Actually...

"Actually..." is a song recorded by Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. It was released as the group's twenty-ninth single on March 23, 2022, through N46Div. and Sony Music Records. The song was written by Yasushi Akimoto and Namito. Commercially, the single peaked atop both Oricon Singles Chart, and Billboard Japan Hot 100.

For studio album by Pet Shop Boys, see Actually. For the film, see Actually (film).
"Actually..."
Regular edition cover
Single by Nogizaka46
B-side
  • "Fukayomi"
  • "Kachi Aru Mono" (Type-A)
  • "Wasurenaito Ii na" (Type-B)
  • "Todokanakutatte..." (Type-C)
  • "Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" (Type-D)
  • "Suki ni Nattemita" (Regular)
ReleasedMarch 23, 2022 (2022-03-23)
GenreJ-pop
Length3:40
Label
Composer(s)Namito
Lyricist(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Nogizaka46 singles chronology
"Saigo no Tight Hug"
(2021)		 "Actually..."
(2022)		 "Suki to Iu no wa Rock da ze!"
(2022)
Music video
"Actually..." on YouTube

Aruno Nakanishi originally served as the center position of the single, becoming the first fifth generation member to be in the center position and appear on a title track. However, due to the resurfacing of some of her past controversial statements, she announced that she would refrain from activities. Instead, during promotions for the single, Asuka Saito and Mizuki Yamashita performed as double centers for the song.

Background and release

On January 31, 2022, at end of the group's television show Nogizaka Under Construction, Nogizaka46 announced their twenty-ninth single, which would be released on March 23, six months after its predecessor, twenty-eighth single "Kimi ni Shikarareta", and three months after the greatest hit album, Time Flies.[1] Pre-orders for the CD single began on the same day in five editions: four limited (A, B, C, D), and a regular.[2] The special edition digital EP was released on March 16, a week before the CD single release.[3]

On February 1, it was announced that Hinako Kitano, a second generation member, would graduate from the group in late April and would not participate as both a senbatsu and under member.[4]

On the same day, Nogizaka46 announced eleven members joined the group as the fifth generation, from the audition of 87,852 applicants that began in July 2021. Eight members were introduced in February, while the other three after March due to academic reasons.[5] The first eight members were officially introduced on the group's official YouTube channel: Nagi Inoue, Miku Ichinose, Satsuki Sugawara, Aya Ogawa, Nao Tomisato, Iroha Okuda, Aruno Nakanishi, and Mao Ioki.[6] On March 18, unannounced fifth generation member Hina Okamoto announced that she would refrain from activities and went on hiatus after violating the group's activity rules.[7] The next day, another fifth generation member was unveiled: Teresa Ikeda.[8] On March 31, the final fifth generation member, Sakura Kawasaki, was introduced.[9]

The participating members (senbatsu) was announced in the group's television show on February 20.[10] On February 23, the song's title and the center position were announced on their special livestream program Nogizaka46 Hours TV, with the center being fifth generation member Aruno Nakanishi.[11] The complete track listing was revealed on the next day.[12] On March 3, center Nakanishi announced a period of "self-restraint" and took a hiatus from group activities after she confirmed that some past controversial posts on social media came from her.[13] Asuka Saitō and Mizuki Yamashita served in the center position instead for music show performances, and for the music video that was officially released on the YouTube channel.[14]

Cover artworks

The cover artworks for all editions of "Actually..." were revealed on February 28. Ofby for Tokyo's Yukari handled the art direction, while the photographs are taken by Hayato Takahashi. Described by the group as a "unique world view", "mysterious feeling", and "hope for the future", the covers depict the Nogizaka46 standing dignified in the world that the nature has been transformed into metal, to express two contradictory worlds of "transience" and "strength" at the same time.[15][16]

Commercial performance

For Oricon, "Actually..." entered the Digital Singles Chart at number 13 with 3,142 units.[17] The special edition topped the Digital Albums Chart, selling 3,040 units on its first week.[18] A week later, after the CD single release, the song debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart with 463,439 CD sales, becoming the highest first week sales of 2022, and the group's 28 consecutive number-one single since "Oide Shampoo".[19] "Actually..." also debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100,[20] and peaked atop the chart on the next week.[21] It also topped the Top Single Sales, selling 561,071 copies.[22]

