New Map” is back on terrestrial music programs, but Takuya Kimura is… “Contrasting with ex-SMAP

On September 14, former “SMAP” fans rejoiced.

It was the first time the three had appeared together on a music program since the dissolution of SMAP in 2004.

They performed three songs: “Ameagari no Step,” a para-sports support song sung by the three, “Dazzling Future,” a unit song by Kusanagi and Katori, and Inagaki’s solo song “SEASONS. There was a lot of excitement in the show, including footage from the dramas in which they appeared during the “SMAP” era.

In contrast to the three returning to the show was Takuya Kimura (51), who turned down the opportunity to sing the theme song for the movie in which he plays the lead.

Refusing to sing the theme song of a film in which he plays the lead role

Kimura made his solo debut in 2008 with the album “Go with the Flow” and released his third album “SEE YOU THERE” on August 14. The album was followed by the “TAKUYA KIMURA Live Tour 2024 SEE YOU THERE” from September to December this year, and he appears to be working energetically.

He has not appeared on any music programs since his solo debut. If the timing is right for a solo album release and tour, it would be the perfect opportunity to promote yourself on music programs. That being the case, it would not be surprising if she appeared on “with MUSIC”…” (TV station insider)

If they have released three albums, they should have many songs they can perform on TV. Why not appear on a music program?

Mr. Kimura has been offered the chance in the past, but he has turned it down. Mr. Kimura’s emphasis is on live performances, and his stance is ‘I want to bring my music to people who understand it. In the past, there was a proposal to use his song as the theme song for a drama starring Mr. Kimura, but again, he refused.

Sales of his latest album…

Kimura’s stance of valuing live performances as a place where he can meet his fans is commendable. However, we can also see the effects of this stance.

The first day sales of “SEE YOU THERE” were 44,124 copies. This was lower than the 64,986 copies sold on the first day of her first album “Go with the Flow” in 2008 and the 45,593 copies sold on the first day of “Next Destination” in 2010. Since famous artists such as Mariya Takeuchi (69), Takuro Yoshida (78), and Tsuyoshi Domoto of “KinKi Kids” (45) participated in the production of songs for this album, the production cost must have been quite high. I can’t say for sure, but if they had appeared on music programs for promotion, the result could have been a little different,” said a record company official.

Since the dissolution of “SMAP,” Katori and the other three members of “New Map” had not been seen on music programs, but they were “unleashed” in the “with MUSIC” program. A source at the record company mentioned above said, “Reaction to the appearance of the three members was very positive.

The response to the appearance of the three was so strong that it trended on X (formerly known as Twitter). With the popularity of ‘SMAP’ still alive and well, more TV stations will want to use them in the future, and we can expect to attract new fans when the three appear on music programs.

This September marks the 33rd anniversary of the debut of “SMAP. What will happen to “New Map” and Kimura now that they have gone their separate ways as artists?