W Face: Inside/Outside

Inside experienced moderate success in Japan. The album entered at #2 on the daily Oricon Albums Chart, having been stalled from the top spot by Outside. The former opened with 11,812 copies sold.[9] Additionally, it stayed at the same position for another two days.[10] Based on a six-day statistic, Inside debuted at the same position on the weekly chart with 20,157 units sold, making it Kumi's first record to not chart atop of the weekly chart (due to Outside obtaining that position). However, it resulted in being her lowest first-week sales for a studio album.[11] Inside opened at number six on their digital chart, one of Kumi's first appearances there since its establishment in September 2016. It shifted 1,207 units.[12]

Three tracks from the album were used as promotional recordings, released prior to the albums distribution. "Kimi Omoi" was originally taken as a song from her mini-album Fever: Legend Live, and also came with a music video; however, the visual was not added to the album's DVD/Blu-ray track list.[13] The song was originally released on the mini-album as a special for SANKYO's pachinko game, but later received a wide release. "Bridget Song" and "Yorokobi no Kakera" were published as digital download tracks before Inside was released, but only the former song received a music video.[1] "Promise You" received an accompanying clip that had her in a small room filled with fairy lights.[2]

In order to promote the album, Kumi performed some tracks on various television shows. "Bring it On", a tune from the studio release, was first performed during Kumi's second fan club tour, Let's Party Vol.2, which was later put on the second DVD of her eleventh studio album Bon Voyage. The song was used as the official campaign number to Japan's professional football league Sagan Tosu.[14][15] She appeared on Utacon on January 31 and Music Fair on February 25, where she sung "On My Way", the theme song to the Japanese television series Mahiru no Akuma (Midday Devil / 真昼の悪魔) (2017).[16][17][18][19] She also promoted the track "Promise You" on Good Time Music and Utacon in mid-March 2017.[20][21]

Kumi began a nationwide tour titled Koda Kumi Live Tour 2017 ~W Face~, which began on April 8 and concluded in January the following year.

Outside experienced moderate success in Japan. The album entered at #1 on the daily Oricon Albums Chart, continuing her streak of number-one albums, which began in 2005 with her release of her first compilation album, Best ~first things~. It opened with 11,830 copies sold.[9] It remained at the same position for another two days.[10] Based on a six-day statistic, Outside debuted at the same position on the weekly chart with 20,246 units sold, making it Kumi's ninth studio album, and thirteenth overall, to reach number-one. However, it resulted in being her lowest-selling number-one debut, and essentially her lowest first-week sales for a studio album, the largest drop being Inside.[11] Conversely, Outside opened one position lower than the predecessor album at number seven on Oricon's digital chart, one of Kumi's first appearances there since its establishment in September 2016. It shifted 1,095 units.[12]

"Shhh!" was the album's only physical single release, which was published on April 16, 2016, and was her 59th single. The single was released for a limited time through mu-mo, and was available at concert venues for her Live Tour 2016 ~Best Single Collection~.[29][30] Shhh! received four editions, three of which were only available at concert venues. Each edition contained different cover art and, much like her 12 Single Collection in 2005–2006, a different back cover, which, when put together, would reveal a hidden image.[30] The CD contained the title track and "Kimi Omoi," which was previously released in 2014 on her limited Fever: Legend Live EP, along with its corresponding music video.[31]

Another unique aspect to the single was that it was Kumi's first single to not be released with a jewel case. Each CD was released in a cardboard covered booklet.[32] Also available for those who signed up at SP Music, a barcode was given to those who purchased the CD with a special code to download the song via mobile.[33]

Additionally, two more tracks from W Face ~outside~ were used as promotional recordings: "Ultraviolet" and "Wicked Girls". Released as digital-only packages, both songs received music videos and appeared on the DVD/Blu-ray versions of Outside.

Two more entries to the album were shot as visuals: "Bassline" and "Insane".[24] In order to promote the album, Kumi performed some tracks on various television shows. She promoted the song "Ultraviolet" on Good Time Music and Utacon in mid-March 2017.[20]

A selection from Outside was also remixed and re-produced for her remix album Driving Hit's 7, which was released a month later on April 6. Kumi also started her Koda Kumi Live Tour 2017 ~W Face~ the same day.