King Gnu Explained

Origin:	Japan
Current Members:	Daiki Tsuneta Yū Seki Kazuki Arai Satoru Iguchi
Years Active:	2013–present
Past Members:	Shun Ishiwaka

King Gnu is a Japanese band formed in 2013.^{[1] [2]} It consists of Daiki Tsuneta (vocalist and guitarist), Satoru Iguchi (vocalist and keyboardist), Kazuki Arai (bassist) and Yu Seki (drummer). The band's main songwriter is Daiki Tsuneta, who also performs as part of the creative collective Millennium Parade.^[3]

Career

In 2013, Mrs.Vinci was formed, later going by Srv.Vinci. Their first song was "ABUKU(泡)" released under the creative label Perimetron.

In 2017, they renamed themselves to King Gnu.^[4] They then performed at the Fuji Rock Festival in 2017 and 2018.^[5] On October 25, 2017, the band released their first album under the name King Gnu, Tokyo Rendez-Vous. The track "Vinyl" was used in a Persol Tempstaff advertisement released on January 25 the next year.^[6]

In January 2019, the band released Sympa, their first release under a major label after signing to Ariola Japan. The following month, King Gnu released hit song "Hakujitsu", which ranked No.4 in the year-end chart of Billboard Japan Hot 100.^[7] In October, they released "Kasa" and achieved their first No.1 on the Billboard Japan Download Chart.^[8] On December 31, King Gnu performed "Hakujitsu" at the 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, their debut performance on the program.^[9]

Their third album Ceremony, released on January 15, 2020, was a commercial success, peaking atop the Japanese Oricon albums chart, the Billboard Japan albums chart, and was one of the 10 best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide by selling over one million copies.^[10] A nationwide tour for the album was scheduled but all performances were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[11] The band held their first online live concert in August.^[12] On September 8, it was announced that King Gnu would be the first Japanese artist to sign a partnership agreement with Red Bull.^[13]

In August 2021, it was announced that King Gnu would perform the opening theme song "Boy" for the anime adaptation of Ranking of Kings;^[14] the song was released in October.^[15] In December, MAPPA released a few movie trailers promoting the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 anime film adaptation, which King Gnu have made 2 new songs for the film. The songs are and, which are the opening and ending themes for the Jujutsu Kaisen movie. The two songs were released together as Ichizu/Sakayume. In March 2022, they released, which is the theme for Japanese television drama Don't Call It Mystery, adapted from the manga of the same name. In November 2022, they played one of the biggest concerts of their career, performed in two days concerts with attended more than 100,000 fans at Tokyo Dome.

King Gnu held their biggest tour ever in Japan "Closing Ceremony" on May and June 2023, which saw them play at stadiums five years after their debut for the first time in Nagai Stadium and Yokohama Nissan Stadium. They released "Specialz" as the opening theme for the Shibuya Arc part of the second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime on September 1.^{[16] [17]}

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Sales	Certifications
		JPN ^[18]	JPN Hot ^[19]
Srv. Vinci
Mad Me More Softly	Released: September 16, 2015 Label: Perimetron Formats: CD, digital download	—	—
King Gnu
Tokyo Rendez-Vous	Released: October 25, 2017 Reissued: January 16, 2019 Label: Perimetron, Ariola Japan Formats: CD, digital download	46	—	JPN: 1,184^[20]	RIAJ: Gold^[21]
Sympa	Released: January 16, 2019 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, digital download	4	3	JPN: 23,211^[22]
Ceremony	Released: January 15, 2020 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, digital download	1	1	WW: 1,000,000^[23] JPN: 500,000^[24] JPN: 87,000 (digital)^[25]	RIAJ: 2× Platinum^[26]
The Greatest Unknown	Released: November 29, 2023 Label: Ariola Japan Formats: CD, digital download	1	1	JPN: 203,406^[27]	RIAJ: Platinum^[28]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"

