In an industry where digital streaming numbers and cross-media synergy increasingly dictate mainstream viability, the lines between indie rock subcultures, manga fandoms, and viral video platforms have officially blurred. This convergence is spotlighted in the latest announcement from THE FIRST TAKE, Japan’s premier YouTube music channel, which has unveiled details for its milestone 714th episode. Marking a highly anticipated debut, the veteran rock band Wasureranneyo (忘れらんねえよ) is set to perform their 2022 cult classic, "Aira Bu Iu" (アイラ部言いう).
Scheduled to premiere as a YouTube Premieres event on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 22:00 JST, the performance represents more than just a promotional stop. For Wasureranneyo—now operating as the solo project of founding vocalist and guitarist Takahiro Shibata—this appearance is a crowning achievement after nearly two decades of navigating the volatile waters of the Japanese indie and punk rock scenes.
The choice of "Aira Bu Iu" for the performance is a masterclass in modern cultural relevance. While originally released in 2022, the song has experienced a massive resurgence in popularity due to its integration into the narrative of the hit Shonen Jump+ manga series, The Ordinary Light Music Club (Futsutsu no Keionbu). This performance on THE FIRST TAKE, utilizing a full-band arrangement supported by premier session musicians, aims to capture the raw, emotional vulnerability that has defined the band’s career, elevated by the extreme pressure of the channel’s signature "one-take, no-cuts" environment.
Detailed Chronology: The Evolution of Wasureranneyo and "Aira Bu Iu"
To understand the weight of Wasureranneyo’s debut on THE FIRST TAKE, one must trace the band’s trajectory from its gritty underground origins to its current status as a cross-media cultural touchstone.
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| WASURERANNEYO TIMELINE |
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| 2008: Band formed in Tokyo as a four-piece punk rock outfit |
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| 2011: Major debut with "C kara Hajimaru ABC" (Kaiji ED theme) |
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| 2022: Release of "Aira Bu Iu", establishing raw love-song style|
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| 2024-2025: "Aira Bu Iu" featured in Shonen Jump+ manga |
| "The Ordinary Light Music Club" (Chapter 96) |
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| July 2026: "Aka Neko" released as Ramen Akaneko Anime OP; |
| MV surpasses 10 million views in two months |
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| Oct 2026: Episode 714 of THE FIRST TAKE premieres |
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------+2008–2011: Formation, Major Debut, and Cult Acclaim
Wasureranneyo was formed in 2008 as a high-energy punk rock group. From their inception, the band rejected the polished conventions of mainstream J-pop, opting instead for a raw, self-deprecating lyricism that resonated with alienated youth and underground music enthusiasts.
Their major label breakthrough came in 2011 when their single "C kara Hajimaru ABC" (CからはじまるABC) was selected as the ending theme for the critically acclaimed TV anime Kaiji: Against All Rules. The track’s frantic tempo and frantic vocal delivery perfectly mirrored the high-stakes, psychological tension of the anime, immediately establishing Wasureranneyo as a formidable name in the anime tie-up circuit.
Over the subsequent decade, the band became a staple at major Japanese rock festivals, including ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL and COUNTDOWN JAPAN. They achieved significant milestones, such as selling out the prestigious Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall (Hibiya Yaon), and Shibata earned respect within the industry as a songwriter, composing tracks for prominent artists like actor-singer Masaki Suda and the idol group Negicco.
2022–2026: The "Aira Bu Iu" Resurgence and the Manga Connection
In 2022, Wasureranneyo released "Aira Bu Iu," a poignant, high-tempo love song characterized by its unfiltered romanticism and direct, emotional appeal. Though beloved by core fans, the song found a massive second life through a unique cross-promotional pipeline.
The track was featured prominently in Chapter 96 of The Ordinary Light Music Club (Futsutsu no Keionbu), a highly popular manga serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ platform. Written by Kuwahara and illustrated by Mikio Outa, the manga follows the trials and triumphs of high school students in a light music club. In a pivotal narrative arc focusing on a joint live performance, the protagonist, Hatono (Hato), and her bandmate Totchi (Chika Kuwata) perform a cover of "Aira Bu Iu."
The emotional resonance of the scene sparked a massive wave of interest in the original song. Capitalizing on this momentum, a special collaboration promotional video (PV) featuring manga panels set to Wasureranneyo’s track was released to commemorate the launch of the manga’s 11th compiled volume. This synergy bridged the gap between manga readers and music streaming platforms, introducing Wasureranneyo to a new generation of younger listeners.
Summer 2026: The "Ramen Akaneko" Phenomenon
Wasureranneyo’s cultural footprint expanded exponentially in July 2026 with the premiere of the TV anime adaptation of Ramen Akaneko (Red Cat Ramen), a beloved comedy manga by ANGYAMAN serialized in Shonen Jump+. Wasureranneyo was selected to perform the anime’s opening theme song, titled "Aka Neko" (赤猫).
The anime became one of the runaway hits of the summer 2026 season, and the accompanying music video (MV) for "Aka Neko" exploded on YouTube. In less than two months following its release, the video surpassed the coveted 10-million-view milestone. This unprecedented commercial success set the stage for the band’s ultimate validation: an invitation to the white studio of THE FIRST TAKE.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Cultural Architecture of THE FIRST TAKE
To appreciate the gravity of Wasureranneyo’s upcoming appearance, it is essential to examine the institutional power of THE FIRST TAKE. Launched on November 15, 2019, the channel has fundamentally altered how music is consumed, marketed, and valued in the digital age.
