Saigo no Tight Hug

"Saigo no Tight Hug" (最後のTight Hug, lit. "Last tight hug") is a song recorded by Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. It was released on November 5, 2021, through N46Div., and Sony Music Records, as a lead single of their first compilation album Time Flies. Erika Ikuta, who graduated from the group on December 31, 2021, serves as the center position of the song.

"Saigo no Tight Hug"
Single by Nogizaka46
from the album Time Flies
Language	Japanese
Released	November 5, 2021 (2021-11-05)
Genre	J-pop
Length	4:55
Label	N46Div. Sony Music Japan
Composer(s)	Katsuhiko Sugiyama
Lyricist(s)	Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)	Yasushi Akimoto
Nogizaka46 singles chronology
"Kimi ni Shikarareta" (2021) "Saigo no Tight Hug" (2021) "Actually..." (2022)
Music video
"Saigo no Tight Hug" on YouTube

Background and release

On October 10, 2021, Nogizaka46 announced their 10-year-anniversary compilation album, scheduled for release on December 15,^[1][2] titled Time Flies.^[3] Three days after the announcement, Erika Ikuta, a first generation member announced to graduate from the group on December 31 on her official blog. She said the compilation album would be the last record from Nogizaka46 that she will appear in.^[4] Along with the single, her own solo graduation song, "Toki no Wadachi" appears on the album.^[5]

"Saigo no Tight Hug" was announced on October 29 as the album's lead single. Erika Ikuta, who at the time, was graduating from the group, serves as the center position of the song. It scheduled for release on November 5 to digital music and streaming platforms.^[6] The full song was aired for the first time on Nogizaka46's All Night Nippon on November 3.^[7]

Composition and lyrics

"Saigo no Tight Hug" was written by Yasushi Akimoto. Katsuhiko Sugiyama was in charge of sole composition and co-arrangement with Manabu Yachi.^[6] It was composed in the key of F Major, 119 beats per minute with a running time of 4 minutes and 55 seconds.^[8] Writing for Real Sound, Akihiro Watanabe described the song as a "the-warmth-lives-together-with-the-sadness" feeling to hug and send Ikuta off, with an acoustic guitar transforming to an organ-like synthesizer.^[9]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Saigo no Tight Hug" was released on November 16, 2021. Directed by Kazuma Ikeda, the music video was shot for two days at Nagano Prefecture around mid-October 2021.^[10] With the village festival theme, it conveys the feeling of Ikuta, who will leave the village, with the expression of dancing and tight hugs instead of words.^[11] According to Ikeda, the visuals of the music video were inspired by the films Midsommar (2019), Donkey Skin (1970), and Dreams (1990).^[12]

Live performance

Nogizaka46 gave a debut performance of "Saigo no Tight Hug" at YTV's Best Hits Kayosai on November 11, 2021, alongside "Gomen ne Fingers Crossed".^[13] They performed the song at TBS's CDTV Live! Live! on November 15, filmed at Tokyo National Museum, where they are currently exhibiting the group's Shunkashūtō / Four Season Nogizaka46, alongside the special medley, titled Shunkashūtō Medley, consisting of "Harujion ga Sakukoro", "Jikochū de Ikō!", "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru", and "Kaerimichi wa Tōmawari Shitaku Naru".^[14] On November 17, the group performed the song as part of the medley with "Guruguru Curtain", "Girls' Rule", "Synchronicity", and "Hadashi de Summer" on Nippon TV's Best Artist 2021,^[15] as well as Shibuya Note on November 27.^[16] The group performed the song at Fuji TV's FNS Music Festival on December 8, alongside Ikuta and Yuki Saito's collaboration "Sotsugyō".^[17]

Nogizaka46 members Ikuta, Hina Higuchi, Shiori Kubo, Sakura Endō, and Haruka Kaki appeared on MTV's MTV Unplugged on December 11, performed "Saigo no Tight Hug" in piano version.^[18] "Saigo no Tight Hug" at MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2021: The Live on December 18, alongside "Influencer", and "Synchronicity".^[19] The group performed the song at the 6-hour special edition of TV Asahi's Music Station, titled Music Station Ultra Super Live 2021 on December 24,^[20] as well as Buzz Rhythm 02 on the same day along with "Sing Out!".^[21]

Participating members

3rd Row: Sakura Endō, Rei Seimiya, Sayaka Kakehashi, Ayame Tsutsui, Seira Hayakawa, Mayu Tamura, Haruka Kaki