Year	Peak positions			Sales	Certifications	Album
JPN ^[29]	JPN Hot ^[30]	WW ^[31]
"Flash!!!"	2018	—	97	—		RIAJ: Gold (streaming)^[32]	Sympa
"Prayer X"		31	40	—		RIAJ: Gold (download)^[33] Platinum (streaming)^[34]
"Hakujitsu" (Japanese: 白日)	2019	—	2	—	JPN: 411,084^[35]	RIAJ: Million (download)^[36] Diamond (streaming)^[37]	Ceremony
"Hikōtei" (Japanese: 飛行艇)		—	10	—		RIAJ: Gold (download)^[38] 2× Platinum (streaming)^[39]
"Kasa" (Japanese: 傘)		—	9	—		RIAJ: Gold (download)^[40] Platinum (streaming)^[41]
"Sanmon Shousetsu" (Japanese: 三文小説)	2020	2	4	—		RIAJ: Gold (physical)^[42] Gold (download)^[43] Platinum (streaming)^[44]	The Greatest Unknown
"Senryou Yakusha" (Japanese: 千両役者)			12	—		RIAJ: Gold (physical) Gold (streaming)^[45]
"Abuku" (Japanese: 泡)	2021	—	18	—
"Boy"		4	9	—	JPN: 27,261^[46]	RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)^[47]
"Ichizu" (Japanese: 一途)		1	1	—	JPN: 81,869^[48]	RIAJ: Gold (physical)^[49] Platinum (download)^[50] 2× Platinum (streaming)^[51]
"Sakayume" (Japanese: 逆夢)			2	—		RIAJ: Gold (physical)^[52] Gold (download)^[53] 2× Platinum (streaming)^[54]
"Chameleon" (Japanese: カメレオン)	2022	2	1	—	JPN: 28,041^[55]	RIAJ: Gold (download)^[56] RIAJ: 2× Platinum (streaming)^[57]
"Ame Sansan" (Japanese: 雨燦々)		—	13	—		RIAJ: Platinum (streaming)^[58]
"Stardom"		5	8	—	JPN: 27,136^[59]	RIAJ: Gold (streaming)^[60]
"Specialz"	2023	4	2	28	JPN: 32,085^[61]	RIAJ: Gold (download)^[62] RIAJ: 2× Platinum (streaming)^[63]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Promotional singles

Title! rowspan="2" scope="col"

Year	Peak positions	Certifications	Album
JPN Hot ^[64]
"Tokyo Rendez-Vous"	2017	—		Tokyo Rendez-Vous
"McDonald Romance"		—
"Vinyl"		90	RIAJ: Gold ^[65]
"Slumberland"	2018	53	RIAJ: Gold ^[66]	Sympa
"Teenager Forever"	2019	5	RIAJ: Gold ^[67] RIAJ: 2× Platinum ^[68]	Ceremony
"Glass Window" (Japanese: 硝子窓)	2023	16		The Greatest Unknown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs

Title! rowspan="2" scope="col"

Year	Peak positions	Certifications	Album
JPN Hot ^[69]
	2020	81		Ceremony
		6	RIAJ: Platinum ^[70]
		26	RIAJ: Gold ^[71]
		77
		25	RIAJ: Gold ^[72]
"Overflow"		41
		66
"F.O.O.L"	2021	75		"Boy"
	2023	72		The Greatest Unknown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Guest appearances

Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances

Year	No.	Song	Notes
2019	70th	"Hakujitsu"
2022	73rd	"Stardom"

Accolades

Year	Ceremony	Award	Nominated Work	Result
2019	2019 MTV Video Music Awards Japan		"Hakujitsu"
		Best New Artist Video
	61st Japan Record Awards	Excellence Album Award	Sympa
	2019 MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Japanese Act^[73]	King Gnu
	2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards	Best New Asian Artist – Japan
2022	2022 MTV Video Music Awards Japan	Best Art Direction Video^[74]	"Sakayume"

