"Kick Back" is a song by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu. It was released as a single digitally by Sony Music Records on October 12,2022,as well as in three physical editions:a regular CD edition,a video edition,and a chainsaw edition. The song serves as the opening theme for the anime series Chainsaw Man.[1][2]
This song is used as one of the opening theme for the anime series Chainsaw Man.[3] Yonezu was in charge of the theme song for the TV anime My Hero Academia,the first opening of the second season. It has been about five years since the theme "Peace Sign".
King Gnu and Millennium Parade member Daiki Tsuneta participated in the production and arrangement with Yonezu.[4] "Kick Back" also samples Morning Musume's 2002 song "Sōda! We're Alive".
On September 19,2022,the preview for Chainsaw Man was released,with "Kick Back" being used. In addition,it was also performed live for the first time at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium performance on the first day of "2022 Tour / Henshin",which was held on September 23. In addition,the arranger Daiki Tsuneta appeared at the tour final at Saitama Super Arena on October 27,performing this song and "Ai Lily".[citation needed]
The CD single was released in three formats:a chainsaw board,a video board,and a regular board,and it also came with a "Kenshi Yonezu 2023 Tour / Fantasy" advance lottery application serial number and a corporate privilege sticker.[5][6]
In the United States,the single was released by Milan Records.[7]
"Kick Back" became the first song with Japanese lyrics to be certified both gold and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song achieved gold certification in 2023 and platinum certification in 2025. [7][8][9]
Music video
Prior to the song's release,the music video premiered on October 25,featuring Yonezu and Daiki Tsuneta. It was directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama[ja],who also worked on the music video for "Kanden" and Yonezu's promotional photos. In the video,Yonezu devotes himself to training in a gym alongside Tsuneta. After a montage of vigorous working out and Yonezu shown with large muscular arms,Yonezu runs off a treadmill into a field and then onto a road,where he is hit by a truck,which launches him through the air and into doing parkour across shipping containers and city buildings. A group of men dressed in similar attire appear and run alongside him through an industrial site and across a quarry. The video ends with Yonezu shown back in the gym,walking on a treadmill alongside Tsuneta,with a security camera revealing Tsuneta is not really there.[10]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
To commemorate the streaming release of Chainsaw Man: Compilation, which brings together all 12 episodes of the TV anime, a remix version of "Kick Back" by Frost Children with a visualizer was released on September 5, 2025.[49]
↑ 米津玄師が「チェンソーマン」描き下ろし、本日配信の新曲「Kick Back」ジャケット公開[Kenshi Yonezu draws "Chainsawman" and releases the jacket for his new song "Kick Back" distributed today]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
↑ 米津玄師 TVアニメ『チェンソーマン』OP「Kick Back」配信がスタート![Kenshi Yonezu TV animation "Chainsaw Man" OP "Kick Back" distribution starts!]. LisAni! (in Japanese). October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
↑ 米津玄師、TVアニメ"チェンソーマン"OP「Kick Back」配信スタート。描き下ろしジャケット公開[Kenshi Yonezu, TV anime "Chainsaw Man" OP "Kick Back" distribution start. Newly drawn jacket released]. Skream! (in Japanese). October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
↑ 米津玄師 13th Single「Kick Back」11月23日発売[Kenshi Yonezu 13th Single "Kick Back" released on November 23rd]. Reissue Records (in Japanese). November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
↑ "Kick Back". Reissue Records (in Japanese). October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
↑ 米津玄師「Kick Back」MVに常田大希登場、筋トレを重ねる2人に待ち受ける衝撃の展開[Kenshi Yonezu "Kick Back" MV featuring Daiki Tsuneta The shocking development that awaits the two of them as they train (with video)]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 25, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
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