From the animated series Neon Genesis Evangelion, a deconstruction of modern Japanese pop media, A Cruel Angel’s Thesis by Yoko Takahashi has remained popular in Japan, and the series from which it came has stayed iconic enough to have a hotel based around it, and even a high speed train.

Part of what makes A Cruel Angel’s Thesis so unique is how it departs from the culture that created, incorporating elements of techno, western church choir, and other differing musical styles. Because of the songs popularity, cultural relevancy, and the unique place of its source material, the song is distinctly Japanese, made all the more so by how alien it is compared to traditional music.

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