Kaze o Matsu

"Kaze o Matsu" (風を待つ) is the second single by Japanese idol group STU48, released on February 13, 2019. Yumiko Takino served as lead performer for the title song. It topped the Japanese music charts in its release week.

Production and release
The music video for the title song was filmed in one long take by quadcopter drone on location near the Senkō-ji temple in Onomichi, Hiroshima. It depicts the members dancing up the Onomichi hill and was released on December 26, 2018. Production took place over two days and ten full takes were filmed. Several alternate takes were published on the single's website.

The single was released in five editions, and four more limited editions. The B-side "Shukkō" (出航), included in all editions, features the first appearance in a music video of the group's theater ship STU48-go, the first ship with an onboard theater in Japan which was still under remodeling during production, and was performed by all 33 members and trainees, led by captain Nana Okada. B-side "Yume Chikara" (夢力) was originally produced for a commercial for the Cream Genmai Bran candy bar and performed by the one-shot subunit CGB41, also led by Takino and called Asahi Food's "first idol group". "Seifuku no Omosa" (制服の重さ) was performed by members born in the 20th century, while "Genten" (原点) was performed by those born in the 21st century. "Yagate Nanohana ga Saku Koro" (やがて菜の花が咲く頃) was performed by the five trainees recruited from the third AKB48 Group Draft (a joint audition between AKB48 and its Japan-based sister groups), and "Dareka to Itai" (誰かといたい) was performed by the trio Yuri Torobu, Mitsuki Imamura, and Kōko Tanaka (ToroMichuKokko). The Limited Edition releases included the "STU48 Setouchi School Uniform Guide" bonus video content, featuring the members modelling the real-life uniforms of schools in the Setouchi region.

Reception
"Kaze o Matsu" sold an estimated 302,533 copies in its release week according to Billboard Japan, doubling that of the previous single and placing it first in both the Oricon Singles and Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts.