So… Arashi’s new album has been announced! The album is titled “Japonism (ジャポニズム)”, and will be released on the 21st of October.
What’s Japonism? I turned to good ol’ wikipedia to find out:
Japonism (from the French Japonisme, first used in 1872) is the influence of Japanese art, fashion and aesthetics on Western culture. The term is used particularly to refer to Japanese influence on European art, especially in impressionism.
That’s an interesting title for sure. I wonder what sort of style the songs will have this time, following the ‘digital’ style in last year’s “The Digitalian” album. Seems like it’ll be a fusion of western and Japanese pop huh?
The title “Japonism” refers to the concept of looking at Japan from various different angles.
More about the album. This is Arashi’s 14th album. There will be a total of 16 tracks, including the A-side songs from the singles “Sakura” & “Aozora no Shita, Kimi no Tonari”. “Ai wo Sakebe” will not be included however. The leading track is produced by Hotei Tomoyasu (of Kill Bill OST fame). Of course, each of the members also have their own solo tunes. Including the solo songs, a total of 14 new tracks are in the album.
The theme of this album is “Japan = gratitude”.
A total of three editions of the album will be available. A limited edition, a one regular edition, and a Yoi Toko edition.
The limited edition will contain a DVD of the PV and making. It will also come with a photo booklet (song lyrics also included).
The regular edition has two CDs, and will come with 4 bonus songs, including the song “Furusato”. Since 2010, fans have hoped that the song “Furusato” will be included in a CD, the wish has finally come true. A booklet of the lyrics will be included.
Finally, the Yoi Toko edition also has two CDs. Disc 1 will have all the 16 songs. Disc 2 will come with 1 bonus song – a cover of the coupling song from Shonentai’s “Kamen Butoukai (仮面舞踏会)” single (released in 1985), “Nippon Yoi Toko Makafushig (日本よいとこ摩訶不思議)” – as well as a “Japonism Talk”. The enjoyable talk by the members can only be heard here! The bonus track is the reason for the name of this edition. A booklet of the lyrics will be included.
The album artwork will be different for each of the editions.
Updates: The artwork and tracklist for the album has been revealed!
Preorder your copy now!
CDJapan:
Japonism Limited Edition
Japonism Regular Edition
Japonism Yoi Toko Edition
Bundle set of all three editions
Play Asia:
Japonism Limited Edition
Japonism Regular Edition
Japonism Yoi Toko Edition
HMV:
Japonism Limited Edition
Japonism Regular Edition
Japonism Yoi Toko Edition
YesAsia:
Japonism Limited Edition
Japonism Regular Edition
Japonism Yoi Toko Edition
I am curious as to what the songs will be like with this kind of theme. I can’t imagine how they are gonna incorporate Japonism, because really, reading the definition of the word says it’s Japan’s influence to the European culture… how are they gonna express that? XD
And why is Ai wo Sakebe not included!? I didn’t buy the single hoping it would be included in the album… but no! How could they!? T___T
Well at least, they finally included Furusato. Lol. After singing it every year in their WakuWaku and Kohaku Song Festival, it’s bound to appear in one of their albums sooner or later.
will the Yoi Toko edition have the DVD of the PV and making?
Nope, only the limited edition will have that.