From his roots as a VOCALOID music producer, Japanese superstar Yonezu Kenshi has been absolutely everywhere lately, with his music gracing countless films and anime. This year alone, he swept the Japan Gold Disc Awards, snagging a whopping six trophies.
At yesterday's "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN" (MAJ), Japan's biggest international music awards ceremony held on the 13th, Yonezu Kenshi not only took home a slew of awards but also delivered a show-stopping performance that became the talk of the town. He performed "IRIS OUT," the theme song for "Chainsaw Man Reze Arc." Beyond the killer stage setup and dancers, what really got people buzzing were Yonezu Kenshi's incredibly expressive facial reactions and the return of his iconic shark car—this time, a sleek black version, which left countless fans absolutely stunned after its previous appearance at Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
At the "MAJ 2026" ceremony, he once again swept six major awards: "IRIS OUT" won Best J-POP Song, Best Asian Japanese Song, Best European Japanese Song, Best North American Japanese Song, and Best Latin American Japanese Song. He also earned the Best Digital Culture Artist Award under his Hachi moniker.
His MAJ performance of "IRIS OUT" from "Chainsaw Man Reze Arc" featured a brand-new shark car, an evolution from its Kōhaku debut. The entire performance, including the song's arrangement and choreography, received widespread acclaim. But it was his exaggerated tongue-out expression during the performance that had netizens exclaiming it was just like Denji and Reze from "Chainsaw Man."
This iteration of the shark car also sported some differences from its Kōhaku counterpart, not only rocking a black makeover but also featuring the TOYOTA sponsor name.
His final pose at the end of the performance was even playfully dubbed "Yonezu-dachi" (the "Yonezu Pose") by Japanese netizens, who praised it as hilariously cool.
▼ Performance Video
Now 35, Yonezu Kenshi has been a force to be reckoned with since his mainstream debut in 2012. Not only does he sing his own tracks, but he also composes for many other artists, creating numerous smash hits. In recent years, his growing global recognition has cemented his status as a leading figure in bringing Japanese music to the international stage.