Boku wa Kuma

"Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま, lit. I'm a Bear) is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, serving as their 17th Japanese single and 24th single overall (including English releases). The single was released on November 22, 2006, following the release of their previous studio album, Ultra Blue (2006). It came two months after the conclusion of Utada's United 2006 tour.

"Boku wa Kuma"
Single by Hikaru Utada
from the album Heart Station
ReleasedNovember 22, 2006
Recorded2006
GenreJ-pop, novelty
Length2:23
LabelEMI Music Japan
Songwriter(s)Hikaru Utada
Producer(s)Hikaru Utada
Hikaru Utada singles chronology
"This Is Love"
(2006)		 "Boku wa Kuma"
(2006)		 "Flavor of Life"
(2007)

Background and release

"Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first try at writing a children's song. On October 1, 2006, it aired on the children's music program Minna no Uta on radio, and on TV the day after. Due to strong demand, the song had been planned for continuous rebroadcasting from October 2006 to January 2007 on Minna no Uta.[1]

"Boku wa Kuma" was Utada's first single release to have three different pressings: a limited edition that included a picture book, a standard single and cover, and a CD+DVD combo pack, which included the music video.

The song is about a bear, what he can and cannot do, and what he is not (such as a car, chocolate, etc.). His rival is a fried shrimp.

Utada owns a stuffed bear named Kuma-chan; "kuma" is "bear" in Japanese, and "-chan" is an affectionate suffix added to names. Utada often post photos of him on their U3 blog. After discovering the "made in China" tag on Kuma-chan's bottom, he was given the full name of "Kuma Chang" (pronounced identically to "Kuma-chan" in Japanese). A staff pass was issued to him for the "Utada United 2006." tour.[2]

In June 2006, Utada confessed on their blog that they have "pillow dependence".[3] They call their pillow "makura-san" (Mr. Pillow). They enjoy the comfort of feeling the pillow against their face, and would even hold the pillow all day long when they're stressed out. They were later surprised to find out there are many "pillow-addicts" out there, and joked about setting up a "pillow club". 'Makura-san' and Kuma are apparently good friends.[4]

Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of their 2010 tour, Utada: In The Flesh 2010.

The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.[5]

Track listing
Japanese single
  1. "Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま) – 2:23
  2. "Boku wa Kuma" (Original Karaoke) – 2:25

Chart rankings
Charts (2006) Peak
position
Oricon Weekly singles[6] 4
RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100[7] 14

Certifications and sales
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[8] 147,000
RIAJ physical certification[9] 100,000+
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads[10] 100,000+

References
  1. http://www.nhk.or.jp/minna/ Minna no Uta official site
  2. (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived May 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. (in Japanese) U3MUSIC INC Archived June 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "宇多田ヒカル一時休止前ラスト公演で感涙＆Ust新記録樹立" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  6. "ぼくはくま - 宇多田ヒカル／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  7. "レコード協会調べ 12月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）＜略称：12月度レコ協チャート（「着うた（R）」）＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. January 20, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  8. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved September 18, 2010. (subscription only)
  9. ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2006年11月. RIAJ (in Japanese). December 10, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  10. レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：2月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 20, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
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