Many Thai fans might not immediately recognize the name Tatsuya Kitani, but mentioning his role behind the opening song of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2’s first half is sure to ring a bell. Kitani’s deep passion for music has shaped him into an artist committed to conveying genuine emotions to listeners, helping us understand ourselves better with every note.
Now, his musical journey has led him to international stages, including Bangkok, marking his first-ever meeting with Thai fans. Before experiencing his captivating voice live on stage, The COSMOS invites everyone to get to know Tatsuya Kitani a bit better today on Space Invader, and discover how truly heartfelt this performance promises to be.
This is your first time performing live in Thailand, right? How do you feel about finally meeting your Thai fans?
I still can’t quite believe there are people in Thailand who know my music. I’m really looking forward to playing live for them.
You started out as a Vocaloid producer and have now grown into a full-fledged solo artist. How has your songwriting or production process changed since then? Tatsuya Kitani
When I first started, I wasn’t aiming to appeal to a wide audience—I just kept layering instruments based on instinct. But as I kept going, I started wanting more people to hear my music. So now I focus first and foremost on making the melody and lyrics—the parts related to the vocals—beautiful and accessible. I leave the instrumentation for later.
Your music spans quite a wide range of styles. How would you describe your own sound, and where do you usually draw your inspiration from?
It’s like a chaotic, noisy rollercoaster. I think “chaos” is one of the great strengths of Japanese culture, and I’m always conscious of that—it’s a big source of inspiration for me.
Where Our Blue Is became one of the most powerful anime opening songs for Jujutsu Kaisen. Tell us what it was like when you first found out you’d be working on this project.
I’ve always liked the series, and I had confidence that I could do it well. So my reaction was, “I’m glad they gave this to me!” But at the same time, I definitely felt a lot of pressure.
What was the process behind creating Where Our Blue Is like? Was it intense or challenging in any way? Do you have any fun stories from behind the scenes you can share with your fans?
I first created the “brightest and most refreshing” version of Where Our Blue Is, but felt it needed a darker tone, so I remade it as the “darkest” version instead. In the end, neither version worked on its own. I ended up forcefully combining the two, and somehow that finally came together. But since the two versions were completely different, it was a really tough process. There are also two or three unused demos, so just the data related to Where Our Blue Is is taking up a huge amount of space on my computer.
You also worked on Fatal for Oshi no Ko Season 2 as part of the duo GEMN with Kento Nakajima. How was that experience different from your previous work, and what did you learn from the collaboration?
I’m someone who works behind the scenes, writing music at a desk, while Kento is a professional performer who shines in front of an audience. He had a lot of strengths I don’t, so I learned a lot from how he approached live shows and music video shoots. That focus on visuals was a major difference from my usual approach to making music.
In your opinion, what makes writing music for anime different or more challenging than writing your usual songs?
I have to capture both the story of the existing source material and my own personal narrative in the music. That makes the word choices in the lyrics especially difficult.
Let’s talk about your recently released single You More. It has a much warmer and more nostalgic feeling compared to your other songs. What’s the story behind it?
I wrote the song while thinking about how the words left behind by poets, songwriters, family members, and mentors continue to live on—even after they themselves are gone—and how those echoes gently keep touching the hearts of those who remain.
Is writing a slower, emotional song more difficult for you than creating high-energy rock tracks? Was there anything exciting or new for you in the making of You More? Tatsuya Kitani
I feel like slower-tempo songs come together more smoothly when I’m writing, but they’re actually harder to sing because they require much more delicate control. For this track, I watched all kinds of videos to create the solo a cappella intro—everything from Jacob Collier to footage of random college choir rehearsals.
You’ve already sung an anime opening and been featured on THE FIRST TAKE ,which is huge! But as an artist, is there anything else you still dream of achieving? Tatsuya Kitani
I want to be able to draw a crowd of 10,000 people no matter where I perform in Japan. And I’d love to do solo shows in different countries across Asia as well.
For this debut show in Thailand, is there anything special you’ve prepared for your Thai fans?
I’m doing my best to deliver the same performance I always give in Japan, even in a different environment. I love spicy food, but my stomach’s pretty sensitive—so I’m holding off on enjoying Thailand’s amazing cuisine until after the show.
For fans who’ve just discovered you through your anime songs, which of your other songs would you recommend they check out next to better understand your music?
I’d be happy if they picked any track from my latest album ROUNDABOUT and gave it a listen.
Any message you’d like to leave for your Thai fans who are eagerly waiting for your first-ever concert here? Tatsuya Kitani
I’m sure you’re going to enjoy the show. If you have the chance, take lots of photos and videos, and share them with your friends on social media!
Tatsuya Kitani announced his Asia tour titled 【Tatsuya Kitani Asia Tour 2025】, hitting stages across Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea. Kitani shot to fame with the powerful opening track “Where Our Blue Is,” from the acclaimed anime Jujutsu Kaisen in the “Hidden Inventory / Premature Death” arc, and he’s also set to compose music for the upcoming second season of Oshi no Ko. Alongside this success, he brings his latest album, ROUNDABOUT, blending funk grooves seamlessly into J-rock vibes. Don’t miss his thrilling debut performance in Thailand on Sunday, May 11, at Mr. FOX Live House. Grab your tickets now via Ticketmelon!
ชอบไปคอนเสิร์ตเพราะเป็นกิจกรรมที่ทำคนเดียวได้ และยังชอบแนะนำวงดนตรีใหม่ ๆ ผ่านตัวอักษรตลอดเวลา