[2013.05.29] Kuramochi Asuka Solo Debut Single "Itsumo Soba ni"

[Jul3]

Mod Edit: Added this section for convenience in voting.
Credit SomethingWild for HD pics & poll idea!

Young Champion	Friday	BLT	Weekly Playboy	Big Comic Spirits

Kuramochi Asuka solo debut single 2013.05.29

She won the 2nd JRA competition, the same way Kasai Tomomi got her solo single...

[kuro808]

Interesting

I'd be willing to buy this :3

[Shumatsu Samurai]

Best news of the year!  I'm really happy for her. She needs the exposure.

I hope it'll be a slow, ballad-type song. Something that suits her voice.

But damn, that's close to the election. And AKB releases the week before. I want this to sell well - but can it?



Mocchii 

[SomethingWild]

When I opened the forum I only saw "[2013.05.29] Kuramochi" --> so I figured I'd either be a graduation or photobook announcement, haha.

Definitely didn't expect a solo single release. On the other hand, Yuki is busy with her concerts and acting gigs and Akicha is in Indonesia, so yeah.

But damn, that's close to the election.

If I were Mocchi I wouldn't run. I'd tell my fans to buy this solo single as a sign of support instead! 

[kuro808]

^ would be a good idea for her, can get a spotlight for the time being lol

[Ruka Kikuchi]

Y'know, this makes her the TENTH member of AKB to have a solo debut!!!

1. Itano Tomomi (2010.01.26.)
2. Maeda Atsuko (2011.06.22.)
3. Watanabe Mayu (2012.02.29.)
4. Sashihara Rino (2012.05.02.)
5. Ono Erena (2012.06.13.)
6. Iwasa Misaki (2012.07.13.)
7. Kasai Tomomi (2012.12.26.)
8. Kashiwagi Yuki (2013.02.06.)
9. Takahashi Minami (Well, today!!! )
and Kuramochi Asuka will be #10 (2013.05.29.)

[SomethingWild]

^ [2008.10.15] Ohori Megumi - Amai Kokansetsu

 

[Ruka Kikuchi]

^ [2008.10.15] Ohori Megumi - Amai Kokansetsu

 

Ah... yeah...

And, also, Oku Manami (2007.06.06.)

AND, Oshima Mai (2010.05.05.), Hayano Kaoru (2012.07.25.), and Hoshino Michiru or "Goi Michiko" (2007.08.22 *My birthday!!!*)

[boykun]

Right out of left field!

Very happy for her

I hope the songs they give her won't be boring. I get the feeling she's getting a ballad.

[Jul3]

When I opened the forum I only saw "[2013.05.29] Kuramochi" --> so I figured I'd either be a graduation or photobook announcement, haha.

Definitely didn't expect a solo single release. On the other hand, Yuki is busy with her concerts and acting gigs and Akicha is in Indonesia, so yeah.

But damn, that's close to the election.

If I were Mocchi I wouldn't run. I'd tell my fans to buy this solo single as a sign of support instead! 

Mocchi is fantastic in French Kiss and I can't quite imagine a solo song at the moment... maybe a photobook announcement would have been even better! Also... like Chiyuu, I'm wondering if a photobook and graduation announcement will be following, and as you said, neither would be that unexpected...

I'm with you here, too, on the election issue. That sounds like it would be a good move on Asuka's part. Releasing a solo single is a far bigger deal than appearing in what is likely to be Undergirls again, at best, in AKB48's 32nd single, and if that single does well, it can lead to a lot more exposure and opportunities.

[Rust]

This is certainly very unexpected! I also didn't know Kasai's solo was the result of the JRA competition, I am assuming the 1st one since Mocchi's the 2nd one. I always thought Kasai's solo was a tie-in for her graduation & to make way for her solo career. Can anyone tell me more about this contest? I heard some words about horse association, is the JRA competition horse-related?

[winner]

^JRA = Japan Racing Association. So yeah. They're horse-racing related.
They did a campaign "AKB no Gachi Uma" which got 27 members over 20yo betting on horses on the show Gachi Uma.
And the winner was Kasai. This time Mocchi.

