Oni Out, Fortune In: A roundup of J-pop you’ll want to listen to during Setsubun

oni; demon; ogre; spirit (depending on context)yonseikyu

oni; demon; ogre; spirit (depending on context)

This piece, included on the album “Futen no Hana” released in January 2011 by Su-xing-cyu (a comic band based in Tokushima), humorously portrays inner conflicts and everyday pressures.

The lyrics, which call our daily little obsessions “demons” and turn them into gags, will make you burst out laughing.

But it’s not just funny—the heartfelt desire not to be swept along by those around us really resonates.

How about playing this track along with your bean-throwing this Setsubun and laughing away the timid little demons in your heart?

Bean Squad BibinbeanHanada Yuuichirou, Ono Atsuko, Kobayashi Yoshihisa, Uehara Risa

Bean Squadron Bibin Bean / The Beans’ Sharp Dance! A popular song from Okaasan to Issho COVER: Otousan to Issho · Yoko Ueno

A bean-themed sentai (superhero team) song that aired on NHK E-Tele’s “Okaasan to Issho” as the October 2017 “Song of the Month,” it stunned viewers with its outrageously over-the-top humor.

Performed by Yuichiro Hanada, Atsuko Ono, Yoshihisa Kobayashi, and Risa Uehara—who fully become bean heroes as they sing and dance—this piece truly left a historic impact on the show.

It’s included on the album “Okaasan to Issho Latest Best: Panpakapanpanpaan.” Why not get the whole family pumped up with this song around Setsubun?

Cafe de Oni (Face and Science)Denki Gurūvu

Denki Groove 'Cafe de Oni (Face and Science)'}

This is a track by Denki Groove that delivers a powerful impact.

Included on the best-of album “SINGLES and STRIKES,” released in March 2004, it’s a remake that boldly reconstructs an early song from the 1991 album “FLASH PAPA,” from the lyrics to the sound.

Its hard-edged techno beat and enigmatic phrases are irresistibly addictive.

Let’s ward off bad vibes with some surreal laughs!

Zankyo SankaAimer

Aimer「Zankyosanka」MUSIC VIDEO（Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc Theme Song）

It’s a track marked by a voice that slices through the dark night and a bright, fast-paced sound.

It’s one of the signature songs by Aimer, a singer-songwriter who captivates listeners with her distinctive husky vocals.

The song drew major attention as the opening theme for the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc.

The lyrics carry a strong resolve to overcome past struggles and choose the future by one’s own will.

Thanks to its uplifting energy, it’s also beloved as a cheer song for high school baseball.

Try listening to it while channeling Tanjiro and the others as they fight demons.

Tokyo Shandy RendezvousMAISONdes

[239] [feat. KAF, Tsumiki] Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous / MAISONdes

Speaking of Setsubun, it has to be demons—so here’s a track from the classic anime Urusei Yatsura, featuring its cute demon-tribe heroine! Released under the music project MAISONdes, which is set in a fictional apartment, this song was created as the ending theme for the 2022 broadcast of the anime.

It became a major topic thanks to the collaboration between virtual singer KAF and Vocaloid producer Tsumiki.

The exhilarating sense of speed—like racing through neon-lit Tokyo nights—pairs perfectly with a faintly wistful melody.

Traditional bean-throwing is great, but why not put on a stylish, urban track like this for a change and enjoy a pop-tinged moment with the oni?

Even hell’s judgment depends on you.Jigoku no Sata Ōruzutāzu

Even hell’s judgment depends on you.

Jigoku no Sata All Stars’ “Jigoku no Sata mo Kimi Shidai” lets you enjoy a cheerful hellish life to the rhythms of ska and bon odori.

Released in February 2014, it was used as the opening theme for season 1 of the TV anime Hozuki’s Coolheadedness.

Over the lively sound crafted by the instrumental band YOUR SONG IS GOOD, the main characters sing comically in a festive, party-like number.

It’s irresistibly catchy—once you hear it, it sticks in your head and is sure to get your body moving!

Demon Parent and ChildMasuda Hiroko

Oni Parent and Child [Hand Play] Lyrics/Composition: Yuko Masuda – Setsubun Hand Game

A fun hand-play song that’s perfect for the Setsubun season.

Featured on the 2004 album Sing and Play!! Keropons 2, which was released alongside a book, this cheerful track centers on an ogre (oni) parent and child.

Family members like the father and the kids appear one after another, and you change your poses to match the size of each oni’s horn.

Simple yet guaranteed to get everyone excited! Before the bean-throwing, be sure to move your bodies and play along with your child!