FESTIVE Hohoemi No Kuni

FES☆TIVE released “Hohoemi no Kuni” (微笑ノ国  - Country of Smiles), their 14th single on May 25th through Tokuma Japan Communications. 

The five member group have recently added a new member through new auditions in Apr-May. The group has total 6 members and they are “Yagi Hinata”: 八木ひなた, “Aoba Hinari”: 青葉ひなり, “Dokō Ruriko”: 土光瑠璃子, “Minami Marika”: 南茉莉花, “Takaki Yuria”: 髙木ゆりあ and “Kadota Hiroki”: 門田博喜.

Music and Music Video:

"Hohoemi no Kuni” is a funfilled joyous song, filled with the energy of FES☆TIVE girls and showcase summer in all its strength. The title track performed by olwith Yagi Hinata (21), Aoba Hinari (26), Dokō Ruriko (22), Minami Marika (25) and Takaki Yuria (24) delivering a refreshing song filled with shine.

“Hohoemi no Kuni” MV was shot on beautiful beaches in Thailand. The music video directed and photographed by Kadota Hiroki features the FES☆TIVE girls in different parts of Thailand, as they taste typical dishes of their cuisine. They also play on idyllic beaches (in beachware) with some nice choreography.

The music still remains core FES☆TIVE original - a mix of Classical Japanese + Modern Electronic Beats. A tryical uptempo song and music jumps all over the place. Not a particularly catchy song to some of its predecessors Single Titles.

Tokuma Japan Communications adds "The theme of this work is "Thailand", a country of smiles, and the lyrics are "Koppunka", "Sawasdee Car", "Sanook", "My Pen Rai" and Thai language familiar to Japanese people. It is a high tempo number with a BPM of over 200 and an outstanding sense of speed, making it a super summer tune ahead of this summer!"

Group Member Reactions:

Hinari Aoba: We, FES ☆ TIVE, have been performing a lot in Thailand since about 6 years ago, and we also have a sister group in Thailand, so it is a unit that has a lot to do with Thailand. I haven't been able to go to Thailand for the past two years due to the world situation, but I would like to deliver this song to people in Thailand and overseas who are waiting for me. And I want everyone in Japan to know the goodness of Thailand, a country of such smiles.

Ruriko Doko: This is the 14th single, so I'm very happy that these five people can release two songs in a row. Continuing from the last time, I would like many people to know that Thailand is the motif, so I will do my best so that FES ☆ TIVE can go to Thailand again!

Marika Minami: There have been many FES ☆ TIVE-like songs so far, but it is the most up-tempo song among them, and it is a song that can be enjoyed not only in Japan but also in Thailand and other parts of the world. Let's listen to this song together and study Thai! Let's Sanook!

Note: I am totally biased for these three members. 

CD Releases:

TYPE A - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

夏リア旋律 (Natsu Ria Senritsu)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

夏リア旋律 (Instrumental)

TYPE B - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

 #トレジャーハンター (Treasure Hunter)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

#トレジャーハンター (Instrumental)

TYPE C - Tracklist:

Hohoemi no Kuni

ボクノナマエ (Boku No Namae)

Hohoemi no Kuni（Instrumental）

ボクノナマエ (Instrumental)

In addition, the characters "Festival" and "FES ☆ TIVE" drawn on the CD jacket photo are from the huge calligrapher "Nachu" (former idol real estate) of the idol calligrapher and it is her whole body work (According to their website).

Special Edition on leading Digital Music Platforms offers all 4 songs and Instrumentals.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

The B-Sides are very good. Loved them. Natsu Ria Senritsu, Boku No Namae and Treasure Hunt are excellent. 

Listen on: 

Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music & More

Official Single Page:

https://festive.rizepro.net/contents/510094