Stromae sings in Japanese: a cover of “Chikyugi”

A song discovered through Studio Ghibli

It was the animated film “The Boy and the Heron” from Studio Ghibli that introduced this song to the artist. In his post, he explains:

“I’ve been learning this song for a few months and I wanted to share it with you. It’s called Chikyugi 地球儀 (Spinning Globe) by Kenshi Yonezu. Thanks to Studio Ghibli for this discovery in the film The Boy and the Heron. Thanks to Yoshi Masuda for the pronunciation and Lionel Capouillez for the mix.”

It took several months of practice to master both the language and the melody, and the result is stunning. Stromae sings in Japanese with remarkable accuracy.

Kenshi Yonezu, one of Japan’s most streamed artists

Kenshi Yonezu (米津玄師) is one of the most influential Japanese musicians of his generation. “Chikyugi” has become one of his best-known works internationally since its release in “The Boy and the Heron,” the film by director Hayao Miyazaki released in 2023.

What about Slowly Radio?

As you know, we always have a keen ear for soft melodies. “Chikyugi” is a gentle, soaring, and enveloping ballad — exactly the kind of track that naturally fits into our playlists.

As soon as an audio version of this cover where Stromae sings in Japanese becomes available, and if it maintains this peaceful atmosphere, we will be delighted to broadcast it. A special nod to our Japanese listeners — 皆さん、こんにちは！ — who undoubtedly know this song much better than we do.