Hello Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw NMB48 take the top spot over Nishino Kana. Kana is back again this week, along with 2 newcomers. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

Oricon #1: Kis-My-Ft2 – AAO (not released digitally)

Watch here

Ronald: This is a pleasant surprise. I see that they’re keeping up with the current 70s funk trend on this song. This song reminds me of an older song, McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.” I like the use of strings on this. It adds a soft layer to this song. I could’ve lived without the first rap segment, but the second one doesn’t really bother me. 7/10

Thomas: I’m surprised myself but I’m actually in love with this. I usually avoid Johnny’s genki songs but this one is really fun, probably because it’s not a bucket of “genki” thrown at me at once and even the rap part doesn’t bother me. As usual, I’m not a big fan of their vocals but they kind of work for this song. 6/10

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Recochoku #1: THE Sharehappi from Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Share The Love (not released physically / iTunes #5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyexmrcU74w

Ronald: I really don’t like this. It’s so corny, so dated. This would’ve made sense years ago, but now? No. I wouldn’t had liked it then, and I definitely don’t like it now. And why are they trying to act like this is a subunit when it’s really Hiroomi’s solo song? If only 1 person is singing, it’s a solo song, not a subunit. And what’s with his voice on this? It sounds so stressed. 1/10

Thomas: I didn’t really mind this when I first watched that Pocky CM but now that I listened to the full song, this sounds like something you’d play at a children’s birthday party to me. EDM at its worst. And I swear I heard some of these samples a million times already. 3/10

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iTunes #1: Nishino Kana – Torisetsu (Oricon #27 / Recochoku #3)

Ronald: Dreadful. I can’t with this twee, babyish crap she puts out now. I’ve really and truly reached my limit after these past few singles of the same throwback Taylor Swift crap. I hate this. 1/10

Thomas: I think the lyrics are really clever for this kind of song but the song just screams cliché. For some reason, Kana’s earlier songs sound way more mature than her latest few efforts. This whole “Japanese Taylor Swift” thing needs to stop. Out of the three new songs this week, it’s still the one I’d pick if I had to. 5/10

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Ronald’s Rank

1. Oricon #1: Kis-My-Ft2 – AAO

2. Recochoku #1: THE Sharehappi from Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Share The Love / iTunes #1: Nishino Kana – Torisetsu

Thomas’ Rank:

1. Oricon #1: Kis-My-Ft2 – AAO

2. iTunes #1: Nishino Kana – Torisetsu

3. Recochoku #1: THE Sharehappi from Sandaime J Soul Brothers – Share The Love

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