is a song by Japanese voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto, released as her eighth single on December 6, 2000, through Victor Entertainment. Co-written by Sakamoto herself and Yoko Kanno, the song served as theme song for the television anime series Earth Maiden Arjuna, which premiered in January 2001 in Japan.
"Mameshiba" marked Sakamoto's return to recording after a break from new music releases post-1999, period which Sakamoto prepared for her college entrance exams. The song also marked the first time Sakamoto penned the lyrics for the title track of one of her singles. The song was composed by Yoko Kanno specifically as a tie-in theme for the anime Earth Maiden Arjuna, with specific lyrical directives provided to Sakamoto. Upon first hearing the demo of the song, Sakamoto commented that she asked Kanno where the chorus wasâÂÂa question Kanno would later recounted as a humorous anecdote.
The song title originated as a provisional name chosen by Kanno before the lyrics were written. After Sakamoto completed the lyricsâÂÂcentered on the theme of âÂÂrunning as far as I have to for the person I loveâÂÂâÂÂSakamoto and Kanno considered that it evoked a dog-like determination, prompting them to keep it. Sakamoto would later comment that this marked her first attempt at adopting a more literary, author-like approach to lyric writing.
"Mameshiba" was released on December 6, 2000âÂÂabout a month before the anime's television premiereâÂÂas an 8 cm CD packaged within a standard 12 cm jewel case. This became the last single release by Sakamoto on 8 cm CD format. The single featured the B-side "Kà «ki to Hoshi," penned by lyricist Yuho Iwasato.
The music video for "Mameshiba" was directed by Naoki Imamura, with filming taking place in the Shibuya and Daikanyamachà  metropolitan areas. In the video, Sakamoto and a puppy run continuously through multiple sites to capture the song's energetic, dog-like sprint imagery.
"Mameshiba" debuted and peaked at number 47 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, selling 5,110 copies on its first week. The single charted for two weeks, with reported sales totaling 7,990 copies.
"Mameshiba" was first included on the soundtrack album Arjuna: Into the Another World, released on March 23, 2001, by Victor Entertainment. This album included a different version of the B-side , with lyrics penned by Gabriela Robin and vocals by Chinatsu Yamamoto.
Both "Mameshiba" and "Kà «ki to Hoshi" were included on Sakamoto third studio album, Lucy, released on March 28, 2001.
An alternative version of "Mameshiba," titled , was included on the soundtrack album Arjuna 2: Onna no Minato, released on May 23, 2001.
In 2019, Japanese novelist published an essay expressing his admiration for "Mameshiba," describing it as a transformative force in his teenage years, providing him with a sense of salvation amid feelings of loneliness and despair.
In 2025, "Mameshiba" ranked sixth in a fan-voting initiative conducted as part of the celebrations of Sakamoto's thirtieth anniversary of her debut, leading up to the release of her second best-of album M30: Your Song. Sakamoto expressed surprise at this, noting that while she was aware of its relative popularity, the high placement was unexpected.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.