Hajimete no

Hajimete no (はじめての, lit. "The First Time Of") is a book collected short stories by Japanese novelists Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori, which collaborated with Japanese duo Yoasobi to produce and perform the songs based on the novelists' stories under the theme "a story to read when you do [something] for the first time".^[1] The book was first announced on December 1, 2021, and published by Surinsha on February 16, 2022.^[2]

Hajimete no

Author	Rio Shimamoto Mizuki Tsujimura Miyuki Miyabe Eto Mori
Original title	はじめての
Language	Japanese
Genre	Short story collection
Publisher	Suirinsha
Publication date	February 16, 2022
Publication place	Japan
Media type	Tankōbon hardcover
Pages	224
ISBN	978-4-16-401004-4
Website	yoasobi-music.jp/hajimeteno

It consists of four stories—Shimamoto's Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha, Tsujimura's Yūrei, Miyabe's Iro Chigai no Trump, and Mori's Hikari no Tane.^[3] These were accompanied by each song by Yoasobi: "Mr.", "Umi no Manimani", "Seventeen", and "Suki da", respectively. All songs are featured on the book's companion EP Hajimete no – EP, released on May 10, 2023.^[4] The Taiwanese edition was published on July 10, 2023, by Crown Publishing.^[5]

Contents

• Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha (私だけの所有者, "My only owner"; a story when you first fall in love) – Rio Shimamoto; base of "Mr.": What happening between "Boku" and their owner? "Boku" was protected by a facility in a certain country, and started writing letters to their "Sensei", Mr. Naruse.^[6]

• Yūrei (ユーレイ, "Ghost"; a story when you first run away from home) – Mizuki Tsujimura; base of "Umi no Manimani": After running away from home, I got off at a seaside train station, and suddenly, a mysterious girl, who holds a bouquet, called out to me in the beach at night.^[7]

• Iro Chigai no Trump (色違いのトランプ, "Color-different playing cards"; a story when you first become a suspect) – Miyuki Miyabe; base of "Seventeen": Natsuho, Sōichi's beloved daughter, was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a terrorist attack that occurred in a parallel world. To save Natsuho, Sōichi goes alone to another "mirror world".^[8]

• Hikari no Tane (ヒカリノタネ, "Seeds of light"; a story when you first confess) – Eto Mori; base of "Suki da": Yuma, a high school girl who is irresistibly fond of her childhood friend Shiita, tries to erase her past confessions to secure her fourth confession.^[9]

Reception

Tomonori Shiba from Real Sound praised Hajimete no for the excitement conveyed by the work, the fun of the troupes, and the tricks. He also was sure that "many young readers will consider this work their 'first book,'" because of "a wide frontage that even teens can easily get into."^[10] Hajimete no debuted at number eight on the Oricon weekly Books Chart dated February 28, 2022, selling 13,379 copies in its first week.^[11]

Adaptation and sequel

Room NB Co. Ltd adapted Hajimete no into a readers theater, performed at Yomiuri Ōtemachi Hall between January 7 and 9, 2023,^[12] and at Theater 1010 from January 6 to 8, 2024.^[13] Starting in 2022, Yoasobi, four authors, Suirinsha, and creative writing social media Monogatary.com carried out the sequel project Hajimete no Bungei-bu to discover new novelists.^[14] Kozumu Ayane, Rei Hachikawa, Naruse Hazuki, and Yoa Mabyō were selected.^[15]

Hajimete no – EP

Hajimete no – EP
Digital cover
EP by Yoasobi
Released	May 10, 2023
Genre	J-pop
Length	14:19
Language	Japanese
Label	Sony Japan
Producer	Ayase
Yoasobi chronology
E-Side 2 (2022) Hajimete no – EP (2023) The Book 3 (2023)
Singles from Hajimete no – EP
"Mr." Released: February 16, 2022 "Suki da" Released: May 30, 2022 "Umi no Manimani" Released: November 18, 2022 "Seventeen" Released: March 27, 2023

On March 27, 2023, the same day as the release of "Seventeen", Yoasobi announced an EP, collected all tracks based on Hajimete no's short stories, titled Hajimete no – EP (はじめての - EP). It was released on May 10, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan.^[16] Containing all four tracks from the project, the limited physical EP came in five versions: four are Mini CD with different short story and cover, and a complete edition contains 12 cm CD and Blu-ray including the duo's selected live performances from Rock in Japan Festival, and Sweet Love Shower in 2022.^[17]

To promote the EP, fan art goods inspired by each track from Hajimete no – EP's music videos were sold at MashRoom Cafe online store.^[18] Yoasobi, alongside all novelists who wrote the based stories, appeared on the special program NHK Music Special, titled NHK Music Special Yoasobi: Shōsetsu o Ongaku ni Suru Mahō (小説を音楽にする魔法, lit. "Magic of novel into music"), on May 11, to talk about behind-the-scenes of the project, and give debut televised performances of all tracks from the EP.^[19] Commercially, the EP peaked at number nine on the Oricon Singles Chart,^[20] and sold 11,846 copies as of May.^[21]

Track listing

Hajimete no – EP track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Seventeen" (セブンティーン)	3:19
2.	"Umi no Manimani" (海のまにまに)	4:16
3.	"Suki da" (好きだ)	3:38
4.	"Mr." (ミスター)	3:05
Total length:		14:19

All tracks are written by Ayase.

