Synopsis

THE YELLOW MONKEY perform "Rakuen" in a stark, stylish setting while the video moves through London locations and atmospheric city imagery. The band's performance is presented with a cool, distinctly British-rock visual character, combining close-ups of the musicians with shots of streets, buildings, and the surrounding urban landscape. Rather than following a conventional narrative, the clip builds its mood through editing, stark contrasts, and the group's confident presence, reflecting the song's dark, restless energy and the band's growing international-minded aesthetic.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Rakuen" was released on November 25, 1996, as THE YELLOW MONKEY's 11th single and as the first single issued after the band changed record labels.

• The video was filmed in London, making it the first overseas music-video shoot for the production team involved.

• The shoot was conducted under London's standard eight-hour working day. Filming generally began in the morning and had to finish by around 6 p.m.

• Only the director and cinematographer came from Japan. The art, lighting, and other production roles were handled by a local London crew, creating a substantial language and workflow challenge.

• The film was processed and transferred to video at a laboratory in London. The resulting treatment helped give the footage the open, gritty character associated with British rock imagery.

• The production was remembered as unusually smooth despite the international setting, with the city's architecture and streets becoming an important part of the video's visual identity.

• The song later appeared on the band's sixth studio album, "SICKS," released in January 1997.

• The official single page lists "Rakuen," "Mitenai You de Miteru," and an instrumental version of the title track.