Music video

There are two versions of accompanying music videos for "Actually...". The first version, a twenty minute long drama directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, featuring Aruno Nakanishi as center, was shot in January and was included on the CD single only.[23] The second version, featuring Asuka Saitō and Mizuki Yamashita in the center position, was released on March 20, 2022. This version was directed by Atsunori Tōshi, and was shot at Sankaku Hiroba, located at Shinjuku Sumitomo Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[23]

B-sides

The music video for "Kachi Aru Mono" was uploaded on March 11. Shot in late January, it was directed by Atsunori Tōshi, who also directed the group's music video "Gomen ne Fingers Crossed". With "travel" concept, it shows "the members traveling around the world and space although it is not possible now".[24]

The music video for "Todokanakutatte...", directed by Hiroya "Brian" Nakano, was released on March 17. Shot in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, it depicts the duality of the members by shooting in two completely different locations, the museum and the factory.[25]

Hinako Kitano's graduation song "Wasurenaito Ii no", had its music video released on March 18. Directed by Shūto Itō, it was shot in late January at Kitano's hometown, Chiba, with the theme "A message from the present Kitano to the younger Kitano".[26]

Live performances

Nogizaka46 gave the debut performance of "Actually..." at their special livestream program Nogizaka46 Hours TV[11] and at TV Tokyo's music program TV Tokyo Music Festival 2022 Spring on February 23, 2022.[27] They performed the song at NHK's Shibuya Note on March 5,[14] as well as Nippon TV's Buzz Rhythm 02 on March 25.[28] TBS's CDTV Live! Live! on March 28.[29] TV Asahi's Music Station on April 1,[30] and Fuji TV's Music Fair on April 2.[31]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Yasushi Akimoto, except the off-vocal tracks.

Limited editions
Limited Type-A – CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Actually..."NamitoApazzi3:40
2."Fukayomi" (深読み)Ryū'ichi TakagiTakagi3:54
3."Kachi Aru Mono" (価値あるもの)Katsuhiko Sugiyama
  • Sugiyama
  • Yachi Manabu
4:32
4."Actually..." (off vocal version)   
5."Fukayomi" (off vocal version)   
6."Kachi Aru Mono" (off vocal version)   
Limited Type-A – Blu-ray
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Actually..." (music video)Kiyoshi Kurosawa 
2."Kachi Aru Mono" (music video)Atsunori Tōshi4:36
3."5th Generation Documentary" (Mao Ioki, Miku Ichinose, Anonymous One)  
Limited Type-B – CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Actually..."  3:40
2."Fukayomi"  3:54
3."Wasurenaito Ii na" (忘れないといいな)Shintarō ItōItō3:47
4."Actually..." (off vocal version)   
5."Fukayomi" (off vocal version)   
6."Wasurenaito Ii na" (off vocal version)   
Limited Type-B – Blu-ray
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Actually..." (music video)  
2."Wasurenaito Ii na" (music video)Shūto Itō4:12
3."5th Generation Documentary" (NagiInoue, Aya Ogawa, Anonymous One)  
Limited Type-C – CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Actually..."  3:40
2."Fukayomi"  3:54
3."Todokanakutatte..." (届かなくたって…)Daisuke ToyamaToyama4:42
4."Actually..." (off vocal version)   
5."Fukayomi" (off vocal version)   
6."Todokanakutatte..." (off vocal version)   
Limited Type-C – Blu-ray
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Actually..." (music video)  
2."Todokanakutatte..." (music video)Hiroya "Brian" Nakano4:49
3."5th Generation Documentary" (Iroha Okuda, Satsuki Sugawara, Nao Tomisato, Aruno Nakanishi)  
Limited Type-D – CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Actually..."  3:40
2."Fukayomi"  3:54
3."Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" (絶望の一秒前)Tadashi TsukidaMakoto Wakatabe4:59
4."Actually..." (off vocal version)   
5."Fukayomi" (off vocal version)   
6."Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" (off vocal version)   
Limited Type-D – Blu-ray
No.TitleLength
1."Actually..." (music video) 
2."Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" (music video) 
3."Making of 5th Generation MV" 

