Dandadan’s Best New Scene Ignites Huge Copyright Controversy

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Despite being surrounded by well-known series such as “Sakamoto Days” and “Kaiju no. 8,” Science Saru’s “Dandadan” anime remains the standout choice for the Summer 2025 season, building upon its impressive debut from the previous fall. Season 2 of “Dandadan” has not only met but surpassed fans’ expectations, maintaining its intriguing and eccentric tone. An essential component of the show’s appeal is its clever pop culture references, which continue to delight viewers in the current season.

Regrettably, one popular cultural reference in the anime “Dandadan” has turned out to be problematic, leading to copyright infringement allegations. This issue stems from a scene in Season 2 that was intended as a tribute to the renowned Japanese rock band, X JAPAN. However, the Hayashi band from Season 2 has caused controversy due to its similarities with X JAPAN, particularly displeasing Yoshiki, the lead vocalist of X JAPAN. This has resulted in the anime’s producers issuing an apology and removing the iconic headbanger track associated with this scene from streaming platforms nationwide.

Dandadan’s Heavy Metal Exorcism Sparks Unexpected Controversy

In the sixth episode of “Dandadan”‘s second season, Granny Seiko enlists the aid of a musical group named Hayashi to expel the malevolent spirit from Jiji’s body. Surprisingly, this group transforms into a heavy metal band during the ritual, leading to an uproariously amusing sequence where Seiko and the main characters perform a traditional exorcism, headbanging in unison with the crowd of awakened spirits stirred by the music. The band’s members’ names and their striking visual kei styling pay tribute to X JAPAN, an iconic Japanese rock band from the 80s.

In the manga, the band’s name is Brave Force, but in the anime, they are called Hayashu instead – a playful reference to “ohayashi,” which refers to music used in traditional Japanese kabuki theater and is often associated with a smiley face. This minor alteration might have ignited the entire debate.

At first, Yoshiki, a member of X Japan, seemed quite intrigued, posting on X, “Hmm… Doesn’t this seem like X JAPAN? What do you think, fans?” Later, in a now-deleted comment under an X post by Marty Friedman, the lead guitarist for the song featured in the anime, Yoshiki pondered whether the band was named after his surname, which is also the name of his late father who took his own life. His comment read, “Upon reflection, is this my last name or the name of my father who passed away?”, further expressing that he usually leaves copyright matters and management of his image to his agency, but suggested discussing the matter directly.

In addition, Yoshiki mentioned a personal detail – he had always used only his first name, but after the publication of the book about him, he began referring to himself as “Yoshiki” because until then, he hadn’t been able to confront the fact that his father had committed suicide. He admitted that he has complex emotions surrounding this topic. He clarified that no one intended any harm with their actions, but it was painful for him and caused him to tear up for some reason.

It seems that they reached out to management or the record label prior to obtaining permission, as per my understanding.#YOSHIKI @DandadanTV @animeDANDADANen@netflix @hulu @XJapanOfficial @Yoshiki_Staff#dandadan #Kurenai #XJAPAN

This version is more natural and easier to read, while still conveying the same information as the original sentence.

— Yoshiki (@YoshikiOfficial) August 8, 2025

In addition, when someone posted about X JAPAN being referenced in anime before, Yoshiki pointed out that on those occasions, the producers had contacted him and his management team earlier and received permission. However, it’s clear that the situation has escalated significantly, forcing the creators of Dandadan to react.

Dandadan Issues Formal Apology Following Copyright Infringement Incident

TVアニメ「ダンダダン」における楽曲「Hunting Soul」に関しまして

— 「ダンダダン」TVアニメ公式 | 第2期は25年7月3日から放送開始 (@anime_dandadan) August 22, 2025

In a recent update on their official social media platform, Dandadan’s anime team publicly acknowledged and expressed sincere apologies for a recent controversy involving the Hayashi band from Season 2, Episode 6, specifically the song “Hunting Soul” used in the episode to summon Evil Eye from Jiji. The producers admitted that they failed to consult Yoshiki and X JAPAN beforehand regarding the use of their music. They mentioned that negotiations with the band are underway to resolve the copyright disputes.

The apology reads:

I’m truly sorry for stirring up any worry concerning the song “Hunting Soul” from the captivating anime, Dandadan. Our team admires YOSHIKI and X JAPAN immensely, and we crafted this tune with the goal of mirroring their infectious passion and fitting it within the narrative and visuals of Dandadan. Unfortunately, we failed to convey our intentions to YOSHIKI and X JAPAN beforehand, a lapse that unintentionally sparked concern, for which we are genuinely remorseful. We’re now engaged in constructive conversations with all parties regarding rights, and I’ve already had the pleasure of discussing this matter with YOSHIKI himself. This misstep has given us a chance to brainstorm creative collaborations together in the future. Once more, please accept our heartfelt apologies to YOSHIKI, X JAPAN, fans, Dandadan enthusiasts, and everyone else involved for any unease we may have caused. We hope you’ll continue supporting this series with understanding and kindness.

Due to some behind-the-scenes disagreements between the anime’s creators and X JAPAN, the original Japanese version of the song has been temporarily removed from music streaming platforms within Japan. However, you can still enjoy both the English version sung by Dragon Force’s Marc Hudson and the original performed by Kishou Taniyama in other regions, allowing international fans of Dandadan to experience their own heavy metal exorcism.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dandadan-season-2-trailer-final-arc/embed/#

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2025-08-22 23:42