JPN (album)

JPN is the third studio album (fourth overall) by Japanese girl group Perfume, released on November 30, 2011, by Tokuma Japan Communications, nearly two and a half years after their second studio album Triangle. The album sold a total of 268,414 after two weeks of release, making it the 24th best-selling album of 2011 according to Oricon.^[2]

JPN
Studio album by Perfume
Released	November 30, 2011 (Japan)
Recorded	2010–2011
Genre	Techno-pop pop dance[1]
Length	55:10
Label	Tokuma Japan Communications (Japan) Universal Music (Asia)
Producer	Yasutaka Nakata
Perfume chronology
Triangle (2009) JPN (2011) Perfume Global Compilation "Love the World" (2012)
Singles from JPN
"Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koishite" Released: April 14, 2010 "Voice" Released: August 11, 2010 "Nee" Released: November 10, 2010 "Laser Beam/Kasuka na Kaori" Released: May 18, 2011 "Spice" Released: November 2, 2011

JPN is the group's last release under Tokuma Japan Communications as the group moved to Universal Music Japan (as announced February 28, 2012) for their future releases.^[3] JPN was released worldwide on March 6, 2012, to over 50 countries via iTunes.^[4]

Background

The album was announced at Perfume's official website on September 5, 2011, along with a dance contest, their nineteenth single "Spice" and their third nationwide arena tour "Perfume Third Tour: JPN" starting in January 2012.^[5] It was released in two different versions; as a CD-only version and in a limited edition CD+DVD featuring promotional videos and commercial spots.

The B-side track of "Nee" ("FAKE IT") was not included in this album but two years later in "Perfume Global Compilation "LOVE THE WORLD"" album.

Composition

The album includes all of the group's past four singles: "Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koishite", "Voice", "Nee", and "Laser Beam/Kasuka na Kaori". It also includes the singles' corresponding B-side songs. The only song out of all the singles that did not make it to this album was "Fake it" from the single Nee.^[6]

The group's nineteenth single, "Spice", serves as the album's lead single. It was released on November 2, 2011. A remixed version of its B-side song, "Glitter", is also included in the album.

Five of the other tracks are brand-new songs, including "My Color", "Toki no Hari" (時の針), and "Have a Stroll".

"Fushizen na Girl" was slightly edited from the original single version for this album, however, it is uncredited.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 1 in the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 227,000 copies sold on its first week of release, their highest debut week sales than their previous albums in their career to date. This also made them the second female Japanese group to achieve three consecutive number one albums, a feat first achieved twelve years ago by veteran pop group Speed.^[7][8] The album sold a total of 268,000 after two weeks of release, making it the 24th best-selling album of 2011.^[2]

In South Korea, the album debuted at number 39 in the Gaon Monthly International Albums, selling 358 copies.^[9]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Opening" (instrumental)	1:12
2.	"Laser Beam" (album mix) (レーザービーム Rēzā Bīmu)	3:10
3.	"Glitter" (album mix)	5:41
4.	"Natural ni Koishite" (ナチュラルに恋して Fall in Love Naturally)	3:08
5.	"My Color"	5:04
6.	"Toki no Hari" (時の針 Hand of Time)	2:30
7.	"Nee" (ねぇ Hey)	4:27
8.	"Kasuka na Kaori" (微かなカオリ Faint Fragrance)	4:49
9.	"575"	4:27
10.	"Voice"	4:13
11.	"Kokoro no Sports" (心のスポーツ Sports of the Heart)	4:08
12.	"Have a Stroll"	4:36
13.	"Fushizen na Girl[note 1]" (不自然なガール Artificial Girl)	3:59
14.	"Spice" (スパイス)	3:53
Total length:		55:10

All tracks are written by Yasutaka Nakata.

Limited edition bonus DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Spice" (music video)
2.	"Natural ni Koishite" (music video)
3.	"Laser Beam" (music video full)
4.	"Kasuka na Kaori" (music video)
5.	"Kasuka na Kaori" (music video TV edit)
6.	"Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koshite" (TV spot)
7.	"Voice" (TV spot)
8.	"Nee" (TV spot)
9.	"Laser Beam" (TV spot)
10.	"Spice" (TV spot)

1. Album edit

Chart positions

Oricon charts

Release	Chart	Peak position
November 30, 2011	Oricon Daily Charts	1
	Oricon Weekly Charts	1
	Oricon Monthly Charts	2
	Oricon Yearly Charts	24[2]

Other charts

Chart	Peak position
South Korea (Gaon Monthly International Albums)[9]	39
Taiwan (G-Music J-Pop Chart)[10]	10
World Albums Top 40[11]	4

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[12]	Platinum	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

• Spin's 20 Best Pop Albums of 2011 - ranked 14th^[13]

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format
Japan[14]	November 30, 2011 (2011-11-30)	Tokuma Japan Communications	CD, CD+DVD, Digital download
Worldwide[15]	March 6, 2012 (2012-03-06)		Digital download
Hong Kong[16]	April 16, 2012 (2012-04-16)	Universal Music Group	CD, CD+DVD, Digital download
South Korea[17]	May 8, 2012 (2012-05-08)		CD
Taiwan[18]	April 13, 2012 (2012-04-13)