Ohia no Ki explained

Ohia no Ki
Cover:Ohia no Ki.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ayumi Hamasaki
Album:Remember You
Recorded:2020
Genre:
Length:4:36
Label:Avex Trax
Prev Title:We Are the Queens
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Dreamed a Dream
Next Year:2020

"Ohia no Ki" (オヒアの木, lit. "Ohia tree") is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released as a digital single only on July 5, 2020, following the airing of the final episode of M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite. The song is Hamasaki's first new release in almost two years and her first digital single since 2016's "We Are the Queens".

The song debuted at number 1 on the Oricon Daily Digital Singles chart upon release, and peaked at number 14 on the Weekly Digital Singles Chart after exceeding 10,000 downloads.

A physical CD version of "Ohia no Ki" was included in the limited edition of Hamasaki's latest concert DVD, , released in August 2020.

Background

The song was initially teased at midnight on July 3, 2020, with a video flashing the single's cover for a short moment, followed by a text that read “July 4th 24:00 DON’T MISS IT”. It was further teased by a short TV commercial that aired after the final episode of M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite, a drama based on Hamasaki's rise to fame. The single was revealed to be called "Ohia no Ki", her first one to use a non-romanized Japanese title.[1]

It was released on digital platforms and streaming services at midnight on July 5, 2020,[2] making it her first single in almost four years since "We Are the Queens" (2016), and her first release overall since Trouble (2018).

Writing and production

The song's lyrics were written by Hamasaki while composition was handled by Kazuhito Kikuchi who previously composed some of Hamasaki's signature songs such as "Who..." and "Heaven".[3]

Lyrically, the song was inspired by and dedicated to her son, to whom she had given birth in November 2019. The song title comes from the ʻŌhiʻa Lehua flower and may refer to a Hawaiian legend.[4]

Release

The song was released as a digital single on July 5, 2020.[5]

A physical release of the song was included as the second bonus CD on TeamAyu/Mu-mo shop limited editions of , which was released on August 26, 2020.[6] In contrast to the digital version, the CD also contains the song's instrumental.[7] Hamasaki's latest single "Dreamed a Dream" and its instrumental were included on the disc as well.[7]

Promotion

The premiere performance of the song was held during the encore of Hamasaki's Premium Limited Live A: Natsu No Trouble, a special online concert without an audience that was streamed on AbemaTV on July 25, 2020.[8] It was Hamasaki's first live performance in five months since the cancellation of her tour in February due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

The song was also performed on the first night of 2020 FNS Kayousai on December 2, 2020.[10]

Music video

On July 24, 2020, a "short version" of the music video, lasting only two minutes and thirty-four seconds, was uploaded to Hamasaki's official YouTube channel. It was directed by Kazuyoshi Shimomura, who previously worked on the music videos for Hamasaki's songs "Mirrorcle World" and "Green", both released in 2008, and "Sparkle", released in 2009.[11]

The full version was released on July 30, 2020.[12]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number one on the Oricon Daily Digital Single Chart with 5,052 copies sold.[13] With only one day's worth of sales due to its being released on the last tracking day of the charting week, it entered the Oricon Weekly Digital Singles Chart at number 18.[14]

In its second week, "Ohia no Ki" reached a new peak on the weekly chart when it rose four positions to number 14. The song sold an additional 5,819 copies, bringing its total sales to 10,871.[15]

Track listing

CD

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak Position
Oricon Daily Digital Singles Chart1
Oricon Weekly Digital Singles Chart14
Billboard Japan Download Songs14

