The opening theme song for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, "Gurenge," has become iconic and is now one of the most recognizable tunes in modern anime. Its success has also made its composer a millionaire.
Composer Kayoko Kusano has earned over 250 million yen (roughly $2.2 million) for composing "Gurenge." Karaoke played a significant role in Kusano's newfound wealth: "Gurenge" was the most selected karaoke song in 2020 and every time it was chosen, the composer earned 3 yen.
While 250 million yen is an impressive amount, some have speculated that Kusano might have earned as much as five times that amount were it not for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The health crisis forced Japan to declare multiple states of emergency throughout the year. Many businesses, karaoke bars included, saw a dramatic drop in business as a result, with people staying home to stop the virus' spread.
However, "Gurenge" has the potential to earn Kusona even more money going forward. The composer continues to earn royalties from the song and its popularity has not diminished. In fact, it has arguably grown. "Gurenge" was a featured part of the Tokyo Summer Olympics' closing ceremony, and it was performed during Kōhaku Uta Gassen ("Red and White Song Contest"), which was Japan's most-watched music television program in both 2019 and 2020.
"Gurenge" is available for download through iTunes, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is available to stream through Netflix, Hulu and Funimation.
Source: Daily, via Anime News Network
