Komorebi

"Ko·mo·re·bi (コ・モ・レ・ビ)"
Single by Hitomi Takahashi
from the album Bamboo Collage
Released	November 1, 2006
Format	CD single
Genre	J-pop, Rock
Length	16 min 26 s
Label	gr8! records
Writer(s)	Hitomi Takahashi, Akiko Watanabe
Producer(s)	TAKUYA
Hitomi Takahashi singles chronology
"Communication" (2006) "Ko·mo·re·bi" (2006) "Candy Line" (2007)

"Ko·mo·re·bi" is Hitomi Takahashi's 5th single under the Sony Records (gr8! records) label. The single was released in one format on November 1, 2006.

Overview

"Ko·mo·re·bi" is Hitomi Takahashi's 5th single, and was used as the theme song for the movie "Tegami", which features actors Takayuki Yamada, Tetsuji Tamayama, and Erika Sawajiri.^[1] This single also found Hitomi once again working with ex-Judy and Mary member TAKUYA.^[2]

The title song is described by CDJapan as "a ballad perfect for the love story in the film",^[3] and came with a special, limited letter from Hitomi. The coupling track on the single, "DRIVE", was labeled as "special", because of the many different other artists who worked on the song. Such people include 175RSHOGO arranging the music, TAKUYA producing the music, TEPPEI (from 3.6MILK) on the guitars, SATOSHI (from 3.6MILK) on the bass guitar, and MOBY (from SCOOBIE DOO) on the drums. The song is described as being about life-size music.^[4] Also, though Hitomi has co-written the lyrics of most of her other songs, "Drive" is the first song where the lyrics are completely written by her.

Musically, "Ko·mo·re·bi" takes on a very different tone than Hitomi's past singles. The title song is a mid-tempo ballad, unlike any song that Hitomi has ever done; even the previous ballad song "evergreen" had a heavy rock influence to it, while this song leans towards a more 'traditional' ballad. The b-side, however, is heavily rock-influenced song, reminiscent of such songs such as "Bōkensha" and "Subarashiki Kono Sekai".

Sample of the translated lyrics:^[5]

I'll hold your hand like this forever

I don't care if a cold wind sometimes blows

You taught me

That tears aren't for sorrow

Music video

A screen capture of the music video.

The music video for "Ko·mo·re·bi" aired for the public on MTV "M-SIZE" on October 23, 2006. The PV was filmed around the Mount Fuji area,^[6] and was directed by AT. The video starts off with Hitomi walking into a recording studio. She then proceeds to place headphones on, and begins singing into a microphone with a stand holding the lyrics of the song in front of her. The camera rotates 360° around her, and soon the recording studio fades in and out of a misty forest area. Other scenes show Hitomi singing in the forested area without the studio equipment, along with scenes of the scenery, as well (particularly the sunlight shining through the trees). The fading in and out of the studio occurs numerous times, until the song is finally over - Hitomi walks out of the studio, and a single green leaf falls on the chair she had been standing in front of.

It should also be noted that another version of the PV was filmed with clips from the movie "Tegami" in it.

Track listing

1. "Ko·mo·re·bi (コ・モ・レ・ビ)" - 4:50
   Lyrics by Hitomi Takahashi & Akiko Watanabe
   Music and arrangement by Takuya
2. "Drive" - 3:22
   Lyrics by Hitomi Takahashi
   Music by shogo.k
   Arrangement by TEPPEI (3.6MILK), SATOSHI (3.6MILK), OKAMOTO "MOBY" TAKUYA (SCOOBIE DO)
3. "コ・モ・レ・ビ -Instrumental-" - 4:49
4. "Drive -Instrumental-" - 3:22

Personnel

• Hitomi Takahashi - vocals (All tracks)
• TAKUYA - guitars (Tracks #1 & #2)
• Jun Umeda (梅田 潤) - bass (Track #1)
• TEPPEI (3.6MILK) - guitars (Track #2)
• SATOSHI (3.6MILK) - bass (Track #2)
• OKAMOTO "MOBY" TAKUYA (SCOOBIE DO) - drums (Track #2)

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

References