Hikaru Utada Releases New Single 'PAPPAPARADISE' Today; Official Music Video Now Available on YouTube
Tokyo, Japan — Hikaru Utada released their new single “PAPPAPARADISE” today.
The track serves as the ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan, as well as the commercial song for Ayataka. A 7-inch vinyl edition has also been confirmed for release on Wednesday, June 24.
Coinciding with today's release, the official music video for “PAPPAPARADISE” has been unveiled on YouTube. Directed by Tomokazu Yamada — who has previously helmed Utada's videos for “Naniirodemonai Hana (A Flower of No Color),” “Gold -Mata Au Hi Made-,” and “Mine or Yours” — the video features Utada in the role of a taxi driver, capturing moments shared with a diverse cast of passengers. Appearing in the video are Min Tanaka, Tokio Emoto, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Junko Asano and KONO.
〇 Hikaru Utada “PAPPAPARADISE” Music Video: https://youtu.be/O5JN8l4pgOo
To celebrate the release, Utada has also announced appearances on Japanese-language audio programs. They will be featured on J-POP Now Radio via Apple Music, as well as on New Music Wednesday [Podcast Edition] via Spotify. “PAPPAPARADISE” is also available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music.
〇 J-POP Now Radio: apple.co/JPopNow
〇 New Music Wednesday [Podcast Edition]: https://open.spotify.com/
Release Information
Hikaru Utada “PAPPAPARADISE”
(Ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan / Ayataka commercial song)
Release Date: Wednesday, May 6
https://erj.lnk.to/7rrAv3
7-inch Vinyl: Wednesday, June 24
Limited Edition (ESKL-6): ¥2,500 (tax included)
*Track details to be announced
Pre-order: https://erj.lnk.to/DC3xdR
【Retailer Bonuses】
- Amazon.co.jp: Mega Jacket
- Tower Records (incl. online / excl. select stores): Original Highlighter (Orange / Tower Records ver.)
- HMV (incl. HMV&BOOKS online): Original Highlighter (Pink / HMV ver.)
- Rakuten Books: Original Highlighter (Purple / Rakuten Books ver.)
- Sony Music Shop: Original Highlighter (Light Blue / Sony Music Shop ver.)
- Participating Stores: Original Highlighter (Light Green / General Store ver.)
Utada Remastered Reissues
Out June 24, 2026
Includes lyrics and translations
“Exodus”
2LP / 2LP Color (Clear Purple) / 2CD (SHM-CD, Japan-exclusive)
Pre-order: https://umj.lnk.to/Utada_
“This Is The One”
LP / LP Color (Clear Pink) / 2CD (SHM-CD, Japan-exclusive)
Pre-order: https://umj.lnk.to/Utada_
About Hikaru Utada
Since their debut on 9 December 1998, Hikaru Utada has achieved numerous remarkable milestones in their career. Their debut single “Automatic/time will tell” sold over two million copies, propelling them to become one of Japan's top artists at the young age of 15. Just a few months later, their first album “First Love” shattered Japanese CD sales records that still stand unbroken today.
In 2022, their eighth album “BAD MODE”, which includes collaboration songs with artists such as Skrillex, A.G. Cook, and Floating Points, garnered high praise both domestically and internationally, and was crowned as the best album of the year by the internationally renowned music media, Pitchfork. In the same year, they made their festival debut at the globally recognized Coachella Festival in California, joining celebrated label 88rising as part of their exhilarating showcase.
The Netflix series “First Love,” inspired by Utada's eponymous single, achieved tremendous success in Japan and across Asia. On December 9, 2023, Utada celebrated the 25th anniversary of their major label debut in fantastical style, announcing the much-anticipated release of their inaugural greatest hits album SCIENCE FICTION, which was released in April 2024 and followed by their first tour in six years, the nationwide HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024, which included stops in both Hong Kong and Taipei.
In 2025, Utada continued their collaboration with the Ayataka green tea brand for a second consecutive year, releasing the single “Mine or Yours” on May 2. Around the same time, they appeared on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE, where performances of both “Mine or Yours” and their iconic track “First Love” generated significant buzz online and beyond. In April, they took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with experimental electronic artist Arca, and later appeared as a surprise act at SONIC MANIA in August alongside British DJ Floating Points. In September, their collaboration with Kenshi Yonezu, “JANE DOE,” became a major hit both in Japan and internationally.
Looking ahead to 2026, Utada's new song “PAPPAPARADISE” has been selected as the new ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan. The track will also be featured in a new Ayataka commercial beginning April 6.
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