Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Utada Hikaru defeat Nogizaka46 and Nishino Kana. Kana is back 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: HKT48 – Hayaokuri Calendar (not in the Oricon Digital Singles top 20 / Billboard Download Songs #63 / not in the Billboard Streamings Songs top 100)

Ronald: Ohh God, the canned guitar opening told me this was going to be bad… This is basically the epitome of why I don’t like female idols. Cutesy, annoying voices, dated music… There is nothing interesting here and the song is quite unbearable. 2/10

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Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: SingTuyo – KISS is my life. (not released physically / Billboard Hot 100 #3 / not available for streaming)

Ronald: I’m quite surprised by this. The SMAP songs I’ve heard have generally been meh, even if the person who created the song is a fave of mine. This reminds me a lot of a soft R&B song from the end of last decade, provoking a certain sense of nostalgia. It’s pleasant, and doesn’t try to be more than that. But given who it’s coming from, it’s a nice turn. 7/10

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Billboard Streaming Songs #1: Nishino Kana – I Love You (Oricon #30 / Billboard Hot 100 #13 / Oricon Digital Singles #13 / Billboard Download Songs #13)

Ronald: Same review as before: I’m bored. This is boring. Another phoned-in song by someone who used to give us bop after bop. I don’t even know why I bother now. I keep hoping for another “Pa”-like oasis in this desert of dreary, but no… 3/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. Oricon Digital Singles #1 / Billboard Download Songs #1: SingTuyo – KISS is my life.

2. Billboard Streaming Songs #1: Nishino Kana – I Love You

3. Oricon #1 / Billboard Hot 100 #1: HKT48 – Hayaokuri Calendar

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