After a few year hiatus, Hikaru Utada came back with her 6th album Fantôme in 2016, proving she was indeed the one and only legend. In the last 19 months since its release, she has signed with her new home EPIC Record Japan and she’s ready to embrace her fans as a brand new Hikaru Utada. EPIC Record Japan has just announced the release of Hikaru Utada’s 7th original studio album - her EPIC Record Japan debut - on June 27th, 2018, along with releasing her new publicity photos. What an #EPIC way to celebrate her 20th anniversary of her debut!
The album, titled HATSUKOI (meaning: First Love) tells the stories of feelings. It’s written in simple and precise words to express all the unsaid feelings and emotions everyone can relate to with beautifully written melodies that helps everybody feel warm inside. The album HATSUKOI is filled with inspiring and heartwarming emotions in such a way that only an iconic pop creator Hikaru Utada can magically come across through her creativity, and it shows the world that Hikaru Utada keeps on and will keep on staying at her prime for 2 more decades.
The album contains 12 songs (TBD) including all of her latest hits from 2017 – “Ohzora de Dakishimete” (<Suntory Tennensui water> TV commercial song), “Forevermore” (TV Drama Gommen, Aishiteru theme song), “Anata” (movie DESTINY Kamakura Monogatari theme song/ <SONY NoiCan Wireless earphones> commercial song), “Chikai” (KINGDOM HEARTS III theme song), to the latest 2018 hits “Hatsukoi” (TV drama Hana Nochi Hare – Hanadan Next Season image song), and “Play A Love Song” (<Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling> commercial song).
As a bonus and special gift, the first shipment of the physical CDs will contain a lottery ticket to pre-order her upcoming Japan tour tickets. YES! HIKARU UTADA JAPAN TOUR for the first time in 12 years! What a perfect way to celebrate her 20th anniversary! Don’t miss out on her very special year. The Japan tour will kick off in Yokohama on November 6th and the last day of her tour, December 9th 2018 will mark the 20-year anniversary of her debut album release.
<HIKARU UTADA Concert Tour2018>
DATES VENUE
- November 6, Wed Yokohama Arena
- November 7, Thurs Yokohama Arena
- November 14, Wed Marine Messe Fukuoka
- November 15, Thurs Marine Messe Fukuoka
- November 28, Wed Osaka Jo Hall
- November 29, Thurs Osaka Jo Hall
- December 4, Tues Saitama Super Arena
- December 5, Wed Saitama Super Arena
- December 8, Sat Makuhari Messe Event Hall 9-11
- December 9, Sun Makuhari Messe Event Hall 9-11
<ALBUM>
7th original studio album “HATSUKOI”
Release Date: June 27th, 2018
Standard Edition CD product number: ESCL-5076
Price: 3,240 Yen (incl. tax) / 3,000 Yen (excl. tax)
(a lottery ticket to pre-order the Japan tour tickets packaged with the initial CD shipment)
◆Pre-Order Hikaru Utada’s 7th album “HATSUKOI”
Hikaru Utada’s first song for 2018 “Play A Love Song” (Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling commercial song) is now available for download on April 25th! Hikaru Utada, celebrating her 20th anniversary of her debut, is releasing her first single of 2018 to kick off her anniversary year! A new commercial for <Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling> starring Hikaru Utada herself has just been aired from April 24th throughout Japan’s major media outlets and is already creating big buzz, making the featured song “Play A Love Song” a remarkable debut on April 25th for its digital release.
The 60 second version of the commercial has been released on YouTube in advance, it has reached over 100,000 views in just a matter of 5 days! Such a remarkable way to kick of her anniversary year and get a sneak peak of what’s coming with her brand new album due in June.
Suntory Minami Alps Sparkling> new TV commercial 60 second version
<The single “Play A Love Song”>
<Single Digital Release>
“Play A Love Song” (Suntory Minami-Alps Sparkling commercial song)
April 25th, 2018
“Hatsukoi” (TV Drama Hana Nochi Hare – Hanadan Next Season image song)
May 30th, 2018
