Hikaru Utada Has Released A New Recording Of Kingdom Hearts' Best Song

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/10/d7f915ac/hikaru_utada_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="hikaru utada hikari simple and clean kingdom hearts 4 iv new recording" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p>

<p>Today marks two years since <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/10/kingdom-hearts-4-revealed-in-20th-anniversary-trailer">the official reveal of Kingdom Hearts IV</a>, and while Square Enix hasn't shared any news about the game, fans of the series can celebrate with a new recording of the franchise's best song by Hikaru Utada. As pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) by <a href="https://x.com/Genki_JPN/status/1777876279607578793">Genki_JPN</a>, Utada's new Science Fiction album, which they released yesterday, features a re-recording of "Hikari," the Japanese version of "Simple and Clean."&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you're a Kingdom Hearts fan, you likely already know which song this is. However, if you haven't touched the series in a while, or if you've never played the beginning of Kingdom Hearts, it's the Japanese version of the song in this famous game opener below:&nbsp;</p>

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<p>As for the new recording of "Hikari," its place on Science Fiction makes sense because its Utada's first greatest hits album, if you will, meant to act as a compilation with new mixes of old songs, re-recordings of fan-favorite tracks, and more. You can listen to the album, which features 26 tracks, starting today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you're interested in hearing the new recording of "Hikari," you can listen below:&nbsp;</p>

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<p>For more about Kingdom Hearts, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/10/kingdom-hearts-4-revealed-in-20th-anniversary-trailer">watch the Kingdom Hearts IV trailer here</a>, and then check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/kingdom-hearts-iii/a-main-attraction-worth-waiting-for"><em>Game Informer's&nbsp;</em>Kingdom Hearts III review</a>. After that, read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2022/06/14/nomura-reveals-more-on-kingdom-hearts-iv-and-the-series-future-with"><em>Game Informer's&nbsp;</em>exclusive interview with Kingdom Hearts IV director Tetsuya Nomura</a> for new details.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>What's your favorite Hikaru Utada track from the Kingdom Hearts series? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>