Kroi’s latest single “SPIN” has reached No. 1 on Billboard JAPAN’s “Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan,” a chart ranking Japanese songs gaining popularity around the world. The chart reflects data collected from September 25 to October 1, 2026.
“SPIN” serves as the opening theme song for the anime STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and was released digitally on September 24. The track has quickly attracted significant attention from listeners overseas, particularly in the United States, with cover performances and videos from fans around the world continuing to emerge.
Since its release, “SPIN” has surpassed 15 million total streams. The song also debuted at No. 44 on Billboard’s U.S. “Hot Rock & Alternative Songs” chart, marking Kroi’s first-ever appearance on a Billboard chart in the United States. The achievement has also been featured by Billboard in the U.S., generating widespread attention both in Japan and internationally.
Furthermore, “SPIN” entered the Top 100 of YouTube’s weekly “Weekly Top Songs” chart in 16 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, based on data collected from September 25 to October 1. On YouTube’s global chart, the song ranked No. 79, making Kroi the only Japanese artist to appear on the chart across these overseas markets during the week.
In Japan, “SPIN” debuted at No. 9, marking Kroi’s first-ever Top 10 entry on YouTube’s weekly song chart.
The official music video for “SPIN” is also available now and has been receiving an outpouring of comments from fans around the world.
Kroi Comment
“We are incredibly surprised and excited that our song ‘SPIN’ has become the No. 1 most-listened-to J-pop song outside Japan. Seeing how many people are listening to our music makes us feel that all the work we’ve put in has truly been worth it. At the same time, we are filled with gratitude toward everyone who has been listening to us and everyone who has supported us along the way. We truly appreciate it.
I grew up listening to Western music, and ever since I was a student, I’ve hoped that Japanese-language songs would one day be listened to more naturally around the world.
So, seeing our own music being heard by people across the globe makes me incredibly happy. I hope that music from Japan, as well as music from all kinds of countries, can continue to be enjoyed without being divided by borders or language.We hope you’ll continue to support Kroi. Thank you so much.”
Kroi announced that their new song “SPIN” will serve as the opening theme for the anime STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The news was revealed on September 23 during the sold-out final show of Kroi Live Tour 2026 “JUNGLE” at Zepp Haneda, where the band also announced the song’s upcoming digital and CD releases, as well as Kroi Live Tour 2027.
The announcement came as a surprise during the encore of the tour finale. As cheers filled the venue, a video suddenly appeared on a screen onstage, revealing that Kroi would perform the opening theme for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The crowd erupted in excitement, and as soon as the video ended, bassist Masanori Seki launched into a sharp bassline as the band gave the first-ever live performance of “SPIN.”
For this performance only, fans in the attendance were specifically permitted to film the song, and footage from the performance has since been generating excitement across social media.
“SPIN” will be available across major streaming and download platforms beginning September 24 at 12:00 a.m. JST. The creditless opening video for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will also be released on YouTube and other platforms, offering fans an early glimpse into the world of the anime ahead of its September 25 streaming release.
Speaking about creating “SPIN” for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kroi shared:
“We are Kroi, and we were honored to work on the opening theme for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
When we were first approached about this project, we were so excited we practically jumped for joy.
From there, we went through a lot of trial and error as we worked on how to express the series’ epic world of a cross-continental race across North America through music.
We’ve been creating songs with a sandy theme for several years now, and we thought we could put the sensibilities we’ve cultivated through that experience to good use this time as well.Centered around a sound reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and The Ventures that evokes Westerns, we finished this track by blending in various musical styles we’ve explored over the years, such as funk, soul, and hip-hop.
We can’t help but feel a personal connection to the unique and unparalleled world of JoJo, born from the intersection of diverse cultures.
We’re truly delighted to have been able to participate in this wonderful project. Please enjoy our song “SPIN” by Kroi along with the anime.”
A physical CD release of “SPIN” is also set for October 28. The release will feature newly illustrated artwork from STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on its cover, with retailer-exclusive purchase bonuses also available at participating stores.
Alongside the release announcements, the band unveiled Kroi Live Tour 2027, a nationwide tour spanning 15 cities across Japan beginning in June 2027. With “SPIN” marking the beginning of another exciting chapter for the band, Kroi is set to bring their evolving sound to stages across the country.
It’s 1890, in America, the Steel Ball Run — the first horse racing championship across the North American continent — was about to begin. Spanning around 4,000 miles, the race offered 50 million dollars as the winning prize.
Johnny Joestar, once being hailed as a genius jockey, is now paralysed and lost in despair.
He finds hope in the mysterious phenomena caused by Gyro Zeppeli, an outlaw aiming to win the race, and determines to participate in the Steel Ball Run Race.
Each having their own goal in mind, the two form an alliance and set foot upon the gruelling adventure and race.
