Akina (明菜) is the twenty-fifth studio album by Japanese singer Akina Nakamori and the final studio album to be released during the 2010s decade. It was released on 8 November 2017 under the Universal Music Group Japan label, as part of the 35th debut anniversary celebration, and was released on the same day as the cover album Cage.
Background
The album's title comes from Nakamori's given name, Akina. It marked the first time she used her name as part of a title in her discography. The album contains only nine tracks, making it the shortest album in her catalog in terms of length. The theme of the album was to capture the atmosphere of Kadokawa films from the 1980s.
Promotion
The album includes the leading track "Hirari: Sakura," written by Kouhei Nemumoto and Haruichi Shindō of the duo Porno Graffitti. The track was originally recorded as a B-side for the 2015 single "Fixer: While the Women Are Sleeping." The album version ("Akina version") features a thirty-second instrumental intro, unlike the original which starts directly with the vocal part.
Chart Performance
The album debuted at number 9 on the Oricon Album Weekly Chart and charted for 6 weeks. On the Billboard Japan charts, it debuted at number 8 on the Album Weekly Charts. On the digital streaming service Recochoku, it debuted at number 2 on the Digital Album Daily Charts and number 10 on the Digital Album Weekly Charts.
Track Listing
- "Merry Christmas: Yuki no Shizuku" – 4:43
- "Amar es Creer" – 3:57
- "Amaoto" – 4:25
- "Maboroshi" – 4:44
- "La.La.Bye" – 4:52
- "Amore" – 4:38
- "Hirari: Sakura (Akina version)" – 5:13
- "Fate: Unmei no Hito" – 3:39
- "Merry Christmas: Yuki no Shizuku (orgel version)" – 3:16
Release History
The album was originally released in 2017 in CD and CD+DVD formats under Universal Music Japan. It was reissued in 2023.
Personnel
- Producers: Naoshi Fujikura, Don Flamingo
- Label: Universal Music Group Japan
- Genre: J-pop
- Length: 39:15
- Language: Japanese
