ "Spotify Daily Viral Songs". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  19. ↑ "Spotify Charts "Daily Top Songs Global"". Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  20. ↑ "#Spotify viral chart — finally also charted in Argentina and Mexico, conquering all countries/regions where Spotify operates 🔥 the whole world". Spotify. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  21. ↑ Template:Cite news
  22. ↑ Template:Cite news
  23. ↑ "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking, August 29 – September 4 (2022): latest hit chart". Tunecore. Retrieved 2022-09-07.

    97 – Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze

  24. ↑ "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking, September 5 – 11 (2022): latest hit chart". Tunecore. Retrieved 2022-09-14.

    54 – Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze

  25. ↑ "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking, September 12 – 18 (2022): latest hit chart". Tunecore. Retrieved 2022-09-21.

    28 54 Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze

  26. ↑ "Apple Music Weekly Song Ranking, September 19 – 25 (2022): latest hit chart". Tunecore. Retrieved 2022-09-27.

    28 28 Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze

  27. ↑ "Billboard Global 200 WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2022". Billboard Global. Retrieved 2022-09-03.

    188 NEW Shinunoga E-Wa Fujii Kaze
  28. ↑ Template:Cite news
  29. ↑ "[TikTok popular tracks] Billboard JAPAN chart "TikTok Weekly Top 20"". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-09-01. (period: August 22 – August 31, 2022)
  30. ↑ "[Preliminary digital] Ado "Shin Jidai" still leading streaming; Fujii Kaze "Shinu no ga Iiwa" enters preliminary Top 100 for the first time". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "[Billboard] Ado "Shin Jidai (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)" wins streaming six straight weeks; Natori "Overdose" enters at #17". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  32. ↑ Template:Cite news
  33. ↑
  34. ↑ Template:Cite news
  35. ↑ MUSICA (Japanese magazine), May 2022 issue, pp. 48–49.
  36. ↑ ""A new era has come" — Fujii Kaze's song that makes you nod (Kawatani Enon)". Nikkei Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  37. ↑ "Fujii Kaze finally found by the world: why his album track "Shinu no ga Iiwa" became a viral hit in countries around the world". Real Sound. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  38. ↑ Template:Cite news
  39. ↑ "HEHN official Listener Party". Fujii Kaze OFFICIAL / HEHN RECORDS. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  40. ↑ "Fujii Kaze staff official post". Fujii Kaze Staff (X). Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  41. ↑ "Fujii Kaze self liner notes transcript (secondary source)". almost. Retrieved 2026-04-21.
  42. ↑ "Fujii Kaze at Coachella Festival 2026". setlist.fm. Retrieved 2026-04-24.


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