Pikotaro

PikoTaro is a fictional stage persona created and performed by Japanese comedian Daimaou Kosaka. The character gained international prominence with the 2016 viral video PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen).

In the video, PikoTaro wears a bold leopard-print shirt and scarf and presents a lighthearted, deadpan performance. The song is intentionally simple and repetitive, pairing brief phrases about a pen, an apple, and a pineapple, culminating in the memorable line Pen Pineapple Apple Pen.

The video was released on YouTube in 2016 and quickly spread across social media, attracting millions of views and spawning numerous parodies, covers, and media coverage worldwide. The phenomenon contributed to the broader trend of short-form, meme-driven music content and helped popularize the concept of viral novelty songs.

After PPAP, Kosaka continued to perform as PikoTaro in additional videos and appearances, keeping the character's trademark lighthearted, minimalist style.