Hikaru Utada Announcing 'Ask Hikaru Paisen - Home-quarantine Edition'

Live on Instagram Coming Weekly on May 3 (Sun)!

Hikaru Utada will be releasing digital singles "Time" (main theme for NTV Sunday Drama "Bishoku Tantei Akechi Gorō") on May 8, and "Darenimo Iwanai," (SUNTORY Tennensui CM song) on May 29.

Even with the scheduled upcoming new releases, Hikaru Utada, like many of us, has been embracing the importance of home-quarantining in efforts to mitigate effects of COVID-19, and so decided to live broadcast from her home.

The program will be titled "Ask Hikaru Paisen--Home-quarantine Edition," a continuation of an ongoing project since 2017 where Hikaru Paisen aka Hikaru Utada does a Q&A with fans. As a first, this time the Q&A will be done via live video on Utada's Instagram account @kuma_power.

The first show is scheduled for May 3 around 7:30~8 PM (Japan time), likely lasting 10 to 15 minutes (details TBD and subject to change), and similarly each week until May 31. Questions can be submitted starting 24 hours in advance of the scheduled live video times to Hikaru Utada's Instagram account, @kuma_power.

Let's see what fun answers Hikaru Paisen will have for us this time!

■ Title: Ask Hikaru Paisen--Home-quarantine Edition

■ Live streaming: On Sundays May 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st from around 7:30~8:00 PM (TBD)

■ Instagram link: Hikaru Utada Instagram (verified account): @kuma_power

https://www.instagram.com/kuma_power/?hl=ja

Participate and win a novelty T-shirt leading up to the digital single release of “Time”

www.timeps.utadahikaru.jp

Also to keep you company while you stay home, full versions of Hikaru Utada music videos released with Sony Music ("Forevermore," "あなた/Anata," "初恋/Hatsukoi") will be available on YouTube. Please enjoy.

<Hikaru Utada YouTube channel>

https://www.YouTube.com/channel/UChcgcbX3zMBwd0wTJyy2JlA

[Hikaru Utada Release info]

●Digital Single

“Time”

Release date: Friday, May 8, 2020

YouTube: 『Time』Official Audio(Short Version)

https://youtu.be/REtXIeSsGys

[About NTV Sunday Drama "Bishoku Tantei Akechi Gorō"]

A TV drama adapted from the very popular Akiko Higashimura's original manga, the program is actor Tomoya Nakamura"s highly-anticipated first stint in a prime-time drama series.

A private detective Goro Akechi played by Tomoya Nakamura utilizes his unique knowledge of gourmet cuisines to solve murder cases while fighting a battle of wits with a seemingly ordinary housewife-turned-murderer. It's a romantic murder mystery that is sure to hook you with their sweet poison!

Akechi's trusty assistant Ichigo Kobayashi is played by Fūka Koshiba, serial murderer with a mutual and forbidden attraction to Akechi who calls herself the Maria Magdalena is played by Eiko Koike, also featuring a cast of great actors including Yukiya Kitamura, Kanta Sato, Miu Tomita, and Yukiya Kitamura.

The romantic thriller, NTV Sunday Drama "Bishoku Tantei Akechi Gorō," premieres April 12.

Official HP: https://www.NTV.co.jp/bishoku/

Preview of Episode 3

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=gk4hfBlENs4

●Digital Single

“Darenimo Iwanai” (SUNTORY Tennensui CM song)

Release date: Firday, May 29, 2020

SUNTORY Tennensui Special HP

https://www.SUNTORY.co.jp/water/tennensui/Utada/