FEB 4, 2026

Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Part 2 Official Interview

●Original Work: Shou Makura (Story), Takeshi Okano (Art) with Takuya Yamanaka (THE ORAL CIGARETTES)
●THE ORAL CIGARETTES
Takuya Yamanaka(Vo/Gt), Akirakani Akira(B/Cho), Shigenobu Suzuki(Gt), Masaya Nakanishi(Dr)

【INTERVIEW】
Q. To Makura-sensei and Okano-sensei: What were your thoughts when you first heard the opening theme “ERASE” performed by THE ORAL CIGARETTES? 

Makura-sensei: I thought it was an incredibly memorable song—it really sticks with you. The melody is so cool, and at the same time, the lyrics beautifully capture the world of Nube.
When I heard the word “boundary” in the lyrics, I immediately thought of the line between “this world” and “the other world” in Nube. And when it says that the boundary has “turned to ash,” I wondered if that means the line between the two worlds has disappeared.

Yamanaka-san: That’s exactly right.

Makura-sensei: Excellent! The lyrics made it clear that they had taken the time to really read and understand Nube while creating the song. That made me genuinely happy. 

Okano-sensei: They really made it into such a cool track—thank you so much!
Though honestly, it’s so cool that I found myself thinking, “Wait… Nube’s not exactly that cool of a character—are we sure this works as the theme song?” (laughs)

Yamanaka-san: No way! Nube is a really cool character!

Q. To Yamanaka-san: What aspects of Nube did you want to express through the song? 

Yamanaka-san: I wrote the lyrics entirely based on the story of Nube. I was given details about the episodes airing in the second cour in advance, so I read through them and incorporated elements based on my own interpretation.
I shaped the melody to have a cooler tone because the production team told me that the second cour would lean more heavily into horror elements. I’ve loved Nube since I was a kid, and the original theme song “Bari Bari Saikyou no. 1” left a strong impression on me—so I could have taken that route.
But instead, I deliberately chose to focus on the story and went with a cooler style. Since this is such a beloved series with a devoted fanbase, I was careful not to make people feel like I didn’t “get it.” I tried to express Nube through my own lens, while staying true to its heart.

Okano-sensei: I thought it matched the world of the second cour incredibly well—I was honestly surprised, thinking, “How can it fit so perfectly!?”
There’s a part later in the series that delves into Nube’s past, and when you listen to the song alongside that arc, it really deepens the immersion into the story’s atmosphere.

Makura-sensei: The word “ERASE” means “to eliminate” or “to wipe away,” right? I couldn’t help but interpret it as a reference to Nube’s past—maybe something like a “past he wishes he could erase”? That’s just my own take, of course.

Yamanaka-san: Yes, that’s right. I wanted the title to carry a double meaning. As you just mentioned, one interpretation is the “inner conflict with Nube’s past that he wishes he could erase.” The other is more literal: that Nube’s exorcise, to erase yokai.
Since the series has such a large and passionate fanbase, I was careful not to give the impression that I didn’t “get it.” I tried to faithfully express Nube through my own interpretation, while staying rooted in its story.

Q. To Yamanaka-san: Earlier, you mentioned you’ve loved Nube since you were a child—what first got you hooked on the series?

Yamanaka-san: I think most kids tend to like bright, pop-style things—but I was the kind of elementary schooler who loved eerie and creepy stuff. I was drawn to the designs of the yokai and the intense scenes in Nube, and I used to watch the anime all the time with my older brother back then

Q. To Yamanaka-san: Do you have a favorite episode, yokai, or character from Nube?

Yamanaka-san: I remember being genuinely terrified of Kaijin A — it made me feel like something like that could exist. I also really liked the Chabukuro storyline, which ties into Nube’s past. Realizing that Nube himself had a painful history made me feel much closer to him

Okano-sensei: Thank you for loving the series since childhood.

Q. To Makura-sensei and Okano-sensei: Do you have any favorite songs by THE ORAL CIGARETTES?

Makura-sensei: OVERNIGHT, definitely. It was used as the theme song for an anime featuring an oni so it feels connected to Nube and his oni too!

Yamanaka-san: The jacket art for our previous album AlterGeist0000 also featured an oni! 2025 really turned out to be a year full of oni connections for us.

Okano-sensei: I used to love heavy metal when I was younger, so I really like songs like Kyōran Hey Kids!! and Red Criminal. Though it’s a bit different in tone, I also like Amy. It has such a refreshing vibe—I think it’s a great song.

Yamanaka-san: You’ve even listened to our older songs!? Thank you so much…!

Okano-sensei: I also really like the music video for OD. The visuals are like an animated film. While Makura-sensei said that ERASE sticks in your head, for me it was the combination of the visuals and the song in OD that kept looping in my mind nonstop!

