"Suki da" (好きだ, lit. "I Like You") is a song recorded by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released on May 30, 2022, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan, as the second song following "Mr." from the novel collection project Hajimete no. Based on the project's novel written by 135th Naoki Prize-winning Eto Mori, Hikari no Tane, the song depicts a high school girl's fourth confession to her crush while efforts to erase her past confessions by time travel. Commercially, "Suki da" peaked at number 23 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart, and number eight on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
"Suki da" | ||||
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Single by Yoasobi | ||||
Language | Japanese | |||
Released | May 30, 2022 (2022-05-30) | |||
Genre | J-pop | |||
Length | 3:37 | |||
Label | Sony Japan | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ayase | |||
Producer(s) | Ayase | |||
Yoasobi singles chronology | ||||
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On December 1, 2021, the same date as their EP The Book 2 release, Yoasobi announced the project Hajimete no, a collaboration between the duo and four Naoki Prize-winning novelists: Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori, to produce songs based on the authors' novel under the theme of "a story to read when you first did". All four novels were published as a book, titled Hajimete no, on February 16, 2022.[1][2] One of four novels with the theme "a story when you first confess" by Mori, Hikari no Tane (ヒカリノタネ, lit. "Seeds of Light"), depicts the story of Yuma, a high school girl who falls in love with her childhood friend Shiita for over ten years. She tries to erase her past confessions by journeying through time and space to confirm her fourth confession for him.[3][4]
On May 22, shortly after the music video of "Mr." premiered, Yoasobi uploaded the promotional video to announce the second song from Hajimete no series, titled "Suki da", based on Mori's novel. It shows Ikura's voice reading Hikari no Tane with texts from the story and several photos of Hajimete no book covers.[5] The song was available for digital music and streaming platforms on May 30.[6] Before the release, it was teased at all 7-Eleven branches in Japan from May 23, alongside the duo's comments about it.[7] Created by Moe Yoshino, the cover artwork shows a collage of colorful imaginary flowers.[6]
"Suki da" is described as a mid-tempo "sensational" love pop song,[8][9] expressing the protagonist's fourth attempt to confess her crush, who is her childhood friend, while struggling across space and time to erase her past love confessions.[4][8] Mori said that the song depicts the protagonist's misunderstanding, awareness, and determination and reflects "thinking about someone from the bottom of [her] heart".[7] The song was written by Ayase, a member who handles a production of the duo, composed in the key of E minor, 120 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and thirty-seven seconds.[10] The key of the three chorus all different, reflecting the ups and downs of the emotions.[9]
"Suki da" debuted at number 23 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.[11] Additionally, the song landed at number one on the Oricon Digital Singles (Single Track) Chart, selling 14,639 downloads in its first week. It became the ninth number-one song on the Digital Singles Chart and marked Yoasobi as the second most number-one artist on the chart, behind only Kenshi Yonezu, who has 10 songs.[12] "Suki da" entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100 at number eight,[13][14] earned 12,558 downloads, charted at number three on the Download Chart;[15] and 2,623,457 streams, peaked at number 39 on the Streaming Chart, on its first week.[16]
Yoasobi performed "Suki da" live for the first time at the Rock in Japan Festival on August 6, 2022, and the Rising Sun Rock Festival on the 12th.[17][18]
On September 7, "Suki da" was chosen to accompany the hair care product Ichikami advertisement, starring Mei Nagano, and Yoshiaki Higashi.[19] On the same day, Yoasobi also released the debut performance of the song from the 2022 Rock in Japan Festival to commemorate the collaboration.[20]
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
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Japan (Japan Hot 100)[21] | 8 |
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[11] | 23 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | May 30, 2022 (2022-05-30) |
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Sony Japan | [22] |
Yoasobi | |
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Extended plays | |
Singles |
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Promotional singles | |
Video albums | |
Concerts | Nice to Meet You |
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