The Book 2

The Book 2 is the second Japanese-language extended play and third overall by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released on December 1, 2021, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, eleven months after their debut EP The Book (2021). It consists of eight tracks, preceded by their all singles released in 2021, and included the new song "Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara".

The Book 2
A solid black city with a green background, showing the group's name "Yoasobi" and their slogan "novel into music" on the left-top corner, and a solid black circle on the right-top corner
EP by
Yoasobi
ReleasedDecember 1, 2021
GenreJ-pop
Length27:29
LanguageJapanese
LabelSony Japan
ProducerAyase
Yoasobi chronology
E-Side
(2021)		 The Book 2
(2021)		 E-Side 2
(2022)
Singles from The Book 2
  1. "Kaibutsu"
    Released: January 6, 2021
  2. "Yasashii Suisei"
    Released: January 20, 2021
  3. "Mō Sukoshi Dake"
    Released: May 10, 2021
  4. "Sangenshoku"
    Released: July 2, 2021
  5. "Loveletter"
    Released: August 9, 2021
  6. "Taishō Roman"
    Released: September 15, 2021
  7. "Tsubame"
    Released: October 25, 2021

In support of the EP, the duo held their first face-to-face concert Nice to Meet You on December 4–5 at Nippon Budokan. Commercially, The Book 2 debuted at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart, and atop Billboard Japan Hot Albums and certified gold by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Background and release

In 2021, Yoasobi released the debut EP The Book, preceded by the singles released from 2019 to 2020.[1] It peaked at number two on both Oricon Albums Chart, and Billboard Japan Hot Albums,[2][3] and atop the Oricon Digital Albums Chart for five consecutive weeks.[4] According to Oricon, the EP sold over 200,000 units in Japan in the first half of 2021[5][6] and was certified gold for physical release and later downloads by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[7][8]

On September 30, 2021, Yoasobi tweeted "IOOI / NOON" with the mysterious four images of the cartoonish vertical and horizontal rotating bookshelf. They show the colored cover books with the title "Yoasobi Story", the dates, and the word "noon", and the book spines with the duo's English song title, the latest livestream concert title Sing Your World, and the slogan "novel into music" among mostly plain and a few colored book spines.[9] A day later, on the duo's second anniversary, they announced the second EP, titled The Book 2, alongside its track listing and cover artwork, scheduled for release on December 1. Pre-orders began on the same day of the announcement.[10]

Promotion

On December 1, 2022, the same day as The Book 2 announcement, they also announced "Nice to Meet You Countdown" for the new announcement every Friday at noon (JST) for ten weeks until December 3,[11] The second revealing is the standalone single of "Tsubame", issued on October 25,[12] and the final announced that the duo would appear on the documentary program Jōnetsu Tairiku, broadcast on December 12.[13] On November 23, Yoasobi released the EP's snippets "crossfade movie" and announced a phone call campaign as they did when promoting The Book. Fans can make a telephone call on November 23–30 for commentary of The Book 2's tracks daily. On the last day of the campaign, during their radio show, Yoasobi's All Night Nippon X, fans can call directly with the duo.[14]

Live performances

Yoasobi appeared on Best Artist 2021, performing "Gunjō" for the first time via television on November 17.[15] They gave a televised debut performance of "Mō Sukoshi Dake" on December 1 at 2021 FNS Music Festival.[16] The duo appeared on Songs the next day, and performed "Loveletter", "Taishō Roman", and "Tsubame" together with Midories for the first time.[17] They performed "Sangenshoku" at the six-hour special edition of Music Station, titled Music Station Ultra Super Live 2021 on December 24.[18] Yoasobi gave debut performances of "Kaibutsu", "Yasashii Suisei", and "Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara" on December 30 at the 63th Japan Record Awards,[19] and participated 72nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on the New Year's Eve to perform "Gunjō" and "Tsubame" with Midories.[20][21]

Nice to Meet You
Yoasobi "Nice to Meet You"
One-off concert by Yoasobi
LocationTokyo, Japan
VenueNippon Budokan
Associated albumThe Book 2
Date(s)December 4–5, 2021
Durationc. 110 minutes
No. of shows2
Attendance14,000 (offline)[22]
Yoasobi concert chronology

On October 1, 2022, the same day as the EP announcement, Yoasobi announced their one-off concert, titled Nice to Meet You in support of The Book 2. It was held between December 4 and 5 at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, marking their first face-to-face concert since their debut in 2019.[23] The performance of "Kaibutsu" from the first day of the concert was lived via YouTube as part of the virtual online music festival YouTube Music Weekend.[24][25] In addition to in-venue, livestream was also available for the official fan club website Club Yoasobi via Stagecrowd.[26]

