Boku wa Kuma
"Boku wa Kuma" | ||||
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Heart Station | ||||
Released | November 22, 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | J-pop, novelty | |||
Length | 2:23 | |||
Label | EMI Music Japan | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hikaru Utada | |||
Producer(s) | Hikaru Utada | |||
Hikaru Utada singles chronology | ||||
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"Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま, lit. I'm a Bear) is a song by
Background and release
"Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first try at writing a children's song. On October 1, 2006, it aired on the children's music program Minna no Uta on radio, and on TV the day after. Due to strong demand, the song had been planned for continuous rebroadcasting from October 2006 to January 2007 on Minna no Uta.[1]
"Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first single release to have three different pressings: a limited edition that included a picture book, a standard single and cover, and a CD+DVD combo pack, which included the music video.
The song is about a bear, what he can and cannot do, and what he is not (such as a car, chocolate, etc.). His rival is a fried shrimp.
Utada owns a stuffed bear named Kuma-chan; "kuma" is "bear" in Japanese, and "-chan" is an affectionate suffix added to names. Utada often post photos of him on their U3 blog. After discovering the "made in China" tag on Kuma-chan's bottom, he was given the full name of "Kuma Chang" (pronounced identically to "Kuma-chan" in Japanese). A staff pass was issued to him for the "Utada United 2006." tour.[2]
In June 2006, Utada confessed on their blog that they have "pillow dependence".[3] They call their pillow "makura-san" (Mr. Pillow). They enjoy the comfort of feeling the pillow against their face, and would even hold the pillow all day long when they're stressed out. They were later surprised to find out there are many "pillow-addicts" out there, and joked about setting up a "pillow club". 'Makura-san' and Kuma are apparently good friends.[4]
Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of their 2010 tour,
The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[5]
Track listing
- Japanese single
- "Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま) – 2:23
- "Boku wa Kuma" (Original Karaoke) – 2:25
Chart rankings
Charts (2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Oricon Weekly singles[6] | 4 |
Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[7]
|
14 |
Certifications and sales
Chart | Amount |
---|---|
Oricon physical sales[8] | 147,000 |
RIAJ physical certification[9] | 100,000+ |
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[10] | 100,000+ |
References
- ^ http://www.nhk.or.jp/minna/ Minna no Uta official site
- ^ (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived May 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙&Ust新記録樹立" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- ^ "ぼくはくま - 宇多田ヒカル/ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- RIAJ. January 20, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved September 18, 2010. (subscription only)
- RIAJ(in Japanese). December 10, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
- RIAJ(in Japanese). March 20, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2010.