[YKT]

New official website:  http://kuramochiasuka.jp




EDIT Nyanholic posted more details on stage about the debut single:

Limited Edition (w/DVD) ¥1600 Tax Included:
AVCA-62484
*First Press Bonus: Included a Trading Card(randomly inserted)

[Disc1 CD]
01. TBA (Main Song) *it'll be used as the theme song for JRA TV-CM promo.
02. TBA (Coupling Song 1)
03. TBA (Coupling song 2)
04~06. Instrumental vers.
[Disc2 DVD]
01. TBA (Main Song MV)
02. TBA (Tentative: MV Shoot/Making)

Regular Editions(5 versions/CD only) All ¥500 Tax included:
AVCA-62485 / AVCA-62486 / AVCA-62487 / AVCA-62488 / AVCA-62489
First Press Bonus: Included a "Jacket One Grand Prix" Mark Sheet Ballot.

[Disc1 CD]
01. TBA (Main Song) *it'll be used as the theme song for JRA TV-CM promo.
02. TBA (Coupling Song TBA)

It's official
http://natalie.mu/music/news/88214
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/2023424/full/
http://search.books.rakuten.co.jp/bksearch/dt/g002/cartst%C1%D2%BB%FD%CC%C0%C6%FC%B9%E1/
http://shop.mu-mo.net/a/item1/?jsiteid=mumo&seq_exhibit_id=83567

She wrote the lyrics for the coupling songs. Like was planned for Kasai Tomomi before, it's planned which there will also be a photobook for Kuramochi.

Her single it'll have five different covers which were shooted by renowned magazines like Friday, Big Comic Spirits, Weekly Playboy, and BLT, Young Champion.

Regular editions(5 vers/only first press) will come included a kind of Mark sheet where there will be a competition for the best jacket and that for all those ones which apply and guess right the covers ranking correctly then will be participating in a drawing where there will be an lucky person(s?), who will have a date with Mocchi at some Horse race event which will held at Tokyo Racecourse on a date to be determined.

[Jul3]

CD Only "One Coin Type"

500 yen

1. Main song TBA
2. C/W Song 1

5 types, from left to right, types 1 to 5.



Each type had the cover chosen by a different magazine:

1. Young Champion
2. Friday
3. BLT
4. Weekly Playboy
5. Big Comic Spirits


CD+DVD Type A

1600 yen

1. Main song TBA
2. C/W Song 1
3. C/W Song 2

DVD:
1. Main song Music Video
2. Off shot video


There will be one bonus photo included as well, in all editions.

The main song will be used in a JRA TV-CM and Kuramochi wrote the lyrics.

Each CD only type contains a form to vote for your favourite cover. There is a competition and I think the winner gets to go to the horse races with Asuka herself!

http://kuramochiasuka.jp/
http://natalie.mu/music/news/89258
http://news.thetv.jp/article/38207/
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/2023942/full/

[SomethingWild]

Each CD only type contains a form to vote for your favourite cover.

Somebody add a poll to get the jphip verdict on the covers!

And let's HQ:



#5 

[Shumatsu Samurai]

I didn't vote yet. Just can't decide...
Current order would probably be D, A, B, E, C
But I think they suck as covers - except for Type A, maybe.
Now don't get me wrong, I like all of them and I'm looking forward to the gravure sets in the asscociated magazines, but as covers, they're all a bit bland.
At least Type A has a more unusual angle (and wings).
The CD+DVD edition hasn't been revealed yet, so there's hope.
On the other hand, covers like these, combined with the cheap, one-coin price, could aid sales.
Now all she needs is a good song. I'm still hoping for a ballad - but with the title song being used for the JRA CM, I somewhat doubt it.

[nickblitz]

i doubt this will sell very well.. considering this is like right after the 31st single~

but good luck to mocchi anyways! i voted for weekly playboy fyi.

[YKT]

[Jul3]

^ That's the cover for the CD+DVD type.

Tracklistings:

CD+DVD Type

1. Itsumo Soba ni
2. Guuzen no Mikata
3. Himawari
4. Itsumo Soba ni (instrumental)
5. Guuzen no Mikata (instrumental)
6. Himawari (instrumental)

DVD
1. Itsumo Soba ni (Music Video)
2. Making of Kuramochi Asuka TV-CM Shooting

CD only Types

1. Itsumo Soba ni
2. Guuzen no Mikata
3. Itsumo Soba ni (instrumental)
4. Guuzen no Mikata (instrumental)

http://kuramochiasuka.jp/


I'm assuming Himawari is a solo version of the song from Himawari-gumi 1st Stage, which Mocchi performed in the 2nd unit of.

[YKT]

^Thanks.  I find this helpful with so many types