Mr. (Yoasobi song)

On December 1, 2021, the same day as the EP The Book 2 release, Yoasobi announced a collaboration with four Naoki Prize-winning novelists: Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe, and Eto Mori; for writing and singing songs based on the novelists' short stories under the theme of "a story to read when you first did". All four novels were published as a book, titled Hajimete no, on February 16, 2022.^[1][2] With the theme "a story when you first fell in love", Shimamoto's story Watashi Dake no Shoyūsha (私だけの所有者, lit. "My only owner") is about a "first feeling" of android Boku towards their owner Mr. Naruse.^[3]

On January 26, during their radio show Yoasobi's All Night Nippon X, the duo revealed the title of the song "Mr.", based on Shimamoto's story. They made a poll on Twitter for fans to guess the single's release date between February 16, 18, or 21.^[4] On February 8, Yoasobi revealed the snippet at Fuji TV's morning show Mezamashi TV^[5] and announced that the single would be released on February 16 to digital music and streaming platforms, alongside the teaser video. The full song was aired for the first time at the radio show hosted by the duo on the same day.^[6] The single's cover artwork was designed by Tomoko Kikuchi.^[7] The song was later included on Yoasobi's EPs Hajimete no – EP and The Book 3, released on May 10 and October 4, 2023, respectively.^[8][9] The English version, "Mister", appeared on their third English-language EP E-Side 3, released on April 12, 2024.^[10]

"Mr." is described as a "painfully ephemeral" city pop song about the desire of an android for their owner, written by Ayase, a member of Yoasobi.^[3] The band member Zaquro Misohagi participates in the song's chorus.^[11] It was composed in the key of C♯ minor, 120 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and seven seconds.^[12] Shimamoto commented the song "gently evoked memories of people I could not meet anymore."^[6]

"Mr." entered the Oricon Combined Singles Chart at number 19^[13] and the Digital Singles (Single Track) Chart at number two with 18,914 downloads in its first week.^[14] For Billboard Japan, the song debuted at number 11 on the Japan Hot 100. It sold 16,227 download units in its first week, charting at number two on the Download Songs, behind only Aimer's "Zankyōsanka".^[15] The song also debuted at number 46 on the Streaming Songs,^[16] and peaked at number 33.^[17] Globally, "Mr." reached number 143 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S.^[18]

An accompanying music video for "Mr." was premiered on May 22, 2022, at 8:00 PM (JST), preceded by the teaser video on May 9.^[19] Produced by Ijiken Tokyo, who previously handled Yoasobi's "Halzion" music video,^[20] the music video depicts the android Boku reminiscing a memory with their owner Mr. Naruse before the owner is severely injured and dies in a large-scale catastrophe.^[21]

Yoasobi gave the debut performances of "Mr." at 2022 Rock in Japan Festival on August 6, 2022, and Rising Sun Rock Festival on the 12th.^[22][23]

• Ayase – songwriter, producer
• Ikura – vocals
• Zaquro Misohagi – chorus
• Takakeru – guitar
• Rio Shimamoto – based story writer
• Takayuki Saitō – vocal recording
• Masahiko Fukui – mixing
• Hidekazu Sakai – mastering

• Hajimete no official website