Maps of Music

The Book (2021)

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

The EP was released on the same day as the single "Kaibutsu", yet "Kaibutsu" is not included on it.

Place unknown

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The Book: debut EP by Japanese duo Yoasobi
Released 6 January 2021 through Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Released the same day as the single "Kaibutsu", which is not included on the EP
Concept of a "reading CD" packaged with a binder
Contains the singles released from 2019 to 2020, plus the new track "Encore"
Sold only as a CD with binder in a limited full-production edition; no regular edition

First CD release since Yoasobi formed; the unit turns novels into songs
"Kaibutsu" accompanied the second season of the anime series Beastars
The limited edition sold out right after its January release
An additional run was decided on 13 February 2021, and an encore press went on sale on 24 March
A second encore press was decided on 18 November and sold from 30 November

Japanese musical duo formed in 2019 by songwriter and producer Ayase and vocalist Ikura.
Slogan "novel into music"; songs are based on fictional stories, later also on books, letters, plays, and social media posts.
Debut single "Yoru ni Kakeru" topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for six non-consecutive weeks and was the first non-CD single to top the 2020 year-end chart.
The name comes from the Japanese word yoasobi (nightlife); Ayase came up with it.

Ayase: songwriter, producer, keyboards, synthesizer, sampler; previously vocalist of rock band Davinci (2012–2018).
Ikura: vocals; previously active as a street and small-venue guitarist and YouTube cover artist.

Four Japanese EPs (The Book, The Book 2, The Book 3, The Book For) explore the "reading CD" theme; The Book 3 and others peaked in the top ten on the Oricon Albums Chart.
"Idol" from Oshi no Ko stayed 22 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Japan Hot 100, the longest-running number one in its history.
Released English-language EP series E-Side; collaborated with four Naoki Prize winners on the short story collection Hajimete no.
Music is described as a blend of J-pop and Vocaloid music, with fast pace and complex structure.
Received many awards, including Japan Gold Disc Awards, MTV Video Music Awards Japan, and Music Awards Japan.

Oricon Albums Chart: debuted at number two, behind SixTones's 1ST, selling 72,238 copies in its first week
Billboard Japan Hot Albums: entered at number two with 74,601 CD copies and 10,069 download units
Oricon Digital Albums Chart: topped the chart for five consecutive weeks

Year-end digital chart: 100,656 downloads in 2021 alone, the only album to reach this milestone that year
RIAJ gold certification for both physical and digital release
All tracks except the intro and outro certified platinum or higher for streaming by RIAJ
CD Shop Award 2022 (announced 3 March 2021): selected as a winner and special award work together with THE BOOK 2

Ayase's track-by-track cover EP Mikunoyoasobi, with Hatsune Miku on vocals, was released on the same day, exclusively at Tower Records Japan.
The January limited edition sold out, prompting an additional production run and an encore press.
The EP came out the same day as "Kaibutsu", yet the single is not included on it.
Oricon's year-end digital chart recorded the album as the only one to reach 100,000 downloads in 2021.
A new track "Encore" was added to the EP alongside the 2019 to 2020 singles.