Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Hoshino Gen defeat Hey! Say! JUMP and LiSA. This week, we have three 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 / Billboard #1: Kis-My-Ft2 – INTER (not released digitally)

Ronald: Damn, how many times can one say “tonight” in one song? But the repetition of the song’s title wasn’t the only samey thing about this song. This just sounds like a song I’ve heard by Sexy Zone or some other Johnny’s group before. Nothing new to see here. 3/10

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Recochoku #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – HAPPY (not released physically / not released on iTunes / Billboard #15)

Ronald: At least it’s not an EDM or swag song… People often complain about this group’s songs, but when they do something different, it seems… quite odd. Like, this doesn’t feel like them, this reminds me more of a song ATSUSHI would do solo, or would get EXILE to do as a B-side. But coming from Sandaime J Soul Brothers, it seems… kinda hollow. Like they heard the criticism and tried to do their version of Hoshino Gen’s “Koi.” 5/10

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iTunes #1: Anly+Sukima Switch= – Kono Yami wo Terasu Hikari no Mukou ni (Oricon #23 / Recochoku #3 / Billboard #6)

Ronald: At first I thought, “This is ok…” It gets better towards the end though. At first, I thought that this song would be better with Anly only. But once the bridge comes in, I see why Sukima Switch is on the song. The interplay between the male and female vocals was a really nice feature. The vocals in the last minute of the song are some of the most exciting I’ve heard in Japanese music in quite a while. And the guitar closing the song out… Wow, I was actually quite surprised by this song in the end. It really built into something I didn’t expect. 7.5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. iTunes #1: Anly+Sukima Switch= – Kono Yami wo Terasu Hikari no Mukou ni

2. Recochoku #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – HAPPY

3. Oricon #1 / Billboard #1: Kis-My-Ft2 – INTER

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