Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw KinKi Kids defeat Mr.Children and DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi. DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi are back again this week, facing off against two newcomers. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the singles charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

Oricon #1 / Billboard Hot 100 #1: STU48 – Kurayami (not in the Oricon Digital Singles top 10 / Billboard Download Songs #62 / not released for streaming)

Ronald: So I guess that powers that be realized that the 48 groups are over and the 46 groups are hot, leading to this sounding more like a 46 song than a 48 song. It’s not that bad. Not something I would seek out or listen to on my own, but decent. 5/10

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Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: EXILE – PARTY ALL NIGHT ~STAR OF WISH~ (not available physically / Billboard Hot 100 #6 / not available for streaming)

Ronald: Who the hell releases a New Year’s song in February? EXILE went on hiatus a while back, due to them currently being flops being the likely cause. Why did ATSUSHI even come back? You can make better music, music you actually like, on your own and sell more than EXILE is selling now. Drop the dead weight! The background dancers are useless and nobody is checking for TAKAHIRO, as the sales of his solo releases show. This song just reminds me of a watered down, modern version of an Earth, Wind, and Fire song. Something that would play at a lame office Christmas party due to how unoffensive and generic it is. If this is what EXILE’s is coming back with, they should’ve never came back 3.5/10

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Billboard Streaming Songs #1: DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi – Uchiage Hanabi (not in the Oricon top 100 / Billboard Hot 100 #18 / not in the Oricon Digital Singles top 10 / Billboard Download Songs #23)

Ronald: Same as before: This is basically a Yonezu Kenshi song featuring DAOKO. I have my problems with Kenshi, and they’re evident in this song. While listening to this, all I can think of is a rehash of a The Chainsmokers song. But I will say that DAOKO’s voice has improved. I listened to one of her albums a few years ago and I had to stop it a few songs in because her voice literally gave me a headache and made me want to vomit. I don’t have that issue now! However, I’m a bit lost as to what her point is. She was a rapper, and now she’s trying to be a popstar? I don’t get it… 5.5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Billboard Streaming Songs #1: DAOKO x Yonezu Kenshi – Uchiage Hanabi

2. Oricon #1 / Billboard Hot 100 #1: STU48 – Kurayami

3. Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: EXILE – PARTY ALL NIGHT ~STAR OF WISH~

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