2nd Row: Renka Iwamoto, Yūki Yoda, Minami Umezawa, Mai Shinuchi, Mizuki Yamashita, Shiori Kubo

1st Row: Hinako Kitano, Hina Higuchi, Asuka Saitō, Erika Ikuta (centre), Manatsu Akimoto, Minami Hoshino, Ayane Suzuki^[22]

Charts

Chart performance for "Saigo no Tight Hug"

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Japan Download Songs (Billboard Japan)[23]	14
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[24]	15

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Saigo no Tight Hug"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	November 5, 2021 (2021-11-05)	Digital download streaming	N46Div. Sony Music Japan	[25][26]

References

1. "乃木坂初のベストアルバム 予約アクセス殺到でサーバーダウンのハプニング". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
2. "乃木坂46、初のベストアルバムリリース 日本全国の『～坂』駅にメンバー自ら駅貼り広告掲出するキャンペーンも". Real Sound (in Japanese). October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
3. Nishibiro, Tomokazu (October 23, 2021). "乃木坂46 初のベストアルバム タイトルが「Time flies」に決定！". Excite (in Japanese). Retrieved October 23, 2021.
4. "乃木坂46生田絵梨花、年内で卒業を発表「ようやく 旅立つぞ!と覚悟を」【コメント全文】". Oricon (in Japanese). October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
5. "乃木坂46 Time flies [Full Production Limited Edition]" (in Japanese). December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
6. "乃木坂46、新曲「最後のTight Hug」先行配信決定 生田絵梨花が最後のセンター". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative Inc. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
7. "乃木坂46、ベストアルバム収録曲「最後のTight Hug」を『乃木坂46のオールナイトニッポン』で初フル尺オンエア決定". Real Sound (in Japanese). November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
8. "Key, BPM of 最後のTight Hug by Nogizaka46". Musicstax. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
9. Watanabe, Akihiro (November 7, 2021). "乃木坂46 生田絵梨花センター曲「最後のTight Hug」に表れる"らしさ" 涙で語った卒コンへの思い". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2021.
10. "【遂に公開！！】「最後のTight Hug」Music Video！！". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. November 16, 2021. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
11. "乃木坂46、卒業の生田絵梨花センター楽曲「最後のTight Hug」MV公開". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative Inc. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
12. Kazuma Ikeda [@kazuma__ikeda] (2021-11-16). "乃木坂46最後のTightHug複雑な模様、極彩色のセットが自然の中にコントラストを生み不思議な光景を作り出しました。" [Nogizaka46's Saigo no Tight Hug: The intricate patterns and extreme colors of the set created a contrast in nature and a magical scene.] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-11-16 – via Twitter.
13. "『ベストヒット歌謡祭 2021』なにわ男子、BE:FIRST、JO1ら23組の歌唱曲一挙発表". Oricon (in Japanese). November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
14. "なにわ男子、乃木坂46、TXT、三代目JSBら『CDTVライブ！ライブ！』に登場". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
15. "【ベストアーティスト】乃木坂46 10周年を1期生・市來玲奈アナが祝福 櫻坂46&日向坂46も応援". Oricon (in Japanese). November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
16. "乃木坂46、BE:FIRST、YONA YONA WEEKENDERSが明日放送「シブヤノオト」出演". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
17. "乃木坂46生田絵梨花、64曲参加『FNS歌謡祭』軌跡に感涙 相葉雅紀「多才ですばらしい」". Oricon (in Japanese). December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
18. "乃木坂46アコースティックライブ『MTV Unplugged』12・11放送 生田絵梨花「こみ上げてくるものが」". Oricon (in Japanese). November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
19. "乃木坂46齋藤飛鳥＆山下美月Wセンターで「インフルエンサー」世界舞台に影響与えたアーティスト称える賞受賞＜MTV VMAJ 2021 -THE LIVE-＞". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative Inc. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
20. "Mステ『ウルトラSUPER LIVE』第3弾出演者＆楽曲一挙解禁". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
21. "今夜の生田絵梨花ラスト出演「バズリズム」で乃木坂46の食に密着、齋藤飛鳥の貴重な食事シーンも". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
22. "生田絵梨花センター曲『最後のTight Hug』 フォーメーションと選抜メンバーはこんな感じらしい！【乃木坂46】". 12 November 2021.
23. "Download Songs [2021/11/10 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
24. "週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2021年11月15日付" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
25. "【先行配信決定！！】ベストアルバムリード曲「最後のTight Hug」！！". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
26. "saigonotighthug - Single by Nogizaka46". Apple Music (NZ). Apple Inc. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.