Regular edition
Regular edition – CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Actually..."  3:40
2."Fukayomi"  3:54
3."Suki ni Nattemita" (好きになってみた)Youth Case
4:15
4."Actually..." (off vocal version)   
5."Fukayomi" (off vocal version)   
6."Suki ni Nattemita" (off vocal version)   

Special edition
Special edition – digital download, streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Actually..."3:40
2."Fukayomi"3:54
3."Kachi Aru Mono"4:32
4."Wasurenaito Ii na"3:47
5."Todokanakutatte..."4:42
6."Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae"4:59
7."Suki ni Nattemita"4:15
Total length:29:49

Participating members

The eighteen members were selected to be participating members (senbatsu) for "Actually...", and ten members for fukujin (first and second-row members). Yuna Shibata and Aruno Nakanishi were selected to participate for the first time. Nakanishi also serves as the center position.[10][11] The twenty-ninth single senbatsu also performed "Fuyokami", and "Suki ni Nattemita".[32][12]

For other tracks, "Kachi Aru Mono" is performed by members who reached their legal age in 2022 (Shiori Kubo, Tamami Sakaguchi, Reno Nakamura, Sakura Endō, Haruka Kaki, Saya Kanagawa, Yuri Kitakawa, Rika Satō). "Wasurenaito Ii na" is sung by Hinako Kitano, as her solo graduation song. "Todokanakutatte..." is recorded by the under members, while "Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" by the fifth generation members.[32][12]

Reception

Aruno Nakanishi's decision to refrain from activities after her past photos and remarks surfaced came as a shock to fans.[33] Many criticized the group's management for not screening the members thoroughly, especially after fellow Hina Okamoto was revealed to be leaking unreleased content pertaining to the group.[34] However, both members resumed activities with the group after their period of "self-restraint" in April 27.[35]

Charts

Certifications
Sales certifications for "Actually..."
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[42] 3× Platinum 750,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Actually..."
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
Various March 16, 2022 (2022-03-16)
Special
  • N46Div.
  • Sony Music Japan
 [3]
Japan March 23, 2022 (2022-03-23) CD+Blu-ray Limited [2]
CD Regular

See also

References
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  2. "3月23日(水)発売 乃木坂46 29thシングル「タイトル未定」 CDショップチェーン別先着特典決定！". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. "「Actually...（Special Edition）」配信スタート！". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. "乃木坂北野日奈子が卒業発表 活動は４月いっぱいを予定、13年3月加入の2期生". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  5. "乃木坂46の5期生11名がお披露目へ グループアイドル史上最多の87852人から選ばれる". Modelpress (in Japanese). February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  6. "乃木坂5期生、2月解禁の8人出そろう 初の関西出身＆レア名字も話題に「名字かっこいいなー」". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  7. "5期生、今後の新メンバー発表に関しまして". 乃木坂46公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  8. "乃木坂46・9人目の5期生「池田瑛紗」公開 東京都出身の19歳、凛とした雰囲気と優しい微笑みが魅力 - モデルプレス". モデルプレス - ライフスタイル・ファッションエンタメニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  9. "乃木坂46・5期生「川崎桜」公開 神奈川県出身の18歳、凛とした表情とクールな雰囲気が魅力 - モデルプレス". モデルプレス - ライフスタイル・ファッションエンタメニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-04-23.
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  16. "乃木坂46「Actually…」ジャケット公開、自然が金属に変化した世界に佇む". Natalie (in Japanese). February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
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  21. "【ビルボード】乃木坂46「Actually...」561,071枚売上で総合首位獲得 Mr.Children「永遠」8位、藤井 風「まつり」10位に初登場". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
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  30. "今夜のMステ：春の3時間SP Mr.Children、ゆず、Snow Man、なにわ男子、乃木坂46、あいみょん、優里ら登場 名曲カバー企画も". Mantan Web (in Japanese). April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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