Boku wa Kuma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Boku wa Kuma" |
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Single by Utada Hikaru | ||||
from the album Heart Station | ||||
Released | November 22, 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | J-pop, novelty | |||
Length | 2:23 | |||
Label | EMI Music Japan | |||
Songwriter(s) | Utada Hikaru | |||
Producer(s) | Utada Hikaru | |||
Utada Hikaru singles chronology | ||||
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"Boku wa Kuma" (ぼくはくま, lit. I'm a Bear) is Utada Hikaru's 17th Japanese single (24th single overall). The single was released on November 22 of 2006, just a matter of months after Hikaru's last studio effort, Ultra Blue, and only two months after the end of her tour, Utada United 2006.
Overview
"Boku wa Kuma" was her 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.
"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. She often posts photos of him on her 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.
In June 2006, Utada confessed on her blog that she has "pillow dependence".
Utada performed an impromptu performance of "Boku wa Kuma" at the Boston show of her 2010 tour, Utada: In The Flesh 2010.
The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life in December 2010.
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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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 |
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Oricon Weekly singles | 4 |
RIAJ Reco-kyō ringtones Top 100 | 14 |
Certifications and sales
Chart | Amount |
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Oricon physical sales | 147,000 |
RIAJ physical certification | 100,000+ |
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | 100,000+ |