On October 1, visual kei band XaaXaa released the music video for KESYOU (化生), the band’s fourth digital single this year.

Compared to their previous releases, the dark, gothic world of Chigirechau and the playful anthem Gege no Koushin, KEYSOU feels powerfully sincere and direct. This music video’s simpler styling places the focus squarely on the band members, while dynamic lighting and other practical effects add visual impact without overwhelming the song’s emotional core. Even the single’s jacket artwork was hand-drawn by vocalist Kazuki, driving home the track’s heartfelt character.

Both lyrically and melodically, KESYOU carries an uplifting sense of hope. Its lyrics suggest a realization that the world can still be a wonderful place, while the narrator reflects on when they became a cynical “monster”. That contrast is beautifully captured in the song’s title.

The kanji for KESYOU (化生) can be read as “keshou”, meaning “monster”, but it can also be read as “kasei”, referring to growth or metamorphosis. In that sense, the title brings together the song’s two central ideas: the monster we may become and the possibility of changing into something new, through hope.

As a third layer to the title, “keshou” is also a homophone for “cosmetics” in Japanese. As vocalist Kazuki explained in his tweet, the jacket artwork was drawn completely in makeup, without using traditional art supplies or writing tools.

We hope you’ll enjoy the music video below, and take away your own interpretation as well. The digital single is also now available on major streaming services.

【公式】化生 MusicVideo FULL