Kroi will embark on “Kroi Live Tour 2027” in June 2027, bringing the band to 15 cities across Japan. Running from June 5 through July 31, the nationwide tour will include stops in major cities including Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Yokohama, Sapporo, and more.
Kroi is a five-piece Japanese band known for their genre-blending sound, fusing R&B, funk, soul, rock, and hip-hop. Formed in 2018, they made their major-label debut with LENS in 2021. In January 2026, they held their first arena tour drawing approximately 20,000 fans across two cities.
Kroi performed at major festivals around the world including FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, SUMMER SONIC, SXSW (USA), The Great Escape (UK), Busan International Rock Festival (Korea), and CAT EXPO (Taiwan). In 2025, they completed their first Asia tour with stops in Seoul, Taipei, and Bangkok.
They have contributed opening themes to anime including SAKAMOTO DAYS, SAND LAND: THE SERIES, Under Ninja, and STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and collaborated with UK jazz-funk band Incognito on “Kinetic,” further expanding their international presence.
Kroi has released the music video for their new track “Kinetic feat. INCOGNITO,” a collaboration with globally renowned acid jazz band INCOGNITO.
The video is directed by Takuto Shimpo, who has consistently supported Kroi’s visual works. Centered around performance scenes by the band members, the video interweaves vivid colors with swirling, optical illusion-inspired backgrounds. The result is a highly original visual that syncs with the track’s groove and stimulates the viewer’s senses.
The song reached No.1 on the Apple Music Jazz Chart as of March 29. Be sure to check out both the track and the video together.
Starting in August, Kroi will embark on “Kroi Live Tour 2026 ‘JUNGLE,’” covering 10 shows across 6 cities in Japan. In addition to their one-man performances, the tour will also feature their first joint shows in about two years, with a star-studded lineup including Rekishi, iri, KIRINJI, and TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA, crossing genres and generations.
Kroi’s “Method”, the opening theme song for the TV anime SAKAMOTO DAYS part 2, released in July, has now surpassed 50 million combined plays across SNS and streaming platforms. The five-member band Kroi, known for presenting a hybrid musical style that fuses influences from a wide range of genres, has announced their very first Asia tour, “Kroi Live Tour 2025 – ASIA”, which will take them to three countries: Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, starting this November.
The announcement was made at the opening show of “Kroi Live Tour 2025 – HALL,” and details regarding venues and ticket information for the Asia tour were revealed. For ticket sales information, please check the details on each performance page.
Following its release, “Method” entered various charts including the Billboard JAPAN HOT 100, and within just one month, its music video surpassed 8 million views on YouTube.
＜Kroi Live Tour 2025 – ASIA in SEOUL＞ November 7, 2025 (Friday) musinsa garage Doors Open: 19:30 / Show Starts: 20:00 Advance Ticket: 99,000 KRW
＜Kroi Live Tour 2025 – ASIA in TAIPEI＞ November 9, 2025 (Sunday) Legacy Taipei Doors Open: 17:00 / Show Starts: 18:00 Advance Ticket: 1,780 TWD / At the Door: 2,000 TWD
＜Kroi Live Tour 2025 – ASIA in BANGKOK＞ November 30, 2025 (Sunday) BLUEPRINT LIVEHOUSE Support Act: FORD TRIO Doors Open: 18:30 / Show Starts: 19:00 Advance Ticket: 950 THB
July 16, 2025 – Kroi released their brand-new single “Method”, serving as the opening theme for the TV anime SAKAMOTO DAYSPart 2, along with its official music video.
The music video, directed by filmmaker Taichi Kimura, was shot using 40 iPhones arranged in a 360-degree setup inside a studio occupied solely by the five band members. The result is a dynamic, high-tension video that spotlights Kroi’s essence—their powerful live performance.
SAKAMOTO DAYS, the anime featuring Kroi’s “Method” as its opening theme, is an extremely popular series that has surpassed 8 million copies in circulation. The story is about Taro Sakamoto, a former legendary hitman, who now fights alongside his allies to protect the peaceful daily life he shares with his beloved family from relentless assassins in this hitman solid action story.
In Part 2, the story heats up with a three-way showdown between Taro Sakamoto (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita) and his crew at the Sakamoto store, the elite strike team known as “ORDER,” and a mysterious assassin killer called “X” (Slur, voiced by Daisuke Namikawa), who sets loose a group of death row convicts. Now streaming worldwide on Netflix, the anime has been generating global buzz since the Part 2 premiere, largely through social media.
Kroi said, “In Part 2, the contrast between everyday life and intense action gets even stronger. So we tried to bring that out by adding a slightly uneasy vibe beneath the bright tone.” The track combines tight grooves and fast-paced energy to capture the strange, high-stakes world where assassins live their so-called “normal” lives.
Having contributed theme songs to various anime titles such as UNDER NINJA and SAND LAND, Kroi now brings their latest track “Method” to SAKAMOTO DAYS. Don’t miss the unique chemistry that emerges from this exciting collaboration.
