Kurayami

"Kurayami" (Japanese: 暗闇, lit. 'Darkness') is the debut single by Japanese idol group STU48, released on January 31, 2018. Yumiko Takino served as lead performer for the title song. It topped the Japanese music charts in its release week.

"Kurayami"
Type-A cover, featuring Yumiko Takino
Type-A cover, featuring Yumiko Takino
Single by STU48
B-side
  • "Setouchi no Koe"
  • "STU48" (7 regional variants + all-Setouchi version)
  • "Hizenryoku" (Type-A & Type-B)
  • "Kataomoi no Iriguchi" (Type-C & Type-D)
  • "Bokutachi wa Sinbad da" (Type-E & Type-F)
  • "Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da to Itte Kureru Hi Made" (Type-G & Theater)
ReleasedJanuary 31, 2018 (2018-01-31)
GenreJ-pop
LabelKing Records
Lyricist(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
STU48 singles chronology
"Kurayami"
(2018)		 "Kaze wo Matsu"
(2019)
Music video
"Kurayami" on YouTube
"Setouchi no Koe" on YouTube

Production and release
Miyaura Port in Omishima appears in the "Kurayami" MV
Miyaura Port in Omishima appears in the "Kurayami" MV
The Kuroshima Venus Road, Okayama Prefecture, featured in the "Setouchi no Koe" MV final scene
The Kuroshima Venus Road, Okayama Prefecture, featured in the "Setouchi no Koe" MV final scene

The music video for the title song, filmed on the islands of Omishima and Hakatajima in Ehime Prefecture, was released on December 25, 2017.[1][2] The music video for "Setouchi no Koe", the group's first original song, was filmed at various locations in seven Setouchi region prefectures and was released earlier on June 5,[3] and is the only STU48 music video featuring founding member Rino Sashihara, who left the group in November 2017.[4]

The title song has different dance routines for the music video and live performances, with the music video choreographed by Hiroshima-based Flex Dance Agency[5] and live performances by Cre8boy.[6] "Setouchi no Koe" was also choreographed by Flex Dance Agency.[5]

The single was released in eight editions, fifteen including Limited Editions.[7] The B-side of each edition features a different version of the song "STU48" representing one of seven Setouchi region prefectures and its local dialect, plus one "Setouchi version" in the Theater edition.[7] "Setouchi no Koe" was included in all editions and has previously been included in the AKB48 single "Negaigoto no Mochigusare", released on May 31, 2017.[8]

Reception

"Kurayami" sold around 152,000 copies in its release week according to Billboard Japan,[9] and placed first in both the Oricon Singles[10] and Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts.[9] It won the Shikoku Block Award at the 2019 CD Shop Awards.[11]

References
  1. ＳＴＵ４８デビューシングル「暗闇」ＭＶ解禁 メンバーは芝居に初挑戦 – 東京スポーツ新聞社. 東スポＷeb (in Japanese). 25 December 2017. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  2. "New Japanese Girl Group STU48 Shares Video for Debut Single, 'Kurayami': Watch". Billboard. 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  3. 指原「ピュアさがかわいい」- STU48初オリジナル曲「瀬戸内の声」MV公開. マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  4. Inc, Natasha. 指原莉乃、STU48兼任解除「もう一度HKT48のメンバーと向き合いたい」. 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. 会社概要. 広島ダンススタジオFLEX (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  6. STU48『大好きな人』 瀧野由美子、岡田奈々、石田千穂、今村美月から動画コメント. エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  7. STU48 1st SINGLE「暗闇」2018.1.31 RELEASE. www.stu48.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  8. 願いごとの持ち腐れ＜劇場盤＞. キングレコードオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  9. "STU48 Bows at No. 1 as Chart Debuts Fill Half of Japan Hot 100's Top 20". Billboard. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  10. STU48のシングル作品. ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  11. Inc, Natasha. "星野源CDショップ大賞史上初2度目の大賞、新人向け大賞は折坂悠太". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-25. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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