"Route 246" (pronounced "route two forty-six") is a song recorded by Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. It was released digitally on July 24, 2020, through N46Div. and Sony Music Records. It was written by Yasushi Akimoto and composed by Tetsuya Komuro. Asuka Saitō served as the center position of the song.

"Route 246"
Single by Nogizaka46
from the album Time Flies
ReleasedJuly 24, 2020 (2020-07-24) (Japan)
Genre
Length3:52
LabelN46Div.
Composer(s)Tetsuya Komuro
Lyricist(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Producer(s)Yasushi Akimoto
Nogizaka46 singles chronology
"Sekaijū no Rinjin yo"
(2020)
"Route 246"
(2020)
"Boku wa Boku o Suki ni Naru"
(2021)
Music video
"Route 246" on YouTube

Background and release

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Tetsuya Komuro (pictured) co-wrote "Route 246" after his returning from retirement in 2018.

On July 16, 2021, Nogizaka46 announced the new single "Route 246" for release on July 24, to digital music and streaming platforms exclusively, two months after "Sekaijū no Rinjin yo", a charity single for tribute to hospital workers and people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The center position of the song is served by Asuka Saitō.[1] The full song was aired for first time at the radio show Nogizaka46's All Night Nippon on July 22.[2]

"Route 246" is the first song composed and arranged by Tetsuya Komuro since his retirement from the music industry in January 2018 with the last composed song "Kaze yo Fuke!" by Last Idol. It is also the first song that Yasushi Akimoto and Komuro worked together after about a decade.[3][4]

Composition

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"Route 246" is described as an EDM song with the concept of "friendship",[5] written by Yasushi Akimoto and composed by Tetsuya Komuro in the key of G minor, 125 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 52 seconds.[6]

Commercial performance

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For the dated issue of August 3, 2020, "Route 246" entered Oricon Combined Singles Chart at number 13,[7] and Digital Singles at number 4 with 33,391 downloads.[8] The song debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 with 35,785 downloads (number 4 on the Download Songs), and 1,713,416 streams (number 43 on the Streaming Songs).[9][10]

Music video

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The one-minute-and-thirteen-second music video teaser of "Route 246" was released on July 23, 2021, one day before the single release. The full music video was exclusively included on Nogizaka46's video album All MV Collection 2: Ano Toki no Kanojotachi, released on September 9.[11] With the concept "current Tokyo", the music video was produced by Maxilla, a creative team who previously produced the group's music video "I See…", shot at Ōsanbashi Pier, Yokohama, and various places in Tokyo in early July.[12] The music video was uploaded publicly via the group's official YouTube channel on May 11, 2023, as part of Saitō's graduation commemorative project.[13]

Live performance

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Nogizaka46 performed "Route 246" for the first time at TV Asahi's Music Station 3.5 Hours SP on the release date,[3] as well as TBS's CDTV Live! Live! on August 8,[14] Nippon TV's Buzz Rhythm 02 on August 21,[15] and Fuji TV's 2020 FNS Music Fes. Summer on August 26.[16] At year-end music shows, they performed the song at Music Station Ultra Super Live 2020 on December 25,[17] and 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31.[18]

Participating members

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Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Route 246"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[21] Gold 100,000*
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[22] Gold 50,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Route 246"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Japan July 24, 2020 (2020-07-24) Sony Music Japan [23]
Various August 15, 2020 (2020-08-15)
Philippines May 21, 2024 (2024-05-21) Sony Music Philippines

References

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  1. ^ "乃木坂46の新曲「Route 246」作曲・編曲に小室哲哉、センターは齋藤飛鳥". Fashion Press (in Japanese). July 16, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "『乃木坂46ANN』で小室哲哉作曲・編曲「Route 246」初オンエア 特別企画も開催". Oricon (in Japanese). Oricon. July 21, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "乃木坂46新曲「Route 246」作編曲は小室哲哉、秋元康「もう一度彼に音楽に携わる機会を」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 16, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Kyla (July 16, 2020). "Tetsuya Komuro to produce new Nogizaka46 song "Route 246"". Arama! Japan. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "小室哲哉氏が音楽業復帰!秋元P要望で乃木坂新曲". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. July 16, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Key, BPM of Route 246 by Nogizaka46". Musicstax. July 24, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Oricon Top 50 Combined Singles: 2020-08-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 3, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "Oricon Top 20 Digital Singles: 2020-08-03" (in Japanese). Oricon. August 3, 2020. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "【ビルボード】SixTONES 「NAVIGATOR」652,277枚を売り上げ総合首位獲得 三浦春馬「Night Diver」総合4位に初登場". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 29, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Billboard Japan (July 30, 2020). "SixTONES Tops, Haruma Miura Posthumously Debuts at No. 4 on Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "乃木坂46、最新MV集に新曲「Route 246」MVの収録が決定!ファン待望のフルバージョンがついに製品化". M-On! Music (in Japanese). August 22, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "乃木坂46:新曲「Route 246」MV 小室サウンドでダンス ミニボトムで美脚 チラりへそ出し". Mantan Web (in Japanese). July 23, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "動画配信サービスにて「齋藤飛鳥 卒業コンサート」記念企画スタート!". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "乃木坂46「CDTVライブ!ライブ!」で新曲「Route 246」生パフォーマンス". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative Inc. August 2, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "乃木坂46の10年史をオモテ&ウラ年表で振り返る、今夜放送「バズリズム」". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "『2020FNS歌謡祭 夏』出演アーティスト・披露楽曲タイムテーブル". Mynavi (in Japanese). August 26, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Mステ『ウルトラ SUPER LIVE』歌唱曲発表!嵐はSPメドレー、LiSAは『紅蓮華』『炎』を披露". Dogatch (in Japanese). December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "乃木坂46、フルメンバーで「Route 246」テレビ初披露 卒業発表の堀未央奈ラスト「紅白」<紅白本番>". Modelpress (in Japanese). Netnative Inc. December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 [ 2020/08/03 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 3, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Download Songs Year-End 2020". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – 乃木坂46 – Route 246" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 18, 2021. Select 2021年1月 on the drop-down menu
  22. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – 乃木坂46 – Route246" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 25, 2023. Select 2023年3月 on the drop-down menu
  23. ^ "【いよいよ配信!!】新曲「Route 246」!!". Nogizaka46 Official Website (in Japanese). Nogizaka46 LLC. July 23, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
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