Kazumi Totaka's Song
Introduction
Hidden away in a number of Nintendo games is a strange song made up of a few simple notes.
This peculiar Easter Egg showed up most famously in Mario Paint, Yoshi's Story and Animal Crossing. For many years, it was known as the "Mario Paint song". But what was the reason behind it?
A mystery solved…
NinDB discovered that that the guitar-playing dog K.K. Slider in Animal Crossing was based on the game's music composer Kazumi Totaka. From there, we realised he was also the composer on the other three games the song has been found in.
This set off an internet-wide Easter Egg hunt for even more appearances of the song in other games he was credited as the composer for. Games old and new were explored. Thanks to the hard work and curiosity of many contributors, the song has been found in nearly every game Kazumi Totaka has worked on.
The hunt continues for more appearances in older games and new ones. If you believe you have tracked down an appearance of the song, then contact NinDB!
X (Game Boy, 1992)
The first game Kazumi Totaka is known to have worked on as the music composer is this Japan-exclusive 3D Game Boy action game co-developed by Nintendo and Argonaut. The song was discovered 15 years after its original release, usurping Mario Paint as the first appearance.
In Mission 4, Dr. Yamano has been kidnapped and you have to destroy the alien bases to find him. In some bases you find fake scientists who pop up on-screen to thank you. Wait on this screen for a few moments and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Kuttlas, TrustTheFungus, Parrothead
Mario Paint (SNES, 1992)
Perhaps the most well-known occurrence of the song, and the easiest to find.
On the title screen, click the mouse cursor on the "O" in "MARIO". It will turn into a bomb and explode, stopping the music. A few seconds later, Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Fryguy64
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy, 1992)
Lose all your lives and wait around on the Game Over screen for a few minutes. Eventually the music will stop and Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Fryguy64
For the Frog the Bell Tolls (Game Boy, 1993)
In this Japan-exclusive Game Boy action/adventure, the Mille-Feuille Kingdom is home to another rendition of Kazumi Totaka's Song.
After clearing the castle and returning to the village, a building will have appeared next to the ship. Enter the building and wait around for a couple of minutes. The music will eventually stop and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Matthew Broussard, Ugetab
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy, 1993)
Link's Awakening contains three separate versions of Kazumi Totaka's Song, although only two have been located in-game.
Richard's Villa
The first version of the song can be found in Richard's Villa. Prince Richard, his frogs and his theme are all originally from the game For the Frog the Bell Tolls. Wait for the music in his house to loop a few times and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
In the Link's Awakening DX version on Game Boy Color, Richard's theme also plays when you are having your photo taken with him outside Kanalet Castle. You can also hear Kazumi Totaka's Song at this point in the game.
File select screen
The second version has only been found in the Japanese and German DX versions of the game.
In the Japanese version, on the File Select screen, start a new file and enter your name as "Totakeke". The music will change to a remix of Totaka's Song.
In the German version of Link's Awakening DX, you can hear the same secret track by entering your name as "MOYSE", after the German language localiser for the game. It is unknown if the same is possible in other languages or regions.
Unknown – Instrument of the Sirens?
The third version has only been found in the game's sound files, but has not been located in the game. It sounds as though it's played using one of the Instruments of the Sirens that you collect.
Virtual Boy Wario Land (Virtual Boy, 1995)
After completing the game and watching the staff credits, wait on the "END" screen for 1 minute and 15 seconds, and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Matthew Broussard, Nick Barba, Phil Bond, Screenshot by Grandy02
Yoshi's Story (Nintendo 64, 1997)
Wait on the Trial Mode stage select screen. After the music has looped a few times it will stop and Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Fryguy64
Mario Artist (64DD, 1999 to 2000)
One of the songs you can play over your creations in Mario Artist: Talent Studio is Kazumi Totaka's Song. In the song list, it's referred to as "Totakeke Bushi".
One of the preloaded videos in the game is a speedy driver hurtling towards an old woman who is slowly crossing the road. In the scenes with the old woman, Kazumi Totaka's Song is heard.
