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Okuribito (song)

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"Okuribito"
Single by Ai
from the album Viva Ai
LanguageJapanese
A-side"So Special (Version Ai)"
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2008 (2008-09-10)
Recorded2008
Genre
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Hisaishi
Ai singles chronology
"Taisetsu na Mono"
(2008)
"Okuribito" / "So Special"
(2008)
"Broken Strings"
(2008)
Music video
"Okuribito" on YouTube

"Okuribito" (おくりびと, lit. one who sends off) is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on September 10, 2008, by Island Records and Universal Sigma. It served as the image song for the film of the same name, titled Departures in English.

Background and release

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After watching the Departures preview and hearing the instrumental of the image song, Ai worked with Joe Hisaishi to add lyrics to the instrumental piece. In July 2008, the song was announced.[1] In August, the release date of the single was announced.[2] "Okuribito" would be released physically alongside "So Special" as a double A-side single.

Live performances

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Ai performed the song live for the first time on September 6, 2008, at the Music Fair 21, days before the song was officially released.[3]

Charts

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Chart (2008–09) Peak
position
Japan Singles Chart (Oricon)[4] 15
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[5] 58

References

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  1. ^ "AIと久石譲のコラボが映画『おくりびと』で実現!広末もまぶた熱くする|シネマトゥデイ". シネマトゥデイ (in Japanese). July 31, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "AI、感動から生まれた新曲「おくりびと」". BARKS (in Japanese). August 3, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AIが「MUSIC FAIR」で話題の映画主題歌初披露". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "おくりびと/So Special -Version AI- | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2009/03/04". Billboard Japan.