Ryuichi Sakamoto has regained his command of the charts with "Energy Flow," the first instrumental track ever to make it to No. 1 in Japan. The austerely lyrical solo piano piece, No. 1 on both the June 28 Oricon and July 5 Dempa Shimbun charts, is the theme song of a TV commercial for Regain EB, a pick-me-up tonic for burned-out corporate warriors. The ad has apparently struck a chord with middle-aged people coping with Japan's lingering recession and the end of the country's work-obsessed, high-growth era.
People in their 30s or above account for some 40% of those buying "Energy Flow," which has sold some 700,000 copies since its June release, according to Warner Music Japan.
"Energy Flow" is one of three Sakamoto compositions for solo piano included in the maxi-single "Ura BTTB," which was released May 26 by WEA Japan. The other tracks, "Put Your Hands Up" and "Tetsudoin," are, respectively, the theme song to a TV news program and the main theme of Japanese film "Popoya.
People in their 30s or above account for some 40% of those buying "Energy Flow," which has sold some 700,000 copies since its June release, according to Warner Music Japan.
"Energy Flow" is one of three Sakamoto compositions for solo piano included in the maxi-single "Ura BTTB," which was released May 26 by WEA Japan. The other tracks, "Put Your Hands Up" and "Tetsudoin," are, respectively, the theme song to a TV news program and the main theme of Japanese film "Popoya.
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