Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Sexy Zone beat back number to come out on top. We’re going to skip the week of 12/23 – 12/29 since it’s the same as the week of 12/9 – 12/15, where back number won over AKB48. This week we have a newcomer, as well as 2 blasts from the past. 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: Morning Musume ’15 – Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi / ENDLESS SKY / One and Only (none of the 3 songs placed in the Recochoku top 50 / none of the 3 songs placed in the iTunes top 50)

Ronald: Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi – This instrumental for this is actually a bit interesting, but the vocals ruin it. It’s a pleasant instrumental with a soft feminine feel, with some good squelchy synths that make it somewhat attention-getting. But the very amateur nature of the vocals are a real turn off. 3/10

ENDLESS SKY – I felt annoyed listening to this. This overly optimistic stuff does nothing for me. The vocals here are like a pinch less annoying than those on the previous song though. The saving grace of this song is the instrumental break towards the end. It’s not the best, but it is a somewhat nice breather from the rest of this song. 1.5/10

One and Only – The rock-ish vibe of this one makes it better than the previous 2, but that’s not hard to do. There’s more energy here and less of a cutesy vibe. And they’re more talking than singing, which is better because this group has crap vocals. Again, the instrumental break is the best part of the song. 3.5/10

Single average: 2.67

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Recochoku #1: Nishino Kana – Torisetsu (Oricon #17 / iTunes #2)

Ronald: Same review as before – 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

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iTunes #1: Hoshino Gen – SUN (not in the Oricon top 50 / Recochoku #3)

Ronald: Same review as before – Feel good songs are a specialty of Gen’s, and “SUN” is no exception. It’s bright and cheery like you think it would be given its name. This song is bright and cheery, but not cheesy, which is often the case with songs like this one. It capitalizes on 2 trends that are a growing influence  in Japanese music currently, the 70s and funk. I enjoy these element and I’m glad to see them here. 8/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. iTunes #1: Hoshino Gen – SUN

2. Oricon #1: Morning Musume ’15 – Tsumetai Kaze to Kataomoi / ENDLESS SKY / One and Only

3. Recochoku #1: Nishino Kana – Torisetsu

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