Tokiyo
2015 song by Gen Hoshino / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Tokiyo" (Japanese: 時よ, Hepburn: Toki yo, lit. "Time") (Japanese pronunciation: [tokiꜜ jo]), is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino from his fourth studio album, Yellow Dancer (2015). It was released via Speedstar Records on December 2, 2015, as the album's lead track. Commissioned as commercial song for the distance learning program U-CAN [ja], Hoshino wrote and produced "Tokiyo" with inspiration from Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Mad Pierrot" (1978). It is an upbeat pop song centered on synthesizer with a prevalent string section, featuring a more Japanese or Asian sound on an album with heavy influence from black music. The song's lyrics references the passing of time, with a forward-facing message on the lack of meaning in life.
"Tokiyo" | |
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Song by Gen Hoshino | |
from the album Yellow Dancer | |
Language | Japanese |
Written | 2015 |
Released | December 2, 2015 (2015-12-02) |
Genre | J-pop |
Length | 4:15 |
Label | Speedstar |
Songwriter(s) | Gen Hoshino |
Producer(s) | Gen Hoshino |
Music video | |
"Tokiyo" on YouTube | |
"Tokiyo" was received positively by album reviewers and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales. It reached number 21 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, charting 19 weeks from 2015 to 2017. A music video for the song, directed by Kazuaki Seki [ja] and filmed at Shōnandai Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, features Hoshino dressed as a train conductor, performing choreography alongside a female dancer.