"Santa Maria" (サンタマリア) is the debut major label single by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu, released on May 15, 2013.

[7] In August 2012, Yonezu uploaded a song "'Anata wa Minikui" (あなたは醜い, "You're Ugly") to SoundCloud, but it was later deleted before his major debut.

[10] "Santa Maria" was made approximately a year after Diorama, and was inspired by Yonezu's time spent by himself at home.

"[11] "Santa Maria" was written about his decision what to do musically, after a long period of being unsure how to progress after Diorama.

He took the phrase "Santa Maria" for the song due to its associations with holiness and purity to illustrate this new-found direction.

"[16] The B-side "Hyakki Yakō" was written before "Santa Maria," Yonezu wanted to make a song with a lot of effort and punch, and wrote ironic and sarcastic lyrics.

[6][7] Yonezu later felt an uplifting, un-sarcastic song would be a better thing to release, so created "Santa Maria" as a result.

[7] The title refers to Hyakki Yagyō, a Japanese folklore concept where demons parade in towns on summer nights.

[24] The music video was first uploaded on April 23, 2013, and was directed by Perfume and Sakanaction collaborator Kazuaki Seki.

The video is shot in a grey room, where Yonezu wearing a flower wreath and long hair covering his face sits down to read a picture book.

It was picked as an editor's choice release by OK Music, which described the song as having "grand vocals riding on an elegant and magnificent sound," and praised the hopeful-sounding lyrics, and how they "swell in determination and confidence.

"[27] Kotaro Matsumura of Rockin' On called the single a masterpiece, praising how carefully every chosen word and sound was.

"[29] All tracks are written by Kenshi YonezuPersonnel details were sourced from "Santa Maria"'s liner notes booklet.