Hajimete no


Hajimete no is a book collected short stories by Japanese novelists Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori under the theme of "a story to read when you do for the first time" in collaboration with Japanese duo Yoasobi to perform songs based on the stories.
The collection comprises Shimamoto's Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha, Tsujimura's Yūrei, Miyabe's Iro Chigai no Trump, and Mori's Hikari no Tane, resulting the songs "Mr.", "Umi no Manimani", "Seventeen", and "Suki da", respectively. All songs were included on the EP titled Hajimete no – EP, released in May 2023. Upon its publication, Hajimete no received positive reviews and sold 13,000 copies in its first week, according to Oricon.

History

On December 1, 2021, the same day as the EP The Book 2 release, Yoasobi announced a collaboration with novelists Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori, who all won Naoki Prize, to write short stories for the book titled Hajimete no. The theme of "a story to read when you do for the first time", the short stories consists of Shimamoto's Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha, Tsujimura's Yūrei, Miyabe's Iro Chigai no Trump, and Mori's Hikari no Tane. Yoasobi would be in charge of producing and performing songs based on all short stories.
Surinsha first published Hajimete no on February 16, 2022, alongside the release the first song based on Shimamoto's short story "Mr.". The Taiwanese edition was published by Crown Publishing on July 10, 2023. Two more songs were released in 2022: "Suki da", sourced from Mori's story, on May 30; and "Umi no Manimani", based on Tsujimura's story, on November 18. The last song "Seventeen" came on March 27, 2023. All songs are featured on the book's companion EP Hajimete no – EP, released on May 10, 2023.
100 promotional videos for the book, voiced texts from all four stories by Ikura and other 99 voice actors, were used as a commercial airing during the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships broadcast via Fuji TV, as well as the duo's social media. Yoasobi, sometimes alongside the writers, promoted Hajimete no by giving interviews in various media, such as magazines Da Vinci and Aera, newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, radio show Takahiro Inoue Doyōbi no "A", and television shows Mezamashi TV and Tetsuko's Room, etc.

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." Writing for Good Life with Books, Moe Oshikiri reviewed that the book, "even with the same theme, the worlds depicted are varied," and "span a wide range of genres, from science fiction to fantasy, mystery, and teen drama." Commercially, Hajimete no debuted at number eight on the Oricon weekly Books Chart dated February 28, 2022, selling 13,379 copies in its first week.

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, and at Theater 1010 from January 6 to 8, 2024. 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. Kozumu Ayane's Kono Roku de mo Nai Yatsu Shika Inai Sekai de, Rei Hachikawa's Restart, Naruse Hazuki's Shiawase no Katachi, and Yoa Mabyō's Senpai o Koroshitai no de Josō Suru were selected.

''Hajimete no – EP''

On March 27, 2023, following the release of "Seventeen", Yoasobi announced an EP, collected all tracks based on short stories written in Hajimete no, titled Hajimete no – EP. It was released on May 10, 2023, through Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The physical formats 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.
To promote the EP, fan art goods inspired by each track from Hajimete no – EPs music videos were sold at MashRoom Cafe online store. Yoasobi, alongside all novelists who wrote the short stories, appeared on the special program NHK Music Special, titled NHK Music Special Yoasobi: Shōsetsu o Ongaku ni Suru Mahō, on May 11, to talk about behind-the-scenes of the project, and give debut televised performances of all tracks from the EP. Commercially, the EP peaked at number nine on the Oricon Singles Chart, and sold 11,846 copies as of May.

Credits and personnel