Setsugekka (The End of Silence)/Zan

"Setsugekka (The End of Silence) /Zan"
CD only cover
Single by Gackt
Released	December 9, 2009
Format	CD single, CD maxi single, DVD
Recorded	2009
Genre	Alternative rock, Symphonic rock, Hard rock
Label	Dears
Writer(s)	Gackt C.
Producer(s)	Gackt
Gackt singles chronology
"The Next Decade" (2009) "Setsugekka (The End of Silence) /Zan" (2009) "Stay the Ride Alive" (2010)
Alternative cover Dears only cover

"Setsugekka (The End of Silence)"/"Zan" (雪月花 -The end of silence-/斬～Zan～) is the thirty-sixth single of Japanese solo artist Gackt, released on December 9, 2009.^[1] Both sides are theme songs for the video game Samurai Warriors 3.^[2]

Overview

With the single, Gackt collaborated with Koei on their new Wii game Samurai Warriors 3. The title song was the game's theme song, while "Zan" the ending theme song. The songs were performed on March 6 and 7, in the festival at the Saitama Super Arena, organized by Koei to promote their new game.^[3][4]

The songs are distinctive for their blend of modern Western musical instruments and the traditional Japanese instruments, a kind of music called by Gackt as "Zipangu" rock from which can be sensed the country (Japan) of origination.^[5]

It was the last single released by his own label Dears, supported by Nippon Crown, before transferred to Avex Group in 2010.

Music video

Gackt announced he has chosen three members from popular visual kei bands to be featured in the music video of single. These members are Ni-ya from Nightmare on bass, Tsukasa from D'espairsRay on drums and Shun from Duel Jewel on guitar. You Kurosaki, from his supporting live band, filled the second guitarist spot.

Track listing

1. "Setsugekka (The End of Silence)" (雪月花-The end of silence-, ^{[Note 1]})
2. "Zan" (斬～Zan～, literally translated as "Slash")
3. "Setsugekka (The End of Silence)" (Instrumental) (雪月花 -The end of silence- (inst.))
4. "Zan" (Instrumental) (斬～Zan～ (inst.))

Notes

1. "Setsugekka" (雪月花), while literally meaning "snow, moon, and flowers", comes from a poem by Bai Juyi and is used to describe serene beauty. "Setsugekka" is also the name of the white cultivar of the Okinawan Camellia sasanqua flower.

Charts

Oricon sales chart

Release	Provider(s)	Chart	Peak position	Sales total
December 9, 2009	Oricon	Daily Singles	3	15,924
		Weekly Singles	4[1]	24,742
		Monthly Singles	17	31,463

Billboard Japan

Charts (2009)	Peak position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[6]	33
Billboard Japan Top Independent[7]	1

References

1. ""Setsugekka" on Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
2. "Gackt interview "メイド・イン・ジャパン"と呼べるモノを作りたい――Gackt、「雪月花―The end of silence―／斬～Zan～」をリリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). Ongaku Shuppansha. 2009-12-01. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
3. 戦国時代がさいたまスーパーアリーナに蘇る、コーエー"戦国武将祭"が開催. famitsu.com (in Japanese). 2010-03-07. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
4. "Gackt見参、さいたまスーパーアリーナが戦国時代に". barks.jp (in Japanese). Global Plus. 2010-03-08. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
5. "GACKT interview “メイド・イン・ジャパン”と呼べるモノを作りたい――GACKT、「雪月花―The end of silence―／斬～ZAN～」をリリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). Ongaku Shuppansha. 2009-12-01. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
6. ""Setsugekka" on Japan Hot 100 chart". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
7. ""Setsugekka" on Japan Top Independent chart". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2015.