Starting in August, Kroi will embark on the Kroi Live Tour 2025 – HALL, with performances in seven cities across Japan. The band are also set to headline Kroi Live Tour 2026 – ARENA next year, including shows at Osaka-jō Hall and Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium. Tickets for both tours are now on sale.
Kroi has been announced as the artist behind the new opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime SAKAMOTO DAYS, set to premiere on July 14. The band wrote an original track titled “Method” specifically for the series.
SAKAMOTO DAYS is a hit manga with over 8 million copies in circulation. The story follows Taro Sakamoto, a legendary former hitman who now leads a quiet life with his beloved family. To protect his peaceful days, he takes on incoming assassins with the help of his companions in a fast-paced, action-packed tale. In the second cour, the stage is set for an explosive three-way showdown between the Sakamoto Store crew, the elite assassin unit ORDER, and a group of escaped death-row inmates led by the mysterious hitman killer “X” (Slur), voiced by Daisuke Namikawa.
The newly released main trailer offers a sneak peek at Kroi’s “Method.” Speaking about the track, Kroi commented, “The contrast between ordinary life and intense battles becomes even more striking in the second cour. When creating the music, we aimed to express the vibrancy of everyday life while subtly weaving in a sense of unease to build tension.” The result is a high-energy, groove-heavy song that perfectly captures the surreal balance of chaos and calm in the world of assassins.
“Method” will be officially released on July 19. A special edition including Blu-ray or DVD will feature footage from Kroi’s first-ever arena show, Kroi Live Tour 2024–2025 “Unspoil” at PIA ARENA MM, held in February. Fans can enjoy the full experience of “Method” alongside the band’s dynamic live performance.
Four artists from IRORI Records—ako, Bialystocks, go!go!vanillas, and Kroi—have been confirmed to perform at The Great Escape 2025, taking place in Brighton, UK from May 14 to 17.
The Great Escape is a leading festival for new music, showcasing 500 emerging artists from around the world. In addition to performances such as the Alternative Escape, Spotlight Shows, secret gigs, club nights, and spontaneous collaborations, the event also features a conference that draws a wide range of music industry professionals from across the globe.
Live schedules and set times will be announced at a later date, so please check the official event website and the artists’ social media channels for updates.
Event Information The Great Escape 2025 Dates: Wednesday, May 14 – Saturday, May 17, 2025 Official Website: https://greatescapefestival.com/
A singer-songwriter who began her full-scale musical career in 2020. She produces all of her emotionally rich songs herself and leads the creative team londog, which is responsible for the direction of her music videos and other projects. She released her first EP Senzai-teki MISTY in September 2020, followed by ANTI BLUE in January 2021, and her third EP Steal your heart via her independent label londog in December 2023. In February 2024, she made her major label debut with the single Wakusei from PONY CANYON / IRORI Records. Her first full-length album GENE will be released on July 10, 2024. She is also set to embark on her national tour a子 LIVE TOUR 2025 “Odyssey” in October 2025.
Formed in 2019 following a live performance screening of the film Haruneko, directed by Sora Hokimoto and produced by Shinji Aoyama and Takenori Sento. In 2021, they released their debut album Bialystocks, and in 2022, they were selected for Spotify’s RADAR: Early Noise 2022. Their second album Quicksand was released in November 2022 via IRORI Records / PONY CANYON. With Hokimoto’s soulful vocals and Go Kikuchi’s jazz-influenced arrangements, the band blends folk warmth with genre-crossing sophistication, creating a sound described as both universal and forward-thinking.
A four-piece band consisting of Tatsuya Maki (Vo/Gt), Shintaro Yanagisawa (Gt), Pretty Keisuke Hasegawa (Ba), and Jet Seiya (Dr). Their crossover sound draws from garage rock, hardcore, ska, funk, R&B, and other genres, rooted in a deep respect for musical traditions. Known for their high-energy live performances, the band expanded their fanbase through constant touring. Their DREAMS TOUR 2023–2024 included a two-day show at Makuhari Messe—their largest venue to date. In January 2024, they joined IRORI Records, releasing their first single under the label, SHAKE, recorded in London. The track showcases a bold new direction for the band.
A five-member band known for their genre-blending sound, incorporating R&B, funk, soul, rock, hip-hop, and more. Formed in February 2018, Kroi debuted with their single Suck a Lemmon, and made their major label debut with the album LENS in June 2021. In January 2024, they held their first headlining show at the iconic Nippon Budokan, followed by an arena performance at Pia Arena MM in February 2025.
Kroi has released a music video for “Meimetsu”, a song from their third album “Unspoiled”.
The video is a collection of footage from the band’s life in Los Angeles, where they recorded the song, and at SXSW (South by Southwest), where they performed for the first time.
The video, which seems to capture the memories of Kroi members enjoying themselves in a pure and unpretentious manner, seems to enhance the nostalgic atmosphere of the song. Please check out the music video.
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