The Book 3

The Book 3 is the third Japanese-language extended play (EP) (sixth overall) by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released on October 4, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, one year and ten months after their second EP The Book 2 (2021). The EP consists of ten tracks, including top-five singles "Shukufuku", "Idol", and "Yūsha". Commercially, The Book 3 peaked at number two on both the Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums.

The Book 3
A solid black city with a yellow 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
ReleasedOctober 4, 2023
GenreJ-pop
Length29:31
LanguageJapanese
LabelSony Japan
ProducerAyase
Yoasobi chronology
Hajimete no – EP
(2023)		 The Book 3
(2023)
Singles from The Book 3
  1. "Mr."
    Released: February 16, 2022
  2. "Suki da"
    Released: May 30, 2022
  3. "Shukufuku"
    Released: October 1, 2022
  4. "Umi no Manimani"
    Released: November 18, 2022
  5. "Adventure"
    Released: February 15, 2023
  6. "Seventeen"
    Released: March 27, 2023
  7. "Idol"
    Released: April 12, 2023
  8. "Yūsha"
    Released: September 29, 2023

Background and release

On September 1, 2023, Yoasobi announced their third extended play, titled The Book 3, alongside its tracklist and album cover, set to be released on October 4. Pre-orders of the EP began on the same day, being made available only as a limited-edition binder package.[1] The Book 3 comprises ten tracks, being all 2022 to 2023 singles, including songs from the duo and four Naoki Prize-winning writers collaborative project Hajimete no; and three new tracks: two are interludes "Awakening" and "Worship", preceding anime themes "Shukufuku" and "Idol", respectively, and another is opening theme for anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, titled "Yūsha", which was announced the same day as the EP via a promotional video of the anime,[2] The song was released as a single ahead of the EP on September 29.[3] The EP's trailer was uploaded on October 1.[4]

Promotion

After The Book 3 announcement, on September 14, 2023, Yoasobi appeared at television special NHK Music Expo 2023, where they talked about music with South Korean acts Woozi and NewJeans,[5] and broadcast the performance of "Idol" at the 2023 Summer Sonic Festival.[6] They performed "Idol" on television for the first time at South Korean music show M Countdown on the 21st.[7] The duo gave interviews and appeared on magazine covers for NME,[8] Rockin'On Japan,[9] Separate Volume Kadokawa,[10] and Pia.[11]

Just like with their previous EPs, Yoasobi commemorated the release with the telephone campaign Denwa o "Yoru ni Kakeru" Shisaku for commentaries of each track from The Book 3 from September 27 to October 4; on the last day, fans were able to call the duo directly.[12] To promote, the duo appeared on several television shows: Mezamashi TV,[13] Nichiyōbi no Hatsumimi-gaku.[14] and Ano-chan no Den Den Denpa.[15] In support of The Book 3, Yoasobi will embark on their two concert tours: the Asia Tour from December 2023 to January 2024, including Hong Kong's Clockenflap and Taiwan's Simple Life Festival appearances;[16] and the Pop Out Zepp Tour in Japan from January to March 2024.[17]

Commercial performance

The Book 3 debuted at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 71,556 copies, behind Mr. Children's Miss You.[18] It also landed at number one on the Digital Albums Chart with 11,021 downloads, the fourth to do so,[19] for three-consecutive weeks.[20] Overall, the EP peaked at number two on the Combined Albums Chart.[18] For Billboard Japan, The Book 3 entered the Hot Albums chart at number two, blocked from Miss You.[21] It earned 72,927 CD copies, debuted number two on the Top Album Sales;[22] and 9,094 downloads, reached number one on the Download Albums, which was the second biggest digital sales week in 2023, behind 15,190 downloads of Kessoku Band's self-titled album.[23] The EP peaked on the Download Albums for three-consecutive week.[24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ayase

The Book 3 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Yūsha" (勇者)3:14
2."Interlude: Awakening"0:48
3."Shukufuku" (祝福)3:12
4."Umi no Manimani" (海のまにまに)4:16
5."Mr." (ミスター)3:05
6."Interlude: Worship"1:07
7."Idol" (アイドル)3:31
8."Seventeen" (セブンティーン)3:18
9."Adventure" (アドベンチャー)3:18
10."Suki da" (好きだ)3:37
Total length:29:31

Credits and personnel
  • Ayase – songwriter, producer
  • Ikura – vocals (1, 2–5, 7–10)
  • Ebony Bowens – background chorus (1, 7)
  • Lyle Carr – background chorus (7)
  • Shore Cienna – background chorus (1)
  • Imani J. Dawson – background chorus (1, 7)
  • Emily – background chorus (1)
  • Mimiko Goldstein – background chorus (1)
  • Ivy – background chorus (1)
  • Chloe Kibble – background chorus (7)
  • Kyte – background chorus (7)
  • Haley Lewis – background chorus (1)
  • Marrista – background chorus (1)
  • Zaquro Misohagi – background chorus (5)
  • Sofia Ray – background chorus (1)
  • Andrew Soda – background chorus (7)
  • Marista Stubbs – background chorus (7)
  • Missy Suzuki – background chorus (1)
  • Velvet – background chorus (1)
  • Jonas Gen Whitaker – background chorus (1)
  • Real Akiba Boyz – background shouts (7)
  • Konnie Aoki – background chorus lyrics (1, 7)
  • Hikaru Yamamoto – bass (3)
  • Takeruru – guitar (3, 8)
  • AssH – guitar (9–10)
  • Jirō Kiso – based story writer (1)
  • Ichirō Ōkouchi – based story writer (3)
  • Mizuki Tsujimura – based story writer (4)
  • Rio Shimamoto – based story writer (5)
  • Aka Akasaka – based story writer (7)
  • Miyuki Miyabe – based story writer (8)
  • Nagi – based story writer (9)
  • Eto Mori – based story writer (10)
  • Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
  • Hiroaki Okuda – background chorus recording (1, 7), background shouts recording (7)
  • Masahiko Fukui – mixing
  • Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

