"Kind of Love" is the 17th single by Japanese girl group Hinatazaka46, released on May 20, 2026 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It features Kaho Fujishima in her first role as title song lead performer. The single debuted atop both the weekly Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Production and release "Kind of Love" marks Hinatazaka46's second single of 2026, following the release of "Cliffhanger" in January. The single continues the group's use of the system, featuring a 14-member lineup for the title track with fourth-generation member Kaho Fujishima serving as the center (lead performer) for the first time. It is the first single after the departure of Konoka Matsuda in March. It was announced and first performed live during the encore of the Hinatansai anniversary concert on April 5, 2026, at the Yokohama Stadium.
The single's common B-side track, "Empty", features members who were not selected for the title track lineup, known as . It is performed by a 13-member team centered by Mitsuki Hiraoka. The single also introduces several sub-unit tracks across its various editions: "Kokoro no Buranko" by Yōko Shōgenji and Haruka Yamashita; "Shuwa Shuwa" by , a unit of the three youngest fifth-generation members; and "Saraba Saraba", performed by the group's third-generation members.
The single was released on physical media on May 20, 2026 in multiple editions, consisting of special editions (Types A to D) packaged with Blu-ray discs, and a regular CD-only edition.
Reception
"Kind of Love" debuted at number one on both the weekly Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling over 449 thousand physical copies according to Oricon and 520 thousand copies according to Billboard Japan in its first week. The digital release also topped the Oricon Weekly Digital Album Chart.
Track listing
Kind of Love "Empty" Different tracks on each type: Type A: Type B: Type C: "Shuwa Shuwa" (onomatopoeia for bubbliness) Type D: Regular: Kind of Love (off-vocal) Empty (off-vocal) Off-vocal versions of track 3
Blu-ray Type A: Hinatazaka46 5th Generation "Shinzanmono 2025 LIVE at Theater Milano-Za" (Part 1) Sora Tobu Kuruma Azatokawaii One Choice Do Re Mi So La Si Do Konna ni Suki ni Nacchatte Ii no? Kodokutachi yo Seishun no Uma Zettaiteki Dairokkan See Through
Type B: Hinatazaka46 5th Generation "Shinzanmono 2025 LIVE at Theater Milano-Za" (Part 2) Yoake no Speed What You Like! Ano Ko ni Guigui Sotsugyō Shashin Dake ga Shitteru Ai wa Kocchi no Mono da 2025 Boku ni Tsuzuke Hey! Ohisama! German Iris Joyful Love
Type C: 5th Generation Individual Promotional Video Mizuki Ōta Manami Ōno Saki Katayama Hinano Kuramori Nina Sakai
Type D: 5th Generation Individual Promotional Video Yū Satō Izuki Shimoda Rika Takai Niko Tsurusaki Sakura Matsuo
Personnel Lineups obtained from official website.
"Kind of Love" Center: Kaho Fujishima
1st row: Yōko Shōgenji, Kaho Fujishima, Manami Ōno 2nd row: Saki Katayama, Hinano Kamimura, Nao Kosaka, Miku Kanemura, Sakura Matsuo 3rd row: Sumire Miyachi, Rina Watanabe, Haruyo Yamaguchi, Marie Morimoto, Rio Shimizu, Mikuni Takahashi
"Empty" Center: Mitsuki Hiraoka
1st row: Rika Takai, Mitsuki Hiraoka, Haruka Yamashita 2nd row: Niko Tsurusaki, Honoka Hirao, Tamaki Ishizuka, Nanami Konishi, Yū Satō 3rd row: Hinano Kuramori, Mizuki Ōta, Kirari Takeuchi, Nina Sakai, Izuki Shimoda
"Enshuritsu" Center: Yū Satō
1st row: Rika Takai, Mizuki Ōta, Yū Satō, Niko Tsurusaki, Hinano Kuramori 2nd row: Saki Katayama, Izuki Shimoda, Nina Sakai, Manami Ōno, Sakura Matsuo
"Kokoro no Buranko" Yōko Shōgenji, Haruka Yamashita
"Shuwa Shuwa" Manami Ōno, Nina Sakai, Rika Takai
"Saraba Saraba" Hinano Kamimura, Mikuni Takahashi, Marie Morimoto, Haruyo Yamaguchi
"Kimi ni Yarareta!" Same as "Kind of Love"
Charts Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "Kind of Love" Chart (2026) Peakposition Japan (Japan Hot 100) 1 Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan) 1 Japan Combined Singles (Oricon) 1 Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) 1
References
External links