Oishii Kisetsu

"Oishii Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"
A woman wearing lingerie lies on a fur rug on her back, holding a gun.
Single by Chiaki Kuriyama
from the album Circus
A-side "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"
B-side "Cat's Eye"
Released March 2, 2011
(see release history)
Format CD Single, digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre Pop-rock, Rock
Length 4:14
4:26
Label Defstar Records
Writer(s) Ringo Sheena
Chiaki Kuriyama singles chronology
"Cold Finger Girl"
(2011)		 "Oishii Kisetsu"
"Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"
(2011)		 "Tsukiyo no Shōzō"
(2011)

"Oishii Kisetsu" (おいしい季節, "The Tasty Season") (also known by its English title "The Creamy Season") is one of the two songs that made up the fourth single by Japanese entertainer Chiaki Kuriyama, along with "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan". They were released on March 2, 2011, as the lead singles from her debut album Circus, released two weeks later. Both songs were produced by musician Ringo Sheena.[1]

Background and development

After Chiaki Kuriyama debuted in early 2010 with the single "Ryūsei no Namida", she began to release collaboration singles, featuring a famous Japanese rock musician as the producer. "Kanōsei Girl" (2010) was produced by Tomoyasu Hotei, and "Cold Finger Girl" (2011) by Kenichi Asai of Blankey Jet City.[2] In 2010, Kuriyama starred in the drama Atami no Sōsakan. The Ringo Sheena-lead band Tokyo Jihen performed the theme song for the drama, "Tengoku e Yōkoso".

Writing and production

Of the two songs, "Oishii Kisetsu" was produced second, after "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan" had been created.[3] Both songs featured Sheena's band Tokyo Jihen performing instruments.[2] The band recorded together with Kuriyama, and Sheena gave pointers to Kuriyama during the sessions, asking her to sing the song in a louder voice.[4] The song was written by Sheena about a regular girl who was in love, as opposed to a song written with Kuriyama in mind.[3][5]

The third song on the single is a cover of Anri's "Cat's Eye", the eponymous theme song for the 1983 anime Cat's Eye.

Promotion and release

Music videos were produced for both "Oishii Kisetsu" and "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan", both directed by Hiroshi Usui.[6][7] Usui was a director who had previously worked with Sheena on videos such as "Kōfukuron" (1998), "Kabukichō no Joō" (1998), "Koko de Kiss Shite." (1999) and Tokyo Jihen's "Kabuki" and "Kenka Jōtō". (2006) The video for "Oishii Kisetsu" features Kuriyama performing the song into a standing microphone, in a room with a high ceiling with other musicians. Additional scenes feature Kuriyama performing the song while sitting at a chair in a different outfit. Kuriyama wears a Vivienne Westwood armour ring while performing the song; a ring that Sheena wore during her early career.

On March 5, Kuriyama performed an in-store live at Tower Records in Shinjuku to promote the single.[8] Between February 28 and March 5, promotional comments by Kuriyama appeared on Sendai FM, Cross FM, FM Port, Kiss-FM Kobe, FM OSAKA and Tokyo FM's School of Lock![9] Interviews appeared in February and March editions of What's In?, BLT, Pichilemon, De View 50, Otona Lab, The Japan Times and Tower.[9] She also appeared on the Fuji TV show Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke on March 10, 2011.[9]

During Tokyo Jihen's farewell tour held in February 2012, Bon Voyage, Tokyo Jihen performed "Oishii Kisetsu" live.[10] Sheena performed "Oishii Kisetsu" again during her solo Tōtaikai concerts in November 2013.[11]

Critical reception

Kazuhiro "Scao" Ikeda of EMTG praised the song, calling it "bewitching and cute".[12]

Track listings

"Oishii Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan" Type A tracklist
No. TitleWriter(s)Arrangement Length
1. "Oishii Kisetsu"  Ringo SheenaTokyo Jihen 4:14
2. "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"  R. SheenaTokyo Jihen 3:00
3. "Cat's Eye"  Yoshiko Miura, Yuichiro OdaRyo Eguchi 2:58
Total length:
 10:12

Chart rankings

Charts (2011) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[13] 100
Japan Oricon weekly singles[14]
  • "Oishii Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"
 37

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[15]
  • "Oishii Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"
 4,000

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan February 16, 2011[5] Ringtone Defstar Records
March 2, 2011[2] CD, digital download DFCL-1759, DFCL-1760
March 19, 2011[16] Rental CD

References

  1. ↑ "椎名林檎、初のセルフカバー集『逆輸入 ～港湾局～』リリース＆レコ発ライブ開催発表" [Ringo Sheena, first self-cover album collection Gyakuyunyū: Kōwankyoku release and release party live]. Barks. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "栗山千明、椎名林檎プロデュース、東京事変の演奏による両A面シングルをリリース" [Chiaki Kuriyama releases the Ringo Sheena produced double A side single, featuring Tokyo Jihen performing.]. Rockin' On. January 28, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keisuke Tsuchiya (January 11, 2012). "栗山千明の最新作は椎名林檎らが楽曲を提供したアルバムのデラックス盤。動画コメントも！" [Chiaki Kuriyama's new work is a deluxe version of her album featuring offerings from Ringo Sheena and others. Also featuring a video comment!]. EMTG Music. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ Tomonori Nagasawa (March 16, 2011). 栗山千明 スペシャル・インタビュー [Chiaki Kuriyama Special Interview] (in Japanese). We Rock City. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 衝撃のプロデュース第三弾！！椎名林檎 作詞・作曲・プロデュースによる両Ａ面シングル発売決定！！ [Amazing third production! Ringo Sheena (lyrics, composition, production) double A side single release] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. January 28, 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ 栗山千明 おいしい季節 (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ 栗山千明 決定的三分間 (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ 3/5（土）タワーレコード新宿店にてインストアライブ決定！！ [3/5 Tower Records Shinjuku in-store live!] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. February 15, 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Media" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bon Voyage" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ 党大会　平成二十五年神山町大会 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ Kazuhiro "Scao" Ikeda (March 17, 2011). "レビュー" (in Japanese). EMTG. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. March 14, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ 「おいしい季節／決定的三分間」 栗山千明 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ "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 March 14, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  16. ↑ おいしい季節／決定的三分間 (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved April 14, 2014.