Where Our Blue Is

Where Our Blue Is[lower-alpha 1] (青のすみか, Ao no Sumika) is an extended play by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuya Kitani. It was released on July 19, 2023, by Sony Music Records. The title track serves as the third overall opening theme song of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime television series.

Where Our Blue Is
EP by
Tatsuya Kitani
ReleasedJuly 7, 2023
Recorded2023
Genre
Length12:30
LabelMastersix Foundation
Alternative cover
Limited anime edition cover

Overview

It was released in two forms, the first production limited edition (CD+BD) and the regular edition (CD).[1] The title song of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen and the self-cover version of the song "Love Song feat. Eve" and other 4 songs.[1] The first production limited edition BD includes the Tokyo performance of the one-man tour "UNKNOT/REKNOT" held at Zepp DiverCity (TOKYO) on October 15, 2022.[1] At the same time, on July 7, "Ao no Sumika" waspre-delivered, and from June 26, pre-orders on iTunes, pre-add and pre-save on Apple Music and Spotify started. While the normal version features an image of two hands touching one another, the limited version instead shows Jujutsu Kaisen character Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto. Anichoice praised the design of the cover.[2]

The lead track "Ao no Sumika" was pre-released on July 7, 2023.[3] The music video was released on YouTube on July 13, 2023. The music video was filmed in the desert of Dubai (United Arab Emirates).[4] It appeared in Billboard JAPAN in 3rd place (HOT 100)[5] and #2 (Download Songs)[6] In Second Weekly (Streaming Songs)[7]

Composition

The song is based on the concept of "farewell peculiar to youth". In producing the music, Kitani received an offer from the anime production side, "A song with a refreshing impression based on the theme of youth". He said it was difficult. The school chime (Westminster's bell) phrase is used in part of the song. Revealing the changes that have sprouted in order to save memories of youth and "deliver".[8]

Kitani was able to quickly create something like the first seed for "Ao no Sumika", but it was difficult after that. The first arrangement of this song was completely different, with a slower BPM, more sad elements, and a bit of a guitar on a club beat. The singer tried to make a version that was closer to that, and what he came up with was a guitar rock with a fast BPM and a sense of speed. When aking the director to listen to those two, he said, "It's about the middle." After all, the melody and lyrics are the same, the finished product was different. Eve's "Kaikai Kitan" was a major inspiration for the song. "Scar", which he wrote as the first opening theme song for the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime television series, is one of them, and when he was writing the chorus of "Ao no Sumika", Kitani was thinking about that. Straight as much as possible, twisted in other places. At the beginning of the song, there is a sound like "Corn!" which makes the listener feel like they are back in the womb. When people put in that kind of sound effect to attract the listener and help grow up.[9]

For Jujutsu Kaisen, the video primarily deals with the youth of Gojo and Geto with an emphasis on blue backgrounds like the lyrics say. The opening contrasts the ending theme "Light" which uses a more relaxed melody which also makes emphasis on Gojo and Geto's friendship. Collab Cafe praised the opening as it will make people listen to it several times.[10]

Recorded songs

All tracks are written by Kitani Tatsuya

CD (common to all formats)
No.TitleLength
1."Ao no Sumika"3:17
2."Have a nice tulip!"3:11
3."Love Song (cover)"2:45
4."Ao no Sumika - Instrumental"3:17
Total length:auto
BD (First Press Limited Edition) One Man Tour “UNKNOT/REKNOT” Live at Zepp DiverCity (TOKYO) 2022.10.15
No.TitleLength
1."Rapport" 
2."How the Devil Dances" 
3."PINK" 
4."Sleepwalkers on this shore" 
5."You look like a human" 
6."Beast of Love" 
7."Cold Vortex" 
8."The Mustard Room Sinks in Rust" 
9."Demagogue" 
10."Naming Waves, Ending Our Breath." 
11."Until You Return to the Sea of Night" 
12."Chiharu" 
13."Planetes" 
14."Scar" 
15."A piece of oleander for the ugliness that awaits quick relief" 
16."Thanatophobia" 
17."Yet Our Breathing Doesn't Stop" 
18."Marching Saints" 

Credits

All songs written by Kitani Tatsuya. All songs mastered by Hidekazu Sakai (Sony Music Studios Tokyo)

blue house
  • Arrangement：Kitani Tatsuya
  • Drums: Osamu Hidai
  • Piano：Tetsuya Hirahata
  • All Other Instruments：Kitani Tatsuya
  • Mix:Norio Teruuchi
Have a nice evening!
  • Arrangement: Mizore, Kitani Tatsuya
  • Bass:Kitanitatsuya
  • All Other Instruments: Mizore
  • Mix：Masafumi Uramoto
Love Song (cover)
  • Arrangement & All Instruments：Kitani Tatsuya
  • Mix:Masashi Uramoto
Ao no Sumika - Instrumental
  • Arrangement：Kitani Tatsuya
  • Drums: Osamu Hidai
  • Piano: Tetsuya Hirahata
  • All Other Instruments：Kitani Tatsuya
  • Mix: Norio Teruuchi

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Where Our Blue Is"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 85
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[12] 2
Japan (Oricon)[13] 6
Taiwan (Billboard)[14] 15
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15] 13

References
  1. "Tatsuya Kitani reveals TV anime "Jujutsu Kaisen" "Kaidama/Tamaori" OP theme "Ao no Sumika" anime-drawn cover art and tracks. Title song pre-released on 7/7". Skream !. Geki Rock Entertainment. June 26, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  2. "五条悟＆夏油傑イラスト画像『呪術廻戦』2期OP「青のすみか」ジャケット". Anichoice. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  3. "Tatsuya Kitani saves memories of youth with "Ao no Sumika", the opening theme of "Jujutsu Kaisen" A change that sprouted in order to "deliver" also revealed". Real Sound｜Real Sound. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  4. Department, Skream! Editorial. ""Kaidama/Tamaori" OP theme "Ao no Sumika" MV released". Skream!. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  5. "Hot 100". Billboard Japan. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. "Billboard Japan Top Download Songs | Charts". Billboard Japan. Hanshin Contents Link. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  7. "Billboard Japan Top Streaming Songs". Billboard Japan. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  8. "キタニタツヤ、『呪術廻戦』OPテーマ「青のすみか」で救う青春時代の記憶 "届ける"ために芽生えた変化も明かす". Real Sound. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. "キタニタツヤ、『呪術廻戦』OPテーマ「青のすみか」で救う青春時代の記憶 "届ける"ために芽生えた変化も明かす". Real Sound (in Japanese). July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. "呪術廻戦 第2期 五条と夏油の眩しく戻れない日々描いたOP&ED映像解禁!". Collabo Cage. July 7, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  11. "Billboard Global 200". Billboard. August 19, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. "Hot 100 [ 2023/08/16 公開]" [Hot 100 [Week of 16 August 2023]] (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  13. "週間　シングルランキング 2023年07月31日付" [Weekly Singles Chart – 31 July 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  14. "Taiwan Songs". Billboard. August 26, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  15. "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. July 22, 2023. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

Notes
  1. The official English translated title.
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