Sixxxxxx

sixxxxxx is the sixth extended play by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki. The EP was released on August 5, 2015 by Avex Trax and was produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. With all the tracks written by Hamasaki herself, the EP features five original tracks and one hidden track to commemorate the "six" tracks. It was released as a stand-alone CD, a CD and DVD bundle and a CD and Blu-ray bundle.

sixxxxxx
EP by
Ayumi Hamasaki
ReleasedAugust 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)
Recorded2015
GenreJ-Pop
Length27:30
LabelAvex Trax
ProducerMax Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
A One
(2015)		 sixxxxxx
(2015)		 Winter Diary: A7 Classical
(2015)
Singles from sixxxxxx
  1. "Step by Step"
    Released: July 1, 2015

Background

In April 2015, Hamasaki released her sixteenth studio album A One.[1] Comprised with thirteen newly recorded tracks, Hamasaki stated in an interview that the album was her most personal and passionate album.[2] Despite this, the album missed the top spot and reached number four on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart and has sold over 52,000 units in Japan.[3][4] She promoted the album during her Arena Tour 2015 A: Cirque de Minuit.[4] In mid-April 2015 while she was on tour, Hamasaki confirmed work of a sixth extended play.

The EP's lead single, "Step by Step," was announced in April. Eventually it was announced that the song would be used as the theme song for the NHK drama Bijo to Danshi, starring Yukie Nakama. The song was released as an exclusively digital single on July 1, 2015, with July 1st serving as a digital B-side. It charted for three weeks and sold 28,432 units and in its first week it charted at number two.[5]

The artwork for Sixxxxxx premiered in early July 2015. The photoshoot was created in conjunction with Numero Tokyo Magazine, with a theme of "Ayumi Hamasaki Moto." The three covers feature close-up black and white shots of Hamasaki's face.[6] The title allegedly suggests that this is Hamasaki's sixth extended play and that it features six original tracks.

Promotion

To promote the album, Hamasaki conducted the Ayumi Hamasaki: Limited TA Live Tour, a concert tour that only members of her official fanclub, TeamAyu, were able to purchase and attend. This is her first TeamAyu member tour in twelve years.[7] Hamasaki confirmed that stage production and costuming had begun and announced the tour throughout Japan, including the Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka.[8]

Track list

All lyrics are written by Ayumi Hamasaki.

CD
No.TitleMusicArrangementLength
1."Step by Step"Tetsuya YukumiYuta Nakano4:35
2."Summer Diary"YukumiNakano4:46
3."Sayonara" (feat. SpeXial)Daishi DanceDaishi Dance5:42
4."Sorrows"YukumiTasuku4:04
5."Shape of Love"YukumiNakano4:24
6."Sky High"YukumiNakano3:59
DVD/Blu-Ray
No.TitleLength
1."Step by Step" 
2."Sayonara feat. SpeXial" 
3."Summer Diary" 
4."Step by step (making clip)" 
5."Sayonara feat. SpeXial (making clip)" 
6."Summer diary (making clip)" 

Charts
Chart Peak position Debut sales Total sales
Oricon Daily Chart 1 17,315 44,140 (11 weeks)
Oricon Weekly Chart 2 30,988
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References
  1. A One (liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2015.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. http://www.avex.jp/ayu/discography/detail.php?id=1009626
  3. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  4. 浜崎あゆみのリリース一覧 [List of Ayumi Hamasaki's Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  5. "本日7/1より、配信中のデジタルシングル「Step by step」のミュージックビデオとSPOT映像が公開！" [From July 1, the music video and promotional spot for the digital single "Step by Step" (currently available to download) is released!] (in Japanese). Avex Group. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  6. http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000117507
  7. http://www.avex.jp/ayu/news/detail.php?id=1024164
  8. http://www.avex.jp/ayu/live/tour.php?id=1000462
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