Japonesque (album)

In August 2011, it was confirmed by Kumi Koda and her record label Rhythm Zone that she would release a then-upcoming studio album titled Japonesque.[1] Koda asked long-term collaborator, Japanese producer and Rhythm Zone founder Max Matsuura, to produce the album; this marked Koda's tenth consecutive studio album to be produced by Matsuura.[2][3] Rhythm Zone and its parent label, Avex Trax, enlisted several Western producers such as Toby Gad, Tommy Clint, and Matthew Tisher to collaborate on the album.[3] Koda began recording the album at Avex Studios in Japan around the second quarter of 2011 with Junichi Shinohara, Makoto Yamadoi, Masahiro Kawata, Takeshi Takizawa, and Takuro Iwamoto.[3] To record the track "V.I.P." with American rapper and producer T-Pain, Koda traveled to Los Angeles, California to record her vocals at Strawberrybee Studios and Charlice Studios. She recorded parts of the album track "Slow" in Los Angeles and in Hamburg, Germany, whilst guest vocalist and American rapper Omarion recorded his vocals at Blue Palm Digital Studios in Los Angeles.[3] This marks Koda's third studio album to have parts recorded in North America; she previous recorded material there with her studio albums Kingdom (2008) and Trick (2009).[4][5]

The material from Japonesque was produced and recorded under a year, one of Koda's quickest spanning projects to date.[3] Koda, Rhythm Zone, and Avex Trax enlisted previous composers and arrangers for the album, such as Bardur Haberg, Mr. Blistah, Gad, Erik Lidbom, amongst others; these composers and arrangers started working with Koda back on Kingdom and further albums onwards.[4] Koda was interviewed in the February 2012 issue of Japan's magazine ViVi, and stated that her main inspiration behind Japonesque was the dominance of Korean music over Japanese music. Koda stated that whilst touring in Vietnam, Singapore, and Taiwan, Korean pop music became hugely recognized within the Asian and Western territories whilst Japanese music was not; she felt that Japonesque "was driven to make an album that would get played abroad and allow people outside of Japan to enjoy J-pop."[6] She concluded in the interview that "Japan has amazing music that only Japanese are capable of making. I want to show the world how amazing Japanese music is!".[6][7]

Japonesque is a Japanese pop album with numerous musical elements such as dance music, R&B, electronica, and rock music.[8][9][10][11][12][13] Asian Junkie member Random J reviewed the album on his personal blog, and noticed Koda's lack of musical development from previous releases. He stated "Kumi has taken to working with Western songwriters for many of her songs. It's difficult to pin point if this could be having an effect on her music, as her sound is largely unwavering for the most part. But I do question whether it's necessary. This could be a shift the mainstream J-Pop and K-Pop scene is experiencing, as many western song writers are not being roped in to helm production and lyrics of songs." He also noted that the album represented "... club banging Kumi. The grunge rock Kumi. The cutesy pop Kumi. The thrashy pop Kumi. And the R&B Kumi."[8] David Cirone from J-Generation.com stated that Japonesque "is a powerhouse 19-track release from Koda Kumi that affirms her place in modern J-Pop royalty."[9] A staff member from Rolling Stone Japan noted the prominent musical elements of rock music and R&B.[13]

Majority of the lyrics from Japonesque were written by Koda, including the Japanese and English tracks.[3] On Japonesque, there are a total of six English, seven bilingual, and seven Japanese language tracks.[3][upper-alpha 1] The two interlude tracks: "Introduction" and "Interlude" to Japonesque are composed with electronic synths, and utilizes musical elements of oriental Japanese music.[10] R&B and further oriental elements have been noted by music critics in the album tracks; "So Nice", featuring Japanese rapper and producer Mr. Blistah, "V.I.P.", featuring American rapper and producer T-Pain, "Slow", featuring American rapper and actor Omarion, and the "Stargate–esque" "Everyday".[8][10]

Album tracks "Lay Down", "Love Me Back", "In the Air", "Escalate", "Ko-So-Ko-So" and "Love Technique" emphasizes electronic dance music, whilst "Everyday", "Poppin' Love Cocktails", and "Boom Boom Boys" utilize a "faux pop" and "rock" persona.[9][10] "You Are Not Alone" is an acoustic re-arrangement, which the original composition featured as a b-side track on Koda's single "Ai Wo Tomenaide", whilst the album's closer "All For You" is a demo version of an unreleased studio recording.[3][10] "No Man's Land" is a rock song that utilizes elements of heavy metal music.[11] The original arrangement of "No Man's Land" was different to the current version; according to Koda, the original arrangement omitted the rapping verses and didn't include heavy rock instrumentation or synthesizers.[14] Zero from JpopJRock.com commented that "No Man's Land" was the only song on the album that didn't suffer from a "sparse" arrangement.[11]

The photo shoot from Japonesque was heavily inspired by traditional Geisha culture and kimono clothing.

