Genjitsu Parhelion WE EXIST HERE (feat. Chigusa Nagayo)

Conanimal is an animal-first unit creating music from the messages of animals to present a new form of animal welfare.

Founded by Ryo Matsui, former guitarist of The Brilliant Green, and Zinney Imasato, a lyricist and animal whisperer, this unit translates animal voices into the human world. Their creative process begins by facing animals and engaging in a dialogue that becomes words and melody. This is the unique origin of Conanimal.

It has been three months since the release of Yes I Will in December 2024. That work featured RINO NAKASONE in what was perhaps the first animal rap in the world.

That song was not an attack on society but a gentle whisper to exhausted owners: Why do you not just take a break? It showed that animals also care for humans. That light beat delivered a gentle warning, proving that animal voices can become songs that support people.

Now, we have the new work: Genjitsu: We are here.

Lead vocals are by Chigusa Nagayo, the legendary figure of the Crush Gals who ignited the women professional wrestling boom of the 1980s. She now leads the organization Marvelous and is a dedicated animal rescue activist.

Conanimal chooses the most fitting voice for each specific theme. While previous works focused on the bond between humans and animals, this song steps into the stark reality of animal welfare in Japan.

The motif is the story of a Shiba Inu named Aichan, whose journey reached 10 million views on TikTok. Found in a shelter in 2016, Aichan was labeled as a biter and sentenced to be euthanized.

However, the real question is not the act of biting, but the background of why it happened. Labels stop understanding. This applies to both animals and human society. It is the frustration of not being understood because of labels others have pinned on you. This story poses a question to the structure of society.

The title, Genjitsu Parhelion WE EXIST HERE refers to a sun dog, a phenomenon where a secondary light appears beside the sun. People are often captivated by that illusion, but it only exists because of the true sun. The message is a plea to look past labels and see the true essence beneath.

The intro uses actual recordings of dogs in a shelter. The sound emerges from radio noise, asking if we are simply not trying to hear the meaning of their voices. This reflects the perspective of Zinney Imasato as an animal whisperer.

WE EXIST HERE

Ten years after the encounter with Aichan, many lives are still misunderstood and categorized in shelters.

Chigusa Nagayo and Conanimal have moved the ring into music and the battlefield into the heart of social indifference. This is not a song of aggression or silence. It is a declaration of existence and a spotlight on overlooked lives.

Genjitsu Parhelion WE EXIST HERE

The gong has already sounded.