Hajimete no – EP – complete edition (Blu-ray)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Halzion" (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
2.	"Mō Sukoshi Dake" (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
3.	"Mr." (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
4.	"Moshi mo Inochi ga Egaketara" (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
5.	"Suki da" (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
6.	"Gunjō" (2022.8.6 Rock in Japan Festival 2022)
7.	"Yoru ni Kakeru" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
8.	"Sangenshoku" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
9.	"Taishō Roman" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
10.	"Encore" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
11.	"Kaibutsu" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
12.	"Tsubame" (2022.8.28 Sweet Love Shower 2022)
Total length:		1:00:19

Credits and personnel

• Ayase – songwriter, producer
• Ikura – vocals
• Zaquro Misohagi – chorus (4)
• Takakeru – guitar (1)
• AssH – guitar (3)
• Miyuki Miyabe – based story writer (1)
• Mizuki Tsujimura – based story writer (2)
• Eto Mori – based story writer (3)
• Rio Shimamoto – based story writer (4)
• Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
• Masahiko Fukui – mixing
• Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Hajimete no – EP[note 1] Chart (2023) Peak position Japan (Oricon)[22] 9 Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[25] 9 Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[26] 12

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for Hajimete no – EP Chart (2023) Position Japan (Oricon)[21] 23

Release history

Release dates and formats for Hajimete no – EP

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	May 10, 2023	Digital download streaming	Sony Japan	[27]
Japan		Mini CD CD+Blu-ray
Taiwan	May 19, 2023		Sony Taiwan	[28]

Notes

1. Oricon, Billboard Japan, and retail stores considered Hajimete no – EP to be a quadruple A-side single.^[22][23][24]

References

1. Mugi (December 31, 2021). "Hit duo YOASOBI teams up with 4 Naoki Prize-winning novelists for new song project". Grape. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
2. "4人の直木賞作家×YOASOBI 小説と音楽で紡ぐ奇跡のコラボレーション企画始動". Hiroshima Lead (in Japanese). February 16, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
3. "YOASOBI 4人の直木賞作家とコラボ 書き下ろし原作に楽曲を発表". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 1, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
4. "YOASOBI、直木賞作家とのコラボプロジェクト「はじめての」楽曲を収めたEP発売". Natalie (in Japanese). July 23, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
5. "YOASOBI 聯手直木賞4位名作家，打造「小說音樂化」奇蹟之作《第一次的…》". Ysolife (in Chinese (Taiwan)). July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
6. "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ第1弾「ミスター」配信スタート。プロジェクトトレーラー映像も公開". Barks (in Japanese). February 16, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
7. "YOASOBI、辻村深月原作の新曲「海のまにまに」配信リリース　著名人による読書感想文やインスタ企画も". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 7, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
8. "YOASOBI、「THEATER MILANO-Za」こけら落としライブのTikTok LIVE配信が決定". The First Times (in Japanese). March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
9. "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ・プロジェクト第2弾楽曲「好きだ」配信リリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). May 30, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
10. Shiba, Tomonori (February 19, 2022). "YOASOBI×直木賞作家4名『はじめての』は、小説と文芸のあり方をアップデートするーー柴那典が野心的コラボ小説を解説". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved March 28, 2023.
11. "Oricon Top 30 Books: 2022-02-28" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
12. "YOASOBI×直木賞作家4名のプロジェクト「はじめての」 宮野真守、蒼井翔太ら出演で2023年に朗読劇化決定". Spice (in Japanese). November 26, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
13. "直木賞作家とYOASOBIがコラボ! 朗読劇『はじめての』後編に津田健次郎、梅田彩佳らが出演". Pia (in Japanese). October 20, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
14. "YOASOBI、新人小説家発掘企画＜『はじめての』文芸部＞部員募集スタート". Barks (in Japanese). September 21, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
15. "YOASOBI×水鈴社、新人作家発掘・育成プログラム『はじめての』文芸部 第一期部員決定！ 部員によるYOASOBIのライブレポートも公開". The First Times (in Japanese). July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
16. "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボプロジェクト4曲＆小説入り『はじめての - EP』数量限定でリリース". Barks (in Japanese). March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
17. "YOASOBI、直木賞作家コラボ・プロジェクト"はじめての"楽曲4曲と小説まとめた『はじめての - EP』数量限定CDリリース決定". Skream! (in Japanese). March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
18. "YOASOBI、プロジェクト「はじめての」4曲収録EP発売＆グッズ販売開始 「アイドル」CDリリース決定も". CDJournal (in Japanese). May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
19. "NHK、YOASOBIの秘密に迫る特集番組。5月11日夜". AV Watch (in Japanese). May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
20. "5/22付週間シングルランキング 1位は関ジャニ∞「未完成」". Oricon (in Japanese). May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
21. "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2023-05" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
22. はじめての - EP(完全生産限定盤/コンプリート盤) – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
23. "YOASOBI「はじめての - EP 色違いのトランプ (「セブンティーン」原作) 盤」". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
24. "YOASOBI/はじめての - EP コンプリート盤 ［CD+Blu-ray Disc+小説4種］＜コンプリート盤＞". Tower Records Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
25. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2023-05-22" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
26. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales – Week of May 17, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
27. "本日、直木賞作家コラボプロジェクト『はじめての』のラストを飾る宮部みゆき原作の第4弾楽曲「セブンティーン」配信開始！＆MVも20時プレミア公開！そして、5/10(水)には本プロジェクト楽曲4曲と小説をまとめた『はじめての - EP』数量限定CDリリース決定！本日より予約開始！". Yoasobi Official Website (in Japanese). March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
28. Citations

    • "YOASOBI / Hajimete no (Complete Limited Edition)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Sony Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
    • "YOASOBI / Hajimete no ("Watashi Dake no Shoyusha" Edition)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Sony Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
    • "YOASOBI / Hajimete no ("Hikari no Tane" Edition)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Sony Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
    • "YOASOBI / Hajimete no ("Yurei" Edition)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Sony Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
    • "YOASOBI / Hajimete no ("Irochigai no Trump" Edition)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Sony Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.

External links

• Hajimete no official website