Charts
Chart performance for The Book 3
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[25] 2
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[26] 2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[27] 2

Sales
Sales figures for The Book 3
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan
Physical 		— 100,452[28]
Japan
Digital 		— 20,708[29]

Release history
Release dates and formats for The Book 3
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 4, 2023
Sony Japan [30]
Japan CD

References
  1. "YOASOBI、TVアニメ『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマ「勇者」を担当！ 3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』の発売も決定". The First Time (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  2. "YOASOBI、新曲「勇者」がTVアニメ"葬送のフリーレン"OPテーマに決定。同曲収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』10/4リリース". Skream! (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  3. "YOASOBI、『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマをリリース". Barks (in Japanese). September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  4. "結成4周年迎えたYOASOBI、初のZeppツアー開催". Natalie (in Japanese). October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  5. "YOASOBI×NewJeans×SEVENTEENウジが音楽トーク ウジの「怪物」歌唱、ミンジの流ちょうな日本語にも反響". Oricon (in Japanese). September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  6. "YOASOBI＆NewJeans、相思相愛を告白 Ayase「ただのオタクです」 MINJI「夜に駆けるが特に好き」". Oricon (in Japanese). September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  7. Jang, In-young (September 21, 2023). "'최애의 아이돌' 왜 여기서 나와…日 요아소비 "감사합니다"→반쪽하트까지 (엠카)". Xportsnews (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. Soo, JX (September 4, 2023). "YOASOBI: the "ultimate J-pop unit" faces the world". NME. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  9. Yamasaki, Yōichirō (September 25, 2023). "JAPAN、次号の表紙と中身はこれだ！YOASOBI／ELLEGARDEN／WANIMA／Eve／ヨルシカ n-buna／UNISON SQUARE GARDEN／Official髭男dism／BE:FIRST／go!go!vanillas／ヤングスキニー かやゆー2万字". Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  10. "「別冊カドカワ 総力特集 YOASOBI」2023年10月4日(水)発売へ!"読むCD"3枚目となるEP『THE BOOK 3』と同日発売でYOASOBIの原点から現在地まで丸ごと1冊の総力特集". Kadokawa Shoten (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  11. "3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』をリリースするYOASOBIが「ぴあ」10月度の表紙に登場". Pia (in Japanese). October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  12. "YOASOBI、アニメ『葬送のフリーレン』OPテーマを配信へ 生電話チャンスあり「電話を"夜に掛ける"施策」開始". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  13. Kandagawa, Nozumi (October 5, 2023). "YOASOBI、ロサンゼルスに移住!?「住みたいって思った」「不動産紹介してもらいました」". Coconuts (in Japanese). Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  14. "神木隆之介がYOASOBIに謝罪! 完全プライベートでコンサートに訪れた際に起こった仰天エピソードとは?!". RBB Today (in Japanese). October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  15. "YOASOBIが私生活ぶっちゃけ お金トークにAyase苦笑い「税金はヤバい ヤバいからちゃんと」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  16. L, Vincent (September 19, 2023). "YOASOBI Announces Concert Tour in Asia Countries, Including Malaysia, Singapore, and More". GamerBraves. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  17. "結成4周年迎えたYOASOBI、自身初のZeppツアー来年1月より開催決定。3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』全曲トレーラーも公開". Skream! (in Japanese). October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  18. "Mr.Children、最新作『miss you』が通算3作目の合算アルバム1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  19. "YOASOBI、デジタル2冠達成 シングル「勇者」、アルバム『THE BOOK 3』ともに1位【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  20. "YOASOBI「アイドル」、オリコン史上最速で5億回再生突破【オリコンランキング】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  21. "【ビルボード】Mr.Children『miss you』総合アルバム首位獲得 YOASOBI/JO1が続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  22. "【ビルボード】Mr.Children『miss you』アルバムセールス首位獲得". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  23. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』が前作を上回る初週ダウンロード数でDLアルバム制す". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  24. "【ビルボード】YOASOBI『THE BOOK 3』が3週連続の首位、谷村新司/アリスの作品が浮上". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  25. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-10-16" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  26. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-10-16" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  27. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of October 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  28. Cumulative physical sale figures for The Book 3:
  29. Cumulative digital sale figures for The Book 3:
  30. "9/29 金曜ロードショーで放送開始のTVアニメ『葬送のフリーレン』オープニングテーマを担当！タイトルは「勇者」、原作者 山田鐘人監修の小説をもとに楽曲を制作！さらに新曲「勇者」を収録した3rd EP『THE BOOK 3』が10/4(水)にリリース決定！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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