Kōfukuron

"Kōfukuron"

A woman wearing a sailor suit, holding a blue guitar.

8cm 1998 edition cover.
Single by Ringo Sheena
from the album Muzai Moratorium
Released May 27, 1998 (8cm Single)
October 27, 1999 (12cm Single)
Format CD Single
Recorded Studio Terra
Genre pop
Length 7:38 (8cm)
12:52 (12cm)
Label Toshiba EMI, East World
Writer(s) Ringo Sheena
Producer(s) Hiroshi Kitashiro (M1, 2)
Uni Inoue (M3)
Ringo Sheena singles chronology
"Kōfukuron"
(1998)		 "Kabukichō no Joō"
(1998)
A picture of five children playing at the beach. The picture is framed with a large brown, cardboard-style border, and the top of another picture is visible at the bottom.
12cm 1999 edition cover.

"Kōfukuron" (幸福論 lit.The theory of happiness) is the debut single by Japanese singer Ringo Sheena and it was released on May 27, 1998 by Toshiba EMI, East World. Since Sheena suddenly gained popularity, it was decided that this single was resold as a 12 cm single. New edition, including the new song, was re-released with the fourth single "Honnō" on October 27, 1999. The 1999 edition was certified gold by the RIAJ for 200,000 copies shipped to stores.[1]

Background

Kōfukuron and Suberidai were produced by Hiroshi Kitashiro who is an audio engineer and synthesizer programmer, and Toki ga Bōsō Suru was produced by Uni Inoue who is an audio engineer and multi-instrumentalist. Seiji Kameda arranged all songs. Sheena wanted to release not "Kōfukuron" but C/W song "Suberidai" as a title tune. However, she gave up it because of opposition from the EMI staff. Since Sheena was not pleased with arrangement of Kōfukuron, the single version was not included in the album.

The song was used as the theme song to the TBS variety show Ai no Hinadan, and the "Etsuraku-hen" version featured on Muzai Moratorium in a 1999 commercial for Suntory's The Cocktail Bar Cassis & Orange.

The song was covered as a part of a medley by Rie Tomosaka on the television show The Yoru mo Hippare on September 9, 2000. It was later covered by Arashi members Jun Matsumoto and Masaki Aiba on their 2002 concert Arashi Storm Concert Tour 2003 "Atarashi Arashi".

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Ringo Sheena, arranged by Seiji Kameda. 

First Press Edition (8cm Single)
No. Title Length
1. "Kōfukuron (幸福論 A View of Happiness)"   3:45
2. "Suberidai (すべりだい Slide)"   　4:00

All songs written and composed by Ringo Sheena. 

Resale edition (12cm Single)
No. TitleArranger(s) Length
1. "Kōfukuron (幸福論 A View of Happiness)"  Seiji Kameda 3:37
2. "Suberidai (すべりだい Slide)"  Seiji Kameda 　4:01
3. "Toki ga Bōsō Suru (時が暴走する Time Drives Recklessly)[2]"  Seiji Kameda, Ringo Sheena 　5:11

Chart rankings

Charts (1999) Peak
position
Japan Oricon weekly singles[3] 5
Charts (2011) Peak
position
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[4] 92

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[5] 261,000
RIAJ physical certification[1] Gold (200,000)

Credits and personnel

Kōfukuron

Suberidai

Toki ga Bōsō Suru

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年12月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. December 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese) (Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan) 483: 8. February 10, 2000. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Mozart's "Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331" is used for this song.
  3. ↑ 「幸福論」 椎名林檎 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2011年11月16日～2011年11月22日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Investigation: November 16, 2011 to November 22, 2011 (For Short: Recokyō Chart (Chaku-uta Full))]. RIAJ (in Japanese). November 25, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved April 21, 2014. (subscription required (help)).