Japan

"Japan" is a song performed by British recording artist Alesha. Written and produced by Alesha for her eponymous ninth studio album, Alesha (2014), "Japan" is a synthpop song that draws influence from electronic dance music. Lyrically, "Japan" is about the fear of losing inhibitions and letting one's self fall in love. Following the success of Alesha's comeback single "Witch", "Japan" was released on July 21, 2014. It entered the singles chart at number two, Alesha's first top-two hit in three years and the second top-three single from her self-titled album.

Critics responded positively to "Japan," who labeled it a "surefire summer hit" and praised the track's spoken bridge. The video, filmed in London, Osaka and Tokyo, was directed by production studio Big TV. It co-starred two young, relatively unknown Japanese actors as the relationship described in the lyrics. Alesha performed "Japan" on her 2014 world tour Alesha: Renaissance Live and at the 26th Urapopstar Awards, where it was nominated for Best Pop/Dance Single.

Background and composition
After releasing her eighth studio album The Martyr and the soundtrack album Prime Cut in 2011, Alesha took an unannounced break from the music industry. In late 2013, she began recording her self-titled ninth studio album, with sessions continuing into early 2014. "Japan" was the final song to be recorded for Alesha in March, composed and produced by Alesha. The song's lyrics portray an anthem-like picture about the anxieties that one faces on the brink of a new relationship. Alesha told Interview magazine that she thought of "falling in love" with her husband, American publishing mogul Austin Roosevelt, whom she met and wed in 2013.

Initially Alesha and Paulo Araujo had discussed releasing "Opulence" as the second single from Alesha, but after collaborating with Malaya on "Witch", Alesha felt it best to release a solo track. "Japan" was selected as the album's second single, released on July 21, 2014. Alesha had noticed an extremely positive fan reaction to the track, which encouraged her decision. A previously unreleased song, "Tremors", was included as the B-side on the online-exclusive CD single.

Critical reception
The song received positive reviews. Lewis Corner of Digital Spy rated "Japan" four out of five stars, calling it "a vibrant banger destined to soundtrack the warmer months." Jamieson Cox of Time magazine felt that the song "doesn't have much lyrical meat on its bones, but coming on the heels of one of the most severe winters in recent memory, listeners are likely hungry for anything that suggests a warmer, sunnier season. The gigantic synth hook doesn't hurt its digestibility, either." Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone commented that "these days Alesha has countless hipster club kids on her gilded jock, but 'Japan' shows why she's still the leader".

In September 2014, "Japan" was named the song of the summer by Spotify; it was the most listened track since June 2014 with more than 160 million plays. The song was nominated for Best Pop/Dance Single (and Best Single Art) at the 26th Urapopstar Awards.

Commercial response
"Japan" entered the official singles chart at number two behind JUSTYCE's third consecutive number one hit "Addict", becoming Alesha's twelfth single to chart at number two and the second top three single from Alesha. With 96,773 copies sold, the single boasted a higher first-week sales frame than its predecessor "Witch" (featuring Malaya). In its second week, "Japan" slipped to number four with a further 67,142 copies shifted, earning a silver certification. After falling to number six in its third week, "Japan" rebounded into the top five. The single fell out of the top ten in its seventh week on the chart, hanging tight in the top twenty at number thirteen. In the run-up towards "Opulence"/"Unbeknownst" – Alesha's collaboration with Paulo Araujo – "Japan" spent an additional four weeks in the top twenty. In its eleventh week on the chart, still at number fourteen, sales surpassed 400,000 copies – Alesha's fourth single to pass this sales threshold. "Japan" saw a considerable amount of longevity on the singles chart, even rebounding to the top twenty when it rose to number seventeen in its seventeenth week on the chart. After twenty-two weeks on the chart, "Japan" was finally certified platinum as sales surpassed 500,000 copies – becoming Alesha's best-selling single ever (sales thresholds for certifications were changed for the first time in 2013 and once again in 2014). After its twenty-third and final week on the chart, "Japan" had sold 519,045 copies.

The single matched its number two peak on the digital chart, falling behind Araujo's "Fruits EP". Like on the official chart, "Japan" slipped two places the following week. "Japan" peaked at number three on the official airplay chart; it entered the top ten at number nine in its fourth week on the chart before spending two weeks in the top five and a fourth week in the top ten.

Music video
The music video for "Japan" was directed by Big TV. Alesha filmed her scenes for the music video at a studio in London, while further footage was recorded in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. The shoot involved Alesha against a green screen, interspersed with close-up camera angles, so that the backdrop could be superimposed later. A pair of relatively unknown Japanese actors, Watanabe Kuniumi and Nishimura Namaho, were cast in the video as a young couple falling in love. The video is notable for its time-lapse footage. It features a number of Tokyo's landmarks, such as Shibuya Crossing, Sumida River and Tokyo Tower, as well as Japan's famous cherry blossom trees. Alesha revealed that she envisioned the video as a modernized homage to "2 Become 1" by the Spice Girls, choosing the same directors for that reason.

Live performances
"Japan" was first performed live at Alesha's album launch gig, A Night At Royal Albert Hall, which was later released on DVD and Blu-ray in the same week as the single. Alesha again performed the song on her 2014 world tour, Alesha: Renaissance Live, her first tour in three years. Alesha performed the song as part of a medley with "Mermaids" and "Number One" at the 26th Urapopstar Awards.

Track listing

 * CD / 7" vinyl (online exclusives)
 * 1) "Japan"
 * 2) "Tremors"


 * Digital EP
 * 1) "Japan"
 * 2) "Witch" (Apollo 54 Remix)
 * 3) "Hong Kong Garden"


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) "Japan"
 * 2) "Japan" (Christian Stone Cherry Blossom Remix)
 * 3) "Japan" (Graeme Sinden Remix)
 * 4) "Japan" (Monsieur Adi Remix)
 * 5) "Japan" (Steven Redant Tokyo Radio Remix)
 * 6) "Japan" (Steven Redant Osaka Remix)