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 by a female solo artist to debut atop the Oricon charts 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 Japan during 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.Kyōgen (CD). Ado. Virgin/Universal. 2022. TYCT-69205.

Musicians 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 Deco*27 – 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 Technical 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

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Kyōgen Chart (2022) Peakposition Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) 1 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 1

Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for Kyōgen Chart (2022) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 2

Year-end charts + 2022 year-end chart performance for Kyōgen Chart (2022) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon) 15 Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) 9 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 9 + 2023 year-end chart performance for Kyōgen Chart (2023) Position Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 85

Certifications

Release history + Release history and formats for KyōgenRegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabelVariousJanuary 26, 2022StandardJapanFirst PressLimitedAcryl Charm LimitedFigure + Book LimitedJanuary 26, 2023StandardVariousFebruary 10, 2023Geffen

References