The breakout anime DAN DA DAN has run into an unexpected controversy surrounding its hit insert song “Hunting Soul,” performed by the fictional band HAYASii. Featured in Season 2, Episode 6, the track quickly gained immense popularity, surpassing ten million views across official uploads on YouTube. However, the song has now been removed from major Japanese streaming services, including Apple Music, AWA, Mora, KKBOX, and Recochoku. On Spotify, Japan is no longer listed as an available streaming region, while Amazon Music replaced the track’s page with a generic placeholder.
Despite the widespread takedowns, “Hunting Soul” remains available for streaming on YouTube in Japan, leaving many fans confused and searching for answers.
The sudden removal comes after Yoshiki, leader of the legendary Japanese rock band X JAPAN, publicly noted striking similarities between “Hunting Soul” and his band’s iconic style. He even tagged official accounts of the anime and streaming platforms on social media, adding that his legal team had contacted him regarding possible copyright infringement. While no official announcement has been made, the timing strongly suggests that legal concerns prompted the takedowns.
Even with the controversy, the song remains a fan favorite. Anime-only viewers and long-time manga readers alike praised how “Hunting Soul” elevated the emotional weight of the episode. Its blend of rock-inspired energy and dramatic performance style struck a chord with the audience, making its removal all the more frustrating for fans.
DAN DA DAN is directed by Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora at Science SARU and streams globally on Netflix. The series follows two high school students who, in a bet to prove whether ghosts or aliens exist, stumble into paranormal chaos, gain superpowers, and discover an unlikely bond that blends action, comedy, and romance.
The copyright for “Hunting Soul” is held by the DAN DA DAN production committee under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment’s Milan Records. By contrast, the rights to X JAPAN’s “Kurenai,” which Yoshiki suggested the song resembles, belong to Japan Music Agency, Extasy A Music, and Sony Music Publishing.
While fans wait for clarification, the debate highlights the fine line between homage and infringement in anime music production. Whether “Hunting Soul” returns to streaming services will likely depend on the outcome of ongoing discussions between the parties involved.
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