Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Kiritani Kenta as Urashima Taro beat BOYS AND MEN and AI to take the top spot. This week, we have a returnee from last week and 2 newcomers facing off. 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: KAT-TUN – TRAGEDY (not released digitally)

Ronald: I’m not really a fan of this. It’s an anime theme, but it sounds way too much like one. It’s more like an anisong than a song by an act that just so happens to be an anime theme. I think KAT-TUN would’ve been better off sticking to the sound of their last few releases as opposed to going so stereotypical with this anime theme. And the song just sounds so rushed. I feel bombarded. I think if they slowed things down a touch, the song would be better. 5/10

Amanda: For some reason this song reminds me of something that Nami Tamaki would sing. And that seems appropriate, since this is the theme song for Detective Conan, and Nami Tamaki has sung many themes for anime. I’m glad that KAT-TUN strays away from the typical sugary sweet aspect of the Johnny’s sound (as they have for all of their career). It certainly has that distinctive “anime” feel, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I think this song offers some musical complexity while being catchy and easy to listen to. 8/10

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Recochoku #1: Teshima Aoi – Ashita e no Tegami (Drama Version) (Oricon #16 / iTunes #3)

Ronald: This is pleasant, but it’s not really that interesting. It’s a drama theme, and it very much feels like one. It’s slow and soft, something to tug at the heartstrings. But I feel as if I’ve heard this song a million times from a million different people. I wonder what the people at Fuji TV were thinking was so special about this song to use it as a theme song like 2 years after it came out. 5/10

Amanda: I don’t hate the song, but I’m bored. It’s a suiting song for a romance melodrama. Teshima Aoi delivers a great vocal performance, but nothing about this is memorable to me. It’s a sweet song to listen to, and nothing more really. 7/10

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iTunes #1: Urashima Taro (Kiritani Kenta) – Umi no Koe (not released physically / Recochoku #2)

Ronald: Same review as before – I’m not a fan. This just seems like a bad parody. His voice on this just seems like a shout a lot of the time. It’s like he’s trying to be emotive, but he’s missing the mark. It makes everything seem like a joke. 3.5/10

Amanda: Same review as before – This song wouldn’t be bad…if sung by someone else. I like Kiritani as an actor but not really as a singer. The song itself is decent. It’s just Kiritani’s singing that is a little grating. Listening to it, you can tell that he is singing to the best of his ability, but it’s just that the best of his ability, technically speaking, isn’t that great. All in all I don’t think this song is bad at all, and I guess Kiritani is what gives it character. However, I wouldn’t quite sit down and listen to this. 6/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Oricon #1: KAT-TUN – TRAGEDY / Recochoku #1: Teshima Aoi – Ashita e no Tegami (Drama Version)

3. iTunes #1: Urashima Taro (Kiritani Kenta) – Umi no Koe

Amanda’s Rank:

1. Oricon #1: KAT-TUN – TRAGEDY

2. Recochoku #1: Teshima Aoi – Ashita e no Tegami (Drama Version)

3. iTunes #1: Urashima Taro (Kiritani Kenta) – Umi no Koe

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