Kyōgen (album)

Kyōgen (狂言) is the debut studio album by Japanese singer Ado, released January 26, 2022, by Virgin Music. A J-pop and rock record, the album was produced by various Vocaloid musicians.

Upon its release, Kyōgen was commercially successful within Japan. The album debuted and peaked at number one on the Oricon Combined Albums Chart, Oricon Albums Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.

Background
Ado, the pseudonym of a Japanese singer, signed with Virgin Music in 2020, at the age of 17. She released her debut single "Usseewa", which became popular among the Japanese youth. Despite being released digitally, "Usseewa" peaked at number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 41 on the Billboard Global 200. Reaching 100 million streams after its 17th week on the chart, Ado became the sixth person in history to achieve this. She also became the youngest solo artist to reach 100 million streams. Later that year, she released her second single, "Readymade".

In January 2022, Universal Music Japan announced Ado's debut studio album would be released later that month. Universal Japan announced six new songs would be on the album, along with Ado's previous digital singles. "Kokoro to iu Na no Fukakai" was released as a promotional single prior to the release of the album on January 17, 2022.

Promotion
Seven songs from Kyōgen were used in commercial tie-ins. "Readymade" was used as the ending theme for Abema's AbemaPrime. "Odo" was used by NHK in a program in promotion of Vocaloid. "Aitakute" was used as an insert song for the Japanese film Kaguya-sama Final: Love Is War. "Ashura-chan" served as the theme song for TV Asahi's drama, Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. "Kokoro to iu Na no Fukakai" was used as theme song for Kantele and Fuji TV's drama, Doctor White. TBS Television used "Motherland" as the theme song for the 2022 Winter Olympics. "Yoru no Pierrot" additionally was used as an opening theme song for a Japanese drama series.

Commercial performance
Kyōgen scored 163,052 points in its first week, debuting at number one on the Oricon Combined Albums Chart. It sold 142,041 physical copies in its first week, debuting at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart. The album also debuted at the top spot both on Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart and Oricon Digital Albums chart. Kyōgen became the first debut studio album to debut and peak at number one by a female solo artist in 10 years, the previous being Japanese singer Miwa's 2011 studio album, Guitarissimo. The album was also the first to sell over 100,000 copies in its first week by a female artist since Superfly's 2008 self titled debut album.

Track listing
Notes


 * English and Hepburn romanization track titles adapted from Tidal.
 * "Freedom" is stylized in all upper case lettering.
 * "Kokoro to iu Na no Fukakai" is stylized as "KokoroToIuNaNoFukakai" on digital stores.

Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal and album liner notes.

Musicians Technical
 * Malo – bass
 * Koji Shinnai – guitar
 * Tsubasa Takada – string arrangement
 * Tatsuya Kitani – bass
 * Yumao – drums
 * Zenko Mitsuya – guitar
 * Ado – vocals
 * Three – production, songwriting
 * Giga – production, songwriting
 * TeddyLoid – production, songwriting
 * Decco27 – songwriting
 * Kanaria – production, songwriting
 * Jon-Yakitory – production, songwriting
 * Whale Don't Sleep – production, songwriting
 * Mewhan – production, songwriting
 * Mikito P – production
 * Hiiragikirai – production, songwriting
 * Teniwoha – production, songwriting
 * Neru – production, songwriting
 * Mafumafu – production, songwriting
 * Syudou – production, songwriting
 * Nilefruits – production, songwriting
 * Ine – production, songwriting
 * Biz – production, songwriting
 * Kenichi Koga – immersive mix engineering
 * Three – recording arrangement
 * Giga – recording arrangement, mastering
 * TeddyLoid – recording arrangement
 * Naoki Itai – mixing
 * Vis – mixing
 * Mikito P – recording arrangement
 * Hiiragikirai – recording arrangement, mixing
 * Teniwoha – recording arrangement
 * Neru – vocal arrangement
 * Syudou – recording arrangement
 * Ine – recording arrangement
 * Biz – recording arrangement
 * Tsubasa Yamazaki – mastering
 * Kenji Yoshino – masteringVisuals and imagery
 * Orihara – art direction, illustrator
 * Jun Hirota – graphic design
 * Shiho Katsuno – graphic design