The first-day show was re-run via Wowow on January 22, 2022.[27] The footage of the concert was included on the duo's first video album The Film, released on March 23,[28] which use the concert performances of "Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara" and "Tsubame" to promote the album.[29][30] The duo uploaded three shows from the first day of the concert, which originally broadcast through Wowow, between July 26 to 28 at 17:00 JST, consisting of "Kaibutsu", "Yasashii Suisei", and "Gunjō".[31]

Set list

This set list is representative of the show on both December 4 and 5, 2021.[32][33]

Accolades
Awards and nominations for The Book 2
Award ceremony Year Category Result Ref.
CD Shop Awards 2022 Special Award Won [34]
Winning Award Won

Commercial performance

The Book 2 debuted at number two on both Oricon Albums Chart and Combined Albums Chart of December 13, 2021, selling 80,015 CDs in its first week, behind HKT48's Outstanding.[35][36] It also peaked atop Digital Albums Chart, collecting 10,448 downloads, scored Yoasobi their third number-one digital albums of the chart, after The Book, and E-Side.[37] For Billboard Japan, The Book 2 debuted at number one on the Hot Albums, making it the first number-one album of the chart.[38] It opened with 83,585 CD copies (number two on the Top Albums Sales),[39] and 8,717 download albums (number one on the Download Albums).[40] The EP certified gold for physical release by RIAJ on January 14, 2022.[41]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ayase

The Book 2 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Tsubame" (ツバメ; featuring Midories)3:36
2."Sangenshoku" (三原色)3:40
3."Taishō Roman" (大正浪漫)2:46
4."Mō Sukoshi Dake" (もう少しだけ)3:38
5."Yasashii Suisei" (優しい彗星)3:33
6."Kaibutsu" (怪物)3:25
7."Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara" (もしも命が描けたら)3:21
8."Loveletter" (ラブレター)3:30
Total length:27:29

Credits and personnel
  • Ayase – songwriter, producer
  • Ikura – vocals
  • Midories – chorus (1)
  • AssH – chorus (2), guitar (1–2, 4–6)
  • Honogumo – chorus (2)
  • Hikaru Yamamoto – chorus (2)
  • Zaquro Misohagi – chorus (2)
  • Nana Ototsuki – based story writer (1)
  • Yūichirō Komikado – based story writer (2)
  • Natsumi – based story writer (3)
  • Chiharu – based story writer (4)
  • Paru Itagaki – based story writer (5–6)
  • Osamu Suzuki – based story writer (7)
  • Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
  • Masahiko Fukui – mixing
  • Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications and sales figures for The Book 2
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[49]
Physical 		Gold 127,828[50]
Japan
Digital 		— 62,536[51]

Release history
Release dates and formats for The Book 2
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various December 1, 2021
Sony Japan [52]
Japan CD

See also

References
  1. "YOASOBI、自身初のCDとなるEP『THE BOOK』のリリースが決定". OK Music (in Japanese). October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  2. "1/18付週間アルバムランキング1位はSixTONESの『1ST』". Oricon (in Japanese). January 15, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  3. "【ビルボード】SixTONES『1ST』が総合アルバム首位　YOASOBI『THE BOOK』が2位に続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 13, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  4. "YOASOBI、1stEPがオリコン週間デジタルアルバムランキング5週連続1位を獲得　バレンタインデーには初のオンラインライブも". Spice (in Japanese). February 10, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  5. "オリコン上半期ランキング2021 アルバム 1位～25位". Oricon (in Japanese). June 29, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  6. "オリコン上半期ランキング2021 デジタルアルバム 1位~10位". Oricon (in Japanese). June 29, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  7. "Snow Man「Snow Man ASIA TOUR 2D.2D.」がダブル・プラチナ認定＜3月度GD＞". Modelpress (in Japanese). April 9, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  8. Recording Industry Association of Japan (November 19, 2022). "10月度DL認定 ～Aimer、YOASOBI、米津玄師がゴールド認定". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  9. YOASOBI [@YOASOBI_staff] (September 30, 2021). "IOOI / NOON" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2021 – via Twitter.
  10. "YOASOBI、12月に新作EP『THE BOOK 2』リリース＆日本武道館ライブ開催". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  11. "YOASOBIが新作CDリリース、12月には初の有観客ライブを日本武道館で". Natalie (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  12. "YOASOBI、新曲「ツバメ」配信リリース　ジャケット＆MVは「夜に駆ける」のクリエイター・藍にいな". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  13. "YOASOBI：「情熱大陸」登場 初の有観客ライブまでの軌跡追う 12月12日放送". Mantan Web (in Japanese). December 3, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  14. "YOASOBIの電話番号は0570-046-506". Natalie (in Japanese). November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  15. "【ベストアーティスト】YOASOBI、人気曲「群青」TV初披露 来年の抱負は「有観客ライブを頑張りたい」". Oricon (in Japanese). November 17, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  16. "YOASOBI「もう少しだけ」テレビ初披露に反響「FNS歌謡祭」初出演". Modelpress (in Japanese). December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  17. "YOASOBIが「SONGS」で語る紅白の舞台裏、ミドリーズとの初共演も実現". Natalie (in Japanese). November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  18. "Mステ『ウルトラSUPER LIVE』第3弾出演者＆楽曲一挙解禁". Barks (in Japanese). December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  19. "YOASOBI、『輝く！日本レコード大賞』歌唱曲発表　「怪物」「優しい彗星」「もしも命が描けたら」フルサイズで初披露". Real Sound (in Japanese). December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  20. "【紅白】2度目出場のYOASOBI、「群青」の歌詞を一部変更パフォーマンス「みんなだ！」と絶叫". Encount (in Japanese). December 31, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  21. "YOASOBI with ミドリーズ、笑顔でコラボ ダンスに川口春奈、大泉洋らも参加【紅白歌合戦】". Chunichi Sports (in Japanese). December 31, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  22. Satō, Katsusuke (December 5, 2021). "ＹＯＡＳＯＢＩ、初有観客ライブは武道館「この空間には愛しかないなって」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  23. "YOASOBI、12月に新作リリース&日本武道館2daysで初の有観客ライブ決定". Oricon (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  24. "RADWIMPS、岡崎体育、YOASOBI、阿部真央、ビッケブランカ、インディゴ、クリープ、Uru、ビーバーら参加。"YouTube Music Weekend vol.4"、12/3-5開催". Skream! (in Japanese). November 29, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  25. YOASOBI [@YOASOBI_staff] (December 4, 2021). "#YOASOBI武道館 より「怪物」をお届けしました！長らくお待たせしてしまいごめんなさい！ご覧いただいた皆さまありがとうございました！ / 明日もライブあります。全編ご覧になりたい方はこちらから。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. "YOASOBI、日本武道館公演をFC限定で生配信". Barks (in Japanese). October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  27. "YOASOBI、初の有観客ライブがWOWOWで放送!". Mynavi (in Japanese). December 9, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  28. Billboard Japan (March 10, 2022). "YOASOBI Shares Details & Artwork of Upcoming Visual Project 'The Film'". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  29. "YOASOBI、初の映像作品集『THE FILM』より「もしも命が描けたら」ライブ映像公開". The First Time (in Japanese). March 8, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  30. "YOASOBI、日本武道館公演より「ツバメ」ライブ映像公開　60秒スペシャルTVCMの放映決定". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 23, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  31. "YOASOBI、日本武道館有観客ライブ映像3曲を3日連続YouTube公開決定". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  32. "「はじめまして、YOASOBIです！」YOASOBI、有観客ライブ『NICE TO MEET YOU』を日本武道館にて開催". The First Time (in Japanese). December 5, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  33. Mitsushima, Erio (December 7, 2021). "YOASOBIと同じ空間にいることの特別さ　リスナーとの"はじめまして"を叶えた武道館初有観客ライブを観て". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  34. "第14回CDショップ大賞2022" (in Japanese). CD Shop Awards. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  35. "12/13付週間アルバムランキング1位はHKT48の『アウトスタンディング』". Oricon (in Japanese). December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  36. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2021-12-13" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  37. "YOASOBI最新アルバム『THE BOOK 2』が通算3作目の「デジタルアルバム」1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  38. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 2』が総合アルバム首位　HKT48／ケツメイシが続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  39. "【ビルボード】HKT48『アウトスタンディング』が98,649枚を売り上げてALセールス首位　YOASOBI／ケツメイシが続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  40. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 2』がDLアルバム制す、ケツメイシ／MISIAがトップ5デビュー". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  41. Recording Industry Association of Japan (January 14, 2022). "12月度GD認定～Snow Man、嵐がトリプル・プラチナ認定、JO1がダブル・プラチナ認定に". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  42. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-12-13" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  43. "Hot Albums [2021/12/08 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 8, 2021. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  44. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-12" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  45. "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2021" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  46. "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2022". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  47. "【オリコン年間ランキング2022】King & Prince、今年度唯一のミリオン達成で自身初の「シングル」首位 Snow Man初の「アルバム」1位 / デジタルアルバム 1位~10位" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  48. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  49. "Japanese album certifications – Yoasobi – The Book 2" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 14, 2021. Select 2021年12月 on the drop-down menu
  50. Cumulative physical sale figures for The Book 2 as of February 2022:
  51. Cumulative digital sale figures for The Book 2:
  52. "本日結成2周年！12月1日(水) 2nd EP『THE BOOK 2』リリース決定！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). October 1, 2021. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.