Sakura Nagashi

Sakura Nagashi was released in 2012 as the theme song for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the third installment in the Rebuild of Evangelion film series produced by Studio Khara. The song was commissioned to provide a melancholic, reflective counterpoint to the high-stakes narrative tension of the film, marking a significant departure from the series' traditional musical motifs.

The track was written and performed by the acclaimed singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, who composed it during a self-imposed career hiatus. Guided by her interpretation of the film’s themes of loss and transition, Utada crafted a minimalist, piano-led arrangement that focuses on the transient nature of life, a sentiment mirrored by the title, which translates to 'flowing cherry blossoms.' The song received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional vulnerability and remains a definitive piece of modern Japanese cinema soundtracks.