Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has announced the top song and album rankings for January 2022!   In the Single Ranking category, Aimer’s Zankyosanka was ranked #1 for the second consecutive month. The song is the opening for the newest Demon Slayer anime arc which began airing on December 5, 2021.   The ending theme for Demon Slayer, Asa ga Kuru, was released on January 10, and quickly climbed the ranks. Aimer is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut, and this is a powerful start to the year for this talented singer.   As for the Album Ranking, the top spot was clear for January. Ado’s 14-song debut album ‘Kyogen’ sits in the top spot, and includes many of her smash hits. From Usseewa to Aitakute, the album also contains seven new songs which are steadily gaining popularity. Six days after the album’s release, it was ranked #1 for the month of January.   Ado’s 8th single ‘Kokoro to Iu Nano Fukakai’ also ranked 5th on the Single Ranking. Written and arranged by Mafumafu, the song is the theme for the drama series Doctor White starring Minami Hamabe. Ado will also be holding her first solo concert at Zepp DiverCity on April 4, 2022!

YOASOBI is known for turning novels into incredible music. The duo’s debut song Yoru ni Kakeru was released in November 2019 and immediately attracted attention, dominating the charts in both Japan and abroad. The group also performed at the 71st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.    Their first EP, ‘The Book,’ was released in January of this year, and the unique release has become popular, with many calling it a ‘reading CD,’ made with the concept of ‘turning a novel into music.’ Their songs Kaibutsu and Yasashii Suisei were both featured in the BEASTARS anime series, and in February, YOASOBI held their first solo concert at the construction site of the former Milano Theater in Shinjuku. The two topped the Billboard Japan Top Artists ranking in the first half of 2021.    Mister - YOASOBI (Teaser)

 

Comment from Rio Shimamoto

When I heard Mister for the first time, it gently evoked memories of people I will never see again.    I felt my novel blending vividly into the world of YOASOBI, and it was a very surreal experience. This song reminds us of the sad and nostalgic stories that are kept deep in our hearts.  

Novel into Music Project

YOASOBI will be releasing a new song, Mister, on February 16, 2022. This song was created as part of a collaborative project with four Naoki Prize-winning writers: Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori. This new initiative seeks to turn novels into music that all can enjoy, and all four authors were tasked with writing short stories about firsts in their lives to inspire YOASOBI’s work. This song was based on the novel ‘My Only Owner,’ a story about first love by Rio Shimamoto. A teaser video for the track has also been released directed by Ijigen TOKYO.

Since 2019, musical duo YOASOBI has taken Japan and the rest of the world by storm. Producer and songwriter Ayase, along with singer-songwriter Ikura, base their tracks on short stories, bringing books to life. Their debut single, Yoru ni Kakeru, was released on December 19, 2019, and spent three weeks at the top of the Oricon charts. Their first EP, ‘THE BOOK,’ was released in January 2021, and now, ‘THE BOOK 2’ is less than two weeks away. The duo will also be performing in this year's Kouhaku Uta Gassen New Years’ special. In February 2021, YOASOBI held their first solo concert at the KEEP OUT THEATER in Shinjuku.    ‘THE BOOK 2’ will release on December 1, and the pair’s first face-to-face one-off concert, titled Nice to Meet You, will take place at Nippon Budokan from December 4 to 5.    ‘THE BOOK 2’ will be a limited edition-only release, and the CD will come in a ring binder package. The album will also be available to stream. To commemorate this new release, the group’s first album will be getting a second run starting November 30.   