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| THE FIRST TAKE: METRICS & MILESTONES |
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| Launch Date: November 15, 2019 |
| Subscriber Count (as of October 9, 2026): 12.4 Million |
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| Key Performance Benchmarks (Views): |
| - DISH// (Takumi Kitamura) - "Neko": 230 Million |
| - YOASOBI - "Yoru ni Kakeru": 150 Million |
| - LiSA - "Gurenge": 140 Million |
| - Creepy Nuts - "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born": Over 100 Million |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+Landmark Performances and Viral Economics
THE FIRST TAKE operates on a deceptively simple premise: a performer enters a stark, white, soundproof studio, stands before a single high-quality microphone, and performs a song in a single, unedited take. This format strips away the safety nets of modern studio production—pitch correction, multiple takes, and post-production editing—exposing the raw talent, vulnerability, and technical skill of the artist.
This raw authenticity has translated into astronomical streaming figures and real-world commercial impact:
- DISH// (Takumi Kitamura) – "Neko" (230 million views): This acoustic rendition transformed a relatively obscure 2017 B-side into a national phenomenon, culminating in a mainstream chart resurgence and a performance at the prestigious Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
- YOASOBI – "Yoru ni Kakeru" (150 million views): This performance solidified the duo’s status as global J-pop pioneers, showcasing Ikura’s flawless vocal precision in a live setting.
- LiSA – "Gurenge" (140 million views): An emotional, piano-backed rendition of the Demon Slayer theme song that proved the power of vocal stamina and theatrical delivery.
- Creepy Nuts – "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" (Over 100 million views): A high-speed hip-hop performance that went globally viral, demonstrating that the channel’s format could accommodate complex rhythmic delivery just as effectively as melodic ballads.
As of October 9, 2026, THE FIRST TAKE boasts a subscriber base of over 12.4 million, making it one of the most influential music platforms in Asia.
Institutional Expansion: From Channel to Media Empire
The brand has expanded far beyond its original YouTube channel to establish a comprehensive music ecosystem:
- THE FIRST TAKE MUSIC (Established November 2020): A dedicated digital distribution label that releases the audio tracks of the channel’s performances directly to global streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, consistently dominating digital charts.
- THE FIRST TIMES (Launched June 2021): A comprehensive music and pop-culture web portal that provides breaking news, interviews, and deep-dive editorial content, serving as a hub for music discovery.
- HIGHLIGHT Series (Launched October 2025): A curated series designed to spotlight rising indie talents and veteran cult artists, providing them with the high-production-value platform typically reserved for major-label pop stars.
Official Statements: Navigating the Tension of the White Studio
The psychological pressure of performing on THE FIRST TAKE is well-documented, with many veteran artists describing the experience as more nerve-wracking than playing before tens of thousands of fans at a stadium. Takahiro Shibata of Wasureranneyo was no exception to this rule.
Following the recording session, Shibata released a candid statement reflecting on the intense atmosphere of the studio:
"To be completely honest, I thought I was going to lose my mind. The silence in that white room is deafening, and knowing that there are no second chances, no edits, and no place to hide is terrifying. I kept thinking, ‘I just need to push through this, I have to survive this.’ But when the music started, something shifted. I felt this incredible surge of raw emotion, and somehow, against all odds, I made it through to the other side. We gave it everything we had."
For this performance, Shibata chose not to perform as a solo acoustic act, but rather to bring the full weight of a rock band to the studio. Backed by a handpicked lineup of elite support musicians, the arrangement of "Aira Bu Iu" was redesigned specifically for this single take. The goal was to preserve the energetic, driving rhythm of the original track while emphasizing the vocal urgency and emotional weight that The Ordinary Light Music Club manga so vividly depicted in its pages.
Future Outlook: Cross-Media Synergy and the New Era of Indie-Rock Mainstream
Wasureranneyo’s appearance on THE FIRST TAKE represents a significant shift in the mechanics of the Japanese music industry. It highlights a growing trend where older, catalog songs are granted a second lease on life through organic integration into digital media, particularly serialized manga on platforms like Shonen Jump+.
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| THE MODERN CROSS-MEDIA SYNERGY PIPELINE |
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| Original Music Release |
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| Manga/Webtoon Integration |
| (Narrative feature sparks fan interest) |
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| Collaboration Content (PV) |
| (Visual panels set to the original track) |
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| Mainstream Validation Event |
| (High-profile features like THE FIRST TAKE) |
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| Global Digital Streaming Surge |
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------+Industry analysts point to this "Jump+ Effect" as a highly effective model for modern music discovery. Unlike traditional, top-down corporate tie-ups, this organic synergy feels authentic to consumers. When a manga creator genuinely loves a song and writes it into the emotional climax of a story, the audience feels that sincerity. The resulting migration of readers to streaming platforms and YouTube creates a powerful feedback loop that can elevate a cult punk-rock act into the national spotlight.
As Episode 714 prepares to premiere, the future looks exceptionally bright for both the artist and the platform. For Wasureranneyo, this performance serves as an official entry into the upper echelon of J-rock legacy acts, proving that raw sincerity, perseverance, and a little bit of cross-media magic can keep a band’s fire burning brighter than ever, nearly two decades after their journey began. For THE FIRST TAKE, it reinforces their editorial commitment to showcasing not just polished pop icons, but the raw, beating heart of the Japanese rock underground.
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