Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Japanese: 美しき残酷な世界, lit. "The Beautiful and Cruel World") is a song by Japanese singer Yoko Hikasa, whose lyrics were written by Mike Sugiyama [ja] and music composed by Rei Ishizuka [ja]. The song was released on May 8, 2013, as the debut single of Hikasa from Pony Canyon, and is best remembered for its use as the first ending theme for the first season of Attack on Titan.

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"
Official song cover
Single by Yoko Hikasa
from the album Couleur [ja]
Language	Japanese
B-side	"Starting line"
Released	May 8, 2013 (2013-05-08)
Recorded	2013
Genre	J-POP Rock[1]
Length	4:56[2]
Label	Pony Canyon
Composer(s)	Rei Ishizuka [ja]
Lyricist(s)	Mike Sugiyama [ja]
Yoko Hikasa singles chronology
"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (2013) "Owaranai Uta [ja]" (2013)

Background and production

The singer Yoko Hikasa had previous experience in voice acting and singing since first working on the April 2009 anime K-On!, but declined offers to debut as an artist.^[3][4][5] Her opinion reportedly changed after performing for more major roles, citing specifically her experience of performing live in the TV anime Ro-Kyu-Bu!. She decided to make her debut with a producer who had repeatedly called her beforehand.^[3][4][5]

At the production press conference for Attack on Titan on December 8, 2012, Hikasa announced that she would sing the first ending theme for the anime.^[6] She followed up with the announcement by stating that "We're working hard on it, and I think it'll be a song that fits the world of the anime".^[6] The director of Attack on Titan Tetsurō Araki reportedly supervised the creation of the lyrics to ensure the song matched the theme the show was going for.^[7] Two months later on February 8, 2013, the title of the song was announced, and the information that the song would be released to the public from Pony Canyon on May 8 of the same year.^[8][9] It was also announced that CDs would be released for three consecutive months starting after this songs release,^[8] with an official website being opened to coincide with the announcement.^[9] As for the recording itself, it reportedly only took the short time of three hours to complete.^[1]

Release

The song was released in two versions; the first limited edition (PCCG-01343), which also included a DVD containing the music video for the song, and the regular edition (PCCG-70180). The music video was choreographed to reflect the feelings of Eren Yeager, the main character of the anime, and his desire for freedom.^[10]

The single's coupling B-side song was titled "Starting line", and was also a rock number, but faster-paced.^[11] The song was originally planned to be part of the album Glamorous Songs [ja], but ended up not being recorded and was released along with this single.^[10]

Live performances

The song was unveiled for the first time at the Attack on Titan stage event of Anime Contents Expo 2013 held on March 31, 2013,^[7] before the song was originally released.^[8] The song was also performed at Animelo Summer Live 2013 held on August 25, 2013, which was also Hikasa's first solo appearance.^[12] The song was performed live for the last time as part of Hikasa's first live tour "Le Tour de Couleur" on October 4, 2014, at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.^[13]

Track listing

CD Single^[2]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"	Mike Sugiyama [ja]	Rei Ishizuka [ja]	Takayuki Negishi	4:56
2.	"Starting line"	Emi Inaba [ja]	Yuki Nara [ja]	Yuki Nara	3:37
3.	"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Instrumental)				4:56
4.	"Starting line" (Instrumental)				3:36
Total length:					17:06

DVD (First Limited Edition)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai" (Music Video)

Personnel

"Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai"

• Hiroyuki Koike – Strings
• Yuya Komoguchi – Guitar

"Starting line"

• Yuki Nara – Guitar
• Riku Sakurai – Bass
• Yamauchi Yuu [ja] – Drums

Promotion

Magazine

• Lis Ani! [ja] Volume 13 (April 25, 2013)^[3]
• Seiyu Grand Prix [ja] June 2013 Edition (May 10, 2013)^[14]

Radio

• The Nutty Radio Show Onitama [ja] (May 8, 2013)^[15]
• Mucomi Plus [ja] (May 8, 2013)^[4]
• A&G Super Radio Show Anispa [ja] (May 11, 2013)^[16]

Television

• Lis Ani! TV [ja] #58 (May 10, 2013)^[17]

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[18]	35
Billboard Japan Hot Animation[19]	8
Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales[20]	7
Count Down TV (broadcast on May 18)[21]	9
Oricon Daily[17]	7
Oricon Weekly[22]	9
Oricon Monthly[23]	41
Soundscan Japan [ja][24]	5