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202007040001306.html. ja:「Ｍ」サプライズＣＭ…浜崎あゆみ２年ぶり新曲配信. . July 5, 2020. Nikkan Sports. ja. "M" surprise commercial...Ayumi Hamasaki's first new song release in 2 years. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704151121/https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202007040001306.html. July 4, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  2. Web site: https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000185236. ja:浜崎あゆみ、愛する我が子へのメッセージを込めた新曲をゲリラリリース. . July 5, 2020. BARKS Japan Music Network. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki releases a new song with a message for her beloved child.. live. https://archive.today/20200723235245/https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000185236. July 23, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  3. Web site: http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/89699/2. ja:浜崎あゆみ、愛する我が子へのメッセージを込めた新曲「オヒアの木」ゲリラリリース. . July 5, 2020. Billboard Japan. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki's new song, Ohia no Ki, is released with a message for her beloved child.. live. https://archive.today/20200723211536/http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/89699/2. July 23, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  4. Web site: https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/83518. ja:浜崎あゆみが新曲「オヒアの木」電撃発売 ドラマ『M』最終回の最中に…我が子に贈るメッセージソング. . July 5, 2020. Chunichi Shimbun. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki's surprise release of new song "Ohia no Ki" during the final episode of "M" drama...a message for my child. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708061712/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/83518. July 8, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  5. Web site: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6091680ae7d2db94343993ac9e9921ba0d1eea5c. ja:浜崎あゆみ、新曲「オヒアの木」をゲリラリリース！ 自身初となる“日本語タイトル”曲が完成. . July 5, 2020. M-On! Press. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki's new song, "Ohia no Ki", guerilla release! Her first Japanese title song is completed.. live. https://archive.today/20200724020914/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6091680ae7d2db94343993ac9e9921ba0d1eea5c. July 24, 2020. July 23, 2020. Yahoo Japan.
  6. Web site: https://avex.jp/ayu/news/detail.php?id=1084479. ja:【TeamAyu / mu-mo shop初回生産限定盤情報更新！CD収録内容、グッズ情報解禁！】 8/26リリースLIVE DVD & Blu-ray「ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2019-2020 ～Promised Land～」. July 5, 2020. avex.jp. ja. [TeamAyu/mu-mo shop Limited Edition Information Update! The contents of the CD will be released!] 8/26 Release LIVE DVD & Blu-ray "ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2019-2020 ~Promised Land~". live. https://archive.today/20200724031953/https://avex.jp/ayu/news/detail.php?id=1084479. July 24, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  7. Web site: ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2019-2020 ～Promised Land～ A. July 31, 2020. avex.jp. ja. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200731145529/https://avex.jp/ayu/discography/. July 31, 2020. July 31, 2020.
  8. Web site: https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/2157562. ja:浜崎あゆみ、初の無観客配信ライブで約5ヶ月ぶりステージ 我が子へ捧げる「オヒアの木」初披露＜ライブレポ／セットリスト＞. . July 25, 2020. Modelpress. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki's first live broadcast without audience for the first time in about 5 months Debuting "Ohia no Ki" for her child . live. https://archive.today/20200731182515/https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/2157562. July 31, 2020. July 31, 2020.
  9. Web site: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0b7eec8dfe812f2bde965fe7b8ebfa7d0ab38cc5. ja:浜崎あゆみ、初のオンラインライヴ開催。「オヒアの木」を初披露. . July 25, 2020. BARKS Japan Music Network. ja. live. https://archive.today/20200731182210/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0b7eec8dfe812f2bde965fe7b8ebfa7d0ab38cc5. July 31, 2020. July 31, 2020.
  10. Web site: 浜崎あゆみ、第2子妊娠発表後「初の地上波」出演へ FNS歌謡祭・第1夜で「オヒアの木」披露. November 26, 2020. j-cast.com. ja. December 15, 2020.
  11. Web site: https://article.yahoo.co.jp/detail/464f0b9260bae98898a7e85246bef217bcd2e420. ja:「オヒアの木」Music Video (short ver.)を公開！. July 24, 2020. WWS Channel. ja. Ayumi Hamasaki has released a short version of the new single "Ohia no Ki" Music Video!. live. https://archive.today/20200724005431/https://article.yahoo.co.jp/detail/464f0b9260bae98898a7e85246bef217bcd2e420. July 24, 2020. July 23, 2020. Yahoo Japan.
  12. Web site: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8ff30b9c1a7e49305273a1836a9b41f941146fdf. ja:「母の表情だ！」浜崎あゆみ、愛する我が子に送るバラード「オヒアの木」MVフル公開. July 30, 2020. M-On! Press. ja. "A mother's expression!" Ayumi Hamasaki's ballad to her beloved child, "Ohia no Ki". Full release of the music video. live. https://archive.today/20200731175233/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8ff30b9c1a7e49305273a1836a9b41f941146fdf. July 31, 2020. July 31, 2020. Yahoo Japan.
  13. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/d/2020-07-05/. ja:デイリー デジタルシングル（単曲）ランキング (2020年07月05日付). July 5, 2020. Oricon. ja. Daily Digital Single (single song) ranking (July 05, 2020). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706110129/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/d/2020-07-05/. July 6, 2020. July 16, 2020.
  14. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2020-07-13/p/2/. ja:週間 デジタルシングル（単曲）ランキング 2020年07月13日付 （2020年06月29日～2020年07月05日）. July 8, 2020. Oricon. ja. Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking July 13, 2020 (From June 29, 2020 to July 05, 2020). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708104612/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2020-07-13/p/2/. July 8, 2020. July 16, 2020.
  15. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2020-07-20/p/2/. ja:週間 デジタルシングル（単曲）ランキング 2020年07月20日付 （2020年07月06日～2020年07月12日）. July 16, 2020. Oricon. ja. Weekly Digital Single (single song) ranking July 20, 2020 (From July 06, 2020 to July 12, 2020). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716031324/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2020-07-20/p/2/ . July 16, 2020. July 16, 2020.

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