Following the recent Japanese television broadcast of IKIMONOGAKARI’s tiny desk concerts JAPAN and the full performance release worldwide via NHK WORLD-JAPAN Video on Demand, their special arrangement of the iconic opening theme “Blue Bird” for the hit anime Naruto: Shippuden is set to premiere on the official NHK World YouTube channel on Monday, August 3 at 5:30 PM JST.

Watch “Blue Bird” – tiny desk concerts JAPAN: https://youtu.be/_8NQY9M_Z54

The release comes as the anime series NARUTO continues to enjoy renewed global attention. Throughout July, new videos shared by manga publisher JUMP Music Videos featuring “Blue Bird” and “Hotarunohikari” were released. Meanwhile, “NARUTO Music Dancer,” a new immersive music and dance attraction inspired by the anime franchise, opened at Tokyo Joypolis. Adding to the excitement, a short reel preview from NHK WORLD-JAPAN has already generated over 2.8 million views across social media, building anticipation for the full performance.

Originally released in 2008 as one of the opening themes for NARUTO Shippuden, “Blue Bird” has become one of IKIMONOGAKARI’s most beloved songs worldwide. Its official music video is also on the verge of reaching 100 million views on YouTube, further cementing its enduring popularity across generations of fans.

For this performance, tiny desk concerts JAPAN presents “Blue Bird” in a special arrangement created exclusively for the series. Staying true to the spirit of the original while embracing the intimate atmosphere that defines the tiny desk format, the performance highlights the subtle interplay between the musicians and delivers a fresh, up-close interpretation that cannot be experienced anywhere else, offering both longtime fans and new listeners the chance to rediscover one of IKIMONOGAKARI’s signature songs from an entirely new perspective.

The complete episode of tiny desk concerts JAPAN featuring IKIMONOGAKARI is also available worldwide through NHK WORLD-JAPAN Video on Demand: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/tinydeskconcerts/

Meanwhile, IKIMONOGAKARI is currently celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary with their nationwide 47-Prefecture Tour, a special concert series that will take the duo all across Japan throughout 2026–2027.

Source: Press Release

Josh Piedra

Senior Editor, Anime & Manga

Josh has been an anime fan for over twenty years. In addition, he is a light novel author with 38 books published across 5 series! He is also the owner of Meteora Press, his personal dba serving as a publishing label. Anime and otaku culture isn't Josh's only area of expertise. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design and has created a handful of independent games along with a deep working knowledge of the gaming industry.