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has announced the top song and album rankings for August 2021!   RecoChoku Monthly Music Award - August 2021Single Ranking 1st Place: Love Letter - YOASOBI (Released digitally August 9, 2021) 2nd Place: Suiheisen - back number 3rd Place: Dry Flower - Yuri 4th Place: SMILE ~Harewataru Sora no Youni~ - Keisuke Kuwata 5th Place: Apoptosis - Official Hige Dandism  Album Ranking 1st Place: Editorial - Official Hige Dandism (Released digitally August 18, 2021) 2nd Place: THE BOOK - YOASOBI 3rd Place: Belle Original Soundtrack - Various Artists 4th Place: Magia Record 2nd Season Theme Song Collection - ClariS, TrySail 5th Place: Senko Hanabi - Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE     YOASOBI’s Love Letter took the top prize in the single ranking. Written as a collaborative project with the SUNDAY’S POST radio show on TOKYO FM, the song was inspired by a letter sent in by a sixth grader, Hatsune-san, expressing gratitude for music. The Osaka Toin High School Brass Band, after impressing the nation at the SING YOUR WORLD event last month, also performed on the track. As the title would imply, it truly is a love letter written to music itself. Resonating with audiences, it reached the top of the weekly chart upon release on August 11.   The music video for Love Letter was released on August 31, and channels the love and appreciation for music found in Hatsune-san’s letter. Since release, it has continuously trended on social media, and has over 4 million views on YouTube. YOASOBI will release their next track, Taisho Rouman, on September 15.   Official Hige Dandism took the top spot in the Album category, with their long-awaited second album Editorial containing popular tracks like I LOVE…, Laughter, and Cry Baby. This 14-song release comes almost two years after their last album release. On RecoChoku, it was #1 for two consecutive weeks. Official Hige Dandism began a nationwide tour on September 4.  

UNIQLO's UT collection is a line of tees created in collaboration with other brands, anime, shows, and more. On July 2, UNIQLO is teaming up with the Japanese music duo YOASOBI to release an exclusive new collection.   YOASOBI, which is comprised of Ayase and ikura, made their debut in 2020 with their hit song Yoru ni Kakeru. Since then, their music has continued to top charts in JApan.   The collection is a fusion of fashion and music in women's and kids designs featuring stills taken from seven of the duo's iconic music videos including Yoru ni Kakeru, Halzion, Tabun, Gunjo, Haruka, Encore, and their new track Sangenshoku.  

The Line-Up

Women's Tees | 7 Designs | ¥1,500

Kids Tees | 5 Designs | ¥990

To promote the collaboration, YOASOBI will also hold a free YouTube livestream on July 4 2021 at 6pm (JST). The online event is called “SING YOUR WORLD” and will see them perform live.   ©藍にいな ©ラビットマシーン ©すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔 ©南條沙歩 ©しなの ©牧野惇 ©古塔つみ ©むつき潤 ©伊豆見香苗・すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔 ©文・すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has revealed the top song and album rankings of artists for April 2021 who earn the site’s RecoChoku Award for the month. Taking the number one spot for the monthly single charts is YOASOBI with Mou Sukoshi Dake ('Just a Little More') which released on May 10 as the theme song for Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV.  

RecoChoku Award Monthly Music – May 2021

Single Charts

1st Place: "Mou Sukoshi Dake" - YOASOBI (Released May 20, 2021) 2nd Place: "Kaitou" - back number 3rd Place: "Kirari" - Fujii Kaze 4th Place: "Butter" - BTS 5th Place: "Cry Baby" - Official HIGE DANdism  

Album Charts

1st Place: "ZZ's II" - Momoiro Clover Z (Releasing May 17, 2021) 2nd Place: "THE BOOK" - YOASOBI 3rd Place: "Kimi Shika Katan (Special Edition)" - Hinatazaka46 4th Place: "Butter" - BTS 5th Place: "LADYBUG" - LiSA YOASOBI's Mou Sukoshi Dake is inspired by the novel Meguru. by Chiharu and first hit the air on March 29 as the main theme for the weekly Japanese news show Mezamashi TV. Excited words of praise flooded social media in Japan when it played on the show. The single's cover art was created by hmng and captures a scene of a schoolgirl bathed in light. This girl also appears in the novel, giving a peek into its story as well as the feeling of the song itself. Mou Sukoshi Dake has ranked number one two weeks in a row for RecoChoku's weekly rankings on May 12 and 19 and has now taken the monthly spot.   YOASOBI's success doesn't stop there however as it was recently announced that band member ikura is receiving her voice acting role in Studio Chizu's upcoming anime film Belle which is set for release this July.    Momoiro Clover Z's compilation album ZZ's II is set to release on May 17 in celebration of the group's 13th anniversary. The tracks were re-recorded by the current four members. There are 10 songs in title including Nippon Egao Hyakkei -ZZ ver.-, Saraba Itoshiki Kanashimi-tachi yo which features arrangement and guitar work by Tomoyasu Hotei, and more. Momoiro Clover Z have been posting videos of songs from the album on their official YouTube channel. The album came in at number one on the daily charts and that has continued in the weekly and monthly charts.