References

1. Koyanagi, Daisuke (April 14, 2013). "SPECIAL COLUMN". hikasayoko.com (in Japanese). Retrieved February 20, 2023.
2. "美しき残酷な世界 ［CD+DVD］＜初回限定盤＞" [Beautiful Cruel World [CD+DVD] <First Press Limited Edition>] (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
3. "日笠陽子 始動。" [Yoko Hikasa started.]. Lis Ani! [ja] (in Japanese). 13. M-ON! Entertainment: 158–165. April 25, 2013. ISBN 978-4-7897-7191-7.
4. "本日デビュー！ "アーティスト・日笠陽子さん"登場！" [Debut today! "Artist Yoko Hikasa" appears!]. Mu-Comi Plus! (in Japanese). Nippon Broadcasting System. May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
5. Narimatsu, Satoshi (July 20, 2013). "日笠陽子「Glamorous Songs」インタビュー" [Interview with Yoko Hikasa "Glamorous Songs"]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved May 8, 2020.
6. "「けいおん!」日笠陽子、アニメ「進撃の巨人」エンディングテーマでソロデビュー決定" ["K-ON!" Yoko Hikasa to make solo debut with anime "Attack on Titan" ending theme] (in Japanese). Cinema Today. December 8, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
7. "【ACE2013】神谷浩史もサプライズ登場！梶裕貴、石川由依、井上麻里奈、日笠陽子が登壇！『進撃の巨人』" [[ACE2013] Hiroshi Kamiya makes a surprise appearance! Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, and Yoko Hikasa will be on stage! "Attack on Titan"]. Koepota (in Japanese). April 1, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
8. ""てへぺろ"日笠陽子、5・8ソロ始動！ 怒とうの3ヶ月連続リリース" ["Tehepero" Yoko Hikasa starts solo on May 8! Angry 3 months consecutive release] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
9. "てへぺろ（・ω<）! 声優の日笠陽子がソロ本格始動、3か月連続CDリリース" [Tehepero（・ω<）! Voice actress Yoko Hikasa starts her solo career, releasing CDs for 3 consecutive months] (in Japanese). Tower Records. February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
10. "日笠陽子 始動。" [Yoko Hikasa started.]. Lis Ani! [ja] (in Japanese). 13. M-ON! Entertainment: 163. April 25, 2013. ISBN 978-4-7897-7191-7.
11. "日笠陽子1stシングル特典&2ndシングルジャケ&MVを大公開！" [Yoko Hikasa's 1st single bonus & 2nd single jacket & MV are open to the public!]. Anime Times (in Japanese). May 2, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
12. "日笠陽子、アニサマで『進撃の巨人』ED曲を熱唱。「アニサマにソロで出るのは初めて」" [Yoko Hikasa sings the ED song for "Attack on Titan" at Anisama. "This is the first time I've been to AniSummer solo."]. BARKS [ja] (in Japanese). August 26, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
13. "日笠陽子、最新ライブツアーが3月18日にBD/DVDでリリース" [Yoko Hikasa to release latest live tour on BD/DVD on March 18th] (in Japanese). Tower Records. January 14, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
14. "声優グランプリ 2013年 06月号" [Seiyu Grand Prix June 2013]. Seiyu Grand Prix [ja] (in Japanese) (June 2013 ed.). Shufunotomosha. May 10, 2013. ASIN B00CA6I2RA.
15. "今夜のゲストは、日笠陽子さん♪" [Tonight's guest is Yoko Hikasa♪]. The Nutty Radio Show Onitama [ja] (in Japanese). May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
16. "アニスパレポート【第475回】" [Anispa Report [No. 475]]. A&G Super Radio Show Anispa [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2023.
17. "日笠陽子「美しき残酷な世界」オリコンデイリーランキング7位！" [Yoko Hikasa "Beautiful Cruel World" Oricon Daily Ranking 7th!]. Lis Ani! WEB (in Japanese). May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
18. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
19. "Billboard Japan Hot Animation 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
20. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales 2013/05/20". Billboard JAPAN. Hanshin Contents Link [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
21. "美しき残酷な世界 : 日笠陽子" [Beautiful Cruel World : Yoko Hikasa]. Count Down TV (in Japanese). TBS TV. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
22. "美しき残酷な世界（初回限定盤）" [Beautiful Cruel World (First Press Limited Edition)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
23. "you大樹" [You Big Tree] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
24. "週間 CDソフト TOP20 シングル ランキング TOP20 2013年5月6日 – 5月12日 調査分" [Weekly CD software TOP20 single ranking TOP20 May 6, 2013 – May 12 survey]. PHILE WEB (in Japanese). Ongen Publishing [ja]. Retrieved February 22, 2023.