Q. Now, let’s bring in the other members of THE ORAL CIGARETTES and ask about their memories of Nube and the song itself.
To everyone besides Yamanaka-san: Had you ever read Nube before this project?

Akira-san: Of course! When I was in around fifth grade, the manga had just started its serialization. Maybe because of my age at the time, what stuck with me more than the scary stories were the naughty scenes, to be honest! (laughs) I also remember really swooning over the episode where a spirit appeared that could make two people fall in love—it was called the ‘Lover’s Crow,’ I think? I remember thinking, ‘I wish a spirit like that really existed!

Suzuki-san: I was the right age for it too, but—embarrassingly—I just couldn’t bring myself to watch it because it was too scary. When the (Heisei-era) anime started airing, my older brother and dad watched it in real time and really enjoyed it, but I was the only one who hid away in my room, saying, ‘It’s too scary, I can’t watch it!

Nakanishi-san: One story that really stuck with me was the one where four people stand in the corner of a dark room, then walk along the wall and touch it one by one—and somehow, there’s suddenly a fifth person.
Even though the manga clearly said, “This is dangerous, so please don’t try it yourself,” I actually tried it with my friends anyway (laughs).

Yamanaka-san: I did too (laughs).

Nakanishi-san: Of course, I knew there was no way someone would actually appear out of nowhere, but the moment we approached the corner, it was absolutely terrifying!
It’s a series I have fond memories of, so when I heard we’d be doing the theme song, I was genuinely thrilled.

Q. To THE ORAL CIGARETTES members: Nakanishi-san shared his thoughts briefly, but could you also tell us how you felt when you were first offered the chance to perform the theme song?

Akira-san: I was so thrilled! Since Takuya (Yamanaka-san) writes both the lyrics and music for THE ORAL CIGARETTES, I kept saying, “I really want to do this! We have to do this!” over and over again (laughs).

Suzuki-san: I’d seen Akira once take a photo wearing a replica of the Demon’s Hand glove, so I said, “Good for you!” (laughs).
Back when we read the manga, we were just elementary school kids—and now, we’re the same age as Nube himself, working on the project. That realization hit me with a wave of nostalgia. It really feels emotional.

(Akira-san wearing the Demon’s Hand: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqwk7d7yYnD/)

Nakanishi-san: Of course, I was thrilled that we were chosen to perform the theme song—but more than that, I was genuinely happy to know that we’d get to see Nube as an anime again.
After the news went public, I received a flood of messages from friends my age. Along with their “Congratulations!” there were so many excited comments like “Nube is getting another anime!? I can’t wait!” That shared joy really stayed with me.

Q. The sense of speed and the way the song builds dramatically toward the chorus really captures the world of Nube, and I felt it’s a track that will also hype up the crowd at live shows.
Please share what listeners should pay attention to, as well as a message for fans looking forward to the anime and fans of THE ORAL CIGARETTES.

Nakanishi-san: As someone who grew up watching Nube, it’s truly an honor to see it revived in the Reiwa era—and to be entrusted with the anime’s theme song on top of that. The story becomes even more gripping as it progresses, and even though I already know how it unfolds, I found myself completely drawn in. So please look forward to the Part 2 as well.
As for the song itself, just listening to it already brings the live concert scene vividly to mind. I want to deliver drum parts that match the passion of our fans. It’s a new killer tune from THE ORAL CIGARETTES—definitely one to watch out for.

Suzuki-san: Now that our song is the theme for Nube, I think it’ll give people who haven’t heard of THE ORAL CIGARETTES a chance to check out our music. And if even a part of you thinks, “This band seems interesting,” I hope you’ll come see us live. I promise—you won’t regret it!

Akira-san: I think this interview made it clear just how deep THE ORAL CIGARETTES’ love for Nube runs. And to turn what Shige said around—I believe this also gives our fans the chance to discover Nube for themselves. We truly love this series, so I hope you’ll watch the anime and come to love the theme song “ERASE” right alongside it.

Yamanaka-san: Exactly! “ERASE” is packed with elements that reflect Nube, and we created it hoping fans could enjoy both together. Since it’s our first new release of 2026, we’ll probably perform it at the peak of our live shows… so if you don’t listen to it beforehand, the concert might not be as fun—just saying! (laughs)

【OP THEME INFORMATION】
Hell teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Part2 Opening Theme
THE ORAL CIGARETTES “ERASE”

◆Music Download Link: https://oral.lnk.to/ERASEID

◆Music Video: https://youtu.be/W-0djfZngXQ

◆Special Website: https://theoralcigarettes.com/feature/erase

【THE ORAL CIGARETTES　INFORMATION】

◆Official Website: https://theoralcigarettes.com/

◆Official X: https://twitter.com/oral_official

◆Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_oral_cigarettes_official/

◆Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/THEORALCIGARETTES

◆Official LINE account: https://line.me/ti/p/%40oral_official