Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Namie Amuro defeat Nogizaka46. Namie is 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: SKE48 – Muishiki no Iro (not in the Oricon Digital Singles top 20 / Billboard Download Songs #62 / not in the Billboard Streaming Songs top 100)

Ronald: Now I know why this group releases only one single a year now: because they lack an identity of their own, leading them to make the exact same songs as the other 48 groups. Why give this group multiple releases when only fans care and there are several other groups within the 48 family to pump out the same, generic, sugary pap? 2.5/10

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Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: RYUJI IMAICHI – ONE DAY (not available physically / Billboard Hot 100 #3 / not available for streaming)

Ronald: I appreciate RYUJI going back the LDH’s R&B roots, which is something that only ATSUSHI does now. The company has strayed too far, becoming some odd EDM / KPop idol company. That being said, I found this song to be quite dull. There’s nothing fresh here, besides the genre change. His vocals are better than they’ve been as of late though. 5.5/10

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Billboard Streaming Songs #1: Namie Amuro – Hero (Oricon #81 / Billboard Hot 100 #9 / Oricon Digital Singles #5 / Billboard Download Songs #5)

Ronald: Same review as before: This song needs a hero. It’s just another piece of nothing song that I’ve heard a million times before from a million other acts. If Namie was going to do something of this tempo, she should’ve taken notes from “BRIGHTER DAY” because this is just a bore, lacking in character and excitement. 4/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: RYUJI IMAICHI – ONE DAY

2. Billboard Streaming Songs #1: Namie Amuro – Hero

3. Oricon #1 / Billboard Hot 100 #1: SKE48 – Muishiki no Iro

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