Notes and References

1. Web site: ja:Srv.Vinciが改名を発表、第一弾楽曲公開。7月にはアルバムも . https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000141445.
2. Web site: King Gnu来年1月にメジャーデビューアルバム発売、初の全国ツアーも決定 .
3. Web site: Interview with Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045 Opening Artist Daiki Tsuneta of millennium parade. Kaga. Ryuichi. April 14, 2020. OTAQUEST. en-US. May 4, 2020.
4. Web site: 2017-04-27 . ja:Srv.Vinciが改名を発表、第一弾楽曲公開。7月にはアルバムも . Srv.Vinci announces name change and releases first song. Album coming in July . 2023-09-22 . Barks . ja.
5. Web site: ja:2年連続出演を勝ち取った注目のルーキー、King Gnu登場！ . June 15, 2018. https://frf-en.jp/talking-about-fuji-rock/kinggnu.
6. Web site: 2018-01-25 . ja:King Gnuの「Vinyl」がCMソングに、監督「“トレスポ”並みの衝撃」 . King Gnu's "Vinyl" to be used as CM song, director says, "It's as shocking as 'Trespo'" . 2023-09-22 . Barks . ja.
7. Billboard Japan Hot 100 of the Year 2019 Top 10 . Billboard.
8. Web site: ja:2019/10/21 付け . http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2019&month=10&day=21.
9. Web site: 2019-12-31 . ja:【紅白】King Gnu井口、堂々歌唱も「櫻井くんのKing＆Gnu言い間違いでめちゃくちゃ緊張した」 . [Kohaku] King Gnu Iguchi sings confidently, "I was really nervous because Sakurai-kun misspoke as King & Gnu" . 2023-09-22 . Oricon News.
10. BTS Bag 'Unprecedented' 1–2 on IFPI's Global Album Sales Chart For 2020. Billboard. Lars. Brandle. March 11, 2021. May 18, 2021.
11. Web site: 2020-04-10 . ja:King Gnu全国ツアー「CEREMONY」全公演の開催見合わせ . All performances of King Gnu's national tour "CEREMONY" have been postponed . 2023-09-22 . . ja.
12. Web site: 2020-08-30 . ja:【ライブレポート】King Gnu、気迫のパフォーマンスで魅せた初オンラインライブ（写真27枚） . [Live Report] King Gnu's first online live show with a spirited performance (27 photos) . 2023-09-22 . . ja.
13. Web site: ja:King Gnu、レッドブルと日本人アーティスト初パートナーシップ（写真21枚 / 動画あり） . King Gnu, first Japanese artist's partnership with Red Bull (21 photos / video included) . 2023-09-22 . . ja.
14. Web site: ja:King Gnuの“優しく愛らしい”新曲が「王様ランキング」OPテーマに決定（コメントあり） . King Gnu’s "gentle and adorable" new song has been selected as the opening theme for “King Ranking” (with comments) . 2023-09-22 . . ja.
15. Web site: Loo . Egan . 2023-09-22 . Ranking of Kings Anime's 1st Full Video Unveils More Cast, Opening Song . 2023-09-22 . . en.
16. Web site: King Gnu、アニメ「呪術廻戦」第2期オープニングテーマ担当（コメントあり） . . 2023-08-05 . ja . Natasha Inc.
17. Web site: Mateo. Alex. King Gnu Perform New Opening Theme Song for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Anime's 'Shibuya Incident' Arc. Anime News Network. August 3, 2023. August 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230803163444/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-08-03/king-gnu-perform-new-opening-theme-song-for-jujutsu-kaisen-season-2-anime-shibuya-incident-arc/.200950. August 3, 2023. live.
18. Web site: Oricon Albums Chart. Oricon. ja. March 24, 2019.
19. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: Ceremony (2020/1/27). Billboard Japan. ja. January 22, 2020.
    • Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: The Greatest Unknown (2023/12/11). Billboard Japan. ja. December 6, 2023.
20. Web site: 週間 アルバムランキング (2019年01月28日付). Oricon. https://web.archive.org/web/20190123171232/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2019-01-28/p/5/. January 23, 2019. dead.
21. Japan. album. King Gnu. Tokyo Rendez-Vous. 2024. 2.
22. Web site: 月間 アルバムランキング (2019年01月度). Oricon. https://web.archive.org/web/20190213095721/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2019-01/p/2/. February 13, 2019. dead.
23. BTS Top IFPI's Global Album Sales Chart for 2020. Brandle. Lars. March 11, 2021. Billboard. March 22, 2021. en.
24. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2020-01-27/. ja:週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年01月27日付. Weekly CD Album Ranking on January 27, 2020. Oricon. January 22, 2020. Japanese.
25. Web site: http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/94653/2. ja:【ビルボード2020年年間Download Albums】米津玄師『STRAY SHEEP』が制す. Billboard Japan. December 4, 2020. May 16, 2021. ja.
26. Japan. album. King Gnu. Ceremony. 2020. 12.
27. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-12-11/. ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年11月27日～2023年12月03日. Oricon Weekly Album Ranking November 27, 2023 – December 3, 2023. Oricon. ja. December 7, 2023. December 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231206181401/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-12-11/. dead.
28. Japan. album. King Gnu. The Greatest Unknown. 2023. 12.
29. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/656672/products/single/. ja:King Gnuのシングル作品. Oricon. ja. May 30, 2021.
30. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart. March 24, 2019. Billboard Japan. ja.
    • "Flash!!!". April 13, 2020.
    • Web site: August 20, 2018. Prayer X.
    • Web site: January 20, 2020. Hakujitsu.
    • Web site: August 10, 2019. Hikoutei.
    • Web site: October 21, 2019. Kasa.
    • Web site: Sanmonshousetsu and Senryouyakusha.
    • Web site: Ichizu and Sakayume.
    • Web site: Chameleon.
    • Web site: Ame Sansan.
    • Web site: Stardom.
    • Web site: Specialz.
31. Billboard Global 200: Week of September 16, 2023. Billboard. September 12, 2023.
32. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Prayer X, Flash!!!. 2022. 6.
33. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Prayer X. 2020. 6.
34. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Prayer X. 2024. 2.
35. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/54091/8/. ja:嵐が18年ぶり200億円超えで総合首位、米津玄師、あいみょん、髭男がデジタルシーンを席巻. December 13, 2019. Oricon. October 30, 2020.
36. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Hakujitsu. 2021. 10.
37. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Hakujitsu. 2023. 6.
38. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Hikoutei. 2019. 11.
39. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Hikoutei. 2024. 5.
40. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Kasa. 2020. 2.
41. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Kasa. 2022. 6.
42. Japan. single. King Gnu. Sanmon Shousetsu/Senryou Yakusha. 2020. 12.
43. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Senryou Yakusha. 2020. 12. February 27, 2022.
44. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Sanmon Shousetsu. 2023. 2.
45. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Senryou Yakusha. 2023. 3.
46. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2021-12/p/2/. ja:シングルランキング 2021年12月度. Oricon Monthly Singles Ranking December 2021. Oricon. ja. January 12, 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112095239/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2021-12/p/2/. January 12, 2022.
47. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Boy. 2023. 8. September 30, 2023.
48. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-01-10/. ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2021年12月27日～2022年01月02日. Oricon Weekly Singles Ranking December 27, 2021 – January 2, 2022. Oricon. ja. January 12, 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106025938/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-01-10/. January 6, 2022.
49. Japan. single. King Gnu. Ichizu. 2022. 4. May 12, 2022.
50. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Ichizu. 2024. 1. May 5, 2024.
51. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Ichizu. 2023. 2. April 9, 2023.
52. Japan. single. King Gnu. Sakayume. 2022. 4. May 12, 2022.
53. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Sakayume. 2022. 2. March 18, 2022.
54. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Sakayume. 2023. 5. May 5, 2024.
55. Web site: ja:=オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年03月14日～2022年03月20日 . Oricon Weekly Single Ranking March 14, 2022 – March 20, 2022 . https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-03-28/ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220323034615/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-03-28/ . March 23, 2022 . March 23, 2022 . Oricon . ja.
56. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Chameleon. 2022. 3. April 19, 2022.
57. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Chameleon. 2023. 11. May 5, 2024.
58. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. 雨燦々 (Ame Sansan). 2023. 12. May 5, 2024.
59. Web site: ja:=オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2022年11月28日～2022年12月04日 . Oricon Weekly Single Ranking November 28, 2022 – December 4, 2022 . https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-12-12/ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207021450/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2022-12-12/ . December 7, 2022 . December 7, 2022 . Oricon . ja.
60. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Stardom. 2024. 2. May 5, 2024.
61. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2023-09-18/. ja:オリコン週間 シングルランキング 2023年09月04日～2023年09月10日. Oricon Weekly Single Ranking September 4, 2023 – September 10, 2023. Oricon. ja. September 13, 2023. September 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230913032838/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2023-09-18/. dead.
62. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Specialz. 2024. 4. May 20, 2024.
63. Japan. single. true. King Gnu. Specialz. 2024. 3. May 5, 2024.
64. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart. Billboard Japan . March 24, 2019 . ja.
    • Web site: Vinyl. January 20, 2020.
    • Web site: Slumberland. January 28, 2019.
    • Web site: Teenager Forever. January 20, 2020.
    • Web site: Glass Window. September 27, 2023.
65. Japan. King Gnu. Vinyl. single. Gold. 2021. 7. true. June 26, 2022.
66. Japan. King Gnu. Slumberland. single. Gold. 2022. 5. true. June 26, 2022.
67. Japan. King Gnu. Teenager Forever. single. 2020. 3. true. June 26, 2022.
68. Japan. King Gnu. Teenager Forever. single. 2024. 5. true. June 25, 2024.
69. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart. Billboard Japan. March 24, 2019. ja.
    • Web site: Kaikai-shiki", "Maukai", "Chiisana Wakusei", "Overflow" "Danjo. January 27, 2020.
    • Web site: Doron. February 24, 2020.
    • Web site: Asura. December 6, 2023.
70. Japan. King Gnu. Doron. single. Gold. 2022. 6. true. July 27, 2022.
71. Japan. King Gnu. Humor. single. Gold. 2023. 6. true. May 5, 2024.
72. Japan. King Gnu. Chiisana Wakusei (小さな惑星). single. Gold. 2022. 7. true. August 22, 2022.
73. Web site: 2019-11-03 . These Are the Big Winners at the 2019 MTV EMA . 2024-05-10 . . en-us.
74. News: MTV VMAJ 2022 Winners. MTV Video Music Awards Japan. November 2, 2022. December 22, 2022. ja.