Back Number 02.24(WED) 　 Server Maintenance of Hikki’s WEBSITE Thank you for your ongoing support of Utada Hikaru. As Hikki's WEBSITE will undergo some routine server maintenance in March, both PC and mobile phone versions will be unavailable for viewing during the following time slot. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. 4:00 a.m.–Noon on Monday, March 15, 2010 Please note that maintenance times may vary slightly. Nozomu Kaji EMI Music Japan 06.25(THU) 　 # Discontinuation of support for older model phones on “Hikki’s MOBILE SITE” “Hikki’s MOBILE SITE” has been offered to subscribers of docomo, au and SoftBank. Please note that support for certain older model phones will end on Aug. 31, 2009. Affected models: Docomo 50Xi, 50XiS series 20Xi, 20XiS series Subscribers to docomo who have a “My Menu” entry for “EMI Music Japan” can access the site until Aug. 3, 2009. Starting Aug. 4, please access the site from the bookmark. To cancel the service, click the following: @ My Menu Cancellation http://mobile.emimusic.jp/mymenu/taikai.html?uid=NULLGWDOCOMO au Some models in A5000 series C5000 series Devices prior to A3000/C3000 series SoftBank Devices prior to V50X/V60X series Note: Customers will be able to access from the bookmark until Aug. 31, 2009. Please note that starting Sept. 1, 2009, a “service unavailable” message will be displayed. 02.13(FRI) 　 Publication delay of official books "Ten (Point)" and "Sen (Line)" Thank you for your continued support of Utada Hikaru. We regret to inform you that the publication of Utada Hikaru's first official books, "Ten (Point)" and "Sen (Line)," originally scheduled for March 10, has been rescheduled for March 19, due to production delays. We truly apologize for any inconvenience. The artist and staff are presently hard at work finalizing what we are confident will be fantastic books of the highest quality. Please look forward to them! 03.13(THU) 　 Thank you very much! Supported by warm encouragement from all her fans, Utada Hikaru has been awarded the "Artist of the Year" in the 17th Japan Gold Disc Award. On behalf of all the staff here I would like to express my appreciation. The year 2002 was a year of changes for Utada Hikaru, both professionally and personally. Watching her sing "Deep River," the title track of the album "DEEP RIVER" (released that year) at the award ceremony,we were filled with deep emotion. This song was written last among the songs in the album. The performance was the most memorable of the many shown during a series of her TV appearances, and we almost felt Hikaru's own will toward the future. Those who missed, be sure to watch it when it is aired on NHK. From now on, Hikaru will pursue her international career under the name Hikaru Utada. And someday soon, after more "tuneup," she will appear in front of you again as Utada Hikaru. Lastly, I would like to send the lyrics from "Deep River" back to her just like a boomerang. Akira Miyake 1st A&R Dept., Virgin Division Toshiba EMI Ltd. 08.06(TUE) 　 About "UH3+" and others I'd like to answer a few questions from fans: 1. As announced the other day, the music clip for "Deep River" is a new video by director Kiriya and features Hikaru. As soon as it is completed,we'd like to use it as a promotional clip, as well, so please look forward to it. The reason why the announcement was delayed is because we wanted to be sure that Hikaru herself would actually appear. 2. About the inclusion of "FINAL DISTANCE" in "UH3+" "FINAL DISTANCE" ~ "traveling" ~ "SAKURA Drops" form one related story. "FINAL DISTANCE" was previously included in "UH2," but we decided to include it in "UH3+" as we thought our fans would enjoy these tracks more when they are viewed consecutively. 3. About a new single release Rumors claiming that a new single will be released around the end of September are totally false. What's definite, at this point, is that "UH3+" and "Deep River" analog disc will be released on September 30. Akira Miyake A&R 1 Group Virgin Headquarters Toshiba EMI Ltd. 07.01(MON) 　 Gratitude "Deep River" is off to a great start! We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone invloved: the fans, record stores, media, factory workers and the people involved in distribution. Thank you -- we hope that "Deep River" becomes a long-term hit album! Akira Miyake A&R 1 Group, Virgin Headquarters Toshiba EMI Ltd. 06.19(WED) 　 Notes on Playing the CD "Deep River" on Windows Media Player Hikki's new album "Deep River" was released today, and we have already received many enthusiastic e-mails from fans. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all! Now, some fans who purchased the CD have commented that when playing "Deep River" on a PC, track titles different from those on the album are displayed in Windows Media Player. We must first explain that audio CDs contain no computer-readable data such as track titles and artist names. Windows Media Player seems to have a system whereby the tracks are retrieved from a database via the Internet. This database has no connection with our company, and we do not know how the data is searched and displayed. We understand that this only happens when the PC is connected to the Internet. For more information, launch Windows Media Player and open "Topic Search" under the "Help" menu. Once in "Topic Search," please switch to the tab called "Keyword," and read through "Display CD Information." Hidenori Okita A&R 1 Group, Virgin Headquarters Toshiba EMI Ltd. 06.21(THU) 　 Our Request on How to Get the Analog "Distance" As you may know, the analog version of the album "Distance" will be released on July 25 in a limited quantity. Those who'd like to buy a copy,read on. We recommend that you book your copy at a record store by the release?@date (July 25), to be sure of receiving one. Please note, too, that the shipment may be delayed, depending on the?@time of your booking and the record store. Although shipment may be delayed, we will certainly manufacture the number of discs booked by the release date. For any further details, please ask at your record store. Sales Promotion No.1 Group, Toshiba EMI 04.03(TUE) 　 Thank you for your support. The album "Distance" continues to sell well thanks to your support and backing. I'd like to use this space to thank you first of all. The sales situation has been talked about in some media in terms of "competition," which is not at all our intent. Consequently, we have refused to accept interviews or make any comments on this matter. Music is not a game, nor something to be talked about on the basis of win or lose. I feel sad about such thinking that negates other artists just because each favorite artist is the best. We think the diversity of the current music market in Japan is what makes it interesting. If Hikaru Utada were the only artist around, wouldn't the music scene be rather boring? There are many things we should learn from the Western music scene, but I trust that there are "songs" which have roots in Japan's culture, and we'd like to continue pursuing Japan's popular songs. Good sales is a very happy thing, but we aim at long-lasting, long-loved music. It's not just how many copies are sold, but how many times one CD is listened to. I used to listen to one of my favorite CDs so many times it wore out. "First Love" achieved record sales of over eight million copies, but I'd rather continue to give my attention to how many times each one of you listened to it. We'll do our best as we have done so far! Akira Miyake Toshiba EMI Ltd. 03.29(THU) 　 To Those Who Purchased the Album "Distance" We have received many comments via email from fans who purchased "Distance," the new album released on March 28. There were several questions, and we'd like to address them here. 1. There's noise in the intro section of the seventh song, "Addicted To You," and in the eighth song, "For You." This is "scratch noise" that was intentionally inserted during production. Young fans may not be familiar with this sort of noise, but it can be heard when you put a stylus on analog records. We incorporated the noise as one of the "sounds." So in answer to questions asking if the CD is defective, no -- it's normal. 2. What is a picture label disc? It is a disc which has a photograph (same as the jacket photo) printed on the disc surface. The initial production lot of the album "Distance" is produced under such a specification. After the initial production, the disc will be produced with the usual text label only. If you have any other questions, click the "Mail to Staff" button to send an email, or call Toshiba EMI's Quality Assurance Section (03-5512-1729). Those who read the earlier Staff Diary might find the above repeated contents, for which I ask your understanding. Hidenori Okita Domestic A&R 1 Group, Virgin Headquarters Toshiba EMI Ltd.