Submitted by Nick Barba, theq, Phil Bond, Stanislav, Fryguy64
Animal Crossing Series (2001 to present)
Every instalment of the Animal Crossing series has featured Kazumi Totaka's Song under the title K.K. Song. You can request this song from the guitar-playing dog K.K. Slider. The dog is based on Kazumi Totaka, and the character's Japanese name is Totakeke, which is a known pseudonym for the composer. This version of the song is played using K.K. Slider's distinct voice:
When he's finished playing, he gives you a copy of the track that you can play in your house:
The song appears when you scan some Animal Crossing-e e-Reader cards in the Gamecube version of the game. Cards P15 and P13 have been confirmed to contain the song. It's also worth noting that Kazumi Totaka is credited as the sound designer on the e-Reader itself.
City Folk: Kapp'n
In the Wii edition Animal Crossing: City Folk, the bus driver Kapp'n will sometimes whistle Kazumi Totaka's Song when driving between your village and the city.
Submitted by Fryguy64, Nathaniel Wade, Phil Bond, Rosiebell32, cool_boy_mew
Luigi's Mansion (Gamecube, 2001)
After meeting E. Gadd for the first time, you will have to do some training with the Poltergust. Before the training begins you are shown a screen displaying the game controls. Wait on this screen for 3 minutes and 25 seconds and Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Nick Barba, Phil Bond, MP3 by BadWolf
Pikmin 2 (Gamecube, 2004)
Go into any cave you have not yet completed and finish it by collecting all the treasure. When you exit the cave using the geyser you are taken to the "Treasures Salvaged" screen, where a "Cave Completed" message and twinkling confetti appears. Wait on the Cave Completed screen for a few minutes and Totaka's Song starts playing.
If you have already completed the cave, or if you failed to collect all the treasures, the confetti will not appear and the song will not play.
Submitted by George Morgan
Yoshi Touch & Go (Nintendo DS, 2005)
On the Marathon mode you will sometimes cross through a mountainous area where strong winds blow away your clouds. Pause the game and listen for a few minutes. Eventually Totaka's Song will play, mixed in with the background music.
Submitted by Zargon, MP3 by David Dayton
X-Scape (DSiWare, 2010)
18 years after his first game, Kazumi Totaka returned to compose the music for this sequel to X on DSiWare. It is found in a similar place to in that game as well.
Save the fake doctor from planet Mapate and bring him to the base on Mordarl. Talk to your robot until it asks "What's that?!" The music will change to a weird distorted tune. Wait on this screen for 3 minutes and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.
Submitted by Pyro873, original discovery by Shiroyu
Mario Kart 8 (Wii U, 2014)
The only known instance of the song being discovered in a game where Kazumi Totaka wasn't the main sound composer.
If you get close enough to some of the Yoshis lining the track, you will be able to hear their voices. Some are chattering, some are singing, and some are specifically singing Kazumi Totaka's Song:
Kazumi Totaka has been the voice actor for Yoshi since 1997.
Discovered by Somewhat Awesome Games
Still looking…
Kazumi Totaka has worked on a number of games where his signature song has yet to be found. If you find the song hiding in any of these games, or in any new games, please do not hesitate to contact NinDB.
Missing Games
- Wave Race 64 (Nintendo 64)
- Healthy Recipe Assistant 1000: DS Menu Anthology (Nintendo DS)
- Wii Sports (Wii)
- Wii Music (Wii)
- Yoshi's New Island (Nintendo 3DS)
- Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (Nintendo 3DS)
Possible Missing Games
Kazumi Totaka is listed as having worked on the following games in some capacity, although he may not have been the main composer:
- F-1 Race (Game Boy)
- Tetris & Dr. Mario (SNES)
Unlikely sources
Kazumi Totaka's name appears in a great many games, as he has provided the voice of Yoshi since 1997 and Professor E. Gadd since 2001.
While it's unlikely that the song will appear in any game where he's credited for voice work, this did happen in Mario Kart 8. Anything's possible!
