| "Aoi" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Sakanaction | |
| from the album Sakanaction | |
| Language | Japanese |
| Released | February 27, 2013 |
| Recorded | 2013 |
| Genre | Rock, pop, electronic dance music |
| Length | 4:18 |
| Label | Victor Entertainment |
| Songwriter(s) | Ichiro Yamaguchi |
| Producer(s) | Sakanaction |
"Aoi" (English: "Blue", Japanese pronunciation: [aoi]) is a song by Japanese band Sakanaction. Used as the 2013 theme song for NHK's broadcasts of professional soccer matches, the song was one of two promotional singles from their sixth studio album Sakanaction (2013). Sakanaction wrote the song specifically for NHK, taking inspiration from soccer, and from the associations of the word blue in Japanese, due to the home jersey color used by the Japan national football team.
Released as a bonus on iTunes for pre-ordering Sakanaction on February 27, 2013, the song was used to promote the album on Japanese radio stations. It peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart a week after the release of Sakanaction. Critically, CDJournal reviewers responded positively to the song, believing the guitar-based rock, dance beat and vocal choir showed off a signature style of the band.
In 2015, a musical presentation using the song was created by NHK Media Technology and NHK Enterprises, shown in 3D with an 8K resolution and 22.2 surround sound. It was unveiled at the 2015 Media Technology! exhibition in Shibuya in November 2015.