Hashiru
"Hashiru" (走る; lit. 'Run') is a song by Japanese voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto, released as her fourth single on November 21, 1998, through Victor Entertainment. Co-written by Yuho Iwasato and Yoko Kanno, it served as the lead single from Sakamoto's second studio album Dive.
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| "Hashiru" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 8-cm CD single cover | ||||
| Single by Maaya Sakamoto | ||||
| from the album Dive | ||||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| B-side | "Pilot" | |||
| Released | November 21, 1998 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:38 | |||
| Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
| Composer | Yoko Kanno | |||
| Lyricist | Yuho Iwasato | |||
| Producer | Yoko Kanno | |||
| Maaya Sakamoto singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Hashiru" (走る; lit. 'Run') is a song by Japanese voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto, released as her fourth single on November 21, 1998, through Victor Entertainment.[1][2] Co-written by Yuho Iwasato and Yoko Kanno, it served as the lead single from Sakamoto's second studio album Dive.[3]
Background
[edit]"Hashiru" was the second single released in 1998 by Sakamoto, following the chart success of "Kiseki no Umi."[3] It is also her first single without an anime tie-in, and the first one to feature a photograph of herself on the front cover, as opposed to an anime illustration. The song was released as an advance single for the album Dive, which was released a month later.[3] The single version of "Hashiru" features a different vocal recording than the album version. Sakamoto commented that the vocals for the single version were recorded first, and have "a more innocent-sounding voice" compared to the version on the album.[4]
Commercial performance
[edit]"Hashiru" debuted at number 87 on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 2,300 copies.[5] It remained on the chart for one week only.[5]
Legacy and impact
[edit]In 2025, "Hashiru" was included on Sakamoto's thirtieth-anniversary best-of album M30: Your Best, released by FlyingDog, specifically on the second disc featuring fifteen personal favorites chosen by musical collaborators who have supported her career.[6] Its selection was made by music journalist Nariaki Usuki, editor-in-chief of Natalie Music.[6] Reflecting on "Hashiru," Sakamoto noted that since its release, music enthusiasts and industry insiders have frequently praised the track, particularly highlighting its unusually long intro as remarkably stylish for its time.[7] Usuki, on the other hand, explained his choice due to the profound first-impact the song had on him, as he was struck by Sakamoto's unexpectedly mature vocals for her age at the time.[4]
Cover versions
[edit]In 2007, Japanese model and singer Nana Akiyama covered the song, which was included as one of the B-sides of her fourth single.[8]
Track listing
[edit]All music is composed by Yoko Kanno.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hashiru" (走る, lit. 'Run') | Yuho Iwasato | 5:38 |
| 2. | "Pilot" (パイロット) | Maaya Sakamoto | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Hashiru" (Vocal Off) | 5:37 | |
| 4. | "Pilot" (Vocal Off) | 3:56 | |
| Total length: | 17:18 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dive.[9]
- Yoko Kanno – keyboards, arrangements, production
- Maaya Sakamoto – vocals, backing vocals
- Gabriela Robin – backing vocals
- Neal Wilkinson – drums
- Andy Pask – bass
- Huge Burns – guitar
- Keishi Urata – sound architect
- Gavyn Wright – strings
- Isobel Griffiths – strings
- Yoichi Okabe – percussion
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Singles (Oricon)[5] | 87 |
References
[edit]- ^ "走る | 坂本真綾". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ "坂本真綾 | 走る". FlyingDog (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ a b c "走る 坂本真綾(作曲:菅野よう子) シングル CD". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ a b "坂本真綾「M30～Your Best～」特集｜誰かの人生に寄り添ってきた、30年分の歌と言葉". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ a b "坂本真綾、「MAAYA's BEST SONG～あなたの一番好きな坂本真綾の曲を教えてください～」投票結果TOP15発表！30周年記念ベストアルバム10月22日リリース決定！". LisAni! (in Japanese). 23 August 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ "坂本真綾 30周年記念ベストアルバム 『M30〜Your Best〜』 インタビュー&全曲解説". Maaya Sakamoto Official Website (in Japanese). FlyingDog. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025.
- ^ "秋山奈々、坂本真綾のカヴァーを含む4thシングルを発表". CD Journal. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ Sakamoto, Maaya (1998). Dive (CD). Victor Entertainment. VICL-60320.
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