Maps of Music

Hatsukoi (2018)

Where the lyrics of Hatsukoi take you, and where it was really made.

This is the first Utada album whose title is written in Japanese, and the title shares its name with the title track.

Key places

Recorded at Metropolis Studios (2018)

Recording site Metropolis Studios — Discogs credits list Metropolis Studios among the studios where this album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at RAK Studios (2018)

Recording site RAK Studios — RAK Studios in London is listed as a recording studio for the album, and Japanese Wikipedia names it among London's top studios used for the recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Air Lyndhurst Studios (2018)

Recording site AIR Studios — Air Lyndhurst Studios is listed as a recording studio for the album, and Japanese Wikipedia names Air Studio among London's top studios used for the recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at ABS Recording (2018)

Recording site ABS Recording — ABS Recording is listed as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Red Bull Studios, London (2018)

Recording site Red Bull Studios London — Red Bull Studios in London is listed as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Bunkamura Studio (2018)

Recording site Bunkamura Studios — Bunkamura Studio is listed as a studio where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Hatsukoi (初恋) is the seventh Japanese-language studio album and the tenth overall by Hikaru Utada
• Released 27 June 2018 on Epic Records Japan, a sublabel of Sony Music Japan
• Twelve tracks in total, including five previously released songs and the title track
• The album title is the same as the title track
• Released in Utada's 20th anniversary year as an artist in Japan

Background

• A national tour was announced in November 2018 to support the album
• On 30 June 2018 Utada performed three songs from the album on NHK's SONGS
• Previously released singles on the album include Oozora de Dakishimete, Forevermore, Anata, Play A Love Song and Chikai

Recording

• Recorded at London studios, including RAK Studios and Air Studios
• Steve Fitzmaurice recorded and mixed the album, and Masahito Komori recorded all vocals
• Chris Dave played drums on eight of the twelve tracks

Cover

• Cover photograph by Takay, a Japanese photographer based in New York

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born January 19, 1983 in New York City to Japanese parents; mother Keiko Fuji was an enka singer, father Teruzane Utada a record producer.
• Began writing songs at age 10 and moved to Tokyo at age 11; performed as Cubic U from 1996.
• Signed with Toshiba-EMI; English debut album Precious (1998) under Cubic U.

Members

• Solo artist, known mononymously as Utada; later performed under the name Hikaru Utada.

Career

• Japanese debut First Love (1999), Japan's best-selling album of all time.
• Distance (2001) sold three million copies in its first week; Deep River (2002) followed.
• Exodus (2004) marked an English-language push in North America under the name Utada.
• Returned to Japan with Ultra Blue (2006) and Heart Station (2008); This Is the One (2009) followed.
• Long hiatus after 2010 Wild Life tour; returned with Fantôme (2016) and Hatsukoi (2018).
• Wrote theme songs for the Kingdom Hearts series, including Face My Fears with Skrillex.
• Bad Mode (2022) was the first bilingual album; Science Fiction (2024) celebrated 25 years since debut.
• Over 40 million records sold; came out as non-binary in 2021.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rockin' On critic Tomoki Takahashi: described the album as a masterpiece that portrays the sheer miracle and awe of living
• Rockin' On critic Shin Furukawa: said the album proves Utada is a pop artist who transcends her era
• MANTANWEB critic Kyo Mizushiro: said the album brings out emotions that listeners will find real and resonant
• Writer imdkm: placed the album among works that reshape J-pop, citing its rhythm structure
• Music critic Eiji Ogura: praised the mix of falsetto unease with dramatic string arrangements
• Music journalist Masanori Uno: said the sound shifted from live sound to live performance, which he called a milestone

Reappraisal

• Critics praised the lyrics, which are close to a personal-novel style, and new approaches to rhythm and phrasing
• Music Pen Club Music Awards 2018: won the Popular Division Best Work award
• Arts Festival Minister of Education Newcomer Award: won for sound-making skill and lyric world reflecting modern social views

Records

• Oricon Weekly Albums Chart: debuted at number one with 203,787 copies in its first week
• Oricon Weekly Digital Albums Chart: debuted at number one with 38,185 downloads
• Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales: debuted at number one
• Billboard Japan Hot Albums: debuted at number one and held the top spot for three weeks
• Billboard Japan Hot Albums of the Year 2018: ranked third
• Oricon Annual Album Ranking 2018: ranked fifth
• United States: peaked at number four on the iTunes chart
• Gold certification for download sales from the Recording Industry Association of Japan in March 2020

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• A 2 LP vinyl version was released on 7 November 2018 at the request of fans, the first vinyl release of an Utada album in 16 years since Deep River
• The album title, written in Japanese, was the first time an Utada album title was written in Japanese
• The album cover was said by Oricon to recall the cover of First Love, Utada's debut album
• Chris Dave, a leading drummer in the modern jazz scene, played on eight of the twelve tracks
• The album reached number one on Billboard Japan charts for three consecutive weeks in Hot Albums

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

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