Japonesque was released in six different formats on January 25, 2012 by Rhythm Zone.[3] Japonesque is Koda's final studio album after giving birth to her son in July 2012.[15] The stand-alone CD features the nineteen tracks in a jewel case, with first press editions including an obi and a bonus poster.[3] The CD and DVD format features the nineteen tracks, and a bonus DVD with the music videos to each track from the album; this excludes the introduction and interlude tracks from Japonesque. First press editions including an obi and a bonus poster.[16] Three limited edition box sets were released; the first limited edition format features the nineteen tracks, and a bonus DVD including the same music videos. The box set also includes a second DVD that includes Koda's top twenty live performances chosen by her, and all of Koda's album commercials. The box set includes a large obi, a large booklet and a small lyric booklet housed in a digipak format.[17] The second limited edition format features the nineteen tracks on the stand-alone CD. The box set also includes a large B4-size photo album from the Japonesque photoshoot, alongside a 2012 diary and a clear file of the album cover on the front.[18] The third limited edition format is a jewelcase edition of the first limited edition box set, with features the nineteen tracks, and a bonus DVD including the same music videos. The box set also includes a second DVD that includes Koda's top twenty live performances chosen by her, and all of Koda's album commercials.[19] The sixth and final format is the worldwide digital release.[20]

All six cover sleeves for Japonesque were photographed by photographer and designer Kazuyoshi Shimomura.[3][16][17][18][19][20] The standalone CD has a close-up of Koda looking down to the camera, holding a cigarette holder.[3] The CD and DVD format has a long shot of Koda sitting on a chair with different flowers sitting on the head piece.[16] The three limited edition box set cover sleeves are similar images with different poses; the first box set has Koda standing in front of a wall with Japanese design; Koda is holding a traditional Oil-paper umbrella and is dressed in a pink kimono.[17] The second box set artwork has Koda facing towards the camera, similar to the previous box set.[18] The only change in the third box set artwork is that Koda is seen without holding the umbrella.[19] The digital release uses the first limited edition box set artwork.[20] The booklet and photo shoot were designed by Japanese designer Jun Hirota, and the design was based on traditional Japanese culture and the emphasizing of geisha art.[3][14][16][17][18][19][20][21] The photo album that came with the second limited edition box set features a 28-page spread, featuring different images from the Japonesque photo shoot.[18]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Hot Express	(positive)[12]
J-Generation	(positive)[9]
Rolling Stone	[13]

Japonesque received positive reviews from most music critics. David Cirone from J-Generation.com was positive in his review, stating "Full of confidence and maturity, Koda Kumi still hasn't lost her playful side and unabashed sexiness." Cirone highlighted "Escalate", "Love Me Back", and "No Man's Land" as the album's best tracks and commended the overall composition and commercial appeal.[9] Another positive review came from Tetsuo Hiraga from Hot Express, complimenting Koda's involvement and innovation of the Japanese theme. He commended Koda's "emotional" song writing, and listed Japonesque as one of his most "personally recommended" albums of 2012.[12] A staff member from Rolling Stone Japan highlighted the R&B and rock music, but criticized the lack of personal depth.[13]

Japonesque debuted at number one on the Japanese Daily Oricon Albums Chart, staying there for an entire week except for Saturday.[68] This resulted in the album debuting atop the Japanese Weekly Oricon Albums Chart, with an estimate 93,000 sold units in its first week of sales.[61][upper-alpha 3] This became the highest selling album by a female artist for first week sales of 2012, but also became Koda's first album to sell less than 100,000 units in its first week of sales; her previous album Dejavu was her last with 132,000 units in its first week.[69][70] Japonesque became Koda's sixth studio album to debut atop the Oricon Albums Chart for both Daily and Weekly rankings.[68] It slipped to number four the following week, shifting over 24,000 units in that region.[71] It fell out the top ten in its third week, placed at number 11 and shifted over 11,000 units in that region.[72] In total, Japonesque spent two weeks in the top ten, nine weeks in the top 100, and over 17 weeks in the top 300 chart.[68]

Japonesque entered the Billboard Top Albums Sales Chart at the top spot, her fourth studio album to do so.[73] It slipped to number five in its second charting week, and stayed in the top ten for two weeks.[74][75] It lasted 9 weeks in the top 100 chart, with a final charting position at 67.[76] Japonesque also reached number 16 on the Taiwanese Albums Chart, and number 3 on the Taiwanese East Asian Albums Chart.[77][78][upper-alpha 4][upper-alpha 5]

Japonesque was certified gold in April 2010 by the RIAJ for shipments of 100,000 units.[79] This is Koda's first studio album not to shift over 250,000 units in Japan, and her first album not to achieve a platinum certification; her most recent entry was Dejavu.[80] At the end of 2012, Japonesque sold over 151,343 units in Japan; this ranked the ninth best selling album by a female artist, just behind entries from Adele, Ayaka, JuJu, Superfly, Che'Nelle, Kana Nishino, and Namie Amuro.[81]

"Slow" feat. Omarion

1. "Slow" feat. Omarion
2. "Slow" feat. Omarion (Prog5 vs. Future House United remix): found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 4 (2012)

"No Man's Land"

1. "No Man's Land"
2. "No Man's Land" (4 Skips D'n'B remix): found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 5 (2013)

"Boom Boom Boys"

1. "Boom Boom Boys"
2. "Boom Boom Boys" (Heavens Wire D'n'B remix): found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 6 (2014)

"Escalate"

1. "Escalate"
2. "Escalate" (Vesterbak's Fly-Me-To-Tokyo remix): found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 6 (2014)

• List of Oricon number-one albums of 2012

• Japonesque – Koda's official website.