Kuzuha‘s music video for Oudou (王道) has finally arrived, and it’s worth catching up on this one even if you’ve had the song on repeat since July. Oudou first hit streaming on July 1st as the lead track off Kuzuha’s upcoming 2nd mini album, and now the visual side has landed to match a song that was written specifically for him by one of the biggest names in Japanese pop music today.

Written by Ayase, for Kuzuha and No One Else

Ayase — the producer and songwriter behind YOASOBI, and one of the most in-demand composers working in Japan right now — handled every credit on this one: lyrics, composition, arrangement, programming, and just about every instrument that isn’t guitar or bass. This is a from-scratch, written-for-Kuzuha track, not a licensed placement, and Ayase’s own team described it as a sound that could only be expressed through Kuzuha’s words and voice. That’s a real vote of confidence from someone who could work with almost anyone.

What “王道” Actually Means Here

The title translates roughly to “the king’s way” or “the true path,” and the lyrics wear that meaning on their sleeve from the opening line: “Oi, soko doke, KING no otoori” — “Move aside, the king is coming through.” It’s not subtle, and it’s not meant to be. The song builds around Kuzuha refusing every crown that’s handed to him and insisting on the one he’s carved out himself, walking a road nobody handed him a map for. Coming from an artist who’s spent years stirring up as much controversy as acclaim while helping define what a VTuber career can even look like, the lyric isn’t just posturing — it’s pointed autobiography.

The Sound: Loud Rock, No Apologies

Rockwell on guitar and Sota Morimitsu on bass give the track its teeth, layered under Ayase’s programming into something that leans hard into distortion and low-end weight. The rhythm section pushes forward with an almost drum-and-bass urgency before snapping into a chorus that’s built for pure release — the kind of song engineered to hit different live. Mixing engineer Masahito Komori and vocal engineer Tomomi Ogata get credit for keeping all of that controlled chaos from ever tipping into mush.

Part of a Bigger Comeback

Oudou leads off Adamantite, Kuzuha’s first mini album release in around four years, arriving July 29th. The tracklist reads like a who’s-who of Japanese songwriting talent — Eve, AKASAKI, TeddyLoid, and Natsushiro Takaaki all contributed songs alongside Ayase. The album’s title refers to a mythical, unbreakable metal that shows up across everything from Gulliver’s Travels to Dungeon Meshi, rooted in the ancient Greek word for “unconquered.” Considering how deliberately Oudou‘s lyrics tie into Kuzuha’s own reputation for refusing to bend, that theme isn’t an accident.

Track Credits

• Title: 王道 (Oudou)
• Vocals: Kuzuha (葛葉)
• Lyrics, Music & Arrangement: Ayase
• Guitar: Rockwell
• Bass: Sota Morimitsu
• Programming & All Other Instruments: Ayase
• Vocal Recording Engineer: Tomomi Ogata
• Mixing Engineer: Masahito Komori
• MV Illustration: Kei Mochizuki
• MV Movie: Cymo
• Label: Virgin Music

▶ Watch: Kuzuha — 王道 / Oudou (Official MV) on YouTube