10 years on, Pikotaro was more than a viral novelty

Comedian Daimaou Kosaka, performing under the stage name Pikotaro, became a global internet sensation when his song “PPAP” was released in August 2016. | REUTERS

Aug 29, 2026

Pikotaro had a pen, an apple, a pineapple and a beat. With these, he changed Japanese music forever.

On Aug. 25, 2016, the cheetah print-sporting alter ego of comedian Daimaou Kosaka shared “PPAP” on his official YouTube channel. The 44-second-long song played out like a TV comedy bit set to a rhythm box, with Pikotaro combining a variety of items on hand to create a “pen-pineapple-apple-pen.” Simple and silly enough.

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